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Gozy Trips

Nagaland trek

Dzukou Valley Trek

Rolling green hills on the Nagaland Manipur border

Dzukou Valley is an easy to moderate 2 day hike near Kohima in Nagaland, reaching a valley of rolling bamboo-grass hills at about 8,000 ft. Go June to September for the green and the seasonal lilies, or October to March for clearer skies. Visitors from outside Nagaland need an Inner Line Permit.

Max altitude
About 8,000 ft (2,450 m)
Duration
2 days from Kohima
Difficulty
Easy-moderate
Best time
June to September for green, October to March for clear skies
Base
Viswema or Zakhama, near Kohima
Getting there
Dimapur (rail and air), about 3 hours by road to Kohima
Dzukou Valley trek: A site of Dzukou Valley, located in Manipur Nagaland border

Dzukou Valley trek: A site of Dzukou Valley, located in Manipur Nagaland border

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Why people pick Dzukou Valley

  • Endless rolling hills unlike anywhere else in India
  • Simple rest house stay in the valley
  • Combine with Kohima and the Hornbill Festival in December

Route, day by day

The usual shape of the trek. Exact camps and timings vary by operator and conditions.

Drive to the trailhead and climb up to the valley rest house.
Morning in the valley, then back to Kohima.

Fitness

Easy-moderate. The first climb is steep, the valley itself is gentle.

What to carry

  • Trekking shoes with ankle support, broken in
  • Three warm layers and a waterproof jacket
  • Headlamp, sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Two water bottles
  • Personal medicines and a small first aid kit
  • Original photo ID

Safety and altitude

  • Climbing too fast is the main cause of altitude sickness. Keep the acclimatisation day the route plan includes.
  • A headache, nausea, dizziness or unusual breathlessness above about 2,500 m are warning signs. Stop going higher, and descend if they get worse.
  • Summit timings depend on the weather. Turning back on a bad day is a normal mountain decision, not a failed trek.
  • Mention asthma, blood pressure, heart conditions or recent illness in your brief, and check with a doctor before a high-altitude trek.
  • Ask your written quote who leads the group, what first aid and oxygen is carried, and what happens if someone cannot continue.

Before you book

Carry your Nagaland Inner Line Permit. Facilities in the valley are basic.

Dzukou Valley questions

Indian visitors from outside Nagaland need an Inner Line Permit, which can be applied for online before travel.