Dzukou Valley Trek - Nagaland

Dzukou Valley Trek - Nagaland
Dzukou Valley Trek - Nagaland
Dzukou Valley Trek - Nagaland
Dzukou Valley Trek - Nagaland

About The Trip

A signboard at Dzukou says, “Well, if you find it hard to go to Dzukou, you may find it hard to go to heaven.” Dzukou Valley, which borders Nagaland and Manipur, is touted to be one of the best trekking spots in North-Eastern India. This testing trek adventure will be worthwhile for all avid trekkers, adventure seekers, and photography enthusiasts. 

During Summer, its rolling green hills put you in awe, while the vivid flowers and tall grasses touch down at the self-illuminating valleys often enshrouded with a magical mist whisper sweet nothings. During Winter, the valleys are frozen, and the mountains are capped with lush white snow. ‘Dzukou’ Valley means ‘Dull and Soulless’, a name given by locals to reflect the nature of the place in winter.

The vast expanses of green hill slopes, the surreal presence of pearly white clouds and the gleaming mountain tops make for a dream-like trekking route. Located at 2450 meters, the Dzukou Valley, located at the bottom of a large crater of an extinct volcano, is by far the best trekking route in Nagaland.

The trail to reach the Dzukou Valley trek will leave you breathless, inspire you and test your endurance all at once – making this trail very special! You will witness the magnificence of rolling hillocks covered by a thick blanket of green forests, the tranquil beauty of aqua blue water, and glorious assortment of flowers that fill the valley with colors and light.

With the steep trek upward followed by 2-3 hours of walking through thick bamboo thickets and deep forest land, you will understand why this trail is considered the best trek route in Nagaland. Discover the most charming spot in the North East with Plan The Unplanned and tick another adventure off your travel bucket list – book your spot now!

Some facts about Dzukou Valley Trek:

  1. The dreamlike Dzukou Valley is home to the world’s most exotic lilies.
  2. Two rivers, Japfu and Dzukou, water this valley, fondly addressed as “The Valley of Flowers” among locals.
  3. The stream that flows in the valley has healing effects. 

Know About Kohima: Kohima is the capital city of Nagaland. Known for the Hornbill Festival, Kohima is mainly known for its Angami tribes among the other 16 tribes in Nagaland. 

How to reach Kohima?

Kohima is located at the following distances from its neighbouring state capitals:

  • Guwahati (Assam)– 339 km
  • Imphal (Manipur)- 145 km

The nearest Airport, Railhead, and Road network are in Dimapur, located 74 km away. NH 39 connects Kohima to Dimapur and Imphal.

Trip Highlights

  • Village walk in Dzuleke
  • Drive to Kohima
  • Visit the War Cemetery
  • Surreal Dzukou Valley Trek

Brief Itinerary

  • Trek Grade: Moderate (Difficulty Level is subjective)
  • Trek Altitude:  2452 m
  • Trek Distance: 25 km (to & fro)
  • Trek Region: Dzoku Valley, Nagaland

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Meet in Kohima, visit War Cemetery and homestay in Kigwema
Day 2: Reach the top via Viswema
Day 3: Explore Dzukou Valley, descend via Jakhama, and end trip in Kohima

Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusions

  • Tented Accomodation in Japhu Eco Camp
  • Tented/ Dorm Accomodation in Dzukou Valley ( depending on availabiltiy )
  • Day 2 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, High Tea & Snacks, Day 3 & 4 - Breakfast & Dinner 
  • Land Transport from Kohima to Kohima and back
  • Local Guide
  • Trek leaderr from Plan The Unplanned ( if group size over 10 pax )
  • Trek Permissions
  • Camping equipemnts, Food & Logistics

Exclusions

  • Airfare/Train tickets to and back from Guwahati not included
  • Train tickets from Guwahati to Dimapur will be on availability basis -Sleeper or A/c coach costs will have to be additional borne by the traveller. The team shall provide assistance in booking of flights and trains
  • Any meals not included above - lunch on Day 3 and Diner
  • Any kind of personal expenses like soft drinks, bottled water, beverages, tips, telephone calls, laundry etc
  • Trekking equipment like trekking bag, shoe, trekking pole etc
  • Any costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances like landslides, roadblocks, bad weather, etc
  • Any kind of insurance (health, medical, life accidental,etc)
  • Anything not included above

Detail Itinerary



Details

Distance of Kigwema from Kohima: 15 km
Altitude of Kohima: 1444 m
Altitude of Kigwema: 1585 m

Your journey to Dzukou Valley begins from Kohima. We’ll meet at a designated point at around 1 pm, the details of which will be shared in the mail. 

After the initial introduction, we will go for lunch, where you will get to know fellow trippers better. Feel free to talk with locals and ask questions. We will give you a brief of the trip, after which we’ll go to our homestay in Kigwema.

We will visit War Cemetery.  

You can spend the rest of the evening at leisure. The next day, we will start the trek early, so bid a good night to your new friends and retire early.




Details

Kigwema to Viswema: 11 km
Trek from Viswema to Dzukou Guest House: 4.5 hours
Total Dzukou Valley Trek Distance via Viswema: 13 km

After early breakfast, we will get on the road to reach Viswema – the base of the Dzukou Valley Trek. 

Meanwhile, take time to absorb nature. The journey will continue as we drive from Kohima to Viswema. The drive switches to steep, winding roads as we bounce down the hills surrounded by wildflowers and bamboo.

Viswema is where the trek starts to the Dzukou rest house. We will begin with a 1.5-hour uphill trek through dense bamboo thickets. We assure you that the views will soothe your inhibitions. We will take short breaks, and also find a place to savor packed lunch on the way. 

After the steep 1.5-hour trek, we will walk for another 3 hours through plain lands to reach Dzukou Valley. Dzukou Valley trekking will give you a good glimpse of the Japfu peak upfront, which has an elevation of 3048 meters, the second-largest in Nagaland. The panoramic views of the valley, the majestic mountains surrounding you and the natural green environment make the trek most worthwhile and memorable.

In the end, we reach the Dzukou dormitory. Freshen up, have dinner and rest for the night.




Details

Wake up to the silent morning. We will commence downhill trekking to the valley at around 4:30 am. This will take approximately an hour. But why are we trekking down only to come back up?

We will go down to the valley. Dzukou Valley is well-hidden among the high mountain ranges on the Manipur-Nagaland border. The valley is famous for its multicoloured carpets of flowers that bloom in summer, most notably the Dzukou lily, found only in this valley. The flowers begin to bloom in the monsoon, and the first two weeks of July are the peak flowering season. As you reach, you will also get glimpses of the Dzukou River

After spending a reasonable amount of time here, we will return to our base. After reaching, we will start preparing for breakfast. Pack your bags, have breakfast and leave for Jakhama. The trek descends steeply but is shorter than the ascent from the previous day.  

We will be in Jakhama by lunchtime.  

The trip started in Kohima, so we will say goodbye to our North-Eastern Dzukou Valley trek in Kohima. After lunch, we will leave for Kohima.

In Kohima, we bid each other goodbye. You can return on the same day or spend a few days exploring the state. 

All memories of the days spent together would come back as we part. We know how difficult it is to let go of funny times, sleepless nights and new friendships. But Hey, Listen, once you choose PTU, it is your home forever. Most of us cross paths multiple times. 

Remember your exhilaration during the Dzukou Valley Trek, share pictures and stay connected. And whenever you feel like doing it all over again, we are here. Check out our other itineraries and ring us soon. It would be a pleasure to see you. Until we meet again, take care and love life.


Things To Carry

  • Trekking Shoes ( Do not carry sneakers/ sports shoes. Carry shoes that have good grip and ankle support)
  • Backpack (35 -50 litres): A backpack with sturdy straps and a supporting frame. Rain cover for a backpack is essential.
  • Layers/Warm Clothes/Thermals
  • Trek Pants/T-shirts/Undergarments as per your convenience. Carry the actual number required and stay light
  • Sunglasses, Suncap, sunscreen.
  • Hand gloves, socks 2 pairs and woollen socks
  • Headlamp/LED Torch is mandatory
  • Trekking Pole
  • Poncho/Raincoat
  • Personal Medikit
  • Toiletries: moisturiser, light towel, lip balm, toilet paper, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitiser. Do not carry wet wipes.
  • One 1 litre water bottle.
  • Plastic covers: carry a few extra plastic bags for wet clothes. Make sure you take them back and not litter the mountains.

Policy and Terms

Here’s the cancellation policy for Himalayan Treks/Backpacking Trips/Road Trips

  • If you cancel before 30 days – 90% of amount will be refunded
  • If you cancel between 20 -30 days – 75% % of amount will be refunded
  • If you cancel between 15-19 days – 50%  will be refunded
  • If you cancel between 7-14 days – 25 % amount will be refunded
  • If you cancel between 0- 7 days before the departure date – No amount would be refunded.

Note: For All The Above Refund Cases Transaction Fees/Internet Handling Charges will be dedcuted from the overall amount and balance amount shall be refunded. You can transfer your ticket to anyone so that you could save your hard earned money

For other trips and travels with us, and detailed terms and conditions check the      following link : https://www.plantheunplanned.com/refund-cancellation-policy

FAQ's

Well, most of our treks are usually confirmed by Thursday and you would receive a BON VOYAGE mail that would contain details as regards Pickup Points ( Location and Timings ), Outdoor Leader ( Point of Contact ), Do’s and Don’ts. You’ll be added to Whatsapp Group for all the further updates.

Yes, the Bon Voyage mail would contain a link for Whatsapp Group through which one can join and interact with fellow travellers and outdoor leaders.

The interesting thing about travelling alone is that you get to meet new people from diverse backgrounds, and towards the end, you are no longer strangers. Hence solo travellers are always welcome to join us on our trips. Read more about solo travelling here and get inspired! https://www.plantheunplanned.com/solo-yet-accompanied/

Safety and security are our priority at all times. Hence it is safe for women/girls to join us on our treks and travels. Our trek leaders accompany the team at all times, and our campsites are secured and safe for accommodation. We also have female trek leaders who accompany us on most of our treks.

Not at all. You could keep all the extra luggage back at the campsite/homestay and carry only the necessary stuff for the trek (Raincoats, Torchlight, Waterbottle, lunchbox, and your valuable)

Well, you are in the mountains and none of our trails has a washroom facility during the trek.

Details for availing discounts are mentioned in the following link, https://www.plantheunplanned.com/membership/

We are extremely sorry, you cannot postpone to any future date in case you fail to attend the trek on the mentioned date for any reasons whatsoever (family/health/work emergencies). You can write to us at [email protected] as regards and our team will get in touch with you on the same

Visit here during the summer and monsoon season to see the natural blooms (May to August). Although difficult, the rains are a necessary evil if you want the greatest vistas. Around late May and early June, the renowned Dzukou Lilies blossom.

Most services are available till Viswema. Up in the valley, there is no actual connectivity. Don't get very thrilled if you sometimes manage to collect some strange signals.

The neighbouring streams provide water that is utilised for drinking and washing as well as other uses. Bring your own bottles if that doesn't sit well with you (and please take them back to the nearest dustbin in the city too). Bottled water is not available above the valley.

There are simple Indian-style restrooms. The water will need to be transported using buckets.

By Air: Dimapur’s airport is conveniently located just 4 km from the city center. It has regular flights to Kolkata, Guwahati and Imphal Airports on behalf of Alliance Airlines or Deccan Airways By Train: Dimapur railway station is a major railhead of this place and so many trains from all major cities of India come to this city. Major trains from Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai are available on regular basis. By Road: Dimapur is a small city in the northeast of India. It’s connected to all major cities by road and there are frequent state transport buses from nearby places that come here every day! Nearby destinations include Kohima (60 km), Imphal(204km) & Shillong (307Km).

Dzukou Valley straddles between the border of Nagaland and Manipur, two of the most charming states in North East India.

Yes, inner line permit (ILP) is a must even for Indians from other states when visiting anywhere in Nagaland. It is a good idea to secure an ILP online before the trip commences because otherwise you will waste lot of time in getting the ILP from the office at dusty town of Dimapur.

There is no internet since the start of the Dzukou Valley. You may get patchy internet in Viswema. Kisama and Kohima has better internet. This is why it is a better idea to inform your parents, kids and spouse about your plan to embark upon the Dzukou Valley trek at least a day in advance.

Yes, Dzukou Valley trek is very safe even for the solo female traveller. That said, it is a good idea to start early on the trek. The landscape here is breathtaking, but it’s not safe to trek after dark.

Additional Information

  • Consumption of alcohol, intoxicants, and smoking would not be tolerated during the entire course of the journey. Kindly co-operate with us to make the experience more fun.
  • Put Litter in its place, do not trash the mother earth.
  • In the case of traffic delays or breakdowns expect a few delays in reaching the destination.
  • All the meals will be Veg if included.
  • Plan The Unplanned will not be responsible for any loss/ hamper of your possessions. We request you to be alert about whatever you carry.
cover pic

From : INR 10999/-

INR 10250/-

per person



*Prices will vary for Long Weekend
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Dzukou Valley Trek - Nagaland
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