This manual is an initial outline on how to monitor the glaciers of the Hindu Kush-Himalaya (HKH) region. This draft manual provides the theoretical background of glacier mass balance and an outline of definitions and common data formats. An ‘ideal’ glacier for mass balance measurements is presented as a guide. Based on climatological and climate change considerations, the design of a Glacier Monitoring Network (GMN) is proposed. The second part of the manual provides practical details of fieldwork, data analysis, and data presentation, the focus being the peculiarities of glaciers in the low latitudes, the HKH region in particular.