Nepal
Eastern Nepal
Nepal's green far east — misty tea gardens, lively bazaar towns and the trailheads to its highest, least-crowded peaks, all in one place.
Eastern Nepal is the country's green, tea-scented far corner — a land of mist-soaked hills, cardamom and orange orchards, and warm lowland bazaar towns, rising up to two of the highest mountains on earth. It sees a fraction of the crowds that fill the Annapurna and Everest regions, which is exactly its appeal: living hill culture and wild high trails, side by side.
How to explore eastern Nepal
Start in the tea hills of Ilam for estate walks and ridge-top sunrises, then drop down to Dharan for its bustling bazaars, temples and easy mountain-gateway vibe. For the high country, Taplejung opens the route to Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest peak, while the Makalu region offers the remote Makalu Barun trek through untouched forest and alpine valleys. Pick a destination below to dive into its sights, stays and food.
Destinations in this region
Frequently asked questions
What is eastern Nepal known for?+
Eastern Nepal is the country's lush, tea-growing far east — famous for the rolling tea gardens around Ilam, the orange orchards and cardamom hills, and the warm bazaar town of Dharan at the foot of the mountains. It also holds Nepal's wildest high country: Taplejung is the gateway to Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest peak, while Makalu sits below the fifth-highest. These are some of the least-crowded trekking regions in the country.
How do you get to eastern Nepal?+
Most travellers fly from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur or Biratnagar, then drive into the hills — a few hours up to Ilam's tea country or to Dharan. For the high treks, Taplejung is reached by road or by flight to Suketar, and the Makalu region is approached via Tumlingtar. Overland buses run along the East-West Highway and up the hill roads, but they are long; flying in saves a full day or two.
When is the best time to visit eastern Nepal?+
Autumn (October to November) and spring (March to May) are best, with clear skies, green hills and the cleanest mountain views. The tea gardens are at their lushest just after the monsoon. High treks to Kanchenjunga and Makalu are best in these same windows; winter brings snow and cold to the high passes, and the summer monsoon makes the hill roads slippery.
What are the highlights of eastern Nepal?+
Ilam for tea-estate walks and sunrise over the hills; Dharan for its lively bazaars, temples and the gateway feel to the eastern mountains; Taplejung for the trek to Kanchenjunga base camp; and the Makalu region for the remote Makalu Barun trek through pristine forest and high valleys. Each destination's guide below has the detail.
