Ziro Festival of Music (ZFM) is held in the spectacular Ziro Valley (Hapoli/Old Ziro) in the Lower/Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh. Getting there takes a little planning – the payoff is a lush valley, Apatani villages, and one of India’s loveliest outdoor festivals. This guide on how to reach Ziro Festival (updated for ZFM 2025) lays out every practical route: direct flights, the rail + shared-taxi option, bus services, and popular road-trip itineraries – with timings, distances, typical fares, and permit reminders so you can plan with confidence.
Quick Essentials (At A Glance)
- Ziro Festival 2025 dates: 25–28 September 2025.
- Festival venue: Ziro Valley (Hapoli / Old Ziro), Lower/Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh.
- Permits: Indian citizens need an Inner Line Permit (e-ILP) for Arunachal; foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit (PAP). Get these well before travel (eILP portal / PAP process).
Overview Of Arrival Hubs
There are four practical entry points you’ll consider, depending on budget, comfort, and time:
- Ziro (Zero) Airport — IATA: ZER – small airstrip with limited scheduled flights (usually connections to Guwahati). Good if you can get a direct seat.
- Guwahati (Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport) — IATA: GAU – the major gateway to the northeast with many domestic connections; from Guwahati, you can continue by flight, train, bus, or road.
- Itanagar / Donyi Polo Airport — IATA: HGI – newer greenfield airport near Itanagar (Hollongi). From Itanagar, it’s ~100–120 km to Ziro by road (3–4+ hours depending on route/traffic). Good if flights into HGI match your schedule.
- Lilabari (North Lakhimpur) — IATA: IXI – in Assam (useful for some road routes via North Lakhimpur / Tezpur).
Option A – Fly (Fastest)
1) Direct to Ziro (ZER)
- What: Limited scheduled flights operate into Ziro’s Zero Airport (ZER), typically from Guwahati (GAU). Frequency is limited and seasonal; check schedules and book early.
- Why choose: Fastest door-to-door option; avoids long road legs.
- Things to know: Seats are limited during festival season, so expect flights to sell out quickly. If you land at ZER, the local transfer to the festival site is short.
2) Fly to Guwahati (GAU) → Onward
- When to use: If you can’t get ZER seats. Guwahati has the most flight options from across India.
- From Guwahati, you can:
- Catch a Ziro flight (if available). (1 hr approx).
- Take a train to Naharlagun (see trains section), then road/taxi to Ziro.
- Drive or take an overnight bus (see Bus & Road sections). Road distance varies (≈ 390–460 km depending on route; ~7–10 hours depending on stops/road condition).
3) Fly to Itanagar (HGI) → Road to Ziro
- Donyi Polo Airport (Hollongi/Itanagar) is ~100–120 km from Ziro; drive time ~3–4 hours on improved roads (routes via Hoj-Potin / Yupia). If flights to HGI suit you, this is a convenient option.
Option B — By train (Budget + Comfortable Overnight)
Typical route: Guwahati (GHY) → Naharlagun (NHLN), then road to Ziro
- Guwahati → Naharlagun (train): Several trains connect Guwahati and Naharlagun (examples: Donyi Polo Express, Shatabdi/Vistad variants). Journey time is roughly 6–8 hours, depending on the train. Book on IRCTC/rail portals.
- Naharlagun → Ziro: After arrival at Naharlagun station, shared sumo (9–10 seater) / private taxi runs towards Ziro. Road time is usually ~1.5–3.5 hours, depending on exact origin/road/traffic; expected taxi fare ≈ INR 1,800–INR 2,500 for a private sedan/innova, shared sumos are cheaper per person.
- Why choose: Good balance of cost and comfort; you arrive on land and avoid weather-sensitive small flights.
Option C — Bus & Shared Vehicles (Cheapest / Flexible)
- Government / private buses: Arunachal/APSTS and private operators run routes Guwahati ↔ Ziro and Itanagar ↔ Ziro; night buses from Guwahati are commonly used. Tickets are available on RedBus / APSTS portals; fares vary (roughly INR 800–INR 1,500+ depending on operator and season).
- Shared sumo/taxis: From Naharlagun, Itanagar, and North Lakhimpur, you’ll commonly find Tata Sumo shared services and private taxis. These are the usual last-mile transport to Hapoli/Old Ziro; festival organizers (or local hotels) often help pre-book shared transfers during ZFM.
Option D — Road-Trip Routes (Self-Drive or Rented Vehicle)
Ziro is a hugely satisfying drive if you like long, scenic road journeys. Here are common road-trip options:
Route 1 — Guwahati → Tezpur → Lilabari → Ziro
- Why: Scenic Assam plains → hills. Useful if you want to stop at Tezpur or use Lilabari as a waypoint. Road distance ≈ 390–460 km depending on exact routing; allow 8–11 hours with stops. (Actual driving times vary with roadwork and monsoon conditions).
Route 2 — Guwahati → Itanagar (Naharlagun / Yupia) → Ziro
- Why: Good roads on the Guwahati → Naharlagun corridor; then newly improved links to Ziro (Hoj-Potin / Yupia) reduce time. Itanagar→Ziro is ~105–120 km (≈3–4 hours).
Route 3 — Guwahati → North Lakhimpur (Lilabari) → Kimin → Ziro
- Why: Alternatively, if you prefer to approach from Lakhimpur/Kimin. Useful if you have business around North Lakhimpur or want river-side stops.
Driving tips
- Roads through Arunachal are frequently narrow/curvy and can be affected by rain. Plan buffer time.
- Fuel and mechanic facilities are sparser in the hills — keep fuel topped up and carry a basic tool kit and phone powerbank. (local advice/travel blogs).
Sample Travel Plans (Pick One That Fits You)
Fastest/Most Comfortable (Solo/Couples)
- Fly Delhi/Bengaluru → Guwahati → Ziro (ZER) if direct seats are available. If no ZER seat, fly to HGI (Itanagar) and taxi to Ziro (~3–4 hrs).
Balanced (Good Value + Minimal Hassle)
- Fly to Guwahati → train Guwahati → Naharlagun (overnight/afternoon train) → shared sumo/taxi Naharlagun → Ziro (1.5–3 hrs). Book trains early.
Budget/Backpacker
- Overnight bus Guwahati → Ziro (or Guwahati → Naharlagun + shared sumo) — cheapest but longer. During festival season, buses and sumos fill fast — book ahead where possible.
Scenic Road Trip (Self-Drive/Friends)
- Guwahati → Tezpur → North Lakhimpur → Kimin → Ziro spread over 1–2 days with stops; enjoy tea estates and rivers. Allow extra time for road conditions.
Practical Tips & Festival Logistics
- Book early. ZER seats and trains fill quickly around festival dates; bus tickets and shared taxi seats also get scarce.
- Permits: e-ILP for Indian citizens (apply online) and PAP for foreign nationals — carry printed copies. You may be asked at state check posts or entry points.
- Cash & connectivity: ATMs are limited in Ziro — carry adequate cash. Mobile network can be patchy; inform family of plans. (Local travel advisories/festival pages recommend cash).
- Shared transfers & camping: Festival organizers often publish official transfer options (Naharlagun ↔ Ziro / Guwahati ↔ Ziro) and partner travel operators — check the festival’s “Getting There” / travel partners page.
- Health & safety: Late September is post-monsoon; occasional rain, muddy tracks — bring waterproof gear and sturdy shoes.
Where To Check Live Schedules & Bookings
- Ziro Festival official site: for dates, official travel notes, and any festival transfers.
- Air schedules (ZER, GAU, HGI, IXI): Flight aggregator/airline sites (FlightConnections, Flightradar, airline portals) for the latest seat availability and schedules.
- Trains: IRCTC / National Rail enquiry/railway aggregators for Guwahati↔Naharlagun train timings.
- Buses/State Transport: APSTS / RedBus / festival travel partners for Guwahati / Itanagar / Ziro bus schedules.
Quick Checklist Before You Go
- Flight/train/bus tickets: booked & printed/e-tickets.
- e-ILP / PAP applied and printed.
- Local transfers pre-booked, or you have a plan to get a shared sumo/taxi from Naharlagun/Itanagar.
- Cash, chargers, rain gear, basic medicines, and ID proofs.
- Festival tickets/camping confirmations (if camping).
Summing Up
Ziro Festival 2025 is on 25–28 Sept, and how to reach Ziro Festival is part of the experience: choose direct ZER flights if you want the fastest transfers (limited seats), Guwahati + train to Naharlagun + sumo/taxi for a reliable and comfortable route, or overnight buses / self-drive for budget or adventurous road trips.
Don’t forget your e-ILP (Indians) or PAP (foreign nationals), and book travel & transfers early — festival season fills seats fast.
See the official festival site and the state travel portals for the latest schedules and official transfer options before you finalize your plan.
