Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive into Dibrugarh. Your guide and driver will escort you to Sibsagar, the former capital of the Ahom Dynasty. Evening free to rest. Overnight in Sibsagar. Meals: D

Day 2

Visit the temples of Lord Shiva and Vishnu, as well as some of the Ahom ruins. The Ahom kings ruled Assam for 600 years. Afterwards, cross the border into Nagaland, the land of the last head-hunters, and head to Mon (5-6 hours drive). This is home to the tattooed and decorated Konyak tribe. Evening free. Overnight in Mon. Meals: B,L,D

The Konyak tribe are amongst the most decorated tribes of Nagaland. All Konyaks carry a ‘dao’ – a machete traditionally used for head-hunting up to 50 years ago. The older villagers still tend to way traditional clothing. The majority of Nagas are Christian, which bonds the numerous tribes.

Day 3

Spend the next two days visiting the tribal villages of Mon district. This includes a visit to the village of Longwa which straddles the border with Myanmar. Half of the village is in Nagaland and the rest in Myanmar. Here you will see a way of life untouched for centuries. Meet the village Angh (chief) and take a look inside the homes of these otherwise little-seen people. There will also be time for exploring the rugged terrain of Nagaland by foot. Meal plan: B,L,D

Naga tribes : there are 16 officially recognised tribes in Nagaland. Nagas are traditionally known as warriors and one of the most striking characteristics of their culture was the tradition of head-hunting. Most villages had a skull house and each man in the village was expected to add to the collection. This is now outlawed, but there are still plenty of remnants of this tradition. Up until the British rule of India, they had no real contact with the outside world and were left to manage themselves autonomously. They were instrumental in helping the British defeat the Japanese invasion of India during World War II.

Day 4

More visits of tribal villages.

Day 5

Early start for journey to Majuli, the world's largest river island, with its unique culture, increasingly threatened by climate change. Short ferry ride across the mighty Brahmaputra River to Majuli. Arrive late afternoon. After settling into your comfortable bamboo hut, stroll around and savour the atmosphere of this unique island. Overnight in Majuli. Meal plan: B,L,D

Day 6

Explore Majuli – visit the island’s ancient satras (rare Hindu Vaishnavite monasteries where Lord Vishnu is worshipped). Pop into the local mask shops and watch master craftsmen at work. Alternatively hop into a boat and take in the local surroundings. Overnight in Majuli. Meal plan: B,L,D

Day 7

Early breakfast, then leave for Ziro, home of the little-known Apatani tribe, whose older women bear distinctive nose-plugs and tattoos. Visit nearby Hong village, the largest tribal village in Asia, where you will get a rare and privileged insight into an almost medieval world. Overnight in hotel. Meal plan: B,L,D

Day 8

Full day to explore Ziro. Take a walk out to the paddy fields where you can learn about the ingenious system of ‘pisci-culture’ where villagers breed fish and grow rice within the same plot of land. Visit the craftshop in Ziro, run by Future Generations Arunachal, a worthy NGO supported by Travel The Unknown. Overnight in Ziro. Meal plan: B,L,D

Day 9

Free day to explore Ziro and nearby tribal villages. Hiking possibilities. Overnight in Ziro. Meal plan: B,L,D

Day 10

After breakfast, leave Ziro and head northeast towards Dumporijo. This stretch passes through other tribal villages, including the Hill Miri tribe of Raga. Have lunch en-route in local restaurant, then continue on to Dumporijo. This Is a picturesque village where you will stay in the Circuit House located at the top of a hill with fantastic views of the village and the river. Meal plan: B,L,D

This region is inhabited by the Tagin tribe. They are believers in the animist religion of Donyi Polo – sun and moon worship. The Tagin people are of Mongoloid origin and have migrated over the centuries from Tibet and settled in and around Dumporijo, in the Subansiri valley.

Day 11

Spend the morning wandering through the village. Wander down to the river and watch Tagin life in action. Later, leave for the village of Basar, close to the Assam border. Arrive in the evening and check in to your accommodation. Evening free at leisure. Overnight in Basar. Meal plan: B,L,D

Day 12

Day free to explore the neighbouring tribal villages. This region is home to the Galo tribe.

The Galo tribal people traditionally practise shift cultivation, although this is somewhat less now given the introduction of wet rice and terrace cultivation. All Galo children are taught Galo as their first language. They use a unique method in naming their children. The last syllable of the father’s name is used as the first syllable of the child’s name. For example, if the father is called Komkar, his daughter’s name would begin with ‘kar’. This method of naming has also remained in practice as they Galo people had no written language of their own, and this helped them remember their origins.

Day 13

Leave in the morning for Dibrugarh in Assam. Arrive mid-afternoon. Rest of the day free. An optional visit to a tea estate could be arranged but cannot always be guaranteed. Overnight in Dibrugarh. Meal plan: B,L,D

Day 14

Transfer to airport for return flight to Delhi/Kolkata. Meal plan: B

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