First Sunrise of Nepal, Shree Antu Danda Tour at Ilam – 6 Days

Ilam District, Koshi Province, Eastern Nepal

6 Days

The First Sunrise of Nepal, Shree Antu Danda Tour – 6 Days Package is a short journey through the peaceful hills of eastern Nepal. It is perfect for travelers who want scenic walks, village visits, and calm experiences without challenging trekking. 

This tour covers eastern Nepal’s highlights, including the hilltop sunrise at Shree Antu Danda, the lush tea gardens of Ilam, and visits to Kanyam and Fikkal. Each day features calm drives, short walks through villages, local interactions, and opportunities to enjoy freshly brewed tea. As part of the tour, you also visit Kathmandu’s famous heritage sites and experience both cultural and natural highlights of Nepal.

Trip Info 

  • 5-star hotel in Kathmandu and the best available luxury stays in Ilam
  • Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • 1 to 3 hours
  • Sunrise viewing, tea garden & factory tours, cultural walks, and scenic ridge drives

Why Choose the First Sunrise of Nepal Tour

The Ilam Shree Antu Danda Tour gives you a refreshing break from Nepal's usual trekking routes. Your journey passes through terraced hills and peaceful villages in eastern Nepal. Then comes the most memorable moment of the tour, Antu Danda sunrise viewpoint. As you stand on the ridge and watch the first golden light hit the eastern Himalayan skyline, the experience becomes truly unforgettable.

Beyond the sunrise, the tour moves through Ilam, Kanyam, and Fikkal, where you see rolling tea gardens, charming villages, and quiet hill settlements. You also get a chance to taste fresh tea near the plantations, explore a tea factory, and witness daily life in one of Nepal's most scenic eastern regions.

To add contrast and variety, the journey also includes some of Kathmandu's cultural highlights. From historic temples to UNESCO heritage sites, you enjoy the rich architecture, vibrant city culture, and local traditions.

Trek Highlights 

  • Watch the first light of day break over the eastern Himalayas from the Antu Danda viewpoint.
  • Explore Kathmandu's iconic UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath Stupa, and Kathmandu Durbar Square.
  • Travel through the iconic tea estates of Kanyam and Fikkal, winding along scenic ridge roads lined with local tea houses.
  • Stay in Ilam Bazaar and experience the relaxed hill-town atmosphere of eastern Nepal.
  • Visit a tea factory and see how fresh tea leaves are processed, dried, sorted, and packed before reaching the market.
  • Take an easy nature and culture tour with scenic drives, short walks, and no difficult trekking routes.
  • See clear-day views of Kanchenjunga, Kumbhakarna, nearby hills, and the rolling plains of West Bengal.

Tour Plan

Your Ilam Shree Antu Danda Tour begins when you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Our team meets you at the arrival area, helps with your luggage, and takes you to your hotel by private vehicle. 

After check-in, you rest, freshen up, and recover from your flight. If you arrive early, take a short guided walk nearby, or buy any missing travel items. 

In the evening, your guide gives you a short trip briefing. You go through the full tour plan, domestic flight timing, sightseeing schedule, packing notes, and the route toward Ilam and Shree Antu.

  • Drive duration: 30 to 40 minutes

  • Drive distance: 6 to 8 km | 4 to 5 miles

Note: Rest well before the Kathmandu heritage sightseeing day.

After breakfast, your guide takes you on a full-day cultural tour around Kathmandu Valley. You visit major UNESCO heritage sites such as Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath Stupa, and Kathmandu Durbar Square.

At Pashupatinath, you witness temple rituals along the Bagmati River, while Boudhanath offers a calm Buddhist atmosphere with prayer wheels, monasteries, and local shops. Swayambhunath provides wide valley views, and Kathmandu Durbar Square showcases Newari architecture, old courtyards and temples with carved wooden details. 

The sequence of visits depends on your hotel location, but each stop offers a unique experience. By late afternoon, you return to your hotel and prepare for your eastern Nepal flight the next day.

  • Sightseeing duration: 5 to 6 hours

  • Drive distance: 25 to 35 km / 16 to 22 miles

Note: Wear modest clothes for temple visits and comfortable shoes because the heritage sites include stone steps, courtyards, and walking areas.

After a full cultural day in Kathmandu, your journey shifts toward eastern Nepal. Your guide transfers you to the domestic airport for the flight to Bhadrapur, the main air gateway to eastern Nepal's tea region. 

From Bhadrapur, the private drive begins through the warmer plains of Jhapa before the road climbs toward Ilam. As the landscape changes, you start seeing hill farms, small markets, forested slopes, and tea-growing areas along the route.

You reach Ilam Bazaar by late afternoon or evening and check in at your hotel. The evening is relaxed, so you can rest, walk around the bazaar, or enjoy your first cup of local Ilam tea.

  • Flight duration: 45 to 50 minutes

  • Drive duration: 3 to 4 hours

  • Drive distance: 75 to 95 km / 47 to 59 miles

Note: Keep a light jacket in your day bag because the weather becomes cooler as the road climbs toward Ilam.

The day begins with a scenic drive from Ilam Bazaar toward Kanyam and Fikkal, two of the district's most popular tea areas. The route passes green slopes, roadside tea shops, small settlements, and viewpoints where you get a closer look at Ilam's calm hill landscape.

When the factory visit is available, you see the basic production process, from fresh leaf handling to drying, rolling, sorting, and packing. You also learn how tea supports the local economy and lifestyle.

The rest of the day stays easy and scenic. You visit nearby tea areas, stop for fresh tea, take photos, and return to Ilam Bazaar for the night.

  • Drive duration: 2 to 3 hours total

  • Drive distance: 25 to 40 km / 16 to 25 miles

Note: During the tea factory visit, follow your guide's instructions, stay in the visitor-safe areas, and avoid touching machines or tea-processing equipment.

Your day starts very early because you travel from Ilam to Shree Antu before sunrise. The drive takes you through quiet hill roads before you reach the Antu Danda viewpoint.

As the sun rises, soft golden light spreads across the hills, tea gardens, nearby villages, and the eastern Himalayan skyline. Clear weather brings views of Kanchenjunga, Kumbhakarna, and the far plains beyond the border area.

After sunrise, you return for breakfast and continue the long drive toward Bhadrapur. From there, you take the flight back to Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel for the final night.

  • Sunrise visit duration: 1 to 2 hours

  • Drive duration: 4 to 5 hours

  • Drive distance: 60 to 65 km / 37 to 40 miles

  • Flight duration: 45 to 50 minutes

Note: Sunrise views depend on weather, so clear autumn and spring mornings give the best chance for mountain views.

Your final day in Kathmandu stays simple and relaxed. After breakfast, our team picks you up from your hotel and takes you to Tribhuvan International Airport by private vehicle. 

Our team helps with your luggage and makes sure you reach the terminal on time for your international flight. If your flight is later in the day, you may have some free time for a short walk, last-minute shopping, or a quiet coffee before leaving. 

As you depart, the scenic tea gardens and the gentle sunrise views of Shree Antu leave a lasting impression. These moments capture the calm and charm of eastern Nepal, giving you a meaningful close to your tour.

  • Drive Hours: 30 to 40 minutes

  • Overnight Stay:Around 6 to 8 km / 3.7 to 5 miles

Note: Reach the airport at least 3 hours before your international flight.

What’s Included & Excluded

Cost Includes

Cost Excludes

Packing List for the Ilam Shree Antu Danda Tour

This short eastern Nepal tour includes scenic drives, tea garden walks, and an early morning sunrise viewpoint visit. Hence, pack light, but carry enough warm clothing for the morning at Shree Antu Danda.

What to Pack

  • Light clothing for daytime travel
  • Warm jacket or fleece for sunrise
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a sun hat
  • Small daypack
  • Camera or phone with a power bank
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Personal medicine
  • Rain jacket during monsoon months
  • Travel documents and ID

Experience the First Sunrise of Nepal in Shree Antu

Watch the first golden light rise over Shree Antu Danda and enjoy a short eastern Nepal escape filled with mountain views. Walk through Ilam’s peaceful tea gardens, meet village warmth, and take in quiet hill scenery.

Frequently Asked Question

Where is Shree Antu in Nepal?

Shree Antu is located in the southeastern corner of the Ilam District within Nepal’s Koshi Province. It sits inside Suryodaya Municipality, directly alongside the international border separating Nepal from Darjeeling in India.

Shree Antu is famous for Antu Danda View Point, from where you can witness the morning sun illuminating Mount Kanchenjunga and the surrounding peaks. It is also known for the green tea hills and Antu Pokhari.

Shree Antu View Point, also called Antu Danda, is a hilltop sunrise viewpoint at 2,328m / 1447 miles. It offers views of Ilam’s tea hills, Kanchenjunga, Kumbhakarna, and nearby plains.

Shree Antu is about 35 km southeast of Ilam Bazaar. The drive usually takes around 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on road and weather conditions.

October to December and February to April are the best times for the Ilam Shree Antu Danda Tour. These months usually offer clearer sunrise views, better road conditions, and pleasant weather for tea garden walks.

Yes, you can see Kanchenjunga from Shree Antu when the weather is clear. The best chance comes during dry months, especially early morning after sunrise.

Six days are enough for the Shree Antu Danda Tour if you fly between Kathmandu and Bhadrapur. Travelers with more time can add Mai Pokhari, Sandakpur, or extra tea garden stays.

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