Private jet to the Hornbill Festival
Nagaland's 27th Hornbill Festival runs from 1 to 10 December 2026 at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, about 12 km south of Kohima. Jets land at Dimapur, about 74 km from Kohima, a 2 to 3 hour drive.
- 2026 dates
- 1 to 10 December
- Venue
- Kisama, near Kohima
- Airport
- Dimapur (VEMR)
- Permit
- Inner Line Permit
How the trip works
Fly to Dimapur Airport (VEMR), which has a 2,290 m runway, then drive about 74 km, 2 to 3 hours, to Kohima and on to the Naga Heritage Village at Kisama, about 12 km south of Kohima. Visitors who are not indigenous to Nagaland need an Inner Line Permit, applied for online.
The Hornbill Festival is held every December and opens on Nagaland's Statehood Day, 1 December. The 2026 festival is the 27th edition and brings Nagaland's tribes together at Kisama. Dimapur Airport, Nagaland's only civil airport, serves Kohima and the festival.
Dimapur has scheduled flights to Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata. Its published hours are 09:30 to 18:00 local time on weekdays, with other times on 24 hours' notice; it has jet fuel but no customs. Runway length and aircraft weights decide which jets can use it, so we check performance before quoting; Guwahati is the region's larger hub.
Plan the road leg with time to spare: sunset at Dimapur was at 16:45 when we checked in October and comes earlier in December. Apply for the Inner Line Permit before you travel.
Sources:DD News, 14 October 2026: 27th Hornbill Festival, 1 to 10 December 2026, Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, about 12 km south of Kohima; opens on Nagaland Statehood DayTime Out India, 16 September 2026: Hornbill 2026, 1 to 10 December; Dimapur Airport about 74 km from Kohima, 2 to 3 hours by roadNagaland Tourism, read 19 October 2026: Hornbill Festival, ten-day annual event; next event 1 to 10 December 2026Airports Authority of India: Dimapur Airport (DMU/VEMR), the only civil airport in Nagaland, on NH 29Jeppesen ACUKWIK, read 19 October 2026: Dimapur (VEMR), runway 12/30, 7,513 x 148 ft; hours Monday to Friday 0930 to 1800 local, other times 24 hours prior notice; jet fuel only; no customsWikipedia, read 19 October 2026: Dimapur Airport (DMU/VEMR), AAI, flights to Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata
Getting to Kisama
| Leg | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dimapur Airport (DMU / VEMR) | About 74 km to Kohima, 2 to 3 hours | AAI airport; runway 12/30, 2,290 m; weekday hours, other times on notice; jet fuel; no customs |
| Kohima to Kisama | About 12 km south of Kohima | Naga Heritage Village, the festival venue |
| Guwahati | Regional hub | Scheduled links to Dimapur if your jet stops in Assam |
Distances as published by the sources; hours as listed in Jeppesen ACUKWIK on 19 October 2026.
Sources:Jeppesen ACUKWIK, read 19 October 2026: Dimapur (VEMR), runway 12/30, 7,513 x 148 ft; hours Monday to Friday 0930 to 1800 local, other times 24 hours prior notice; jet fuel only; no customsWikipedia, read 19 October 2026: Dimapur Airport (DMU/VEMR), AAI, flights to Delhi, Guwahati and KolkataTime Out India, 16 September 2026: Hornbill 2026, 1 to 10 December; Dimapur Airport about 74 km from Kohima, 2 to 3 hours by roadDD News, 14 October 2026: 27th Hornbill Festival, 1 to 10 December 2026, Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, about 12 km south of Kohima; opens on Nagaland Statehood Day
Tell us the dates and passengers. A specialist replies with aircraft options and an all-in price, around the clock.
The Inner Line Permit
- Anyone who is not an indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland, Indian or foreign, needs an Inner Line Permit to enter.
- Every category of permit can be applied for online on the Government of Nagaland's ILP portal; incomplete applications are rejected.
- The portal's fees are ₹200 for a domestic tourist and ₹500 for a foreigner, each permit valid for 30 days, plus payment gateway charges.
- Apply before you fly; we plan the flight once the permits are in hand.
Sources:Wikipedia, read 19 October 2026: Inner Line Permit, required in Nagaland for anyone not an indigenous inhabitantGovernment of Nagaland: Inner Line Permit portal, all categories available onlineGovernment of Nagaland ILP portal, fees page read 19 October 2026: domestic tourist ₹200, foreigner ₹500, each valid 30 days, plus payment gateway charges
Aircraft for the Hornbill Festival
Turboprops and light jets for Dimapur; we confirm runway performance for each type.
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistWhen is the Hornbill Festival 2026?+
From 1 to 10 December 2026, at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, near Kohima. It is the festival's 27th edition.
Which airport serves the Hornbill Festival?+
Dimapur (VEMR), about 74 km from Kohima, with a 2,290 m runway.
Do I need a permit to visit Nagaland?+
Yes, unless you are an indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland. Indian and foreign visitors need an Inner Line Permit, applied for online.
How far is Kisama from Kohima?+
12 km south of Kohima.
What does a private flight to Dimapur cost?+
Turboprops charter at about ₹1.49 lakh to ₹2.2 lakh per flight hour and light jets at about ₹2.48 lakh to ₹3.52 lakh, for the whole aircraft before GST.
Fares, dates and rules on this page were checked on 19 October 2026. Official fares and schedules change every season; the operator or authority named in each source has the final word.
- 1.DD News, 14 October 2026: 27th Hornbill Festival, 1 to 10 December 2026, Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, about 12 km south of Kohima; opens on Nagaland Statehood Day
- 2.Time Out India, 16 September 2026: Hornbill 2026, 1 to 10 December; Dimapur Airport about 74 km from Kohima, 2 to 3 hours by road
- 3.Nagaland Tourism, read 19 October 2026: Hornbill Festival, ten-day annual event; next event 1 to 10 December 2026
- 4.Airports Authority of India: Dimapur Airport (DMU/VEMR), the only civil airport in Nagaland, on NH 29
- 5.Jeppesen ACUKWIK, read 19 October 2026: Dimapur (VEMR), runway 12/30, 7,513 x 148 ft; hours Monday to Friday 0930 to 1800 local, other times 24 hours prior notice; jet fuel only; no customs
- 6.Wikipedia, read 19 October 2026: Dimapur Airport (DMU/VEMR), AAI, flights to Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata
- 7.Wikipedia, read 19 October 2026: Inner Line Permit, required in Nagaland for anyone not an indigenous inhabitant
- 8.Government of Nagaland: Inner Line Permit portal, all categories available online
- 9.Government of Nagaland ILP portal, fees page read 19 October 2026: domestic tourist ₹200, foreigner ₹500, each valid 30 days, plus payment gateway charges
To the hills for the festival.
A specialist replies around the clock with aircraft options, the operator's name and an all-in price.