Beginner

Dzukou Valley

5 days
Group Size:
2452 m/8045 ft

(0 Review)

₹+GST

Description:

Have you been to a place in India that makes you feel like you are on another planet?

If not, I will tell you where this magical place exists. Now you might be thinking, is this even for real? Yes, yes, it is absolutely real.

I am talking about the most renowned trekking destination of India, Dzukou Valley – the Valley of Flowers of North East. It is a plate full of happiness for those wanderers who seek for peace and solidarity amidst nature.

This valley with its surreal beauty is located between the borders of Nagaland and Manipur with an altitude of 2438 meters above sea level, right behind the second highest peak of Nagaland – Japfu Peak. The name of the valley comes from its river of the same name which means ‘cold water’. This trek is a visual treat for nature lovers with a panoramic view of rolled emerald green hills, myriad colourful blooms scattered everywhere like a blanket, lush green forests, and serpentine streams flowing everywhere.

Dzukou Valley is one of the most remote treks in India and adventure lovers prefers this trek because of its virgin beauty. The culture and tribe of this region are fascinating and magical that has its roots connected deep into the nature. The term ‘Dzukou’ is actually a very common word that is used in both Angami and Mao languages which means ‘cold water’. This is in relation to the cold stream that flows throughout the valley and usually it freezes in the winter months.

Pick-Up and Drop Time

The pick up time from Dimapur on Day 1 is 11 am and the drop time from Kigwema is 11 am.

Best Time to Visit

June, July, October

Dzukou Valley can be done all year round but if you want to witness the vibrant floras then you should plan your visit between June to August which is the blooming season. The month of October is known for its stark beauty in the Dzukou Valley. If you want to visit this place during the offbeat months, then you should do it between November and May which has different sense of beauty for offbeat trekkers. During the monsoon months, the floras that are available are Dzukou Lily, Aconitum, Euphorbia, and Rhododendrons in different colours adding an essence of floral treat to the trek.

Suitable Age Group: Since it is an easy to moderate level trek, it can be done by people of all age group but still we advise not to take children below 5 years and people above 60 years to the trek.

Mobile Network Availability

There is no mobile network available in Dzukou Valley and Airtel, Vodafone, and Reliance Jio do not have any network in the valley. However, there are some high points during the trail where you can get very weak signals.

How to Reach

By Air

Dimapur has a domestic airport and flights are mostly connected through Kolkata. So it is advised if you are planning to reach Dimapur via flight, then you should book the tickets in advance as the prices would rise quite steeply during peak season.

By Train

Dimapur is the only railway station in Nagaland and it is well-connected to Kolkata, Guwahati, and New Delhi by train. Kamrup Express is the best train to reach Dimapur from Kolkata, and it leaves daily from Howrah station. New Tinsukia Express is also another weekly train that leaves from Howrah station.

By Road

Dimapur is well-connected by road from Guwahati. So if you are someone who wishes to enjoy long rides through the altitude, then you should definitely take a ride from Guwahati to reach Dimapur which is 280 km in distance.

Included

All meals from Day 1 Lunch to Day 5 Breakfast. Meals will be Veg and Non-veg. We will also provide packed lunch while you are exploring the valley.
All Transportation from Dimapur to Dimapur.
Homestay in Kigwema and Trekker's Hut in Dzukou which are also in good and clean condition with basic amenities.
Expert bilingual guide.
Sleeping Bags and Sleeping Mats in good and clean condition
Services of Porters/Mules to carry all group gear.
Services of Cooking Staff.
Group medical kit.
All park entrance fees and trekking permits (we will take care of that part, you don’t have to worry at all).
Completion certificate.

Exclude

Porter to carry personal luggage. Either you carry your backpack yourself or hire a porter.
Foods, that are not mentioned in inclusions.
Insurance for clients.
Anything not specifically mentioned under the head.

Highlights of The Trek

The highlights of Dzukou Valley are as follows:

Entire trail is covered with pristine natural beauties and emerald green rolled hills.
Variety of this trek is its key highlight – the trail takes you through deep forests, variety of wild flowers blooming everywhere, and bamboo trees everywhere.
Dzukou Valley is slowly gaining popularity hence its not that crowded and remains mostly desolate.

What To Pack

Trekking pole
Water bottle
Head lamp
Sunglasses
Power bank
Rain cover for rucksack
Raincoat
Waterproof trekking shoes
Sunscreen lotions
Sandals or clogs

Tour Plan :

Day 1

Pick up from Dimapur and drive to Kigwema via Kohima

Our journey begins from Dimapur. Once you have arrived to Dimapur, our team will pick you up. Dzukou Valley can be easily reached from Kohima – the capital city of Nagaland. We will take a drive from Dimapur to Kigwema via Kohima. This drive is bound to keep you awestruck with the natural beauty. We will stay the night in a comfortable homestay.

Day 2

Drive to trek point at Viswema

Our trek starts from Jakhama which is around 20 kilometers from Kohima approximately. So early morning after breakfast, we will have a short drive of 4 kilometers to the trek point at Jakhama. The trek from Jakhama to Dzukou Valley begins from here. The trail is approximately 5 hours through beautiful rugged terrain.

For some time, the trail is through bamboo and deodar forests. Later you will climb steeply for 1km alongside a stream. Here you will get a resting shade and take some rest. There is also a government water tap and you can definitely fill up your water bottles. Once we have left the stream, the uphill trail becomes quite steep. Please keep in mind that the trail would be little bit mossy here, so please mind your steps.

You will reach a pass which is approximately 1km from the resting point from where you will get the breathtaking panoramic view of the entire valley. Today we will reach Dzukou Trekkers Hut and will have lunch there. Night stay at the Trekkers Hut and enjoy the night with your trek mates.

Day 3

Full day at Dzukou Valley

This day is all yours to explore the Dzukou Valley and engulf its natural beauty. After your breakfast, we will start exploring the valley and capture endless snaps. You can also visit the Ghost Caves or the ‘Bhoot Gufa’ but make sure you have a torch in hand as the cave is quite dark. We suggest exploring the vast stretch of the grasslands with blossoming flowers scattered everywhere like a floral blanket and spot the famous Dzukou Lily in the valley. If you are lucky enough, you can also spot the state bird of Nagaland, the Blyth tragopan. The other rare species that can be spotted are the Asian golden cat, the Hollock Gibbon, the clouded leopard, and the horned toad. After exploring the valley, return to the trekkers hut and stay the night there.

Day 4

Trek back to Viswema and then drive to Kigwema

After having our breakfast, we will trek back to Jakhama village. After taking some pictures and saying goodbye to the valley, we will start our descent. Since the Jakhama route is much steeper, it will take around 3 hours to reach the point. We will provide with packed lunch that you can have anywhere through the trail. With the stream flowing through your left, enjoy your trail downwards. There will be a zig-zag trail for sometime and afterwards you will reach another pass. From Jakhama we will take a short drive back to Kigwema and stay the night there.

Day 5

Drive back to Dimapur

After having our breakfast, we will drive back to Dimapur and will drop you at Dimapur. Return back to your base with pocket full of memories.

Guest Speak

Dzukou Valley was my very first trek and the beginning of my adventure journey. We began our walk from Viswema, near Kigwema village in Nagaland. On the first day, trekking through the jungle left me mesmerized. The atmosphere was thrilling, with a gentle drizzle and the soothing chirping of birds. The narrow, unpaved path, slippery and covered in mud, was a bit risky, but we thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. Upon reaching the valley, I felt as though even greater surprises awaited us. The next day, we truly witnessed heaven on earth. The lush, green, carpet-like Dzukou Valley, adorned with blooming lilies, mystical clouds, and delicate raindrops, created a landscape as dramatic as it could be. Crossing the mountain stream was an especially exciting experience for me. This trek will remain etched in my memory forever.
- Aditi Saha