A global quest to comprehend the meaning of -Happy Valley- on three continents and how these mountain communities continue to survive in a world that constantly challenges the very notion of -happiness.-Over her 17-year career as a travel writer, Jane Marshall has wandered the planet, always in search of wild, high-altitude, off-the-beaten-track places. During her travels she discovered something profound. On three continents, separated by vast oceans, she found hidden valleys known locally as -Happy Valley.- Her quest: to discover what makes them happy and learn from their Indigenous keepers.
The happy valleys share common characteristics. They are geographically isolated and protected by walls of mountains; they are home to rare and endangered plants and animals; they exist outside of protections zones - which gives them autonomy but also makes them vulnerable; their Indigenous populations name the land after human and divine body parts; and women are seen as powe
