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.

Today to start with your Northeast India with Nagaland Hornbill Festival tour, you will be met from your flight to New Delhi International Airport by Summit Safari’s representative and driver, and we will transfer you to your hotel in New Delhi. Rest of the day is free at leisure to relax after the flight.

Please Note: Instead of New Delhi you can start of Finish This Tour at Kolkata also. Kolkata international airport is in East Part of India, there are flights from Dubai (Middle East Asia) / Singapore (South East Asia). If you are coming from U.K / Europe or from Australia you can get your connecting flights from these places to Kolkata. We would like to discuss these things with you at the time of your booking of the holidays with us.

Today morning after breakfast we will transfer you to the New Delhi 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 provided a traditional welcome and will be transferred 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.

Today after breakfast at 08:30 A.M we will check out from the hotel and will drive you to Cherrapunji (155 kms / 5 hrs), also known as Shora, via Shillong the capital of Meghalaya State.

Drive past Shillong City the capital of Meghalaya and take a walking tour with the local guide at the Mawphlang sacred forest. There is only one rule, however, to be followed in this sacred forest. And, that is – “You cannot take anything out of this forest, else the deity gets upset”. Removing even the tiniest thing from the forest means you’re disrespecting the deity. It is said that whoever attempts to break this rule is punished with illness, which can even lead to death. It isn’t just the legends and myths of the sacred forest that attracts tourists; its physical majesty is also a crowd puller. The entry to the forest is marked by lush green branches and as you step inside, you will see an inter-connected network of trees and plants – some of which are said to be over 1,000-years-old. It is an amazing visual spectacle, plus there is a widespread belief that some of these plants possess medicinal properties, including the ability to cure tuberculosis and cancer. In addition, there are monoliths inside the forest that are considered to be the spot for sacrifices. The local tribal people sacrifice animals here to make their wishes come true.

Later continue your drive to Cherrapunji the small hilly village 56 kms from Shillong. It is one of the most visited tourist place of North East India at a height of 1300 metres and is one of the wettest places on earth.

The old Chera or Sohrarim was the original Chera village, but the British Established their headquarters further south and village came to known as Shora. The narrow winding road from shilling is quiet picturesque. The entire region teems with gushing waterfalls, plunging into deep gorges. On arrival at Cherrapunji visit the Arwah Cave. The Arwah caves are limestone caves known for its fossil formations, limestone structures and stalagmite and stalactite formations which are believed to be millions of years old and are naturally carved. It houses many narrow passages and chambers as well as a stream that flows inside the cave.

We will also visit Nohkalikai water fall- one of the highest waterfalls in India (115 feet / 340 metres) from the view point. The view point also offers the finest views of the plains of Bangladesh. By evening check into the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Today morning after breakfast at 08:00 A.M drive to Terla village ( 20 minutes) from where you will start your walk to Nongriat and will visit the Living Root Bridges in the area (trekking 2 hrs down hill and 2.30 hrs uphill back). You have to walk 3000 steps downhill and uphill to reach these beautiful living root s bridges. Living root bridges are one of the major highlights during the Assam and Meghalaya Cultural, nature and wildlife tour. You will visit a couple of living root bridges in the area and the most famous among all is the Double Decker Living Root Bridge at Nongriat. Walking to Nongriat will take minimum 5-6 hrs both ways as you will stop for various pictures break and will also have lunch in the village. Return back to Cherrapunji by evening. Second night stay at the same hotel in Cherrapunji.

Please Note: alternative sightseeing or change of tour plan would be suggested during the time of planning your tour with us, for the people who do not want to do this hike to the Living Root Bridge at Nongriat Village (5-6 hrs of walking down and up both ways).

Today morning 7:30 A.M check out from the hotel and drive to Dawki (85 kms / 3.30 hrs) a small town and the border crossing between India and Bangladesh. We will take the boat ride( 30 minute) on the Umangot River, in a small village near Dawki with greenish-bluish water so clear that one can see the bottom of the river even from as high as the bridge over the river. You can have lunch here and later continue your drive to Shillong ( 85 kms/ 3 hrs) the Capital town of Meghalaya. Evening you are free to walk around the Police bazaar and the local market in Shillong. Overnight in hotel in Shillong.

Today morning after breakfast at 08:30 A.M drive to Kaziranga ( 310 kms/ 6 hrs). Just out of Shillong we will stop at the Umiam Lake view point. The Lake was created by damming the Umiam River in the early 1960s for the purpose of Hydro Electricity project.

We do stop for comfort breaks and will arrive Kaziranga National park 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 at the where you can enjoy a couple of Assam cultural performances by the local artist. Overnight stay in Kaziranga

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 1^st Nov. to 30^th April every year. But from last year government was able to open it one month earlier from 1^st 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.

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.

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.

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.

Today morning after breakfast at 9:00 A.M 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.

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 P.M 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.

Today morning 07:00 A.M 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 New Delhi back. On arrival at New Delhi you will be met by our driver and we will transfer you to the hotel in New Delhi. Overnight stay at New Delhi.

Today morning after breakfast, check out from the hotel and as per your flight schedule we will transfer you to the international airport in New Delhi, from where you will board your flight back to home.

End Of The tour and the services....!

This is the tour itinerary for the Northeast India with 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.