In 1959 a nineteen year-old lama, Choegyam Trungpa, led 300 Tibetan men, women and children on a desperate nine-month escape from pursuing Communist troops. Travelling where people had never been, they trekked through some of the world’s harshest weather and most treacherous mountains. Then, starving and exhausted, they crossed a river under heavy gunfire in flimsy vessels they’d made themselves – only to face a midwinter climb over the Himalayas. It is the story of ordinary people and their young leader taking a vast leap into the unknown, to make one of history’s most extraordinary escapes.

* Links to a gallery of images, video footage and satellite imagery enable readers to follow the stunning route and breathe in the spectacular landscape.

* This revised edition adds important details to the story, also a guide to the main figures on the escape for readers unfamiliar with Tibetan names.