DomesticEvents & Festivals

7-Day Nagaland Hornbill Festival

The first ten days of December at Kisama, where every Naga tribe brings its morungs, dances and food to one hillside. Paired with Khonoma and Dzukou valley either side of the festival days.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Dimapur, drive to Kohima
Pick up and the climb to Kohima. Evening briefing.
Meals
Dinner
Stay
Kohima
Day 2: Hornbill Festival day one
A full day at Kisama — the morungs, the dances and the food stalls.
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Stay
Kohima
Day 3: Hornbill Festival day two
Back to Kisama for the tribal performances and the night carnival.
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Stay
Kohima
Day 4: Khonoma
The green village, its terraced fields and the fort site.
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Stay
Kohima
Day 5: Dzukou Valley
Day trek into the Dzukou valley from Viswema.
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Stay
Kohima
Day 6: Kohima
War Cemetery, the state museum and the Kisama heritage village.
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Stay
Kohima
Day 7: Departure
Drive down to Dimapur for your flight.
Meals
Breakfast

Trip Highlights

Three days at the Hornbill Festival, Kisama
Khonoma — Asia's first green village
Dzukou Valley day trek
Kohima War Cemetery and the state museum
Nagaland Inner Line Permit arranged

What's included

Accommodation as per the itinerary, on twin sharing
Daily breakfast and dinner
All transfers and sightseeing by private vehicle with a driver who knows the route
Inner Line Permits for Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland where required
Local guides in Kaziranga, Majuli and the Nagaland villages
Driver allowance, fuel, tolls and parking

What's not included

Airfare or train fare to and from the North East
Lunch throughout
Jeep safari and elephant safari fees inside national parks
Camera fees, entry tickets and boat charges
Anything the itinerary does not name

Pickup point

Guwahati Airport (Dibrugarh or Dimapur where the itinerary says so)

Cancellation policy

Cancel 30 days or more before departure — full refund minus a ₹3,000 processing fee.

Cancel 15 to 29 days before departure — 50% of the trip cost is refunded.

Cancel 7 to 14 days before departure — 25% of the trip cost is refunded.

Cancel within 7 days of departure — no refund.

Inner Line Permit fees for Arunachal and Nagaland are paid to the state and are not refundable once issued. The Sela Pass and the Tawang road close for snow and landslides; where that forces a reroute we refund the unused services.

Frequently asked questions

Which North East states need an Inner Line Permit?

Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur need an ILP for Indian nationals. Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim do not — though Sikkim has its own permits for the protected areas up north. We arrange every permit a trip needs; send ID and photographs at least two weeks before departure.

How much driving is involved?

A lot. The North East is big and the roads are mountain roads. On a grand circuit expect six to eight hours in the vehicle on transfer days — Guwahati to Tawang alone is two days. Every itinerary here is written honestly about that; if a day is a driving day, it says so.

When is the best time to go?

October to April for most of the region. The Hornbill Festival runs 1–10 December, Ziro Music Festival in late September. The monsoon between June and September brings serious landslides on the Arunachal and Meghalaya roads.

Is the North East safe for travellers?

Yes, for ordinary travel on the routes we run. The states are among the friendliest in the country and homestays are the norm. Roads are the real risk, not people — which is why we do not drive the mountain sections after dark.

Can vegetarians eat comfortably?

In Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim, easily. In Nagaland, Manipur and rural Arunachal the local food is meat-first and vegetarian options thin out. Tell us at booking and we brief the homestays ahead — it needs planning, not luck.

Ready to book Nagaland Hornbill Festival?

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Tour Option

Twin Sharing₹35,999

North East

Seven states, one of the last quiet corners of India.

Know Before You Go

Which North East states need an Inner Line Permit?Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur need an ILP for Indian nationals. Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim do not — though Sikkim has its own permits for the protected areas up north. We arrange every permit a trip needs; send ID and photographs at least two weeks before departure.
How much driving is involved?A lot. The North East is big and the roads are mountain roads. On a grand circuit expect six to eight hours in the vehicle on transfer days — Guwahati to Tawang alone is two days. Every itinerary here is written honestly about that; if a day is a driving day, it says so.
When is the best time to go?October to April for most of the region. The Hornbill Festival runs 1–10 December, Ziro Music Festival in late September. The monsoon between June and September brings serious landslides on the Arunachal and Meghalaya roads.

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