Dec 7 - 13
Dimapur
3 Star Hotels/Lodging
6 Nights
breakfasts
14
SHORT ITINERARY
Arrive at Dimapur airport before 2 pm and move towards Kohima hotel in our vehicle. Its a wonderful drive though the valleys and hills. You will need your ILPs done to enter the state. Your Nagaland hornbill festival group trip 2023 starts today.
See the 16 different tribes , their huts, Shoot an air gun, dance with the tribes, have some rice beer, some Naga chilli and a lot of fun. Today is your introduction to hornbill festival. Trust me I am only mentioning about 40% of the trip experiences in this itinerary. I will let you all experience it by yourself when you are there. Isn’t that what we all want from travelling !
DID YOU KNOW?
Hornbill Festival happens in Kisama village which interestingly takes its name from 2 adjoining villages Kigwema and Phesama.
Hike towards valley via Vishwema trail . It would take 2 hours from hotel to reach the starting point and another 4Hrs of trekking to reach the valley. You will be staying in mountain huts today. The facilities here are basic as we will be staying in the middle of the valley.If you have never hiked before this might be a really good place to start. Get ready to spend an amazing night out in the outdoors and bone chilling cold. Temperature in the night will easily fall below 5 degree Celsius at night.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Inauguration of the hornbill festival happens on the same day Nagaland was proclaimed a state of the Indian Union.
Head back from the valley through a different route and head back to Kohima hotel. Today we head out to night carnival. The streets of Kohima lits up and so many families come and put up stalls of eateries , face painting, Juices and even local drinks. We can even get on Giant wheels and do some balloon shooting today if you are game 🙂
DID YOU KNOW?
The word Dzouku means soulless and dull even though when you visit the place, you do not feel that. The tribe, unable to grow crops, named it Dzouku and moved on to different pastures
In the evening we will head out to the last concert of our trip . I am not hyping it up but it is a pretty kick ass one.
Did you know the last time, it was A.R.Rahman who ended the show? So buckle up for a very good evening with a lot of variety if music in an outdoor setup.
How can a trip to Kohima not have a visit to the WW2 memorial. Today we will spend about an hour in Garisson hill learning the history of this city , about Japanese soldiers , British and the Indians who served under british during the war.
If possible, we will try to see one event before we head to Pfutsero. The festival schedule will be out 2 weeks prior to the trip and we will see how we can find time to see this maximum number of events. We will attend Stone pulling , if our schedule allows.
DID YOU KNOW?
Blyth’s Tragopan is the state bird of Nagaland and can be sighted from Dzouku and Phutsero.
A 10 mins hike from the Pfutsero will take us to glory peak where we will see one of the best sunrises in the trip and head back to kohima by afternoon.
Today , we will also try to visit the Japanese caves in the outskirts of the town where the Japanese soldiers took refuge during the World War II . This is completely depending on how safe the cave approach route is. we also walk amongst pink cherry blossoms if we are lucky with blooming season.
DID YOU KNOW?
The motto of the whole state is Unity and it is represented in the state emblem.
DID YOU KNOW?
If you are daring enough, you can take part in the chili eating contest at the festival.
Today we start really early from Kohima and drive to airport so that reach at 10 AM to the airport. Our Nagaland hornbill festival group trip 2023 comes to an end today.
It is so rare after a certain age to meet new people, vibe with them and then genuinely be their friends. Iykyk. And exactly this was what made my 'solo trip' with a group led by Laxman to the already incredible Hornbill Festival, Nagaland so so special. I met 14 absolutely amazing people, had a ball and came back home with not just beautiful memories & a fulfilled soul but also some wonderful friends who I am in touch with, Laxman being one of them.
Of the many many treasured moments from the trip, I remember two that are very close to my heart - one was a really deep conversation in the freezing night by the bonfire where we endlessly discussed life in it's flesh & skin and the other was an early morning hike down & back from the top to the stunning & surreal valley at Dzuko which by far has been the shortest but the best hike of my life. A huge huge shoutout to OJ for the unbeatable skill of curating the best itineraries. Looking to many more trips with you guys (EBC is in less than a month, yay!) \m/ cheers
So, a trip with ‘’One in the orange jacket’’ is not just a trip with Vyshakh….it is a prospective changing experience with a group of people coming from all across the country.
We as social beings, feel stuck at one point or need validation or just need a break from the routine at the very least. I think I have had the chance to meet some free spirited, no filter, really really fun people which made me realize that life is more than just wanting it to be perfect or worrying over not so important stuff. If you are as lucky as I am, you will definitely meet a bunch of such people.
About the trip leader… Vyshakh is a no-nonsense guy who would want every person to enjoy the outdoors as much as he does. Just go with what he says, you would be glad to have done it!!! He is the happiest, if you are happy.
Now I have friends from three different parts of the country. It would be great to recreate the memories…if that’s not possible…. looking forward to creating new memories with them. Cheers to many more trips with Vyshakh.
Love, Haritha
GROUP TRIP DATES :
FLIGHTS CONSIDERATION :
Onwards : Dec 7th, Before 2 pm
Outwards : Dec 13th, After 12 pm
COST ( excluding 5% GST )
Rs. 30,999/ Pax ( Eco-8 slots )
Rs. 33,999/ Pax ( Deluxe-6 slots )
Note :
You are loosing Rs.500 by not referring this trip to your friend ( Refer to 2 friends who might join you & all of you gets Rs.500 off each while you book together )
You can block the slot by paying a token amount of 10,000 INR for this trip either by UPI , credit card/ EMI or by Bank transfer.
Be Proud Of You. A Trip Is Gift To Self. When Was The Last Time You Gifted Yourself ?
You are loosing Rs.500 by not referring this trip to your friend ( Refer to 2 friends who might join you & all of you gets Rs.500 off each while you book together )
Before 45 days of trip, there will be 10% cancellation charge
Before 30 days and within 44 days of arrival, there will be 25% cancellation charge
Before 15 days and within 29 days of arrival ,there will be 50% cancellation charge
Within 14 days of trip there will be 100% cancellation charges
Note that the cancellation charge is on the trip amount. All this been said if you or me can find a replacement for the slot. I will be happy to refund the entire amount. 🙂
Carry only a medium-sized suitcase or 50L backpack equivalent. Large suitcases aren’t allowed since we are moving several hotels on this trip. The daypack/handbag would be kept with you while travelling. So keep that super light too. 🪶. Ideally, a 10L bag. Please be very mindful about the bag size.
Most people come alone for my trips. About 25% of the people bring a friend or partner.Honestly It really doesn't matter. I have seen on all the batches I have lead. Most people really gel with everyone, even the ones who thought wouldn't gel up, surprise themselves always with the way they got comfortable with everyone.
Each trek/ trip is rated according to the number of days we spend outdoors . If you aren't sure where to start, go with an easy trip or trek.
For trips,
I dreamed of trips where we could go out hike , get exhausted , come back to hotel and have a great evening. This is exactly why some of my trips have Day hikes in it. It is a perfect chance for people who have never hiked in their entire life. Don't worry, We are there :).
For treks,
you can start with Sandhakphu or Chandrashila . You can also benchmark yourself for the treks.
If you have never done a high altitude trek, then start with a easy or Easy- moderate trek. That way you will understand how your body reacts to high altitude and you can check you cardio strength too.
Usually, most batch sizes are between 12-20 people who are aged between 16-38. Most people come alone or with a friend. The trip would feel like you are travelling more with college friends than strangers. We tend to do more outdoorsy things than regular trips .
For example : If we find a very pretty waterfall/ a beautiful sunset / Rainbow on the way. We would stop the vehicle right away to catch the beauty of it.
We usually sleep very late on these trips as we play a lot of group games and most people feel they will miss the precious time with the group members and decides to stay awake.
Here are few places you can read more about the brand and trips
FESTIVAL GROUP TRIP 2023
The Ultimate Guide to 11 Local Markets and Bazaars in Nagaland!
Experience 10 Best Camping Sites in Nagaland: Calling all Adventure Lovers
From Music to Colors: 12 Vibrant Festivals in Nagaland You Can't Miss
11 Top National Parks in Nagaland: Get Lost in Nature
13 Best Nightlife Spots in Nagaland Revealed: Unleash the Night
11 Best Things to Buy in Nagaland: Unlock the Secrets
14 Most Popular Temples in Nagaland - Unveiling the Spiritual Gems!
12 Best Hiking Trails in Nagaland: Experience the Thrill
15 Best Adventure Activities in Nagaland: Experience Adrenaline Rush
Best Time to Visit Nagaland Revealed: Discover the Ultimate Adventure
15 Things to Know Before Visiting Nagaland: Unlock the Mysteries
12 Things to Avoid in Nagaland at All Costs: Traveler Beware
13 Best Things to Do in Kohima Unleash Your Wanderlust
14 Best Things to Do in Dimapur: Unleash the Adventure (2023)
13 Best Things to do in Mokokchung: Unforgettable Adventures
13 Best Things to Do in Wokha: Unleash Your Inner Explorer
12 Best Things to Do in Phek: Prepare to Be Amazed!
13 Best Things to Do in Mon: Unleash Your Wanderlust
Top 13 Historical Places in Nagaland: Witness the Past
9 Best Hill Stations in Nagaland That Will Leave You Spellbound!
17 Best Restaurants in Kohima: The Taste of Success
15 Best Restaurants in Dimapur are here to Satisfy Your Cravings
Discover the 13 Best Restaurants in Mokokchung for Unforgettable Dining
10 Best Restaurants in Wokha That Will Blow Your Mind
12 Best Restaurants in Phek You Can't Miss: Taste Paradise
5 Best Restaurants In : Mon From Fine Dining To Street Food
10 Best Homestays in Kohima: Ultimate Comfort and Serenity
12 Reasons Why You Should Visit Nagaland: Plan your trip now
Hornbill Festival Guide: Discover the Untold Story
10 Reasons To Attend The Hornbill Festival in Nagaland
Best Souvenirs to Buy at Hornbill Festival in Nagaland