Eastern Nepal · Light, height and the right hour
Photography in Eastern Nepal
Autumn's clear air, spring rhododendrons, festival chariots, the walled city of Lo Manthang and the mountain views at Poon Hill, Kala Patthar and Gokyo Ri, timed for the light.
Trips
Eastern Nepalmax 2,100 mEastern Hills Overland: Ilam to the Arun
Nine nights across the eastern hills by private car, from the tea gardens of Kanyam and Ilam to the Arun valley at …
Eastern Nepalmax 3,636 mIlam, Sandakpur and Kanyam
Five nights that climb from the tea gardens of Ilam to the Singalila ridge at Sandakpur, 3,636 m, where four of the …
Eastern Nepalmax 2,100 mIlam Tea Country
Four slow nights in the tea hills of Ilam, Nepal's oldest tea district. A night at Kanyam among clipped green slopes, then …
Eastern Nepalmax 5,140 mKanchenjunga Circuit: North and South Base Camps
Twenty-four nights around the Nepal side of Kanchenjunga: up the Tamor and Ghunsa valleys to Pang Pema at 5,140 m, back to …
Eastern Nepalmax 5,140 mKanchenjunga North Base Camp Trek
Twenty nights from Kathmandu to Pang Pema, the north base camp of Kanchenjunga at 5,140 m. A jeep up the Tamor valley, …
Eastern Nepalmax 1,850 mKirat Culture Trail: Bhedetar, Dhankuta, Hile
Four nights in the Kirat heartland of the eastern hills, where Rai and Limbu culture is part of daily life. Visit Budha …
Eastern Nepalmax 2,100 mKoshi Tappu Birds and Ilam Tea
Six nights from the wetlands of Koshi Tappu, home to Nepal's last wild water buffalo and a great gathering of winter water …
Eastern Nepalmax 4,870 mMakalu Base Camp Trek
Eighteen nights from Kathmandu to the foot of Makalu, the fifth-highest mountain on earth. Fly to Tumlingtar in the Arun valley, walk …
Eastern Nepalmax 3,794 mPathibhara Devi Pilgrimage
Five nights to Pathibhara Devi, the hilltop shrine above Taplejung at 3,794 m that Limbu people call Mukkumlung. Drive the Mechi Highway …
Places
Eastern Nepal1,420 mBhedetar
The first ridge above the plains, with the Terai spread below
Eastern Nepal1,948 mHile
A misty ridge bazaar of tongba, tea and the road north
Eastern Nepal1,300 mIlam
Nepal's oldest tea hills, rolled green to the Indian border
Eastern Nepal1,570 mKanyam
Open tea slopes on the Mechi Highway, and sunrise at Antu Danda
Eastern Nepal4,870 mMakalu Base Camp
From rice terraces near 500 m to Makalu's south face at 4,870 m
Eastern Nepal5,143 mPang Pema
Kanchenjunga's north base camp, under a 3,000 m wall of ice
Eastern Nepal3,794 mPathibhara
The goddess on the hilltop above Taplejung, at 3,794 m
Eastern Nepal3,636 mSandakpur
Four of the world's five highest peaks from one ridge top
Experiences
NatureSunset over the Terai from Bhedetar
An evening on the Bhedetar ridge to watch the sun go down over the plains of eastern Nepal, the Sapta …
FoodSekuwa evening on the ridge
Dinner at a roadside grill on the Bhedetar ridge: skewers of pork, chicken or goat marinated in spices and cooked …
SpiritualDantakali and Budhasubba temples below Bhedetar
A morning visit to two temples on the hills at the edge of Dharan, on the way up to Bhedetar: …
Rivers and lakesDown to the Tamor river at Mulghat
A drive from Bhedetar down the far side of the ridge to Mulghat, where the Koshi Highway crosses the Tamor …
FoodTongba and momo in a Hile kitchen
An evening in one of Hile's family kitchens, sipping hot tongba through a bamboo straw, eating momo and thukpa, and …
NatureSunrise walk on the Hile ridge
An early walk from the bazaar up to a viewpoint on the ridge above Hile, to watch the sun rise …
NatureRhododendron day on the Basantapur ridge
A spring day trip north from Hile to Basantapur and a walk into the rhododendron forests of the Tinjure–Milke–Jaljale ridge, …
SpiritualThe Hile gompa and bazaar walk
A short morning walk through Hile's ridge-top bazaar to the small Buddhist monastery near the road, with a guide who …