Ilam Tea Hills and Antu Danda Sunrise
- Duration
- 6 days
- Max altitude
- 1,800 m
- Difficulty
-
Easy
Difficulty scale
- Easy Short walking days on good trails below about 3,000 m. Suitable for anyone in ordinary health, including families.
- Moderate 5 to 6 hours a day with some steep sections, reaching up to about 4,000 m. A reasonable level of fitness and a few weeks of preparation walking recommended.
- Strenuous 6 to 8 hours a day, high passes or altitudes above 5,000 m, and remote stretches. Good fitness, prior trekking experience and proper acclimatisation days are essential.
- Very strenuous Long days, multiple high passes or technical sections, sustained time above 5,000 m. For experienced, well-conditioned trekkers only.
- Best season
- Autumn (Sep–Nov) · Spring (Mar–May) · Winter (Dec–Feb)
- Group
- Private
- From
- $920.00
Overview
Ilam is Nepal’s green east. Rolling tea gardens, cardamom hillsides and a cool, clear air that smells of leaves and woodsmoke. Almost no international travellers come here, and many Nepalis only know it from a cup of tea.
You fly to Bhadrapur and drive up to Ilam, stay on a working tea estate where you pick, roll and taste your own batch, and then climb to Antu Danda before dawn for a sunrise that pulls Kanchenjunga out of the clouds. A day with a cardamom family and an evening in a quiet homestay finish the trip.
It is calm, scenic and gentle. Good for couples, families and anyone who wants a Nepal that feels unhurried and new.
Trip highlights
- A night on a working tea estate and a hands-on tea session
- Sunrise from Antu Danda with a view of Kanchenjunga
- A day with a cardamom farming family
- Quiet roads, cool air and almost no crowds
Day by day
The itinerary
-
Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu 1,400 m Hotel Notincluded
Airport pickup and hotel transfer.
-
Day 2: Fly to Bhadrapur, drive to Ilam 1,200 m Tea estate B
A morning flight, then the drive up through jungle and tea country to Ilam.
-
Day 3: A day on the tea estate 1,200 m Tea estate B/L
Pick, roll and taste your own tea with the estate workers. Afternoon walk through the gardens.
-
Day 4: Antu Danda sunrise 1,800 m Hilltop hotel B
Pre-dawn drive and short climb to Antu Danda for sunrise. Return for breakfast, then a hilltop afternoon.
-
Day 5: Cardamom farm and homestay 1,400 m Homestay B/L/D
A day with a cardamom farming family: walk the terraces, cook lunch and stay for the evening.
-
Day 6: Return to Bhadrapur and fly out 1,400 m B
Drive back and take the flight to Kathmandu.
Altitude profile
The climb, day by day
Comfort tiers
Choose your level of comfort
| Amenity | Standardfrom $1,180.00 | Comfortfrom $1,368.80 |
|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu hotel | 3★ | 4★ |
| Trail accommodation | Standard teahouse | Best lodge in each village |
| Porter support | Shared porter | Private porter, lighter load |
| Transfers | Shared | Private |
What's included
Included
- Included: Airport pickup and drop in Kathmandu
- Included: Flights Kathmandu to Bhadrapur, return
- Included: Private vehicle with driver throughout
- Included: Five nights: a tea estate, a hilltop hotel and a homestay, with breakfast
- Included: Tea session and cardamom farm visit
- Included: A licensed English-speaking guide
- Included: Government taxes and our service charge
Not included
- Not included: International airfare and the Nepal entry visa
- Not included: Travel insurance
- Not included: Lunches and dinners not listed, and all drinks
- Not included: Tips for the guide and driver
- Not included: Anything not listed under what is included
Know before you go
Suitability & requirements
Clear views of Kanchenjunga are best from October to January. The drive from Bhadrapur to Ilam is about 3 hours on winding roads. Evenings can be cold, so bring a warm layer.
Your team
Led by a licensed guide
Every route is led by a government-licensed guide from our team. Licences are on record with us before departure, and you'll meet your guide once your trip is confirmed.
Guide language(s): English, Nepali
Group-size pricing
Walk together, pay less
Every trip is private, so the guide, permits and transfers cost the same however many walk. Sharing them is why the per-person price falls: arithmetic, not a sale.
| Group size | per person | You save each |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller | $1,180.00 | base rate |
| 2 to 3 travellers | $920.00 | $260.00 |
| 4 to 6 travellers | $850.00 | $330.00 |
| 7 or more | $800.00 | $380.00 |
Per person, including permits, park fees and taxes. Nothing is added at checkout.
Weather
What to expect, month by month
- Autumn (Sep–Nov)The most reliable trekking season: clear air, stable weather and cold nights, right after the monsoon clears.
- Spring (Mar–May)Warmer than autumn, with rhododendron forests in flower and slightly hazier mountain views as the season goes on.
- Winter (Dec–Feb)Cold and quiet, with the clearest skies of the year at lower altitude. High passes and very high routes are best avoided.
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