Naga Tribal Village Visits

Explore Khonoma, Kigwema, Touphema and Ungma with local hosts to understand Naga life.

At a glance

Difficulty: Easy
Duration: Half day per village
Best season: October – May
Base: Kohima (Kohima, Mokokchung, Mon)
Permits: Nagaland ILP required; foreigners also need a PAP. Verify before travel. Some villages charge small entry fees.

About this experience

Naga villages are traditionally built on ridgetops, protected by carved wooden gates and divided into clan quarters (khels), each with its morung — the traditional youth dormitory and community centre. Visiting them with a local host is the best way to understand Naga history and modern life.

Around Kohima, Khonoma is famous for its conservation work and Anglo-Naga war history; Kigwema and Jakhama, near Kisama, have fine traditional houses and stone memorials; Touphema offers a community-run tourist village; and Dzüleke is a peaceful eco-village. In the north, Ungma near Mokokchung is one of the oldest Ao villages, and the Konyak villages of Mon district are known for their chiefs' houses and log drums.

Village walks typically include gates and morungs, terraced fields, a visit to a family home for tea or rice beer, and conversations about clan systems, festivals and the region's transition from head-hunting societies to Christian communities. Our guides make introductions and ensure visits are respectful.