Hornbill Festival, Dzukou Valley and Kaziranga

Arrive at Dimapur Airport by noon and meet your driver. On the drive towards Kohima, stop for around 30 minutes to explore the Kacheri Ruins, viewing the historic mushroom-domed pillars left by the Dimasa Kachari kingdom. Continue your journey ascending into the hills of Nagaland's capital. Check into your hotel in Kohima and enjoy an evening at leisure to acclimatise to the cooler climate and high altitude. Dinner is included tonight at your hotel.

Depart at 9:00 AM after breakfast for a guided walk through Kigwema, one of the oldest Angami Naga settlements. Spend three hours learning about local traditions and sustainable life, followed by a traditional lunch inside a village tribal house. In the afternoon, return to Kohima for a three-hour city tour. Pay respects at the Kohima War Memorial commemorating the World War II Battle of Kohima, and visit a prominent local church. Return to your hotel for dinner.

Have breakfast, then travel at 9:00 AM to the festival arena at Kisama Heritage Village. Watch the opening ceremony of the Hornbill Festival and spend your day wandering through the tribal pavilions where Nagaland's tribes display their dances, attire and crafts. Taste local dishes and smoked delicacies at the festival food stalls for lunch. As evening sets in, browse the lively night carnival stalls and enjoy the open-air musical concerts before returning to your Kohima stay for dinner.

Set off around 9:15 AM after breakfast on a one-hour drive to Khonoma. Spend two to three hours exploring this pioneering green village, learning about its historic ban on hunting, Angami heritage and community conservation. Return to Kohima in the afternoon for a second visit to the Hornbill Festival at Kisama. Use this time at your own pace to inspect tribal morungs, browse handicrafts or watch cultural performances you missed. Head back to your hotel for dinner.

Eat an early breakfast before embarking on a full-day trek into Dzukou Valley. Navigate scenic paths through dense bamboo groves, winding trails and open mountain meadows framed by rolling hills and pristine streams. Admire the expansive natural landscapes and seasonal alpine flora of the valley floor before retracing your path back down to the road head. Travel back to your hotel in Kohima to rest and have dinner.

Have breakfast and begin your road journey towards Kaziranga in Assam, pausing along the way by Umiam Lake. Arrive at your jungle lodge or resort, receive a welcome drink, rest and have lunch. In the evening, visit the Kaziranga Orchid and Biodiversity Park to see regional orchid varieties, medicinal plants, bamboo gardens and craft exhibits. Watch traditional cultural shows including the rhythmic bamboo dance and graceful butterfly dance before returning to your stay for dinner.

Set out on an early morning jeep safari across Kaziranga National Park to search for the one-horned rhinoceros, wild water buffalo, elephants and varied birdlife across the grasslands. Return to your accommodation for breakfast before completing check-out. Drive across Assam towards Guwahati Airport, where your journey concludes in time for your onward flight.