ChaloHoppo to the Hornbill

2019+Asia's First Green Village

Dzuleke +Dzukou Valley

Time to go Village Hopping in Nagaland during Hornbill 2019

Attending this grand showcase will take you back to a time when the Naga folks used to live life in harmony with nature. A time when

hunting and celebrating was the way of life. Women wear colourful weaves and men sport spears adorned with animal fur to go with their loincloth. You soak the energy and indulge in some lip-smacking food.

The beautiful homestays of Dzuleke.

Hornbill festival brings all the best things of Nagaland together in one place for everyone to witness. However, to experience the “real Nagaland”, you have to veer into Nagaland’s villages. The remoter the village, the kinder the people, poorer the network and richer the experience. We take you to the Naga villages where hill slopes have been cut to cultivate paddy, resembling images of the terraced farms that now have been associated with Bali.

A visit to Khonoma village inhabited by the Angami tribes will be the first village you enter. The next day it is truly the time to disconnect as you enter the reclusive village of

Dzuleke, with only 34 homes!The tour ticks all the boxes of a comprehensive Nagaland experience when you end it by

exploring the recently famed unexplainable landscape of Dzukou valley.

The brief Itinerary

5 nights and 6 days December 1 - 6 | December 6- 11

Day 1 Greet Nagaland!

Pick up from Dimapur railway station at 5 30 am in the morning. This isn’t exactly the Nagaland we are talking about yet. A 5-hour bumpy ride through a dust bowl has to be endured to reach the promised Naga- land.When you finally reach Khonoma village and settle in your homestay and look out from your balcony, you will know it was worth the pain.Take a walk to the terraced rice fields of the village and pluck some local veggies. You can also head further down to the stream and explore the stream. Time to have some finger-licking Naga cuisine with your host family, made out of your plucked vegetables from the field. Good time to get some tips on how to cook a perfect Naga cuisine.

Stay- A beautiful Homestay in Khonoma.

Day 2 Spend your day without network at Dzuleke village.

After breakfast head for a heritage walk in the village to the “morungs”, and historical forts accompanied by the local guide. After the walk, we head for an hour drive to Dzuleke. Ah, such a hidden gem!Hike up to the hills or wander in the forests, or just sit with your empty thoughts and admire the pure surroundings of this paradise. Give the local mythical stories an ear and watch sky shift colours as the sunsets. If the weather permits, do a small trek to the nearby hidden waterfall.Roam around in the village with only 34 houses. Head for dinner and relax in the cosy homestay.

Stay- One of the 5 Homestays in Dzuleke.

Day 3 First glimpse of the Hornbill festival!

After breakfast, we leave for Kohima. This is what you came for, isn’t it? To attend the Grand Hornbill festival. So, today you shall have your first glimpse of the celebrations. On our way, we make a stopover at the Kohima War Cemetery. The memorial remembers the bloodshed of 917 soldiers who died during the altercation with the Japanese during World War II. After exploring the War Cemetery, it’s time for lunch at one of the dozen authentic food stalls at the Hornbill festival venue in Kisama village. From now until, the sunsets, you are free to explore the festival on your own. We head to our campsite in Jakhama village, where the other campers and your comfortable tents await. The bonfire, some good food and stargazing should end this night.

Stay- ChaloHoppo Village, Campsite Yedikha

Day 4 Wake up for Dzukou.

We have to be up early and ready by 7 am. Breakfast at the campsite and we charge on the sumos waiting for us.The ride from the campsite to the starting point of the trek, Viswema will take about an hour depending on the conditions of the road on the climb.The trek to Dzukou will take a maximum of 5 hours considering the first time and slow trekkers. Our base will be the dormitory, which offers a beautiful view of the valley.It’s time to head into the valley. The trail down takes about 1 hour.We will have professional guides throughout to make sure you don’t get lost in this beautiful land.

Stay- Dzukou Dormitory.

Day 5 Hiking out of Dzukou and your second evening at Hornbill

Wake up early by 5 am and head to the valley to see it in its frozen form and to see the sunrise. Come back, have a quick breakfast, pack up and begin your return trek. Reach the starting point of Viswema trek where our Sumos will be waiting for your rescue. An hour ride back and some hot delicious Puri Bhaji awaits you at the campsite. Freshen up and head for the second round of experiencing the Hornbill festival. From now until, the sunsets, you are free to explore the festival on your own. Come back to the camp for some live music. Yes, we have a local band jamming to some melodies by the bonfire and this is your last night at the camp and in Nagaland, so make it count!

Stay- ChaloHoppo Village, Campsite Yedikha

Day 6 Bidding Nagaland goodbye, unless you want to stay back!

We will need to leave really early, so you must have packed last night.

For those booking on the tour from December 1 to December 6, 2019, the departure time from the campsite is 8 am sharp!

For those booking on the tour from December 6 to December 11, 2019, the departure time from the campsite is 6 am sharp!

Arrival and Departure timings, flights and suggestions.

Arrival:Fly in to Guwahati (GAU)on the 30th of November 2019. Book any flight that lands by 9 30 pm. Then take the daily overnight Nagaland express- train no.15603 that departs from Guwahati railway station at 11: 30 pm. Reservations are easily available on this train as long as you are booking at least 2 weeks in advance.

If you are booking the tour starting from December 1 to December December 6, 2019 then the following applies to you:Departure:Fly out of Dimapur airport(DMU) on the 6th of December 2019 at 3: 25 pm. These are connecting flights that go to all the major cities.

If you are booking the tour starting from December 6 to December December 11, 2019 then the following applies to you:Departure:Fly out of Dimapur airport(DMU) on the 6th of December 2019 at 1: 30 pm. These are connecting flights that go to all the major cities.

Trip Inclusions● All accommodations on twin/triple sharing basis in Khonoma and Dzuleke villages● All accommodations on twin sharing basis in 3 man tents at ChaloHoppo Village, Camp Yedikha in Jakhama village.● Sleeping bags, sleeping mats, pillows.● Breakfast on all days, all meals on day 4 and lunch on Day 5.● Bonfire.● Hygienic toilets for men and women.● Bathing rooms.● Transport from Dimapur to Dimapur.● ChaloHoppo guy as tour leader through the trip.● Hyper-Local guides in Khonoma and Dzuleke villages● Electricity source with charging facility for mobile devices at the campsite● Running water supply at the campsite.● Breakfast and freshening up space in Dimapur on the first morning of the tour

Trip Exclusions● Airfare charges● All food & beverages cost apart from the ones mentioned above● Entry fee to any monuments etc if any● Any camera fees● Campsite staff tips (if any)● Any personal expenditure (Toiletries, medicines, etc.)● Cost incidental to any change in the itinerary/ stay on account of flight cancellation due to bad weather, ill health, roadblocks and/or any factors

beyond control.● Potters hired for personal use.● Anything not specifically mentioned under the head "Inclusions"

Reviews of this tour!

FAQ’sQ. How many days is Hornbill festival scheduled for and what are the dates?A: Hornbill festival is scheduled every year from December 1 to 10.

Q. Are specific days of the festival worth attending and how many days should one spend at the festival?A: From our experience the first day should not be your priority since there are high chances of delay in proceedings as formalities take time. Hence we recommend attending the festival in a way that you can go to the venue for 2 days. That is a good enough time to spend. If you want to know specific dates then attending the last day of the event on December 10, is a good idea.

Q. If I am coming all the way to Nagaland, is it worth just to attend the festival or would you recommend exploring any specific villages around? A: You should keep at least a week in hand if you are planning your trip to Nagaland during the Hornbill festival. The real Nagaland is hidden in its villages and you must visit the villages of Dzuleke, Khonoma and even Jakhama which is around the vicinity of the festival. But ideally we would recommend spending nights in those villages. And of course a trek to Dzukou valley should also be on your list.

FAQ’sQ. Is it safe to travel to Northeast India? I have been warned about Naxalites, ULFA and other terrorist groups.

A: The sources of such warnings should be checked and speaking from the perspective of locals living in the region we can say that though some parts of Northeast India do have cases of groups clashing against government forces from time to time, it doesn’t affect a tourist as long as the route is chosen wisely and hours of commute are decided smartly, much like travelling in any other part of the world. If you have seen warnings in the advisory pages of governments, then we would like to remind you that governments (of different countries)will always take precaution and not be in sync with the real situation. Northeast India is absolutely safe with warm and welcoming locals. You should have no issues even going to the most interior places. As with any other tribal dominated region, respect the local culture and don't hurt their sentiments, and you will have a great time in a beautiful place. Because so less is known about the region in general, it may be a wise idea to get in touch with some travel experts before you plan your trip.

Q.What type of Bag should I carry?

A 40 litre backpack would be handy, since the tour involves staying in a campsite and a trek to Dzukou valley.

FAQ’sQ. I am a vegetarian, I hear that people only consume meat there. How will I manage?A: The cultural diversity of northeast India is so vast that we can’t blame outsiders for not being aware of communities in the region who are purely vegetarians, so much so that they avoid eating onions( they are indigenous to the region, in case you are thinking about communities from mainland India who have settled here). Having said that, we must admit that the region’s food habits especially in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya are predominantly non vegetarian with a whole lot of red meat based preparations. But the states have warmed up to tourists recently and almost every place you visit will provide the Indian staple diet of rice, dal and sabji, even chapatis if you are lucky. Your craving for butter paneer may not be satisfied, but you will do just fine as far as maintaining your health and strength is concerned.

Q.I am a solo traveller, can I come on this trip?A: A most definite yes, as long as you are okay travelling in a mixed group of other solo travellers or small group of friends.

Q. How do I get the ILP?

A: Relax! We got your back for that. We will get your Inner Line Permit made. It is included in the package.

Things to take note ofHomestay: Please understand that you will be staying in homestays and not hotels, and hence you are requested to treat the host and the family not as professional staff but as a family that is hosting guests.

Avoid plastic: Please avoid buying mineral water, since it is a major cause of pollution in the delicate eco system of the places you are visiting. Carry a reusable water bottle and fill filtered water or spring water. The hosts and your guide can assist you in showing where the water can be found.

Respect local culture: You are travelling to remote parts of the country where people speak freely and sometimes it comes across as rude, but understand that their intention isn't to hurt your sentiments, just that they perhaps lack the skill of sugar coating and diplomacy. During your tour, you may see things that may surprise you like a cat roaming around in the kitchen while you eat. But understand that many of these things are part of the way of life here and hence respect the same.

Using drone cameras:Dzukou is beautiful but sadly you cant capture the beauty from the bird view. The new rules have a restriction on flying drones in the valley. If caught your drone will seized and you will have to pay a fine of Rs. 5000.

Cancellation policyMore than 45 Days prior to arrival: 75% refund

30 -45 Days prior to arrival: 50% refund

15- 30 Days prior to arrival: 25% refund

Less than 15 Days prior to arrival : 0% refund

Cost of the experience per person

Rs 23500/- for slots booked till September end andRs 25,850 for slots booked after September

For further details email experiences@chalohoppo.com

AND EXPECT A PROMPT RESPONSE.

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