Because of the nature of political boundaries in the Himalayas, it is often difficult to "pigeon-hole" a particular map into a single section. This section brings together maps that that cover the Himalayas in their entirety, such as the Nelles Verlag Himalayas map, and maps that cover only part of the Himalayas, such as the Karakoram or Mt Everest maps. Many of these maps are also listed under their appropriate country, such as Nepal or India.
New Himalayas Map. 1:1,300,000. ITMB, 1st ed., Aug. 2009. The 'Roof of the World' is an apt name for the Gordian knot of mountains that radiates out from Tibet like a galaxy spiral - north to the Aleutians, south to Indonesia, east to Japan, and west to Europe. The Himalayan region is not only of paramount strategic value (why else would India and Pakistan fight over Kashmir so ferociously or China cling to Tibet so tenaciously?), but it is a lovely and exotic part of the world. Think of Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, the Karakoram Highway, the new rail line to Lhasa, the hill towns of India, the sanctuary provided to the Dali Lama, the mountain treks in the Mustang Valley, the majesty of Mount Everest! It is all on this double-sided map - from Kabul in the west to Assam in the east and from the isolated Tibetan plateau in the north to the Indus Valley in the south.
Himalaya Region map sample
1 sheet, folded
Mt. Everest Maps
Mt. Everest hiking map. 1:100,000. ITMB. The fascination of climbing to the 'top of the world' intrigues many people. Few of us will ever do it, but many of us can go to the base camp and climb a bit. This is a detailed map of the peak, showing all known climbing routes to the summit, with the focus on the Nepalese side simply because it is more developed touristically. There must be 30 hotels and guest houses between Luckla and Base Camp. This is an incredible map, akin to ITMB's Kilimanjaro map. The legend includes: roads by classification, check points, viewpoints, points of interest, camps, monasteries, lodging, stupas, airports, waterfalls, glaciers, health posts and other information.
Sample of the Mt. Everest map detail
Mt. Everest Topographic Map - from "The Maps of Snow Mountains in China". This English-language map, produced by a cartographer/geographer in Xi'an, offers superb topographic detail and descriptive text of Mt. Everest. Contour interval is typically 40 meters.
Mt. Everest map sample
Jigsaw Puzzle. A 550-piece jigsaw puzzle made from an extract from the National Geographic Maps Mt. Everest map.
Mt. Everest Blank Cards - pack of 6 cards. A 550-piece jigsaw puzzle made from an extract from the National Geographic Maps Mt. Everest map.
Indian Himalayas Map & Indian Himalayas Guidebook
Indian Himalaya Map. 1:350,000. TerraQuest, Poland. This laminated, folded map offers both a planning map of the region and more detailed strip maps of the main hiking routes. On one side is a 1:750,000 regional topographic map of the Indian Himalaya region while the reverse has numerous strip maps at 1:350,000 showing 22 different trekking routes.
The 1:750,000 overview map covers all of the north-western area between the borders with Pakistan and Nepal, and a smaller map at 1:750,000 covering the north-eastern section in Sikkim.
Elevation is shown by 100m contour lines, spot heights, plus superb shaded relief. Coloring indicates different types of vegetation/ground cover. Numerous peaks, passes, and places are named, plus locations of particular interest.
Road network includes local tracks and railway lines are marked. The 22 recommended treks are marked, with their start-stop points and estimated time required. Also marked are hotels, campsites, tea huts, temples and monasteries, etc. Latitude and longitude grid is at 10' intervals.
On the reverse the 22 recommended hiking trails are shown on more detailed 1:350,000 topographic maps, with more information on the facilities and places of interest along each route.
Sample detail #1 of the Indian Himalaya map. Sample detail #2 of the Indian Himalay map.
1 sheet, folded
Indian Himalaya Hiking Guide. 1:350,000. TerraQuest, Poland. This guidebook is unique in presenting detailed descriptions of 22 trekking itineraries in the Indian Himalaya. The routes have been especially devised to pass through the most scenic and culturally interesting regions of northern India. The information on the distance and time needed to cover particular route sections makes it easy for experienced trekkers and trekking novices alike to plan their trip in great detail.
Maps and height profiles. Each trek description includes a 1:350 000-scale map (with the route marked on it) and a height profile diagram that reflects landform features. This is what makes the guidebook unique and - even more importantly - invaluably useful when trekking the Himalaya mountains.
Practical information. The guidebook offers all kinds of indispensable tips: from food and drink, through recommended equipment, to transportation. You will find it priceless to learn which time of the year to choose for your expedition, and what to look out for to make it safe.
1:250,000 Topographic Maps. Army Map Service. These are reprints of 1:250,000 topographic JOG charts, produced in the 1950's and now no longer available. They offer useful coverage of the spine of the Himalayas. In English.
Please note: Many of the US military 1:250,000 JOGs for this region have been reprinted/revised and are now available. index maps are available on our web site in the World Maps - JOGs section. The maps listed below are high quality color copies of maps not yet released. If you don't see the sheet you need, go to the JOGs section noted above.
Almora. India & Nepal.
Johgkha Dzong. Nepal & China.
Kathmandu. Nepal & India.
Nepalganj. Nepal & India.
Himalaya Maps by Swiss Foundation for Alpine Research
India Karakoram Topographic Map. 1:250,000. Swiss Foundation for Alpine Research. 1990. Two sheets showing the topography of the western end of the Himalayan mountain chain. An good overview map and ideal for planning trips to the region, but the maps lack contour lines and are not useful for trekking.
2 sheets, folded
Sikkim Himalaya Hiking Map. 1:150,000. Swiss Foundation for Alpine Research and the Survey of India. 1981. A black/white map.
1 sheet, folded
Janak Himal Map. 1:100,000. Swiss Foundation for Alpine Research. A color map of the Janak Himal region of eastern Nepal.
1 sheet, folded
Garhwal Himalaya Map. 1:150,000. Swiss Foundation for Alpine Research and the Survey of India. A two-sheet black/white map of this popular trekking area in the Indian Himalaya.
2 sheets, folded
Bhutan Himalaya Map. 1:500,000. Swiss Foundation for Alpine Research. A generalized shaded relief map of Bhutan.
1 sheet, folded
Abi Gamin hiking/topo map. Swiss Foundation for Alpine Research and the Survey of India. 1981. A black/white map.
1 sheet, folded
Himalayan Maps by Deutscher/Österreichischen Alpenverein (Alpenvereinskarte).
Himalayan Mountain Maps (Alpenvereinskarte). Deutscher/Österreichischen Alpenverein. The Deutscher/Österreichischen Alpenverein publishes a series of well-known topographic maps for many of the most popular mountain peaks in Europe and Asia. These maps are often reproduced from maps produced during some of the early classic expeditions to the Himalayas and elsewhere, such as the 1934 Deutsche Himalaya-Expedition.
All maps are full topographic maps with 25 meter contours unless noted otherwise.
These blue "index" buttons below show the area of coverage of each map.
Mount Everest. 1:25,000. 1957. Includes the Chinese side of Mt. Everest.
Nanga Parbat. 1:50,000. 1980 (1936 expedition).
Pamir-e Wakhan, Dardistan Geologic Map. 1:250,000. 1975. Geological map of the Selsela Koh-e Wakhan (Pamir-e Wakhan) and parts of the High Hindu Kush, Hindu Raj and Western Karakoram. No elevation information on this map.
Village of Ptukh, Afghanistan. 1:5,000. 1978 (1975 expedition).
Annapurna. 1:100,000. Includes the whole Annapurna trekking route.
Jumla - Rara Lake. 1:100,000.
Kathmandu City. 1:10,000. 1979.
Patan City. 1:7,500. 1979.
Himalaya Maps by Mandala
Nepal--Himalayan Hiking Maps. 1:250,000. Mandala. These maps are the best for those areas not covered by the Nelles maps listed above. Unfortunately the paper quality is poor in most cases, and we strongly suggest laminating the maps. The Royal Chitwan, Helambu, Annapurna, and Kathmandu city maps are generalized, colored, maps; the others are blue-print copies of topographic maps or planimetric maps with trails overprinted. There is a $10 surcharge for lamination on any of these maps.
Kathmandu to Manasalu and ganesh Himal. Ozalid copy.
Khumbu Himal. 1:50,000. Ozalid copy.
Pokhara to Dhorpatan, Tansen. 1:250,000.
Pokhara city and Tansen Circuit. 1:17,500. 1992. Color map.
Himalaya Maps by West Col
Recommended! West Col Productions of the U.K. produces a series of maps that cover the Indian Himalaya, the Nepal Himalaya, and the Karakoram. They also produce maps covering the central high Atlas Mountains in Morocco, and several maps covering mountains in East Africa, Mt. Ararat, and the Caucasus Mountains; you will find these maps listed by individual country. These maps typically lack contour lines, but show ridge lines and peaks with yellow lines. Numerous spot elevations locate the peaks, and rivers and other drainage features are shown in blue. Roads are shown in black and categorized by road surface type. Villages, old mines, and other cultural features are marked. On the reverse of the map, or in a separate booklet is text describing the popular trekking routes, tourist information, diagrams, cross sections, and more. These maps are on better quality paper than the Mandala maps above. The maps are somewhat expensive, but are well worth the price, as they cover areas where little or no other mapping is easily available.
Indian Himalaya - Jammu & Kashmir. West Col Productions.
Himalaya & Tibet Map, with Bhutan, Ladakh, and Sikkim. 1:1,600,000. Gecko Maps, 2009. Detailed topographic map showing monasteries, pilgrimage routes, sacred places, holy mountains, and much more. With a 1° latitude/longitude grid for GPS use. Map size is 99 x 148 cm.
Shows area covered by the map Sample #1 Sample #2
Island Peak Hiking Map. 1:20,000. Gecko Maps, A detailed topographic map with coverage extending west from Island Peak to also include Chukung and Chukung Ri peaks. The map has 40-meter contour intervals, spot heights, and shaded relief. There are numerous inset maps; a small panoramic map, an elevation cross section, Chukhung village map, small overview map, and two insets of climbing routes. Also on the map you will find a description of 4 different climbing routes to the summit of the Island Peak (in 6 lenguages; English, German, Italien, French, Nepali and Japanese). With a 1' latitude/longitude grid for use with a GPS.
Sample of the main map Sample of the panoramic map Sample of the climbing routes map
1 sheet, folded.
Kailash Hiking Map. 1:50,000. A very detailed topographic hiking map with 20-meter contours, spot heights, and relief shading. with an inset map of Darchen (1:4,000) and a small overview map of Tibet at 1:12,000,000. The map indicates different types of terrain and land use: pastures, swamps, glaciers, rocks and gravel. An overprint shows the trekking route around Mount Kailash and highlights various places of interest. Symbols depict such cultural landmarks as monasteries, chortens, prayer flagpoles and ritual sites, also viewpoints, ruins, lodges, shelters and campsites.
The map also includes a small plan of Darchen at 1:4,000. All place names are in both Roman and local script.
Sample #1 of the main map Sample #2 of the main map Sample #3 of the main map Sample of the Darchen city map
Kathmandu City Map. 1:25,000 & 1:10,000. Gecko Maps (formerly Karto Atelier), 1999. The main map is a map of the entire Kathmandu - Bhaktapur area at 1:25,000. There is a more detailed map of Kathmandu with Patan at 1:10,000, highlighting numerous hotels and guesthouses, airline offices and banks, restaurants and main shops, places of interest, etc., all listed in an extensive index.
The map also includes inset maps of Bhaktapur with enlargements for Durbar and Dattatraya Squares, Thimi, Kirtipur, Swayambhunath, Bauddha/Bodhnath, and the Pashupatinath area. Map size is 25 x 32".
1 sheet, folded.
Nepal Map. 1:1,000,000. Gecko Maps (formerly Karto Atelier). A decent road map of Nepal, showing elevation, distances between main road junctions, and much more. Elevation is shown with contour lines (500-meter intervals), spot heights, and shaded relief. Inset maps include a 1:250,000 map of Kathmandu Valley, a 1:250,000 map of Pokhara Valley, and a road distance chart. There is a 15' latitude/longitude grid for use with a GPS. Map size is 19.5 x 38".
Sample from the main road map. Sample from the Pokhara Valley map.
1 sheet, folded.
Lhasa City Map. 1:4,000. Gecko Maps. This is an extremely detailed street map of Lhasa with numerous inset maps. The map highlights traditional Tibetan architecture and townscapes. On side of the map has the main map covering the Old Town, Potala, and other main tourist areas of Lhasa. The reverse side has a large map of Lhasa Old Town, plus eleven inset maps of such places as Potala, Marpori, Greater Lhasa, Temple Jokhang, etc. Descriptive text is included for each map. Map size is 20 x 41".
Sample from the main Lhasa map Sample from the Potala Palace inset map Sample from the Norbulinka Summer Palace inset map