Peter Hopkirk provides an insightful look into the early explorers of western China and Central Asia. The main characters are Sven Hedin, Albert Von Le Coq and Aurel Stein. These opportunists "saved" thousands of manuscripts and items of art from the "Lost Cities".

A classic story of the seach for the snow leopard in western Nepal and Tibet that turned into a personal journey of discovery.

Difficult to get but worth the search. The story of Boris of Kathmandu who was an adventurer, big game hunter, restuarant owner and host to Royalty. Desscribes the Nepal Raj, a time before Nepal was thrown open to tourism. His ability to make the impossible happen is at times hilarious reading.

Sorrel Wilby started off by wanting to ride a bicycle across Tibet. In 1985 this just wasn't done so instead she settled for walking 3,000 across Tibet from west to east. The journey almost cost her her life.

Michael Palin's traverse of the Himalayas and his visits to remote Assam, Bhutan and Bangladesh is written in journal format. I loved the stories of the people that he meets and the places that he visits because I've been to those places too.

Following Marco Polo's Silk road is a modern story but set in the historic context of many of the books above. It traces Brian & Jill Lawrenson's travels following the route taken by Marco Polo with a little bit extra thrown in. But it is a journey of exploration of the modern lands and people that have grown up along this mythical passage.

Laurence Bergreen has created a masterly recontruction of the life and travels of one of the greatest travellers of all times - Marco Polo.

Another contribution that Marco Polo watchers will find insightful. His book provides a fascinating potrait of a man who was responsible for bridging the knowledge gap between east and west.

Gavin Menzies has spent 15 years researching this book. It contains much new and sometimes controversial material about the world-wide voyages of great Chinese trading fleets. This is a book that if further research proves him to be correct that will rewrite the history books.

Essential reading about the man who remade China and perhaps changed the world like no other.

I have to finish this list with this book the first by Tony Weeler of Lonely Planet fame. It is out of date and out of print but to me it represents a sense of adventure that was ripe in the 70's and 80's and is still a flame flickering in mordern times. To quote; "All you've got to do is decide to go and the hardest part is over. So Go!" Thank you Tony.