SUMMER SPECIAL tours in Northeast India
Oriah Festival is the principal annual agricultural and cultural celebration of the Wancho tribe in Arunachal Pradesh. This vibrant festival is intricately tied to the Jhum (shifting) cultivation cycle, with its primary purpose being to invoke the blessings of the Almighty deities, Rang and Baurang, for a prosperous harvest, good health, and the socio-cultural well-being of humanity. The Oriah Festival also plays a crucial role in renewing ancient alliance pacts between different Wancho villages and clans. A significant highlight of this Arunachal Pradesh cultural experience is the ceremonial erection of the Zangvaan, a long, sacred bamboo pole, planted at a holy platform where villagers gather to dance and pray. Dressed in elaborate traditional attire, heavy bead jewellery, and striking headgears, Wancho men perform their famous traditional war dance around the Zangvaan. Historically recognized as fierce warriors, their dance features rhythmic drum beats, folk songs, and a display of traditional weapons.
Delhi/ Kolkata - Dibrugarh – Khonsa – Wakka – Longding - Charaideo – Majuli Island – Ziro – Tezpur – Kaziranga – Guwahati
Day 01 (12 Feb 2027): Arrive Dibrugarh
Meet & assist and transfer to the hotel. If time permits, we will stroll along the dyke beside the Brahmaputra River, offering a beautiful view of the river and life along its banks. From the dyke, you can walk down to a bustling market offering everything from shoes to clothes, as well as vegetables and fruits.
Day 02 (13 Feb 2027): Drive Dibrugarh – Khonsa, 110 KM/ 3.5 hours
After breakfast, we will drive to Khonsa in the Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh. Check into your homestay and enjoy an early lunch upon arrival. In the afternoon, we’ll drive to Lazu, about 40 KM from Khonsa, home to the Nocte tribe. Here, you will immerse yourself in an Arunachal Pradesh cultural experience as you learn about the Nocte way of life and their rich traditions. On our way back, we will visit the Kheti village, another settlement of the Nocte tribe.
Day 03 (14 Feb 2027) - Start of the Oriah Festival: Day trip to Wakka village
Wakka, being the seat of power for the nearby villages and settlements of the Wancho community, plays a significant role in Wancho tribal affairs. We will witness the Oriah Festival as celebrated by the villagers in the community ground and visit the village king’s house, where village elders and community leaders gather to pay their respects. A portion of the village is perched on a hill, featuring closely clustered bamboo and palm-roofed houses, creating a timeless atmosphere. With the help of our local guide, we’ll attempt to communicate with the village folk and visit a Morung (traditional male dormitory) before returning to Khonsa for the night.
Day 04 (15 Feb 2027): Drive to Longding, 54 KM/ 1.5 hours
Next, we’ll drive to Longding, the administrative town overseeing most of the Wancho villages. Upon arrival, we’ll head directly to the central festival ground to witness the rituals of the Oriah Festival, including the Zangvaan (the grand ceremonial bamboo pole) being erected, and village elders praying for a bountiful harvest. You’ll observe both young and old performing traditional dances and participating in war games. Afterward, we’ll continue south to the village of Pangchao for a deeper tribal experience, situated close to the borders of Myanmar and Nagaland, and stay overnight at a homestay.
Day 05 (16 Feb 2027): At Longding
This day marks the peak of the Oriah Festival. We will go to the festival ground to witness the exhilarating Wancho War Dances, performed by men in full warrior attire, complete with headgears and traditional weapons. You’ll have the chance to savor the traditional cuisine during the grand community feast featuring local delicacies, along with the symbolic exchange of freshly brewed rice beer served in traditional bamboo tubes. Overnight at Longding.
Day 06 (17 Feb 2027): Drive to Jorhat via World Heritage Site Charaideo Moidams, 170 KM/ 5 hours
Today, we drive down from the Tirap hills to the Assam plains, passing through tea gardens, towns, and villages. A highlight of our journey will be a stop at the Charaideo Moidams, the UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to the unique burial practices of the Ahom dynasty (1228 to 1826 CE). The Ahoms honored their deceased kings and nobles by constructing large earthen mounds. Each mound holds the remains of an individual along with valuable artifacts, representing their belief in the afterlife and social hierarchy. Next, we continue our drive to Jorhat and check into our hotel.
Day 07 (18 Feb 2027): Jorhat – Majuli, 15 KM drive + 1 hour ferry
We will drive to Neematighat to take a ferry across the Brahmaputra River to Majuli Island, renowned as the cultural center of Assam. Here, we will explore Hindu monasteries, known as 'satras', and have the opportunity to interact with 'bhakats' or monks, learning about their unique practices and lifestyle. Overnight accommodations will be at a comfortable homestay.
Day 08 (19 Feb 2027): Majuli
Enjoy a whole day on the island, starting with an early morning walk along a stream that rejuvenates your spirit in the clear, crisp, unpolluted air. You’ll encounter fishing nets and various water birds, creating a truly surreal experience. After breakfast at the lodge, we’ll visit a 'Satra' to witness traditional mask-making and then proceed to another Satra to watch an enthralling monastic dance. Finally, we'll explore a nearby tribal village before returning to your lodge.
Day 09 (20 Feb 2027): Majuli – Ziro, 240 km/ 7 hour drive
Today, we will cross over to the north bank of the Brahmaputra River and drive to Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh. After checking into our hotel in the late afternoon, we’ll take some time to wander around the local market.
Day 10 (21 Feb 2027): Ziro
Spend a full day exploring Ziro, where you will visit the Apatani tribal villages—one of the most culturally rich areas in Arunachal Pradesh. Renowned for its unique Arunachal Pradesh cultural experience, Ziro is home to the Apatani tribe, who are known for their distinctive customs and striking appearance, such as men with top-knots and facial tattoos. Enjoy the unique agricultural practices of the Apatani, which include wet and terrace cultivation and the interesting combination of paddy with fish farming. We will also visit the Crafts Centre to see their handlooms and handicrafts as well as a small but fascinating museum (closed on government holidays).
Day 11 (22 Feb 2027): Ziro – Tezpur, 220 KM/ 5 hours
Drive down to Tezpur and check into your hotel. In the late afternoon, we will visit Agnigarh Hillock, which overlooks the Brahmaputra River. The sunset over this magnificent river is breathtaking. Agnigarh features local legends depicted in exquisitely carved stones, which you can appreciate while walking around the hillock. You can also explore the local bazaar if you're up to it before returning to your hotel.
Day 12 (23 Feb 2027): Tezpur – Kaziranga, 90 KM/ 3 hours
Continue your journey to Kaziranga National Park, checking into your hotel upon arrival. In the afternoon, enjoy a jeep safari in the park's central range.
Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, spans over 430 sq. km and is home to the largest population of one-horned rhinoceros in the world. The park's diverse habitats, including swamps, grasslands, and semi-evergreen forests, make it the best place to spot these majestic creatures.
Kaziranga is also known for housing India's Big 5: the rhino, elephant, Asiatic water buffalo, sambar deer, and the tiger. Additionally, the park is a haven for various mammals and birds, including the rare greater adjutant stork and numerous migratory birds that visit seasonally.
Day 13 (24 Feb 2027): Kaziranga
Begin your day with a morning jeep safari in the eastern range of Kaziranga. After returning to the resort for lunch, enjoy an afternoon jeep safari in the western range, taking in even more of the park's stunning wildlife.
Day 14 (25 Feb 2027): Kaziranga – Guwahati, 220 KM/ 5 hours
Drive to Guwahati and check into your hotel. We will visit the famous ‘Shakti temple of Ma Kamakhya and then head to the Brahmaputra Riverfront for a motorized boat ride to Peacock Island, where you can visit the Umananda Temple before returning to the hotel.
Day 15 (26 Feb 2027): Airport transfer
Transfer to Guwahati airport for your outgoing flight.
Tour ends
Summer is upon us and we invite you to escape the heat and the prices. Explore hill stations and remote villages in the Himalayas availing discounted summer rates. Stay at tea garden bungalows experiencing plantation and factory visits, jump into pools created by waterfalls or just spend your days in a heritage villa taking leisurely walks in the cool mornings and evenings in the neighbourhood.
Prices last till summer lasts. June to end September.