From Darjeeling to Kanchenjunga

Ask Michelle Anything

Ed writes…

Dear Michelle, I greatly enjoyed Thin Air. Indeed, I’d like to follow the protagonists journey from Darjeeling to Kanchenjunga. I believe you took just such a journey. Is there a travel agency or your company you’d recommend? Thank you, Ed

Michelle Replies…

Dear Ed,

I’m so glad that you enjoyed THIN AIR.  I did indeed follow part of the protagonists’ journey, but I didn’t trek all the way to Kangchenjunga Base Camp, as that would have taken longer than I had time for (although I believe some companies do do that trek, if you’re up for it).  In 2015 I went with World Expeditions (who were then based in Wimbledon but I think they’ve since moved) and trekked from Yuksam in Sikkim to Dzongri, where we spent a few days exploring, before trekking back to Yuksam. I started off in Darjeeling,  then we drove to Sikkim, and much of the trek was through the foothills, which is much as I describe in the book.  I found World Expeditions very good, with an excellent guide whom I mention in the Author’s Note.  Obviously,  that was a few years ago, though, so I have no idea if things have changed since then.  Again, I’m glad that you liked the book – and the best of luck with your travel planes, it’s a fascinating part of the world!

Regards,  Michelle


Upcoming Live Events With Michelle

Incredible… Inspiring… In Person!

Only 49 days to grab your ticket!

Wimbledon Book Festival

October 17, 2025
Festival patron and Sunday Times bestselling author Michelle Paver will talk about her latest supernatural fiction in this live recording with Always Take Notes, a podcast for and about writers and writing.

Michelle will discuss her incredible career, from finding inspiration for Wolf Brother on Wimbledon Common to her latest novel Rainforest, which weaves Mayan culture with themes of obsession, gender and rebirth.

Only 52 days to grab your ticket!

The Witching Hour with Bridget Collins, Michelle Paver and Laura Shepherd-Robinson – Waterstones Canterbury

October 20, 2025

Join Bridget Collins, Michelle Paver and Laura Sheperd-Robinson as they discuss their stories in a brand new collection of ghostly tales called The Witching Hour.

In this dazzling collection of original haunted tales, thirteen bestselling and much-loved authors bring the old superstition of the witching hour to new and vivid life.
Transporting you from the smog of London to the freezing mists of Svalbard, from an Irish town riddled with rumour to a sinister English boarding school, these thirteen stories will serve as your spine tingling companion to the long hours of winter.
So curl up, light a candle, and wait for the clock to strike . . .
Only 57 days to grab your ticket!

Yeovil Literary Festival

October 25, 2025

An experience like no other. From a writer like no other...

Successfully published as an adult author, the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness (“Wolf Brother”) were her first books for younger readers, followed by her brilliant 5-part series set in the bronze age, Gods and Warriors. On the adult side, her first ghost story, Dark Matter, was a UK bestseller and won massive praise from reviewers and readers alike, as did her second ghost story, Thin Air.

Oxford Literary Festival 2026

March 29, 2026

The Oxford Literary Festival takes place in venues across central Oxford, such as Blackwell's bookshop, the Bodleian Library, the Sheldonian Theatre, the Weston Library, and Oxford colleges such as Christ Church and Worcester College. The festival includes international authors, journalists, intellectuals, historians, and poets.