Hornbill Festival, Dzukou Valley, Khonoma & Dzuleke | 5 Days
4 Nights
Premium Stay
Meals
Breakfast Incl.
Transport
Private Vehicle
Expert Guide
Experienced
Tour Overview
Every December, the hills above Kohima come alive with log drums, tribal dance, and the smell of smoked pork over open fire. This 5-day journey takes you into the heart of Hornbill Festival, then out past the festival grounds entirely, into the rolling meadows of Dzukou Valley and the quiet, self-governed villages of Khonoma and Dzuleke. It's a trip built for travelers who want more than a festival day-pass: real culture, real trekking, and real village life, all in one loop out of Dimapur.
Detailed Itinerary
Dimapur to Kisama
We pick you up from Dimapur and drive up into the hills toward Kisama Heritage Village, the permanent home of Hornbill Festival. Once we arrive, the rest of the day is yours to explore the festival grounds: walk through the Morungs of Nagaland's tribes, catch the afternoon dance performances, and try your first plate of Naga food from the Naga Flavours zone. Tonight, you'll camp right at Kisama, close enough to hear the evening's music carry across the hills. Overnight stay in tents at Kisama.
Kisama to Dzukou Valley
Early start today. We leave the festival behind for a full day trekking into Dzukou Valley, the "Valley of Flowers of the Northeast." The trail climbs through forest before opening into rolling green meadows that stretch further than feels possible this close to a festival crowd. It's a proper trek, not a stroll, so come with decent footwear and a reasonable level of fitness. Overnight stay at the Dzukou Valley campsite.
Dzukou Valley back to Kisama
We trek back down from the valley, retracing yesterday's route in daylight, which shows you views you likely missed on the way up. Back at Kisama by evening, with time to return to the festival grounds for a second look, this time without the pressure of an itinerary, before the night's performances begin. Overnight stay in tents at Kisama.
Khonoma and Dzuleke
Today we leave the festival crowd entirely. A short drive brings us to Khonoma, known across Nagaland as Asia's first "green village," an Angami heritage site built around terraced fields and a decades-old community conservation effort. From there, we continue to Dzuleke, a small village nearby where homestay hosting is shared and rotated among the community itself, rather than concentrated in one or two houses. We walk the village trails, see how both places balance tourism with everyday village life, then return to Kisama in the evening. Overnight stay in tents at Kisama.
Kisama to Dimapur
Morning check-out, and we begin the drive back to Dimapur, with a buffer built in for hill-road delays, in time for your onward flight or train.
What's Included & Excluded
Included
- All accommodation
- All sightseeing as per itinerary
- Breakfast
- Experienced local guide
Not Included
- Airfare / Train tickets
- Travel Insurance
- Lunch
- Personal expenses
- Camera fees (if any)
- Anything not mentioned in inclusions
