“Unforgettable motorcycle getaway”
14 Day Hornbill Festival and Adventure Guided Motorcycle Tour in North East India
Welcome Hotel Dwarka, Delhi, India
India Guided Motorcycle Tour
Are you ready for an adventure of a lifetime? Join this trip and experience a two-week motorcycle tour in North East India. With the Hornbill Festival and undisturbed nature among the highlights, you'll have the opportunity to observe the local people, rich natural phenomena, and feel the festive vibe!
Key information
- Terrain: 60% asphalt and 40% off-road
- Bike: Rental bike (Royal Enfield Himalayan 411 cc or 500 cc)
- Mileage: approximately 1,420 kilometers / 882 miles
- Daily rides: 20 - 320 kilometers / 12 - 199 miles
- Riding gear: not included, but recommended: Helmet, sunglasses
- Meals: All breakfasts and 1 dinner
Highlights
- Starts and ends in Delhi
- Enjoy a guided tour around Old Delhi and its popular landmarks
- Visit the picturesque Mawlynnong village, the cleanest village in Asia in 2003
- Jeep safari and tribe visit at Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Witness Nagaland's Hornbill Festival and enjoy its colorful and festive carnivals
- Get to know the multifaceted Naga ways of life and Naga's tribal houses
- Explore natural root bridges and deep caves in Cherrapunjee
- 13 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Advanced
9 days with instruction
Group size: Minimum of 4 participants
Airport transfer included:
Indira Gandhi International Airport
Accommodation
During the tour, you will stay in various accommodations.
- Delhi: Welcome Hotel Dwarka or similar (one night)
- Guwahati: Krishanshree Portico or similar (one night)
- Cherrapunjee: The Crescent Hotel or similar (two nights)
- Kaziranga: Borgod Resort or similar (two nights)
- Kohima: Hotel Vivor or similar (four nights)
- Mokokchung: Whispering Winds or similar (one night)
- Jorhat: The Manor or similar (one night)
- Guwahati again on day 13: Krishanshree Portico or similar (one night)
Please note that confirmation of the above-mentioned hotels are subject to availability, otherwise alternate similar hotel will be considered for your tour.
Program
Itinerary
Day 1: November 24, Arrive in Delhi and city tour
Arrive in New Delhi International Airport (DEL) by flight. Meet at exit gate and get transferred to pre-booked hotel.
After wash and change, you will go for sightseeing of Delhi with a guided tour of Old Delhi, the 17th century walled city of Shah Jahanabad, visiting the great Jama Masjid, the principal mosque of Old Delhi. Built in the year 1656 AD by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, it is the largest and best known mosque in India. Then drive pass through Red Fort, built in the year 1648 by Shah Jahan.
In New Delhi, you visit Raj Ghat, memorial to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. It is a simple black marble platform that marks the spot of his cremation on 31 January 1948.
Further, you drive past India Gate, memorial built in the year 1931 to commemorate the Indian soldiers who died in the World War I and the Afghan Wars. The names of the soldiers who died in these wars are inscribed on the walls.
You will then visit the President's House, the official residence of the President of India, built in the year 1931. Until 1950, it was known as Viceroy's House; served as the residence of the Governor-General of British India.
You will also visit Humayun's Tomb, memorial of Mughal Emperor Humayun, built in the year 1562. The complex is a World Heritage Site, the first example of this type of Mughal architecture in India. Qutub Minar, built in the year 1206 by Qutub-ud-din Aibek. It is the tallest (72 meters) brick minaret in the world, an important example of Indo-Islamic Architecture. Qutub Minar and its monuments are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Overnight stay in Delhi.
Day 2: November 25, Delhi to Guwahati (by morning flight)
Arrive in Guwahati by air. On your arrival, meet your guide at the airport and drive towards the hotel. On arrival, check into the hotel. In the afternoon, they will take the opportunity to introduce you to your motorbikes and brief you regarding the latest local conditions and what can be expected in the coming days.
Day 3: November 26, Guwahati to Cherrapunjee (170 kilometers / 106 miles, 5 to 6 hours)
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and start your ride to Cherrapunji which has the distinction of receiving some of the highest rainfall ever recorded. You will ride close to the Bangladesh border on excellent roads with very little traffic.
You shall stopover at a small Khasi village en-route for a scrumptious traditional meal. Cherrapunji has much to offer including the natural root bridges and some of the deepest caves in India.
Day 4: November 27, Cherrapunjee to Mawlynnong (70 kilometers / 43 miles, 3 hours)
After breakfast, drive from Cherrapunjee to Mawlynnong Village. Mawlynnong Village, located in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, also referred to as ‘God’s own garden’, has won the acclaim of being the cleanest village in Asia in 2003.
The village offers picturesque natural beauty, a trek to the living root bridge at a neighboring village Riwai. The village also offers a sight of natural balancing rock, a strange natural phenomenon of a boulder balancing on another rock.
Day 5: November 28, Cherrapunjee to Kaziranga National Park (270 kilometers / 168 miles, 6 to 7 hours)
After an early breakfast, check out from the hotel and drive towards Kaziranga National park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the home of the world-famous one-horned rhinos. On arrival, check into the hotel for an overnight stay.
Day 6: November 29, Kaziranga National Park
Early morning, you shall go for an elephant ride. An elephant ride is the best way to behold the vigor and charm of the enchanting wildlife of the park. Return to the resort for your breakfast. Mid morning, explore a village inhabited by Mishing tribe and Kaziranga Orchid center. Afternoon, go for a jeep safari in the Western range of the park.
Day 7: November 30, Kaziranga National Park to Kohima (270 kilometers / 168 miles, 6 to 7 hours)
After breakfast, check out from hotel and ride towards Kohima – the capital of Nagaland and the home of Angami Naga. On arrival, check into hotel for overnight stay.
Day 8: December 1, Kohima
After breakfast, visit and photograph one of the most fascinating festivals of Nagaland – the Hornbill festival, where the various tribes of Nagaland get together to showcase their customs and traditions. Spend an entire day at Kisama village – the location of Hornbill Festival.
If time permits, visit Hornbill festival carnival (approximate timing 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm). Colorful stall adored with sparkling lights, each one has something unique to offer (festival program as per schedule).
Day 9: December 2, Kohima: Day trip to Khonoma and Jakhama (20 kilometers / 12 miles, 1 hour)
Morning visit to the Hornbill festival ground. Later, ride your motorbike to visit Khonoma – the green village. You will also visit Jakhama Village to witness the multifaceted Naga way of life. Walkthrough in the village takes you through paddy fields and the riverbanks where you can watch the Angamis fish and farm in their traditional ways, as they have done for hundreds of generations.
As you weave through the village, you stop at local pigsties, fisheries, and even a snail farm. Also, see walls of houses riddled with bullet marks from World War II.
Later visit the World War Cemetery, constructed in memory of the officers and men who made supreme sacrifices during World War II. On each grave, there are beautiful epitaphs engraved in bronze. The famous inscription written on the War Memorial stone reads, "When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today."
Return to hotel and overnight.
Day 10: December 3, Kohima: Day trip to Touphema (40 kilometers / 25 miles, 2 hours)
In the morning, start a ride to Touphema, this village built by the local community with help of Nagaland Tourism department. Touphema village is a collection of small huts built in Naga design and decorated like a traditional Naga household intending on giving the tourists the feel of living in a Naga tribal house. After visiting, ride back to Kohima for an overnight stay.
Day 11: December 4, Kohima to Mokokchung (150 kilometers / 93 miles, 6 to 7 hours)
Heading deeper into Nagaland, you will make for Mokokchung. The bustling township of Mokokchung is one of the major towns in Nagaland and is the nerve center of the Ao people. The day’s ride takes will take you on a combination of deep forested jeep tracks and double lane state roads.
A fair amount of the day's riding will be in a wild country with deep muddy roads. You will most likely see no other traffic on that road.
Day 12: December 5, Mokokchung to Jorhat (110 kilometers / 68 miles, 4 hours)
Today, start riding to Jorhat, which is one of the major cities in Assam. On arrival, check-in to the hotel. Free time for leisure, relaxation, or personal activities. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 13: December 6, Jorhat to Guwahati (320 kilometers / 199 miles, 7 hours)
Today is your last day of riding. You will head to Guwahati. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 14: December 7, Guwahati to Delhi (by flight)
In the morning, transfer to airport for onwards journey.
Note
The road conditions in the North East are not very good especially in remote areas in Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland. Even in the other areas, some maintenance work is likely at any time of the year.
Skill level required for this tour: Advanced
Advanced
- Can ride for 5-6 hours
- Extensive riding experience
- Assistance on demand (if required)
- Experienced with riding a variety of motorcycles
- Comfortable with any terrain and weather conditions
Location
Nagaland Hornbill Festival
It was in the year 2000, the State Government of Nagaland desirous of promoting tourism embarked upon an ambitious project to exploit the cultural assets of Nagaland, through a weeklong festival to coincide with the celebrations of Nagaland Statehood Day on 1st December.
Thus the inception of the Nagaland Hornbill Festival is so named as collective reverence to the bird enshrined in the culture to espouse the spirit of unity in diversity.
Today, this festival has become one of the largest celebrations of the indigenous warrior of Nagaland, where thousands of tourists from different counties are being attracted. Even if tremendous modernity has entered into their lives, but the well preserved rich tradition, their unique heritage, and customs, legacy, are being displayed in this 10-day converge of cultural, dance, and sporting bash.
The Nagaland tribes celebrate their festivals with taste and fervor. Over 60% of Nagaland's population lives off agriculture and so most of their festivals revolve around it. They consider their festival sacred and therefore participation in these festivals is obligatory for them. The festival takes its name from the hornbill, the sacred and highly respected bird, which is celebrated in folklore in most of the tribes of the state.
Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga National Park, a world heritage site, is famous for the great Indian one-horned rhinoceros. The landscape of Kaziranga is of sheer forest, tall elephant grass, rugged reeds, marshes, and shallow pools. It has been declared a national park in 1974.
Kaziranga National Park is one of the last areas in eastern India undisturbed by a human presence. It is inhabited by the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as many mammals, including tigers, elephants, panthers and bears, and thousands of birds. You will visit the national park on day five.
Kohima
This picturesque town of Kohima is the home of the brave and daring, yet simple and innocent, Naga tribes. Lapped in the eastern frontiers of the Himalayan mountain range, Kohima is marked by an unhurried pace of life, calm and serene environs, and fresh, unpolluted air, which make a welcome change for a jaded city dweller.
A typical Naga town, it depicts the exotic tribal culture of the northeast and offers a panoramic view of the neighboring hills. You will visit this town on day seven.
Khonoma
Khonoma is an Angami-tribe warrior village that is known for its battles with the English and for its leading role in the Naga freedom struggle. In recent years, Khonoma has become famous for its community-based conservation projects and eco-friendly tourism initiatives.
Food
You will be provided with daily breakfast, except for Kaziranga, which you will have breakfast and dinner. 1 mineral water bottle each day is also provided.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- Royal Enfield Himalayan (411 cc) or 500 cc per rider and as per the tour program
- 13 nights accommodation as per mentioned hotels or similar
- Daily buffet breakfast at the hotels and 1 dinner in Kaziranga
- Personal assistance by the representative on arrival and departure at the airport
- Exclusive airport transfers by tempo traveler
- Road captain / route expert on a separate motorbike
- Services of coordinator traveling in support vehicle
- Support vehicle during the ride to carry luggage and basic spare parts
- Basic spare parts for the motorcycle (any damage or change of spares are payable as extras directly)
- Comprehensive first aid kit
- 1 mineral water bottle each day
- All applicable taxes and service charges
What's not included
- Any airfare
- Fuel / gas
- Refundable security amount 200 USD
- Medical and insurance of any kind
- Camera fee at any monument
- India tourism visa
- Any expenses arising out of unforeseen circumstances like flight delay / cancellation / hike in fare, strike, or any other natural calamities
- Personal nature expenses i.e. telephone calls, laundry, soft / hard drinks, meals, tipping / gratuities, etc.
- Flight fare from Delhi - Guwahati - Delhi
How to get there
Recommended Airports
DEL
Indira Gandhi International Airport
5 km
Transfer included
Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport
Airport transfer included: Indira Gandhi International Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 15% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 45 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.
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