Ladakh Expedition Book Design & Editing

Hi, I’m looking for a professional book editor and book designer/typesetter for a travel and motorcycle expedition handbook I have written.

The project is titled:

THE ULTIMATE LADAKH EXPEDITION
The Complete Rider’s Handbook

Uncharted Himalayas · Volume 1
Ladakh: Beyond the Passes
The Kora Expedition

The manuscript is currently handwritten in an A5 spiral notebook, and I need someone to professionally turn it into a finished, publication-quality book.

This is not simply an itinerary. It is a combination of a motorcycle expedition handbook, travel narrative, field journal, and photographic travel book, documenting my 12-day solo motorcycle journey through Zanskar and Ladakh.

What I need

1. Manuscript editing

Transcribe my handwritten manuscript into digital text
Correct grammar, spelling, punctuation and sentence structure
Improve readability and flow without changing my voice or personal experiences
Keep the writing authentic and personal
Fact-check obvious geographical/place-name inconsistencies where necessary
Maintain consistency in names, spellings, measurements and terminology throughout the book

2. Book design & page setup

Professional interior layout and typography
Consistent chapter/day layouts
Page hierarchy, headings, quotes, route information, ride statistics and field notes
Photo placement and captions
Maps/route graphics where required
Clean, premium travel-book aesthetic
Print-ready final files

The book is intended to feel closer to a premium adventure/travel publication than a conventional Word document.

I already have a fairly developed structure and visual direction, so I am not looking for someone to completely redesign the concept from scratch. I want a professional designer who can take the existing concept and elevate it to publication quality.

3. Cover design
I also need a professional front cover, back cover and spine, based on the existing Uncharted Himalayas / Ladakh: Beyond the Passes / The Kora Expedition branding.

Current project
Approximately 90 pages or less
A5 format
Travel/adventure publication
Solo motorcycle expedition
Photography from the actual journey
Manuscript and visual direction already prepared
Final output should be suitable for professional printing and potentially self-publishing

I am looking for someone who has actual experience designing books, particularly travel books, coffee-table books, adventure publications, magazines or similar editorial projects.

Please send me:

Examples of books you have designed
Your experience with editing handwritten manuscripts
Your proposed workflow for this project
Estimated timeline
Your total project fee
What files you will provide at the end, including editable/source files
Whether you can handle both editing and complete book design, or only the design/typesetting portion

I can provide photographs, the handwritten manuscript, existing branding/design references and the current page structure.

I am looking for someone who can work carefully with the material and help turn it into a professional, print-ready expedition book, while preserving the personality and authenticity of the original journey.

Thank you.

Dorjee Bodh
Author, The Ultimate Ladakh Expedition
Uncharted Himalayas · Volume 1: Ladakh: Beyond the Passes