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Hornbill Festival Tour with Dzukou Trek- Nagaland (6D/5N)

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₹22,450.00

Hornbill Festival Special Backpacking Trip with Dzukou Valley Trek Nagaland

This backpacking trip takes you to the most colorful Hornbill Festival and a hidden treasure located in the far east named Dzukou valley.

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  • Vacation Style Holiday Type
      Backpacking Trip/Trek
    • Activity Level Moderate
      3/8
    • 4 - 15
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    All about the Hornbill Festival Tour with Dzukou Trek- Nagaland (6D/5N).

    Hello Travelers!

    Tucked between Brahmaputra valley on one side, and high mountain passes of Myanmar on the other side, Nagaland is a small mountainous state with unique and colorful culture.

    We will start our journey from Dimapur Airport and Railway station. Our first destination is Khonoma which is called “Green Village”. A walk around the village will introduce us to the culture of Nagas.

    We will then head to Kisama village to experience the true culture of Nagas ranging from food, attire, music to tasting locally blended rice beer. Kisama Heritage village is the home to the most famous Hornbill Festival of Nagas that is celebrated with pomp and glory in the first 10 days of December every year. It’s absolutely an amazing experience out there to immerse in Naga culture and participate in the colorful festival attended by people around the world.

    And then the real heavenly experience beckons – a trek to The Dzukou Valley. The spectacular “mountain wave” setting of Dzukou valley is almost unbelievable. It feels like a setting straight out of fairy tales and makes you wonder – how on Earth such a marvelous creation is plausible!?
    One thing is certain, that you will have lots of stories to tell after this backpacking trip!

    Let’s be part of Festival of Festivals – The Hornbill!

    Highlights of the Nagaland Trip:

    • The Hornbill Festival (2 Days / 2 Nights)
    • The Heavenly Dzukou Valley Trek (2 Days/ 1 Night)
    • Khonoma – The Green Village
    • Kisama Heritage Village – The heart of Nagas culture
    • A unique experience one wouldn’t get any where in India!

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    1. Day 1 Arrival at Dimapur, Khonom Village Walk, drop at Kisama Hornbill Village
      • The trip starts at Dimapur Airport & Railway station. 
      • Our first stop is at the entrance of Kohima, the capital town of Nagaland.
      • A journey of about 1 hour from Kohima will take us  to the green village – Khonoma. We will Go on a beautiful village walk over here.
      • If lucky, we will be treated with a beautiful sunset across the hill with sky changing colors.
      • We will then move towards the happening village of Kisama – the mystic piece of land that showcases rich culture, architecture and practices of The Nagas.
      • Say bye to our Dimapur/Khonoma Driver who will drop us at the camp.
      • Check into our Hornbill Camp located at a beautiful location and just 1.2 Km from the Hornbill arena.
      • Refresh and give a visit to the festival arena by walk.
      • Finish delicious Dinner served at our stay and take a good night’s rest.
    2. Day 2 First day at Hornbill Festival
      • The Kisama Heritage village is the venue of vibrant Hornbill Festival that happens every year from December 1 to 10.
      • After a fulfilling Breakfast, we will walk down to the Heritage village where all the action takes place (There is no need of vehicle for Hornbill).
      • Explore Bamboo pavilions, Idols, Museum, Morungs which are the arenas for the tribes to learn and display different skills like archery, arts, crafts and even headhunting!
      • Wake up the foodie in you. Taste authentic delicacies of Nagas, different kinds & colors of Rice Beer.
      • Get thrilled with magnificent performances by different tribes that form the heart of Naga culture.
      • A day outing at the Hornbill Festival is truly an exhilarating experience once cannot forget.
      • We will walk back to the Camp after finishing our Dinner.
      • Take good rest in the tents.
    3. Day 3 Second Day at Hornbill
      • The closing day at Hornbill festival (Dec 10th) is absolutely amazing.
      • After breakfast we will walk to Kisama Heritage Village to experience amazing closing performances and ceremony.
      • We will do shopping, buy souvenirs for family/friends and celebrate festival long with thousands of people coming from all across the world.
      • There are a variety of food options around Hornbill arena to tickle our taste buds.
      • Enjoy a warm bonfire and snooze for the night in your assigned tents.
    4. Day 4 Dzukou Valley: Trek to Fairy Land, Camping
      • Today we shall go on a guided trek to the heavenly Dzukou valley.
      • We will give a wake up call around 6AM, and our Dzukou cab driver will be at our stay before 8AM in the morning. It takes about 30 mins of journey to the base point of the trek.
      • The initial part of the trek, around 2 hours of the mountain slope, is steeply surrounded by rain forest. The locals have done a great job in maintaining the sanctity of the trail.
      • Once we hike up the mountain, a completely new world appears in front of our eyes. Tens of rolling hills carpeted by dwarf bamboo trees welcome trekkers with a captivating views.
      • This remaining part of trek of about 3 hours through the valley is relatively easy but long. The beauty of the valley will make trekkers forget everything else.
      • We will reach base camp located at a magnificent setting at the other end and drop our bags in the tents once our care taker pitches the tents.
      • After sipping a hot black Tea, we will hike up nearest mountain peak which is the only place with mobile signal!
      • Gear up for a very very cold night. Weather permits, locals may even light a bonfire.
      • Good night inside the cozy tents.
    5. Day 5 Explore the Fairyland, Trek back to Earth
      • Today we shall explore a Helipad and trek down the valley to reach breathtaking grasslands, pristine and cold flowing rivers, floating clouds that act as a crown to the majestic mountain peaks.
      • This 3 Km trek down is icing on the cake of already unimaginable setting of the Dzukou valley
      • After taking endless selfies, couplefies and groupfies, we will finally trek up and have Lunch at our base camp.
      • Resume our trek along the hills, and finally hike down the rainforest of the mountain slope to reach back to Viswema village, the base point where our Dzukou cab will be waiting to pick us.
      • Get back to the camp.
      • Refresh and relax for rest of the evening, finish Dinner.
      • Your body asks for rest after 2 days of trek and exploration. Have a tight sleep.
    6. Day 6 Return journey!
      • Good morning Nagaland, one last time during the trip, until we return back.
      • All the outgoing flights are scheduled around afternoon time from Dimapur Airport. 
      • We will drop you just in time by our cab and good bye for now!
    Dzukou
    Generic Details

    About Trip:

    • This trip involves basic facilities in terms of food, travel, and stay without any luxury, whatsoever.
    • This is a group trip with shared model. It may not suit everyone – especially for those expecting privacy and comfort. It best suits for people who wish to socialize.
    • Please do not book this trip if you are not okay with above points.

    Travel:

    Starting points:

    • Dimapur Railway station: 11:30 AM on Day-1
    • Dimapur Airport: 11:45 AM on Day-1

    Drop points:

    • Dimapur Airport: 11 AM on Day-6
    • Dimapur Railway station: 11:30 AM on Day-6

    Local Travel in Nagaland:

    • Local Travel by Sumo/Innova/Eeco/Winger or similar tourist vehicles.
    • Usually we use multiple vehicles during the trip for different purpose.
    • No vehicle needed for Kisama Heritage Village (Hornbill) exploration as our camp is close to arena.

    How to reach Dimapur by Train:

    • Book a flight to Guwahati (much cheaper than Dimapur flight).
    • Take a morning train to Dimapur – just 5 hours of journey.

    Flight booking:

    • Our Bookings Team can assist you in booking your flight tickets to Guwahati or Dimapur as per your choice.
    • You may whatsapp 9880539183 for assistance in flight timings or tickets.

    Stay:

    • Total 5 Nights on sharing basis
    • Kisama Camp for 4 Nights
      > 2 or 3 sharing tents
    • Dzukou Valley: Camping for 1 Night
      > Common washrooms by Dzukou association

    Trip Basics:

    • Total seats: 10 to 15 per batch
    • Food: Breakfasts are included. Lunches & Dinners are self-sponsored.
    • Dzukou Valley Trek Difficulty: Moderate (1.5 days of trek)
    • Can beginners attempt? : Yes, given one is fit enough.
    • Tents are carried by Potter and individual Sleeping Bags have to be carried by trekkers.
    • Max altitude: Dzukou Valley at 9000 feet above Sea level
    • Climate: Very cold in December (need thermals and thick woolens).

    Booking Procedure:

    There are 2 ways of booking this trip

    • Directly book through Book Now option.
      > Full payment.
    • Through UPI – muddietrails@okaxis
      > Booking amount of  INR 10000 shall be made.
      > Send screenshot to Booking Team on 9880539183. An e-mail confirmation will be sent after acknowledgement.
      > Remaining trip amount shall be paid 1 month before trip start date.
      > Booking amount is non-refundable if cancelled later or failed to pay balance amount on time.
    • Note: Within 1 month, ONLY full payment option is applicable.

    What’s next after booking your trip:

    • Organizers will get in touch with you, or vice versa.
    • Once minimum number of people book this trip (at least 4 members), Organizing team will give a green signal to book your flights.
    • A Whatsapp group will be created for all the registered folks 5 days before the event.

    Special Notes:

    • Travelers are expected to respect local culture, people, and rules of the land. The details will be shared in the WhatsApp group by Trip Captain. This is very important.
    • Travelers are expected to come with an open heart by appreciating the complexities of Mother nature based on seasonal variations, monthly or even daily weather conditions.

    Things to Carry for Hornbill Festival & Dzukou:

    • Toiletries, moisturizer, light towel, lip balm, wet wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste, 
    • A lightweight large Backpack for the entire trip (60 liters or more)
    • A small backpack for basic items (to carry valuables, water bottles, etc for outdoors)
    • Good grip shoes/sandals for the trek walk to/from Hornbill arena
    • Photo identity proof with address (Aadhar/Passport/Voter ID)
    • Thermal inners and warm clothes (cold climate)
    • A rainproof jacket with a hood (to protect from cold winds, sudden rain/snowfall)
    • Waterproof gloves, thick socks, track pants, full sleeve t-shirts (to keep your body warm)
    • Cap/Hat/Sunglasses (to protect from harmful sun rays)
    • Sunscreen (SPF 50 or more)
    • Power bank, charger, camera, binoculars (if you wish to)
    • Hand sanitizer and liquid hand wash will help during journeys
    • Proper water bottle for your trip. You may fill at our guesthouses
    • Disposable garbage covers (To separate used/unused, wet/dry clothes)
    • Extra slippers to use at camps
    • Personal medications, any drugs that you may feel necessary (remember ghat roads, chill climate)
    • No need to carry snacks/chocolates. You may buy at local shops to support local people.

    Seasonal weather:

    • December: Clear skies and amazing sunsets. The extreme chill sets into the Dzukou valley with freezing nights and early mornings. Recommended to carry think woolens or sweat shirts. Cover your face totally in the night with mufflers or monkey caps. Wear thick socks to protect feet.
    The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance.
    Nagaland Package InclusionsItems that are included in the cost of tour price.
    • Travel (Dimapur to Dimapur)
    • Stay for 5 nights
    • 5 Breakfasts
    • Hornbill Festival Entry
    • Dzukou Trekking Fees
    • Local guide, Porter for Dzukou Valley Trek
    • Guide for Khonoma village walk
    • Campfire(s)
    • Trip Captain(s)
    • All entry tickets, permissions for scheduled activities
    • A unique cultural and offbeat experience of the most untouched state Nagaland.
    Nagaland Package ExclusionsItems that are excluded in the cost of tour price.
    • Lunches, Dinners
    • Any kind of insurance, activities, shopping, party, medical expenses
    • Any misc. expenses that are not in inclusions above
    • Any extra cost arising due to any change in the itinerary/stay on account of flight cancellation, bad weather, traffic-congestion/roadblocks, political disturbances and/or any factors beyond our control.

    Terms & Conditions:

    • The itinerary is fixed. No special requests to change itinerary/schedule shall be entertained. Do not give advice(s) to the Trip Leader(s) to change the itinerary.
    • Cooperate with the organizer(s) in following the schedule set for the day (especially getting up and getting ready in the morning). This will ensure travelers won’t miss out on the real fun part that is traveling.
    • Every traveler is responsible for his/her for your own safety. Don’t indulge in any illegal or silly activity that causes harm to you or fellow travelers.
    • Do not wander into the forest away from the designated trail for treks. There may be snakes, scorpions, and dangerous animals.
    • Unexpected situations: It may happen we do not cover all the places mentioned in the itinerary because of unpredictable reasons like bad weather, landslides, wild animal presence, abrupt blocking of sites by the police/forest department, delay in travel because of an issue with our group itself, traffic conditions, etc. In most cases, if the time permits, the organizer(s) will take travelers to an alternative place. But in some cases, we may have to skip a place altogether.
    • Absolutely no littering. We swear to protect our environment.
    • No alcohol & smoking during travel, treks, and other outdoor activities. There would be a separate window and space (usually at night) to have these at the campsite/homestay for interested people.
    • Travelers are expected to respect each other and help each other. Avoid discussing sensitive matters like sex, politics, and religion/caste/race.
    • Using foul or abusive language, eve-teasing, arguing with fellow travelers/organizer(s), and/or involving in the physical assault will not be accepted and will stand a chance of being deserted by the group then and there.
    • The event will stand canceled if less than 8 travelers signed up for the trip/trek which will be informed 24 hours before the trip start time.
    • Every traveler is expected to sign a liability/waiver form given by the organizer(s) after boarding the vehicle. This liability form will discharge Muddie Trails of any unexpected incident like injury/death/theft etc.

    Cancellation Policy:

    Cancellation by Traveler

    • 80% refund if a cancellation request is sent 30 days before the trip start date.
    • 50% refund if a cancellation request is sent between 30 to 15 days before the trip start date.
    • An email has to be sent to muddietrails@gmail.com to raise a cancellation request.
    • No refund within 15 days of the event start time whatever is the reason (Health, COVID, Accident, Family crisis, Office issue, or anything else).
    • No refund during/after the event.
    • No refund on the partial payment (advance) done to block your seat for the trip.

    Cancellation by Muddie Trails

    Muddie Trails may decide to cancel the event if there are less than 3 travelers signed up for the trip/trek.

    What if we don’t get the minimum number of people for the trip?
    We have 2 options in this case:
    Option 1: Complete refund.
    Option 2: Switch to any other trip of the same weekend or future weekends. The difference amount will be collected from you or paid back according to the new trip cost.

    Cancellation due to external factors

    Muddie Trails may have to cancel the event in case of external factors that are beyond our control like Natural Disasters, Extreme Weather Conditions, Red Alerts, Political Disturbances, Bandh/Curfews, Local Issues, Road Blocks, Train cancellations, Covid-19 or any other disease outbreaks etc.

    In these scenarios:

    • No Refund is allowed.
    • 100% trip amount can be used for any other new trip of the same weekend or future weekends. The difference amount will be collected from you or paid back according to the new trip cost.
    • Once you confirm your participation on the new trip, all the above Cancellation policies will apply for the same.

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    Dates Trip Status Price 
    December 8, 2023 - December 13, 2023
    LAST 1 SEAT Available
    ₹22,450.00
    Book Now