Kolkata Assam and Nagaland with Hornbill Festival Tour - 11 Nights / 12 Days
Travel through the three most beautiful and vibrant states of Northeast India Meghalaya, Assam and Nagaland on a private tour covering the Hornbill festival. Witness the centuries old traditions and experience the region’s rich indigenous culture with folk songs, tribal dances, food, and crafts of the 17 Ethnic Tribes of Nagaland. Visit to Majuli listed as world's largest river island, game drive at the UNSCOE heritage site Kaziranga National park in search of one horn Rhinos and stay at the tea gardens in Assam.
Tour Overview & Description
Duration : 11 Nights / 12 Days
Location : Northeast India
Best Season : 21 November to 10 December
Category : Wildlife, Cultural, and Tribal Heritage Festival Tour
Covering : Guwahati, Kaziranga National Park, Johrat Tea Gardens, Majuli River Island, Kohima , Kisma Village the sight of Horn Bill Festival Tour, Dimapur
You can take it : As a private, personalised tour (tour dates would be of your choice)
Special About Tour :
Tour the former British Capital the city of joy Kolkata, ride the elephant back through the grasslands of Kaziranga in search of one horned Rhinos, cruise the mighty Brahmputra river, visit the tea plantations of Assam, and the tribal villages of Nagaland where ‘head-hunting’ was practiced. The tour Kolkata Assam and Nagaland with the hornbill festival provides the most memorable experiences for visitors on a holiday trip to India. On a private guided tailor made tour discover the region’s rich indigenous heritage, culture, folk songs, traditional tribal performances, dances, food, and crafts of the ethnic tribes of Assam and Nagaland.
Discover the major tourist sights of Assam and Nagaland which is the least visited, less explored off beat destination of India. On the adventure journey interact with the 17 ethnic tribes including the people from the Konyak Tribe – Better known as the Head Hunters will fascinate you with their fierce headhunting history, which was the part of their strong war traditions.
The Assam with Nagaland and Hornbill festival tour starts from the city of joy Kolkata the former British capital during the Raj on the banks of the Ganges and marvel at the splendour of recent British monuments. We continue to Guwahati the commercial capital of the seven sister’s state of India and the capital of Assam. Here you visit the silk weaving and craft village of Assam "Sualkuchi", before proceeding further to Kaziranga National Park famous for the one horned Rhino. We do visit Majuli River Island one of the world’s biggest Island located in Brahmputra River Assam, along with staying a couple of nights in the tea planters bungalow.
At the end of the tour be the part of the busy and the colourful celebration of the hornbill festival at Kohima Nagaland, which ranks among the most memorable experiences for visitors to this part of the world.
Your knowledgeable English speaking guide / driver is with you throughout the trip to all the famous sights and makes history and culture come alive through the stories that unfold throughout the journey; this is what will make your authentic India tour a very special holiday experience. We stop at cities, towns and villages on the way to get an insight into the daily life of culturally diverse people of these areas. We meet the local musicians, artists, mask makers, potters, enjoy wildlife, cruise the mighty Brahmaputra River and cherish the each day of your journey.
This community based tourism provides you the experience of the local culture, food and the insight to the day to day life of the Indians from very closely and on the other hand it benefits the locals directly. A very important aspect of our responsible tourism India tours, we ensure that the villagers and the local community benefit directly from your visit, so it is helpful to them to have you visit.
Treat the below Kolkata Assam and Nagaland with Hornbill festival tour just as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you, around your interest and requirements. Summit Safari India will make your tour a memorable and extra ordinary....!
Brief Itinerary : Kolkata (2 Nights on arrival) > Guwahati (1 Night) > Kaziranga National Park (2 Nights) > Johrat (2 Nights) > Kohima (2 Nights) > Dimapur (1 Night) and fly back to Kolkata (1 Night at the end)
Horn Bill Festival Nagaland India Where and When Celebrated
Hornbill Festival Group Tour India- s is celebrated in the state of Nagaland from 01 December to 10 December every year held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisma which is about 12 km from the state capital Kohima. The Hornbill Festival Tour is perhaps one of the most renowned as well as largest of the North East India festivals Tour, and also it’s absolutely Nagaland’s huge draw card. Named after the state’s most admired bird—The Great Hornbill, the event provides the opportunity to you, to admire and experience the cultural heritage, folk dances, food, crafts, fun game completion like pineapple eating competitions, chilly eating competitions and interaction with different 17 tribes Of Nagaland at one place.
Day 1 Arrival at Kolkata
Today to start with your Kolkata Assam and Nagaland with Hornbill festival tour, you will be met from your flight to Kolkata International Airport by Summit Safari’s representative and driver, and we will transfer you to your hotel in Kolkata. Rest of the day is free at leisure to relax after the flight.
Day 2 Local sightseeing in Kolkata
Today after breakfast we will take you for the private guided tour of Kolkata covering, the famous sights of Kolkata including the Victoria Memorial, Flower Market, Howrah Bridge, Marble Palace, Mother Terrace Home . We will also visit KumarTuli- literally means “Potters’ quarter”, ‘Kumar’ being a potter or artisan. Over time, it has morphed itself into a leading place for sculpting of idols for most major Indian festivals. This place today, is famous for its sculptures of the Goddess Durga (or Shakti) and even exports to a number of countries. You can have lunch with famous Nizam Kathi Roll. By evening return back to the hotel for second night stay in the same hotel in Kolkata.
Day 3 Fly from Kolkata to Guwahati
Today morning after breakfast check out from the hotel and we will transfer drive to Kolkata airport from where you will board your flight to Guwahati the Capital town of Assam, also famous as the commercial capital of North East ( 7 sister states). On arrival at Guwahati you will be met by our driver and provided a traditional welcome. We will transfer you to the hotel. Evening we will drive you to visit the Kamakhya temple and take a walking tour around the local market in Guwahati. Return back to the hotel in the evening. Overnight in Guwahati.
Day 4 Guwahati to Kaziranga National Park
Today morning after breakfast check out from the hotel and we will drive you to Kaziranga National park (220 kms/5.30 hrs). Enroute we will visit Sualkuchi silk weaving and craft village of Assam. The Sualkuchi village is 35 kms from Guwahati and produces some of the best silk in the state. This sleepy little village exudes a charm like no other. Almost every house has an adjacent shed (workshop) that houses the traditional bamboo loom- the gentle click-clacking of which can be heard from the streets. You can walk into any of the numerous workshops and observe the talented weavers weaving intricate patterns on the golden Muga silk. Later continue drive to Kaziranga National Park where we will arrive by late afternoon.
Kaziranga National park is a world heritage site famous for the great Indian one horned Rhinoceros. The landscape of Kaziranga is of sheer forest, tall elephant grass, rugged reeds, marshes and shallow pools. Kaziranga also has a good number of Tigers and is home to large breeding population of Elephants, Wild Water Buffalo and Swamp Deer. Check in to the hotel and later evening 6.30 P.M we will take you to visit the Cultural Dance performance, where you can enjoy a couple of Assamese cultural performances by the local artist. Overnight stay in Kaziranga.
Day 5 Morning Elephant/ Jeep safari in Kaziranga National park- day visit to the local village
Today early morning we will take you to visit the Kaziranga National Park by jeep/ Elephant depends as per the availability of the tickets for elephant ride which is very limited in number, otherwise jeep safari tickets are available. You would be able to see the Great Indian One Horned Rhinoceros, Elephants, Wild Water Buffalo and Swamp Deer.
Later we will return back to the hotel for breakfast and later around 11:00 A.M we will drive you to visit a nearby village for the authentic India travel experience, where we will join a local family for the cooking classes and lunch. Interaction with the locals will provide you the insight of Assamese culture. Late afternoon return back to the hotel and rest of the time is free to relax. Second night at the same hotel in Kaziranga.
Optional: You can have a second jeep safari to the Kaziranga national park in the late afternoon.
Please Note: The Kaziranga National Park remains open from 1st Nov. to 30th April every year. But from last year government was able to open it one month earlier from 1st Oct to Mid May depending on the monsoon. We are hopeful that the government / forest department would be able to open it as per the dates of previous year but the dates can be confirmed just a month is advance depending on the weather and the monsoons in the area.
Day 6 Kaziranga to Johrat
Today morning after breakfast checkout out from the hotel and we will drive you for Johrat (110 kms/3.30 hrs), famous for the Assam Tea Plantations where we will stay overnight in a tea Bungalow. Arrive Johrat by late afternoon and check to your tea bungalow. Later afternoon we will take you for a tea tour around a tea estate known for producing high quality CTC teas. Also experience a tea tasting session of different types of tea with a knowledgeable person in the field of tea / practicing estate Manager.
Evening is free to walk around the tea plantations and even can enjoy golf in a golf course next to your hotel, set up in a tea estate here. Overnight in Johrat.
Day 7 Johrat to Majuli Islands and back to Johrat
Today after early morning breakfast at 7:00 A.M we will drive you to Nimati Ghat ( 45 minutes) to board the ferry to Majuli Islands (1 hrs drive and 1 hrs by ferry). The ferry departs every after 1 hrs to Majuli Islands, carrying the passengers, cars/ bikes on the river Brahmaputra. On arrival at Majuli Islands proceed for a tour around the Island and observing the life of the local tribal people the most famous among the missing tribe the Tibeto-Burman clan of the Mongoloid race.
Majuli Islands located in Brahmputra River Assam, listed as world's largest river Island (1250 sq) in Guinness book of world's record. Majuli, is the largest freshwater river island (1250 sq km) in the world and is contesting for a position in the "World Heritage” list. Since water bodies cover most of the island, it attracts a number of local and migratory birds. About twenty six Satras ( cultural houses of power ) are located in Majuli. These Satras propogate the religious ideology of medeival Assam’s Vaisnavite saints like Sankardev and Madhavdev.
At Majuli we will visit the Potters house where you will experience how clay pots are still made using traditional techniques. We will also visit Mr. Goswami a famous Mask making artist from the Area. We will visit a Satra also - The satras are not just monasteries, but centres of traditional performing arts. The songs and dances initiated by Shri. Sankaradeva the father of Assamese culture. The satras consist of a large prayer hall facing a simple shrine, surrounded by dormitories and bathing tanks for monks. Here, Govinda is worshipped through dance, drama, music and poetry. Late afternoon take a ferry back to Nimati Ghat and drive back to Johrat for second night stay at the hotel in Johrat tea Estate.
Day 8 Jorhat to Kohima
Today after breakfast check out from the hotel and we will drive you to Kohima (198 kms/ 7 hrs) the capital of Nagaland and the sight of Hornbill festival tour. Enroute stop for various comfort/photo breaks and enjoy eating the fresh locally grown pineapples. In the evening arrive at Kohima and check in to the guest house/ home stay with a local family.
Please Note: There are limited basic hotels in Kohima and during the Hornbill festival tour all these are booked around 8-9 months in advance. All the accommodations become much more expensive during the hornbill festival tour which is the peak season.
It is suggested to book your tour well in advance to get the best accommodations. In case best hotels are sold out at the time of booking your tour we will provide you with neat and clean guest house or home stay with attached western toilets for 02 nights stay during the Hornbill Festival Tour in Kohima. Your accommodation is going to be basic neat and clean at Kohima.
Important Note: There is no tea plucking between November ends to Mid March. Visit to the tea factory a tea factory is subject to it being operational on the day of the visit. There is no tea plucking between December till mid March and hence the actual manufacturing process of tea cannot be demonstrated when one visits the factory during Mid March to Mid November. The tea factory also remains closed on every Monday.
Day 9 Kohima to Kisma visit Hornbill Festival for Full day
Today morning after breakfast at 9:00 AM we will drive you to Kisma village the sight of Hornbill Festival tour Nagaland India. We will visit the Kisma from morning 9:30 A.M onwards - The Naga Heritage Village, the venue site of Hornbill festival. The festival gets its name from the Indian Hornbill. The Hornbill is a common bird among the folklores and tribes of Nagaland and can be commonly seen prancing around in the forests of Nagaland. This is a very popular festival of Nagaland. Often cited as “festival of all festivals”, The Hornbill Festival is a grand celebration that is brought to life each year in Nagaland, North East India. The festival is gritting in its element and a powerful representation of the Naga culture through splendid traditional music, dance performances and fun games like chilly eat competition, pineapple eating competition etc. Later round 2.30 have your lunch at the Hornbill Festival and taste the traditional food of one of the local tribes from Nagaland. Horn Bill Festival Group Tour Nagaland India provides you the insight of the tribal communities. Later walk around the huts of various tribes and by 5:00 P.M return back for the second night in the same home stay/ guest house.
Day 10 Visit Kohima - Kisma - participate in the Hornbill Festival and drive to Dimapur
Today after breakfast check out from the home stay/ guest house and visit the Naga Heritage village of Kisma to enjoy the various cultural performances of various ethnic tribes of Nagaland for half day.
Many Naga tribes along with the Konyak Tribe – Better known as the Head Hunters will fascinate you with their fierce headhunting history, which was the part of their strong war traditions. Territorial conflicts between rival tribes and villages were resolved through warfare and Konyaks were feared for their headhunting skills – they beheaded their enemies and brought back the severed heads as trophies in a specially designed basket that they carried to the battles. The heads were then proudly displayed on the walls and doorways of the warriors.
Later at 1:00 PM we will leave the sight of Hornbill festival tour and visit the Kohima World War II memorial cemetery. Later proceed to Dimapur ( 80 kms/ 3.30 hrs) for overnight stay. Dimapur was the former capital of the Kachari tribe, traces of which can be seen even today.
Day 11 Fly from Dimapur to Kolkata
Today morning 07:00 AM we will take you to visit the famous Jain temple in Dimapur where you can see the Jain people following their religious traditions. Return back to the hotel for breakfast and after breakfast as per your flight schedule we will transfer you to Dimapur airport, from where you will board your flight to Kolkata back . On arrival at New Delhi you will be met by our driver and we will transfer you to the hotel in Kolkata. Overnight stay at Kolkata.
Optional: Tonight from 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM you can go for the Dinner on the Cruiser : MV Millennium for the Ganges tour followed by the dinner on the cruise.
Day 12 Fly Back to Your Country
Today morning after breakfast, check out from the hotel and as per your flight schedule we will transfer you to the international airport in Kolkata, from where you will board your flight back to home.
End Of The tour and the services....!
Important Note
This is the tour itinerary for Kolkata Assam and Nagaland Hornbill festival tour package which we run it regularly. It can be altered & customised as we like to discuss plans with clients and can make suggestions about special places to visit depending on our clients’ interests, and available time. You can get an idea of your holidays from the mentioned tour. The itinerary is planned in such a way that while travelling you get a good time to experience India and see the real life of Indian people from much closer. Whether you choose to be on a privately guided tour to India or set off on a more independent trip, with local guides available wherever required, you can travel reassured, knowing our vast experience and provide you with around-the-clock support to smooth out anything unexpected. The safety and well-being of our guests is paramount.
Pre and Post India Extension Tours:
Darjeeling With Himalayan Mountain Railways tour India
3 Nights/ 4 Days
If you choose the above tour as an extension pre or post tour, it would be only 3 Nights extra in the total number of your Kolkata Assam and Nagaland with hornbill festival tour, making it 14 nights 15 days tour, as per the below details:
Day 11: Fly from Dimapur to Bagdogra and drive to Darjeeling
Day 12: Darjeeling local sightseeing tour
Day 13: Darjeeling local sightseeing with Darjeeling Himalayan Mountain Railways tour
Day 14: Drive from Darjeeling to Bagdogra and fly back to Kolkata
Day 15: Fly back to your country
- Interaction with 17 Naga Tribes during the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland
- Cruise the mighty Brahmputra, Major River of Asia a trans-boundary river which flows through China, India and Bangladesh
- Visit Majuli Islands listed as world's largest river island
- Game drive at Kaziranga National Park - home to the world’s largest population of Indian one-horned rhinoceroses
- Cherrapunji often been credited as being the wettest place on Earth
- Walk on the living root bridges and visit the double Decker living root bridge Nongriat
- Visit Arwah limestone caves known for its fossil formations, limestone structures, stalagmite and stalactite formations which are believed to be millions of years old and are naturally carved
- A boat rides at Dawki a small village and the border crossing between India and Bangladesh
- Enjoy the various local cultural dance performances by the local artist of Assam and Nagaland
- Village visit, cooking demo and lunch with a local family
- Visit the local communities, musicians, artists, potters, mask makers, bamboo and cane workers
- Stay at the tea bungalows and visit the tea processing factory
- Visit Satras which are not just temples or monasteries, but important centres of traditional performing arts
- Enjoy the Local Food of Assam and the Naga Tribes at Nagaland
- Witness one of the most colourful and vibrant congregation of cultures and tribes – The Hornbill Festival
Accomodation / Hotels
These destinations are still hidden by groups of tourist, but still a good number of tourists come to explore these beautiful parts of the North East India. These places have plenty of hotels which are well equipped with all modern amenities and comprises variety of deluxe and budget hotels, guest houses, home stay with local people, fixed luxury tented accommodation in Kohima during the Hornbill Festival Tour Nagaland India. Most of these are run by the locals of these areas . One can choose the place of accommodation according to one’s requirement and budget.
You stay in comfortable Neat and Clean local hotels , guest houses including some charming home stay properties and in a luxury tented camp all as preferred by you.
Your living arrangements are not going to be 5 star on this tour, but we do believe that we cater to people requiring different levels of comfort, and most importantly where you stay is CLEAN and COMFORTABLE. We would like to discuss and make suggestions about accommodation at the time of planning your holidays with us.
Please Note: There are limited basic hotels in Kohima and during the Hornbill festival tour all these are booked around 8-9 months in advance. All the accommodations become much more expensive during the hornbill festival tour which is the peak season.
It is suggested to book your tour well in advance to get the best accommodations. In case best hotels are sold out at the time of booking your tour we will provide you with neat and clean guest house or home stay with attached western toilets for 02 nights stay during the Hornbill Festival Tour in Kohima. Your accommodation is going to be basic neat and clean at Kohima
Meals Plan: Room + Breakfast + Dinner
Cloths: Cottons with light woollens
Arrangements
You will follow the itinerary as a Private tour accompanied by one of our excellent Guides/ tour escorts throughout the trip. Internal travel by road from Guwahati to Cherrapunji, Shilliong, Kaziranga National Park, Johrat, Majuali, Dimapur, Kohima is by a private chauffeur-driven SUV car / similar vehicle.
Travel between Johrat to Majuli Island is by a Ferry on River Brahmputra. Internal Flights will be provided to travel from New Delhi to Guwahati and from Dimapur to New Delhi back at the end of the tour.
Tour Cost :
The Cost would be provided on Request
Please Note: The Cost of our each tour is based as per individual requirements, interests and budget of the client. The tour cost depending on the hotel accommodations you choose, food plan, mode of transportation you choose, whether you choose to include Escorted guide throughout the tour or set off on a more independent trip, with local guides available wherever required during the tour. This all we discuss with you while planning your tour and work out the best cost for your tour, accordingly.
We'll work with you until you’re satisfied with every detail of your India Holiday Tour. We'll then manage all your reservations and logistics in India, so that you’re taken care of from the moment you landed in India until your return back. The safety and well-being of our guests is paramount.
Inclusions
- All accommodation on twin sharing using hotels with modern amenities or as per your choice
- All transportation, using 1 Air conditioned SUV car as per the tour itinerary, including all sightseeing as per the tour details, fuel, toll taxes, parking, state taxes
- Economic class, domestic flight tickets 2 way, from New Delhi to Guwahati and from Dimapur to New Delhi back at the end of the tour including baggage allowance of 25 Kgs + 7 kgs hand baggage per person
- Meals Including Breakfast and Dinner during the entire tour
- English Speaking Escorted Guide for entire tour or local guides during the entire tour wherever required / available, as per your choice
- Entrance tickets for the Hornbill Festival
- 1 Boat ride at Dawki on Umangot river on India Bangladesh border
- 1 Game drive by jeep / elephant at Kaziranga National Park
- Cooking classes and lunch with a local family at Kaziranga
- Cultural dance programme at Kaziranga
- Return Cruise tickets on mighty Brahmputra River to visit Majuli Islands
- Visit to tea estate and tea tasting session
- All kind of Entrance tickets to visit monuments, temples, museums etc. wherever required during the entire tour as per the tour itinerary
- 1 bottles of mineral water per person, per day
- All airport arrival and departures
- Assistance on arrival and departure
- All kind of hotel taxes and 5% GST
Exclusions
- Any kind of lunch during the tour , other than 1 with a local family
- Any kind of international flights tickets / visa charges
- Any kind of tips to tour escort / local guides/ drivers/hotel staff
- Any kind of alcohol drinks (Beer/ wine etc).
- Any kind of camera fees
- Your travel Insurance
- Extra Baggage cost on the Domestic flight in India
- Any change in the tour management / additional arrangement due to road blockage / flight cancellations/ flight missed or things beyond our control etc.
- Any Kind of Personal Expenses or things which are not mentioned in the "Cost Includes"
