The Hornbill Festival is Nagaland’s most celebrated celebration of culture and traditions. It is an extravaganza that showcases the traditions, folk dances, folk songs, log drum support music, unique games and cuisine of the different tribal groups of Nagaland. The festival is celebrated every year from the 1st to the 7th of December at Kisama heritage village near Kohima.
Ease India Travel offers a 7 days/6 nights tour package for the Hornbill festival for the years 2021 and 2022. The tour package offers two full days of Hornbill festival, along with other visits to Changtongya village, Dzuleke and Zhavame, and Pfutsero. The cost of the tour package is INR 62,400 (per person) for double occupancy and INR 78,000 (per person) for single occupancy (5% GST, Indian Nationals Only). Other inclusions of the package are all meals, a local escort during the tour, Inner Line permits and entry to the Hornbill festival. This tour is especially recommended for families, women groups, seniors and other adventure travelers.
The log drum that altered a retired banker’s perspective.
He hadn’t been really keen on going.
His wife really wanted to go, and after a while he conceded. Nagaland was better than a beach for him, but still, he planned for the trip like a man expecting the worst. Only 2 sweaters and 1 book were all he took with him.
He was caught off guard by the stunning beauty of Nagaland and its culture. And the festival really won his heart. He even danced to Nagaland’s rhythm, a hearty beat that’s remembered in the form of the log drums.
On the second festival day, a group of Konyak men began playing their largest log drum. Some of the younger men helped hold the massive drum in place as it was played. The sound vibrated up through the ground and through his shoes. He’d never seen so many warriors dancing before.
His wife turned to him to say something, but he was already taking pictures and acting like a boy with a school girl crush, neglecting his book in the process.
Pork and rice later that day, he quietly asked the trip leader about other tours offered by Ease India Travel through Arunachal Pradesh. The beach can wait.
Hornbill is a puller of people, without any pressure to be explained. This festival is like many others, celebrating the traditions of the various Naga communities. Hornbill brings all these scattered traditions into one colors, sounds and smells.
What Is the Hornbill Festival?
The Festival exists to preserve the various indigenous practices of the Naga people and serves as a showcase for various dance and song traditions. The Nagas have many seasonal and harvest celebrations, and throughout Hornbill, they represent all these through colorful pageantry and costumes.
What’s in a Name?
Great hornbills are also important to Nagas in mythology and are admired for their courage, leadership and fidelity. The tribe’s head dresses often contain hornbill feathers. Using the great hornbill as a mascot allowed the festival to bring together the heterogeneous yet closely related tribes of Nagaland.
What Visitors Get to Witness
- Vibrant tribal dances and dramatic warrior chants
- Thundering performances on the log drums
- Various ethnic games and sporting activities
- Traditional house structures of the tribes
- Folktales
- Music and dance shows
- Night food markets selling local delicacies and rice beer
- Handicrafts and handloom products
Hornbill festival offers something for everyone. It’s a great opportunity to experience the myriad cultures preserved by the people of Northeast India.
A Time for the Northeast
For a long time the Northeast was a distant region of the Indian subcontinent in travel plans. That is not the case any more.
More Air and Road Options
The rise of commercial aviation and improvements in roads led to the region becoming more accessible. With investments from the Central Government, the region’s infrastructure is improving, including the newly developed Dimapur airport.
As the festival has evolved over the years, so has the festival itself. Its 25th edition in 2024 was particularly special and celebrated as a ‘silver jubilee’ festival. It also drew record setting crowds to Kisama.
people want to experience other cultures
‘Cultural Tourism’ is a growing trend not just in India, but also around the world. And the younger generation is even more interested. As reported in one travel article, users on Tiktok and Instagram are publishing videos of local meals, traditions, and way of life, as an alternative to mere selfies.
Nagaland already caters to this trend. Their culture and traditions are woven into their everyday lives and give visitors a plethora of experiences.
Finding the Right Balance
It’s important to keep in mind that what works to cater to the increasing demands of tourists, can backfire. Eventually there are trade-offs. For example, competition for amenities like rooms, food, and transportation increase for locals as well.
The demands on Nagaland and its resources increase during the festival season. Permits need to be planned in advance. Tourists should also be prepared for realities of the region, like the long and winding mountain roads, and chilly evenings that drop to below freezing.
A lot depends on local situation. Figuring out which morung to visit and when to experience various performances requires expert local knowledge. Most important is understanding local customs.
Ease India Travel knows all of this and more, and thus enables visitors to enjoy performances rather than dealing with details.
Who This Hornbill Festival Tour Is For
Most travelers can enjoy this tour, including:
- Couples
- Solo travelers
- Women
- Families
Ages and interests notwithstanding, the focus of this tour is to experience and appreciate the diverse culture of India’s Northeast and attend the Hornbill Festival.
The tour is best for travelers living in and around Mumbai and Pune. Ease India Travel team helps customers of this tour to book connecting flights to Dimapur.
The 7 Day Hornbill Festival Itinerary
Day 1 (5 December): Arrival in Dimapur and Drive to Khonoma
Guests will be met upon arrival at Dimapur airport by a driver who will transfer you to Khonoma. Khonoma is an Angami village located in the Nagaland hills and is considered India’s first ‘green’ village. In the 1970s the people of the village decided to protect their natural resources and prohibited hunting and deforestation. Today the village has a thriving wildlife population.
On arrival, guests will be transferred to a local homestay. The remainder of the day will be at leisure to explore the village on your own. Overnight Khonoma.
Day 2 (6 December): Village Life in Khonoma and Dzuleke
Post breakfast, guests will have the opportunity to go on a short nature walk to some of the scenic spots in the village.
Next you will drive to the picturesque Dzuleke village located in a beautifully landscaped and forested area. On arrival you will enjoy a simple yet hearty lunch at a local home. Post lunch you will drive back to Khonoma where you will spend the night.
Day 3 (7 December): On to Pfutsero via Zhavame
Post breakfast, guests will drive to Pfutsero via Zhavame. On the way you will stop to visit and have lunch at a local home. After lunch you will visit the local farms and orchards.
Later in the day you will drive to Pfutsero, the highest town in Nagaland.
Day 4 (8 December): Trip to a Peak and Kohima’s Night Market
You have the opportunity today to hike to either Glory Peak or Kapamodzu Peak to enjoy panoramic views of the Nagaland Hills. You will then drive to Kohima to visit the Local Market. Here you will purchase last minute items you may have forgotten.
After settling into the hotel, visitors can take a rest before heading to Kohima’s night market. Spending an evening here is a great way to spend an off day during your trip.
Day 5 (5th Dec, Saturday): Kisama and the Hornbill Festival
Today, visitors get to experience the electrifying atmosphere of the Hornbill Festival and see a variety of performances and activities. A walk through the morungs and a shop or two for local crafts and shawls can’t hurt either. Guests stay at Kohima for the night.
Day 6 (6th Dec, Sunday): The Hornbill Festival
This is the perfect day to see a performance you may have missed and experience a more laid back festival atmosphere. After a day of kicking back and enjoying the festival, guests can go and shop at their own pace. Guests stay at Kohima again for the night.
Day 7 (7th Dec, Monday): Saying Goodbye
After breakfast, guests say goodbye to Kohima and take the flight home, where they can share their stories of a colorful and culturally rich trip, along with some local treats like a jar of king chilli pickle.
Inclusions and Exclusions
What’s Included
- Twin sharing accommodation
- Meals
- Local escort
- Inner Line Permit
- Village and festival entrance fees
- Parking and fuel charges
- Ease India Travel representative
What’s Not Included
- Flight tickets
- Tips and Gratuities
- Any kind of expenses of personal nature
- Insurance
- Medical costs
- Alcohol and beverages
- Food and drinks
- Additional expenses
How to Reach Nagaland and Expected Weather
How to Reach
The nearest airport is Dimapur, from where you can take a flight to Delhi, Kolkata or Guwahati. Flights from Mumbai and Pune have a connection at one of these cities. The Ease India Travel team can coordinate your flight times.
Expected Weather in Early December
- Average 19 to 20 Degrees C during the day
- Average 6 to 8 Degrees C during the night
Bring layers. Day time can be warm. Night time can be cold.
Ease India Travel and Hornbill Festival
Many operators can organize a hotel in Kohima. Few can organize a journey that helps guests learn about the culture and traditions of Nagaland the way Ease India Travel does.
Our team has extensive experience crafting itineraries and has a deep understanding of the off-the-beaten-path places in Nagaland. Before reaching Kisama for the festival, guests will visit several places to enjoy the beauty of Nagaland and learn about other stories.
There are numerous opportunities to engage with the local people. Guests will have the opportunity to stay with local families and have meals with them as well as have a local trip leader with them to explain local customs.
There are several charges and permits that guests will not have to worry about because they will be covered by us.
We have local employees who are available 24/7 to assist our guests beginning from the time they book their trip until the time they return home. We have an excellent team of people who will respond to requests and changes that are made by guests and will assist them to the best of their ability.
Guests have the option of increasing the length of their stay.
Practical Tips Before You Go
- Be sure to take warm clothes because evenings can be cool. You will be thankful you took warm clothes.
- You will be doing a lot of walking on uneven surfaces. Take comfortable shoes.
- You will want a reusable water bottle for your hike and to help the environment.
- Keep cash to support the local vendors. Smaller stalls may not have card readers.
- Ask if you can take a picture. Some may be offended by an unannounced picture.
- Bring travel insurance. The packages will not provide this, but it is important to have.
- Let your guide know if you are a vegetarian. Nagaland has a lot of meaty dishes.
What do other travelers want to know?
Are permits required for Indians to travel to Nagaland?
Yes, Indians will need an Inner Line Permit. The permit is included in your package.
Is Nagaland a good destination for women and senior travelers?
Yes, Nagaland has some of the best hospitality. The tour is organized for senior travelers.
Is the Hornbill Festival good for families?
Yes, the fest has games and performances. There are village tours for families to learn about the Naga way of life.
Can the tour length be changed?
Yes, the tour length can be shortened or extended.
Hear the Drums for Yourself
The former banker in the example above, sends his trip leader photos of hornbill feathers on calendars. His wife said he is more enthusiastic talking about log drums than about cricket. For sure, hornbill draws that kind of passion.
With Ease India Travel, you get to witness the Hornbill Festival with lots of extras including homestays in India’s first ‘green’ village, sunrise views from Pfutsero, and 2 days of the Festival of Festivals. And of course, we organize logistics including permits, meals and local transport.
December is the only month Kohima has visitors and small group departures sell out quickly.
Tour Details at a Glance
- Dates: 5 to 11 December
- Duration: 7 days
- Price: Double room (per person) – Rs. 62,400 | Single room (per person) – Rs. 78,000, plus 5% GST
- Who should go? Solo and senior women, senior and solo couples, families, and those seeking adventure from Pune and Mumbai.
Book Your Spot
To book your spot on Ease India Travel’s tour to the Hornbill Festival: https://easeindiatravel.com/trips_will_love/Hornbill_Festival
For more information, the Ease India Travel team can be reached on +91 70582 06955 (Call/WhatsApp).
Carry your jacket, and an open mind and enjoy the show!
