To avoid blisters when you are in the Himalayas, break in your shoes before trekking, advises Garry Weare, veteran World Expeditions tour leader and author of the Lonely Planet guide to trekking in the Indian Himalaya.

Bring a decent pair of walking boots with good ankle support, a waterproof raincoat and one or two ski poles, he adds. And when you arrive in the Himalayas, copy the way local people walk - with small steps.

Trekking in the Himalaya is for everyone not just hardened outdoor types, Weare told a meeting in London on March 21st in aid of the Himalayan Trust UK.

The whole experience can get in your blood, he said. And you can mortgage away the rest of your life returning again and again.

To make the most of the trip, read up as much as you can beforehand, get into the right mindset and 'go with the flow', and embrace the chance to get away for modern technology for a while.

The trek provides a good opportunity to practice your hobby, whether it is photography, birdspotting or visiting Buddhist monasteries, he said.

Weare says all trekkers should minimise the impact of their visit on the environment and local people. This will also ensure that future generations of trekkers can have an equally good experience.

Garry Weare is to lead World Expeditions tours to the hidden valleys of Ladakh in July 2006 and to Bara Bhangal in September 2006.