Gypsyfeet - Get Going with the Gypsies

Travel to Experience is our company’s mantra.

We are travel enthusiasts who believe that travel should lead to deep impressions and experiences – we do this through home-stays, through local cuisine, and through participation in festivals, as well as interaction with the communities where we travel. The North-East region of India ( Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Sikkim), and the adjoining country of Bhutan is where we currently operate. It is blessed with abundant natural beauty and an interesting culture that is vastly different from the rest of India. For a photo-journey through this land, click on our PhotoGallery.

Gypsyfeet believes in responsible tourism, read about our best practices here.

Don’t miss our exciting Photography Special Trip to the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland:

Naga Warriors at the Hornbill Festival

Dates: Nov 30 to Dec 8, 2013

Short Itinerary

Day 01 Nov 30 Friday Arrive at Jorhat airport and drive to Kohima, Nagaland.

Day 02 Dec 1 Saturday Opening ceremony of Hornbill festival at village near Kohima.

Day 03 Dec 2 Sunday WWII memorial & Day 2 of the festival; overnight Kohima.

Day 04 Dec 3 Monday Day 3 of festival and trip to Khonoma village; overnight Kohima.

Day 05 Dec 4 Tuesday Local market & Drive to Kaziranga National Park.

Day 06 Dec 5 Wednesday Morning elephant safari & afternoon jeep safari. Overnight Kaziranga.

Day 07 Dec 6 Thursday Ferry ride to Majuli river island – largest river island. Visit to monastery & village walk.

Day 08 Dec 7 Friday Majuli island monk dance; ferry ride back to Jorhat.

Day 09 Dec 8 Sat Departure

Tour Cost:Rs.43,500/- per person, includes accommodation on twin sharing basis, Transportation on all days of the tour, Breakfast and two meals from Day 02 to 08; breakfast on Day 09 and two meals on Day 01, Permits and all entry fees

Photography Focus: Photography sessions, expert advice and assistance, image reviews and critiques on all days, Accompanying Photography Expert are included in the trip cost.

Detailed Itinerary.

Day 01 Nov 30 Friday. From Dimapur airport we drive up the hills of Nagaland to the capital, Kohima. We walk around this small hill town; soaking in the sights & sounds.

Day 02 Dec 1 Saturday. This is our day to visit and photograph one of the most amazing sights in Nagaland – the Hornbill Festival, where the various tribes of Nagaland get together to showcase their customs and traditions. Fantastic costumes, fabulous feats – capture all with help from your accompanying photography expert. Try out some of the local cuisine from the various stalls around.

Day 03 Dec 2 Sunday Early morning we will go to the Kohima War Memorial; a vivid memory to the soldiers killed during WWII. Early morning and evening the tombstones have an eerie atmosphere as the mist swirls around the hill-top. From here we will go to Kisema village for the second day of Hornbill festival.

Day 4 Dec 3 Monday. We drive in the morning to Khonoma; a small village about 2 hrs from Kohima. We will walk around the village; there are various memorial stones paying homage to those who had lost their lives in the Naga struggle for freedom. We photograph life around this village.

Day 5 Dec 4 Tuesday We will visit the local market in Kohima; the interesting market will provide lots of interesting photo opportunities with its array of interesting food such as maggots on sticks. The handicraft shops with its varieties of shawls from various tribes of Nagaland are great to explore! Late morning we will drive back to the plains of Assam – onto Kaziranga, land of the one-horned rhinoceros. On the way we drive through lovely tea gardens – Assam is the largest producer of tea in India.

Day 6 Dec 5 Wednesday. This is your chance to try your hand at wildlife photography. Early morning Safari on elephant back to the National Park where you will see & have opportunity to photograph one-horned rhinos, wild Asiatic buffaloes, elephants as well as other flora and fauna unique to this part of the world. Late morning we will do a jeep-safari into the National Park, during which you will see a number of bird species as well as mammals. After lunch we will visit tea-gardens in the area; you will see garden workers returning home in the evening.

Day 7 Dec 6 Thursday. After breakfast, we will drive to the ferry point on the river Brahmaputra, and a ferry ride (1.5 hrs) to the river island of Majuli, said to be the largest river island in the world. Majuli has a confluence of Vaishnavite culture and Mising tribal culture – a village trail walk (after lunch) will let you explore both; there will be plenty of opportunities to observe and capture tribal life; the colorful weaves and clothes of the people make for wonderful portraits.

Day 8 Dec 7 Friday. Today we will visit the Sattra, or monasteries of the Vaishnavite sect of Hinduism. A performance by the monks will be arranged; their energetic dance performance accompanied by drums and cymbals are a visual treat. You will also be given a guided tour of the Namghar (the prayer hall), and the living quarters of the monks. Afternoon, take ferry back from Majuli to Jorhat (1.5 hrs), you can capture the colors of the setting sun on the Brahmaputra river.

Day 8 Dec 8 Saturday. Breakfast and checkout.