Zen Oriental Journeys | Nagaland: Passage to the North East, The Hornbill Festival

Hill tribes during the Hornbill Festival in India

Nagaland: Passage to the North East - The Hornbill Festival

15 November to 8 December 2026

A journey to India's North-East States is a romantic adventure in the best traditions of travel and adventure. East India is ethnically distinct from the rest of India with strong cultural ties to East and South East Asia. From the Bodos, Kacharis, Rangmas, Aptanis, Mishmis from the hills of Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal, Tripura and Mizoram, every tribe has its own unique customs and traditions giving rise to vivid festivals, rituals, textiles, foods and ways of life.

Cut off for years Nagaland, was only opened to visitors very recently. The 'Peoples of the Hills' came to exemplyfy an exotic society and their lands are a region of green hills and verdant valleys where much of the terrain remains forested, and towns and villages perch picturesquely on hill tops. A vibrant, incomparable cultural heritage remains imbued in the isolated Naga Hills to entice the traveller.

The highlight of this journey will be your encounter with all seventeen Naga tribes united for one massive extravaganza - the Hornbill Festival, which aims to revive and protect the rich traditions of the Naga tribes. Your eyes and cameras will capture the splashes of mesmerizing colour and the exuberant atmosphere of this visual feast.

If you like to mingle with nature, romance in the mountains, feel the tingle of the cool and gentle breeze, watch leaves flutter in dance-like movements and hear sounds of birds fill the air, all set in the context of some of the worlds' most enduring and vibrant cultures, then Passage to the North East is for you.

For a detailed itinerary please contact Zen Oriental Journeys by emailing Lee Grafton or ring 0401 123 347

ON THIS JOURNEY YOU WILL:

• Immerse yourself in the great city of Kolkata, former capital of the British Raj
• Encounter the potters and devotional image makers of ancient Kumartuli
• Engage with a whirl of colour, devotion and ritual of ancient Hinduism at the great temples to Karli on the banks of the mighty Ganges
• Journey deep into remote North East India, punctuated by Himalayan peaks and verdant valleys of deep jungle; a region untouched by tourism
• Discover radically different cultures amongst dozens of tribal villages
• Go spotting for Gibbon, hornbills and Blyth’s Tragopan, butterflies and jungle denizens
• Stay with local peoples and sample an array of local foods and delicacies in an authentic setting; try traditional freshwater fishing with your hosts
• Learn how the peoples work in a sustainable way
• witness a kaleidoscope of the cultural extravaganza of Nagaland; the Great Hornbill Festival
• Enjoy

DURATION:

Departure date: 15 November 2026
Duration: 22 days (land only)

PRICING:

Indicative price per person twin share (Land only): AUD 7,155.00

Airfare: From Australia TBA when available for booking

Prices may fluctuate due to changes in charges, taxes and currency. Prices and flights are correct at time of preparing this program and are subject to availability at time of booking. Special conditions and seasonal surcharges to airfares and package prices may apply depending on date of travel. Flight times are subject to change by the airline. Please visit: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au or ring 1300 139 281 for information on current Government travel advice.

Bookings will be processed in order of receipt. Any bookings after this date will be accepted subject to visa processing, flight availability, land content and room availability. Such booking must be paid in full after confirmation of your acceptance in the tour. Special conditions and additional charges to airfares and package prices may apply depending on date of booking.