Compare Assam & Nagaland Hornbill Festival by Travel The Unknown vs India in 7 days - The Golden Triangle - Charm by Exoticca

Day 1: Jorhat - Kaziranga

Meal: Dinner

On arrival in Jorhat your guide and driver will escort you to Kaziranga National Park. Check into the lodge and rest of the day free to relax. Overnight in Kaziranga.

Overnight in Wild Grass Lodge, Kaziranga National Park

Day 2: Kaziranga

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Early morning game drive in Kaziranga. Return to the lodge for breakfast. Free time to rest or visit the nearby Orchid Sanctuary. After lunch proceed for afternoon game drive. Return to lodge for dinner. Evening to relax. The evening is free to relax. Overnight in Kaziranga.

Overnight in Wild Grass Lodge, Kaziranga National Park

Day 3: Kaziranga – Jorhat

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Early wake up with a hot cup of chai and biscuits. A jeep will take you to the Central Sector for your elephant safari [optional]. Return to the jungle lodge for breakfast. The rest of the morning is free at your leisure. In the afternoon, leave for a jeep safari in the eastern sector. Afterwards leave for Jorhat. On arrival check into your accommodation. Evening free to rest. Overnight in Jorhat.

Overnight in Kaziranga Golf Resort, Jorhat

Day 4: Jorhat - Majuli - Jorhat

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Get an early morning private boat and spend the day exploring one of the largest river islands in the world. Visit the island's ancient satras (rare Hindu Vaishnavite monasteries worshipping Lord Vishnu) and pop into the local mask and pottery workshops to watch master craftsmen at work. In the afternoon, take the boat back to Jorhat. The evening is free at your leisure. Overnight in Jorhat.

Overnight in Kaziranga Golf Resort, Jorhat

Day 5: Jorhat - Mon

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, drive to Mon District, home to the Konyak Naga tribe. Once one of the most elaborate and fierce head-hunting tribes of Nagaland, the tribal elders still exhibit signs of their ancient customs including tattooed faces, elaborate head dresses, and many of their homes still display animal skulls. Overnight in Mon.

Overnight in Helsa Cottage and Resort, Mon District

Day 6: Mon

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Full day exploring more of Mon, including a visit to the village of Longwa which straddles both India and Myanmar. Take a look inside a typical tribal bamboo hut and learn about their way of life. The evening is free at your leisure. Overnight in Mon.

Overnight in Helsa Cottage and Resort, Mon District

Day 7: Mon - Sibsagar

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, leave for Sibsagar, the former capital of the Ahom Dynasty. The road will be bumpy so the rest of the day will be free to rest. Ovenight in Sibsagar.

Overnight in Hotel Piccolo, Sibsagar

Day 8: Sibsagar

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Spend the day visiting the ruins of the Ahom dynasty in Sibsagar. Later also visit the nearby Mising tribal village to get an insight into rural village life in Assam. Overnight in Sibsagar.

Overnight in Hotel Piccolo, Sibsagar

Day 9: Sibsagar - Dimapur

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Leave for Dimapur, the second largest town in Nagaland which borders Assam. Visit the Dimasa Kachari ruins and the Kali Temple. After lunch, check into your accommodation. The evening is free to relax. Overnight in Dimapur.

Overnight in Niathu Resort, Dimapur

Day 10: Dimapur - Kohima

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Drive to Kohima and visit the famous World War II cemetery in Kohima, commemorating the British and Nagas who fought side-by-side to defeat the Japanese. Check into hotel and later in the evening, visit the local street food carnival where numerous food stalls serve local snacks. Overnight in Kohima.

Overnight in Classic Aradura Inn, Kohima

Day 11: Kohima

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, set off for the village of Kisama on the outskirts of Kohima. Stop at the viewpoint en-route for excellent views of the valley. On arrival in Kisama, take your seat in the amphitheatre where the main tribal performances will take place. This day of the festival typically sees tribes from all over North East India's 'Seven Sister' states perform traditional dances depicting war cries or customs relating to their interaction with nature and agriculture. During the day visit the many 'morungs' (communal tribal hut) set up around the venue. Each tribe has its own unique morung. After the festival finishes, return to the hotel. The evening is free at your leisure. Overnight in Kohima.

Overnight in Classic Aradura Inn, Kohima

Day 12: Kohima

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Arrive around 9am at the festival ground. This gives ample time to wander around the morungs again and take photos of the various tribes. This day usually sees each of the Naga tribes performing dances or enacting scenes relating to war and their way of life. The Nagas are the most elaborately dressed of the tribes in North East India, so this is perhaps the most important day of the festival. There are various food stalls serving Naga specialities, which includes smoked pork - the aroma can be smelt all around the venue! Visit the handicraft and textile shops where you can pick up some Naga souvenirs. Return to the hotel, where the evening is free to rest. Overnight in Kohima.

Overnight in Classic Aradura Inn, Kohima

Day 13: Kohima - Imphal

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Set off for Imphal, the capital of Manipur. On arrival, check into hotel and after refreshing have lunch then proceed to Khwairamband Bazaar (also known as Ima Keithel market), which is predominantly run by women and the largest of its kind in India. Evening free and overnight in Imphal.

Day 14: Imphal - Loktak Lake – Imphal

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day trip to Loktak Lake, the largest 'floating national park' in the world, and one of the most picturesque lakes in India. Stop at the viewpoint for tea/coffee and take in panoramic vistas of the lake before driving to the shore where you will board traditional wooden boats for a tranquil ride on the lake against the stunning backdrop of the Sendra Hills. Watch your boatsman navigate the moving phumdis and how fishermen catch their haul. Afterwards take a short village walk to get an insight into local life. Enjoy a traditional Manipuri lunch and cultural show depicting local dance forms. Late afternoon return to Imphal. Evening free. Overnight in Imphal.

Day 15: Departure

Meal: Breakfast

Morning free at leisure. Optional visit to Kangla Fort (closed on Wed, opens at 10am) before transfer to airport for your departure flight.

Note: extensions to other parts of the region or India can be organised. Contact us for more information.

Day 1: US - Night on board

Are you ready to experience the land of a thousand colors? Pack your bags and set off to your departure airport ready to check-in for a flight * to Delhi, India's vibrant capital! Night on board. * If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Day 2: Delhi

Touch down in Delhi and transfer to the hotel. Get ready to explore the city and all it has to offer you, intrepid traveler! From the cacophony of sounds to the dizzying aromas and rainbow palette of colors, Delhi is the gateway to your India adventure! Be sure to explore its historic center, filled with the relics of its past under Islamic conquerors. Spend the day at your leisure. Overnight stay in Delhi.

Day 3: Delhi

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you'll explore the treasures of Old Delhi such as the majestic Jama Masjid Royal Mosque and lively Chandi Chow Street, for your first taste of Indian culture. Make like a local and embark on a rickshaw ride around the Red Fort, former residence of the Imperial Family. Next, admire Raj Ghat, where the legendary Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. In the afternoon, see a different side of the city in sparkling New Delhi, passing by the India Gate, the Mausoleum of Emperor Humayun, and the Presidential Palace. Overnight stay in Delhi.

Day 4: Delhi - Jaipur

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, begin your Rajasthan adventure and set off to Jaipur, the so-called Pink City. It's the capital of Rajasthan known for its fusion of Hindu, Jain and Mughal culture. Enjoy your first glimpse of the Rajasthani landscape as you travel through local villages and countryside. Arrive and transfer to the hotel. You will enjoy some free time in the afternoon to get to know the city or to simply relax. Be sure to capture the evening light, where the pink and the orange buildings exude a magical glow, complemented by the colorfully dressed Rajasthanis. You're likely to spot camel-drawn carts, characteristic of Jaipur's street scene. Overnight stay in Jaipur.

Day 5: Jaipur

Breakfast at the hotel. The first order of the day is a visit to the much-photographed Hawa Mahal, Palace of the Winds, one of India's most beloved historic buildings with a fascinating past. Next up, feel like a true adventurer as you embark on an exciting Jeep transfer to the atmospheric Amber Fort; have you ever felt more like Indiana Jones? Here you can see the palace of Jag Mandir and the famous Sheesh Mahal, a room embedded with beautiful, bright pieces of mirror, all the while imagining the glamorous lives of the Maharajas. In the afternoon, it's back to Jaipur for a city tour, including the illustrious Palace of the Maharaja, home to an informative museum that brings this era to life. Afterwards, get to know a little about India's scientific achievements at the Jantar Mantar, the largest observatory in the world. Imagine star-gazing from here! Overnight stay in Jaipur.

Day 6: Jaipur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra

Breakfast at the hotel. You're getting closer to iconic Agra as you set off, once again, into the dusty landscapes of Rajasthan. Stop in the ghost town of Fatehpur Sikri, where time stands still, and pass through the Bulund Darwaza gateway, the highest gateway in the world and a monument of Mughal might! Arrive in Agra, Rajasthan's most romantic city, and you'll notice the contrasts between red sandstone and white marble in the city's buildings and feel its tantalising charms. Transfer to the hotel and in the afternoon visit the Agra Fort, a formidable structure which houses the picturesque Pearl Mosque. Just walking through the main gate, you'll feel like Mughal royalty! Return to the hotel and overnight stay in Agra.

Day 7: Agra - Delhi

Breakfast at the hotel. It's finally here, the day you tick the legendary Taj Mahal off of your bucket list! The ivory-white marble mausoleum, the brilliant domes, the fountain and that famous bench where everyone has their photo taken; today you'll experience it all for yourself! Home to the tomb of a Mughal Emperors beloved wife, both the story and the beauty of the structure itself may well leave you feeling teary-eyed and filled with a warm fuzzy feeling. Take some time to soak it all up and take the perfect photo, one you'll treasure for a lifetime. Afterwards, enjoy a scenic afternoon drive back to Delhi, where you can spend the remainder of the day reminiscing about your journey and all the wonderful, soul-stirring sights you've seen as well as the warm people who've shared their culture with you along the way. Overnight stay in Delhi.

Day 8: Delhi - US

Breakfast * at the hotel. Sadly, it's time to head back home, but you'll keep the colors and atmosphere of India close to your heart as you transfer to the airport for a flight back to the US. Arrive back home and end your trip. * Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.