5N6D Ziro Festival of Music Expedition 2023

September brings alive the happiest and hippest outdoor music fest in the country, regarded as “a template for outdoor music fest in India” by Condé Nast Traveller. The schedule for Ziro Festival of Music, 2023 is not out yet. It will be be held by end of September this year. As Nat Geo Traveller would aptly put, “it’s the break you’ve been hankering for”. The stage is set in the picturesque Ziro valley, home of the Apatani tribe.

About Ziro

This is how a local would describe, “Tucked inside the eastern Himalaya, Ziro is a picturesque valley characterized by vast expansion of paddy fields, dotted with wooded hillocks and surrounded by pine covered gentle rolling hills. It is the headquarters of Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India and situated at an elevation of 5538 ft to 8000 ft above sea level. It was the place where the name Arunachal Pradesh was given to the erstwhile North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) in 1972.” –Dr. Tage Kanno. The name Ziro is derived from an Apatani clan which was one of the first settlers in the valley, it is believed that the Apatanis (the indigenous people of Ziro) must have settled here for more than 500 years. Ethnicity: Apatani Population: 42,000 Area: 1058 sq. km Languages spoken: Tanii, Hindi, English.

Sounds fun, tell me more about the Music Fest

These 4 Days of music fest is a perfect getaway for music aficionados, one who loves to travel or explore local food, art & culture. The main stage is set in a meadow with knolls of endless prairies to sit on. Come September, the vast expanse of paddy fields stretching across the whole valley would turn golden, ready to be harvested- it surely is a treat for sore eyes. Whilst you sit on the grass and enjoy the show with your friends, you can quench on locally brewed rice beer in a bamboo mug. You may also get a little adventurous & put your taste bud to test by savouring on to some local food in one of the dozen food stalls. Yes, the sun will eventually set, but the festival & the celebration would go on and on. Cut yourself off from the world, come and relax.

What other things can I do in Ziro?

Apart from the hip music fest that already is, there is a lot more to Ziro. The music fest typically starts in the afternoon, so you have the whole morning to yourself to explore. Ziro- the Apatani Cultural Landscape is in the tentative list of UNESCO’s world heritage site. This in itself has a lot to offer. To name a few you can:

• Explore & understand their indigenous ways of cultivation that remain unchanged for centuries
• Take a walk in the villages, interact with them and understand their ways of life
• Go fishing in the paddy field & savor your catch
• Trek to Hakhe Tari a 90 minutes trek or perhaps ride to Tarin and visit the high altitude fish farm. If you want to do a mini hiking of 30 mins, this is the place.
• Get a bicycle, and ride around the valley, its pure bliss
• Wine tasting- recently launched organic kiwi wine by Naara Abba, the brewery is right there in Hong Village, which is also known to be one of the largest village in Asia
• You can also visit Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary which is 30 kms away from Ziro. The endangered Clouded Leopard is found here.

Is Ziro safe?

That’s not even a question to ask. Ziro is incredibly safe, the Apatanis are very warm and welcoming. You will be surprised by their hospitability. However, take care that the local cultures are respected. That goes for every other place you visit too.

Do I need any special permit to enter Arunachal?

Yes, you need an ILP pass. Inner Line Permit (ILP) is mandatory for Indian citizens to enter Arunachal Pradesh.

Okay, I am on my way, where should I put up?

Logistics is a challenge in Ziro during this time of the year. Although there are few hotels and resorts, it can’t hold all the inflow of people during the fest. And all these places are usually booked well in advance by fest attendees. But, you don't have to worry as we have one of the best and oldest campsite ready to host you.

Essentials to pack in?

The temperature will be in the early 20 degree Celsius. However, mornings and evenings may get a little colder, hence pack in some warm clothes. Rains can be expected, hence raincoats and gumboots (you can get in Hapoli in Ziro too) are recommended. Pack in your personal toiletries. What else, umm yes a camera, it has many instagramable places. If you are a musician, don’t forget your instrument/s, its jam time. All kinds of music enthusiasts will be there, perhaps you will get a chance to meet your future bandmates. And lastly, come with an open mind, don’t pack that in.

Here is a day to day activities that would tentatively happen during your trip to Ziro Festival of Music

Day 01:

You Board train from Guwahati by night and travel to Naharlagun.

Day 02:

you reach Naharlagun by 6:00 in the morning, after which, hop into Tata Sumo or Similar vehicle for our next leg of the journey towards Ziro. It will be a 3-4 hours ride, depending on the condition of the road.

Upon reaching Ziro you head to our campsite. There we freshen up, have lunch, take rest and rejuvenate ourselves for the long night ahead. Stretch your recharged body and walk to the festival ground which is 1 Km away from the campsite. Nexus of music, food, drinks and beautiful people from across the country happens here. Enjoy the evening there.

Day 03:

Wake up after a good night’s sleep. After breakfast, walk around Apatani villages-for those who are interested in seeing unadulterated Apatani ways of life. Taste some locally brewed beer or wine. Enjoy the beauty of the surrounding. Head to the festival ground for round 02. Come back to the campsite, meet new people, enjoy some live music, sip on some beer or sit by the bonfire if you feel cold. Lights out!

Day 04:

Unzip the tent, freshen up, have breakfast. Feeling bloated yet? Okay, let’s go trek to Hakhe Tari or may be Tarin with our local guide. Come back, attend round 03 of the music fest. Come back to the campsite when you think the barbecue is ready. If you are in the mood, take the stage, sing some songs & let go of yourself.

Day 05:

Sigh! Last day of the fest. Okay! If you are in Ziro and you don’t get to go to the paddy field, you are missing out on something. So it’s a fishing day for us. Yes, we will go to the field and catch fish bare hands. That’s it? No, after we catch them, we roast them and we eat them. The rest of the day, do whatever you want to do, it’s the last day, and it’s your day!

Day 06:

We are coming back from Ziro. We shall reach Naharlagun Railway station by evening and board our train journey towards Guwahati.

Terms & Conditions

• Confirmation of booking is made only upon receiving full payment in advance for the event
• All the services paid for may be withdrawn without any refund if any individual violates the decorum of the campsite. He/ She may be asked to leave the campsite immediately
• The organizers reserve the right of any campsite footage or image usage in commercials without prior notice and approval. Violation of this is subject to legal action.
• Services of any form are subject to availability and first come first serve basis.
• A valid Identity card issued by GOI is a must have for guests to register at the campsite upon arrival.
• It is expected that the culture, traditions and norms of the locals are respected by every individual.
• Littering in and around the campsite is not allowed, use designated locations to dump your waste.
• Consumption of any illegal intoxicants are prohibited in and around the campsite.
• The organizers are not responsible for any personal loss or damage in any form.
• 100% cost of damage of any materials provided by the organizers will be borne by the individual with an additional 20% of the actual cost of goods.
• If there be any damage or disturbances caused by any guest of a camper, the responsibility will be solely borne by the camper.
• The organizers reserve the full right to any videos, pictures taken in and around the campsite, reproducing of the same for any commercial purpose is not allowed without prior permission.
• Upon confirmation of tickets, the individuals (who availed travel service through us) has to mail their scanned copy of any government authorized Identity card (Aadhar, DL, Voter ID, Passport etc.), and a recent Passport size photo to [email protected] 15 days prior to the event. The same is required for obtaining ILP (inner line permit) to enter Arunachal. Upon non fulfillment of the same, the individual has to obtain ILP on their own.

Cancellation Process:

Cancellation of tickets can be made by dropping us a mail to [email protected] with the subject line “Cancellation Camp Ziro”, the booking reference has to be mentioned clearly in the mail.

Refund Policy:

The following refund policy will be adopted for any cancellations made

No refunds will be made because of any incidental condition which are not within the purview of the organizers

• Cancellations made 45 days or more before the event- 100% refund
• Cancellations made 30-44 days before the event- 75% refund
• Cancellations made 15-29 days before the event- 50% refund
• Cancellation made thereafter – No Refund
• If the package includes a festival pass then that amount will be deducted from the refund amount.
• Refunds will be made within 15 working days of cancellation

Photos by - Momo Irengbam and Boy