Nagaland with Dzukou Valley Private Trip (6D/5N)

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  • 6 Days 5 Night
  • Minimum Group Size: 2
  • Difficulty : Moderate
  • Starting/End Location : Dimpaur

Overview

Hello Travelers!

Tucked between Brahmaputra valley on one side, and high mountain passes of Myanmar on the other side, Nagaland is a small mountainous state with unique and colorful culture. The Nagas have fiercely defended India from the Japanese army in World War 2. There are many reminiscent in and around Kohima that are very interesting to explore.

Dzukou valley is North East’s very own “Valley of Flowers” famous for its Dzukou lily that grows only in the monsoon season. The spectacular “mountain wave” setting of Dzukou valley is almost unbelievable. It can be described as waves of mountains reaching as far as your eyes can see. It feels like a setting straight out of fairy tales and makes you wonder – how on Earth such a marvelous creation is plausible!?

We will start our journey from Dimapur Airport and Railway station. Our first destination is Khonoma which is called “Green Village”. A walk around the village will introduce us to the culture of Nagas.

Next in line is a unique village named Dzuleke that has only 34 houses, and no mobile network! We can even do a small trek to a nearby river stream.

We will then move to the capital town of Nagaland, also called the land of tribes, Kohima. After visiting few local attractions in and around the town, we will then head to Kisama village to experience the true culture of Nagas followed by an evening trip to view step mountain fields of Kigwema village.

Incidentally, Kisama village is the home to the most famous Hornbill Festival of Nagas that is celebrated with pomp and glory in the first 10 days of December every year.

And then the real heavenly experience beckons – a trek to The Dzukou Valley. Located at a height of 9000 feet above sea level, this carpet of mountain terrain with dwarf bamboos is a treat to your senses. The valley is abundantly supplied with water by two rivers. After a tricky initial climb, the only thing one would do for the next 2 days is to just admire the incredible views. A night of camping in the valley under millions of stars is a sight to behold.

One thing is certain, that you will have lots of stories to tell after this backpacking trip!

Let’s explore the hidden wonder of North East – Nagaland!

Highlights of the trip:

  • The Heavenly Dzukou Valley Trek (2 Days / 1 Night)
  • Khonoma – The Green Village
  • Kohima – The land of Tribes
  • Dzuleke – Go back in time to a hidden gem!
  • Kigwema – The clean village with step mountain fields
  • Kisama Heritage Village – The heart of Nagas culture
  • A unique experience one wouldn’t get any where in India!

Why choose Muddie Trails? 😃

👉 Trusted by 10,000+ travellers over past 8 years, the number keeps growing day by day with numerous new travellers joining our family 🤗
👉 We focus on quality over quantity. We simply cannot compromise on quality of the travel experience. Our itineraries are also considered ‘value for money’ by our guests. The phrase ‘Paisa Vasool’ is a common word we hear on our customer feedbacks ✅
👉 Whether it is South, North or North-East, our team is well equipped with in-depth knowledge on local destinations that enables us in providing a more authentic experience. It’s not just about ticking bucket list of places with Muddie Trails, but also about making memories that will last forever ❤️

Inclusions

  • Travel (Dimapur to Dimapur)
  • Stay for 5 nights
  • 5 times Breakfast
  • 4 times Dinner (Veg & Non veg)
  • All entry tickets, permissions
  • Dzukou Valley Trekking Fees
  • Trip Guide
  • Porter to carry Tents for Dzukou Valley trek
  • At least 1 Campfire (if it doesn’t rain at the time)
  • Airport/Railway station pick up and drop at fixed timings
  • A unique cultural and offbeat experience of the most untouched state Nagaland.

Exclusions

  • Lunches, 1 Dinner at Dzukou Valley
  • Any kind of insurance, activities, shopping, party, medical expenses
  • Any misc. expenses that are not in inclusions above
  • Any extra cost arising due to any change in the itinerary/stay/route on account of bad weather, traffic-congestion, landslides/roadblocks, natural calamities, political disturbances and/or any other factors beyond our control.

Price Chart:

GuestsVehicleCost (per head)
2Hatchback₹26450
3Hatchback₹22450
4 to 6SUV₹19450
7 to 12Tempo₹15450

*Cost is excluding GST. 5% GST is applicable for all pricing.

The above rate chart is not applicable for peak season or holiday season (like end year, summer, festival holidays). The cost may increase by 1000 to 2000 per person based on the season. Contact Bookings Team on on 9880539183 for exact amount.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Konoma - The Green Village, Dzuleke - A village without mobile network!

  • Travelers arriving by train at Dimapur Railway station will be picked around 11:30 AM in the noon.
  • Travelers deboarding flights at Dimapur Airport will be picked around 12 PM in the noon.
  • We will move towards capital city of Nagaland – Kohima, say hi to our amiable Trip Captain.
  • Finish quick, short Lunch enroute at a local restaurant.
  • (Optional / Time & traffic permits) Stop by at Nagaland State Museum which is in the middle of Kohima town and get to know about colorful local culture and different tribes that are part of this unique state.
    or
  • Reach the beautiful green village – Khonoma – and go on a village walk.
    If lucky, we will be treated with a beautiful sunset across the hill.
  • A journey of about an hour from Khonoma will take us back in time to a serene place called Dzuleke that has tiniest of population – only 34 households.
  • At Dzuleke, one can actually feel a sense of calmness that is totally undisturbed from the civilization. There is no mobile network also!
  • Check into our cozy village homestay.
  • Socially gather as we share each others stories and get to know each other better.
  • Finish delicious Dinner served at our Dzuleke stay and take a good night’s rest.

Day 2 - Dzuleke Nature Walk, Kohima attractions

  • Go on a early morning nature walk to the Dzuleke stream and experience peace in the lap of mother nature.  One can hear birds chirping, wind blowing against the trees and witness clear blue skies with slowly moving clouds. If lucky, one can even spot some wildlife.
  • Fresh up, have Breakfast, check out of the stay.
  • Khonoma village walk (if not done yesterday).
  • Head towards Kohima, the capital town of Nagaland to visit colorful Cathedral Church & World War II Cemetery to know interesting stories about Japanese army attacking India through North East and how Nagas defended our country. 
  • Reach Kisama village home stay by early evening and say good bye to the Dzuleke/Kohima driver.
  • Gather around socially, play some games.
  • Finish hot Dinner before calling it off for the day.

Day 3 - Kisama Heritage Village Walk, Kigwema Village exploration

***Leisurely day***

  • Start the day late with Breakfast.
  • Explore Kisama Heritage village by walk, the mystic piece of land that showcases rich culture, architecture and practices of The Nagas.
  • Kisama is also the venue of vibrant Hornbill festival that happens every year in December.
  • One can explore closed architectural pieces like Bamboo pavilion, Idols, and Morungs which are the arenas for the tribes to learn and display different skills like archery, arts, crafts and even headhunting!
  • Most of these places in Heritage village are actively decorated during Hornbill festival of early December.
  • Finish Lunch at one of the food joints of the village & walk back to the homestay.
  • After a brief rest, go on a short road trip by local vehicle to a clean & well maintained village named Kigwema.
  • Enjoy beautiful view point of step mountain fields of Kigwema and explore the village.
  • Head back to the Homestay, gather around Bonfire (weather permits).
  • Wrap up for the night with early Dinner.

Day 4 - Dzukou Valley: Trek to Fairy Land, Camping

  • The day we have been waiting for has arrived. Today we shall trek to the heavenly Dzukou valley from the village. 
  • Breakfast time.
  • Our Dzukou cab will arrive before 8 AM.
  • Note: Dzukou Valley doesn’t have mobile network. It is advised to carry some cash & pack some snacks.
  • You may put your bigger backpacks at the Homestay and carry only the small backpack with essentials. Our guide will give individual sleeping bags to each trekker and our Porter will carry heavier tents.
  • The initial part of the trek, around 2 hours of the mountain slope is steep and surrounded by rain forest. The locals have done a great job in maintaining the sanctity of the trail.
  • Once we hike up the mountain, a completely new world appears in front of our eyes. Tens of rolling hills carpeted by dwarf bamboo trees welcome trekkers with a captivating views.
  • This remaining part of trek of about 3 hours through the valley is relatively easy but long. The beauty of the valley will make trekkers forget everything else.
  • We will reach base camp located at a magnificent setting at the other end and drop our bags in the tents once our care taker pitches the tents.
  • After a well deserved hot black Tea, we will hike up nearest mountain peak which is the only place with mobile signal!
  • Gear up for a very very cold night. Weather permits, locals may even arrange a bonfire.
  • Have a basic but hot Dinner (self sponsored) before resting in your assigned tents.

Day 5 - Explore the Fairyland, Trek back to Earth, stay at Kisama

  • Today we shall explore a Helipad and trek down the valley to reach breathtaking grasslands, pristine and cold flowing rivers, floating clouds that act as a crown to the majestic mountain peaks.
  • This 3 Km trek down is icing on the cake of already unimaginable setting of the Dzukou valley
  • After taking endless selfies, groupfies and Reels, we will finally trek up and have hot Lunch at our base camp
  • Resume our trek along the hills, and finally hike down the rainforest of the mountain slope to reach back to Jakhama village.
  • Our Dzukou vehicle will be waiting at the parking to pick tired and exhausted trekkers.
  • Once we are dropped to the stay by late afternoon, there is no more activity planned for the day.
  • Your body asks for rest after 2 days of trek and exploration. 
  • Finish Dinner and have a tight sleep.

Day 6 - Return journey!

  • Good morning Nagaland one last time during the trip.
  • All the outgoing flights are scheduled around afternoon time from Dimapur Airport. Our Airport vehicle will drop you just in time for flight check-in / baggage drop.
  • People travelling to Guwahati on their own will be dropped at Dimapur Railway station.
  • Good bye Nagaland until next time!

What to Expect

About Trip:
  • This trip involves basic facilities in terms of food, travel, and stay without any luxury, whatsoever.
  • This is a group trip with shared model. It may not suit everyone – especially for those expecting privacy and luxury. It best suits for people who wish to socialize.
  • Please do not book this trip if you are not okay with above points.

Travel:

Starting points:

  • Dimapur Railway station or Airport.

Local Travel in Nagaland:

  • Local Travel by Hatchback/Sedan/SUV or similar tourist vehicles.
  • Usually we use multiple vehicles during the trip.
  • Note: There is no night journey in this trip. All travel is during day time.

How to reach Dimapur by Train:

  • Book a flight to Guwahati (much cheaper than Dimapur flight).
  • Take a morning train to Dimapur – just 5 hours of journey from Guwahati.

Flight booking:

  • Our Bookings Team can assist you in booking your flight tickets to Guwahati or Dimapur as per your choice.
  • You may whatsapp 9880539183 for assistance in flight timings or tickets.

Stay:
  • Total 5 Nights
  • All stays are 3/4/5 sharing basis.
  • Couple stay can be provided at an extra cost of 1000 per night. Contact our Booking Team to check availability before booking.
  • You may get in touch with our Booking Team on 9880539183 if you wish to see stay pictures.

Places of Stay:

  • Dzuleke: Homestay for 1 Night (Comfort stay)
  • Kisama: Homestay for 3 Nights (Comfort stay)
  • Dzukou Valley: Camping for 1 Night (Basic stay)
    > Common washrooms by Dzukou association.

Trip Basics:
  • Total seats: 4 – 15 per batch.
  • Trek Difficulty: Moderate (1.5 days of trek)
  • Can beginners attempt? : Yes, given one is fit enough.
  • Tents are carried by Porter and individual Sleeping Bags have to be carried by trekkers
  • Max altitude: Dzukou Valley at 9000 feet above Sea level
  • Climate: Cold to Very cold (depending on the season)

 

Special Notes for Nagaland:
  • Travelers are expected to respect local culture, people, and rules of the land. The specific details will be shared in the WhatsApp group by Trip Captain. This is very important.
  • Travelers are expected to come with an open heart by appreciating the complexities of Mother nature based on seasonal variations, monthly or even daily weather conditions.

Best Time to Travel to Dzukou:
  • Dzukou valley is best visited during Monsoon and Winter. The monsoon special experience would be from June till August when Dzukou Lillis grow and the valley is transformed into a green carpet of mountain waves.
  • It is also good in winter (Oct to Jan) where extremely chilling temperatures give way to a frozen valley, especially early in the morning.

Seasonal variations:
  • Mar, Apr (Summer): These are drier months. While the beauty is intact, the experience would be a little underwhelming.
  • May to Sept (Monsoons): The rains hit the mountains starting from May, and the valley comes alive. Dzukou lilies and Rhododendrons decorate the valley in different colors (especially in June and July). The rains will continue till mid-September, with clouds playing hide and seek.
  • Oct to mid-Feb (Winter): Clouds give away to clear skies and amazing sunsets. The extreme chill sets into the valley with freezing nights and early morning sunrises. The valley is still very beautiful.

FAQ

Things to carry

  • Toiletries, moisturizer, light towel etc.
  • Photo identity proof with address (Aadhar/Passport/Voter ID) – will be collected few days before trip.
  • A lightweight large Backpack for the entire trip (60 liters or more).
    Note: Trolleys are not recommended for this backpacking trip.
  • A small bag for basic items (to carry valuables, water bottle, snacks, etc for outdoors).
  • Thermal inners and warm clothes (cold climate).
  • A Poncho or a rainproof Jacket with a hood (to protect from cold winds, sudden rain).
  • Thick socks, track pants, full sleeve t-shirts (to keep your body warm).
  • Cap/Hat/Sunglasses (to protect from harmful sun rays).
  • Sunscreen (SPF 50 or more).
  • Power bank, charger, camera, binoculars (if you wish to).
  • Cash for Lunches / misc. expenses (no mobile signal at few places).
  • Hand sanitizer and liquid hand wash for hygiene.
  • Proper water bottle for your trip.
  • Disposable garbage covers (To separate used/unused clothes).
  • Water-resistant good grip shoes for travel, extra slippers to use at stays.
  • Personal medications that you may feel necessary (remember ghat roads, chill climate).
  • UNO or Playing cards for social gathering in the evenings (Day 2, Day 3 and Day 5 are leisurely).

How to Book this trip?

  • 50% amount has to be paid to confirm the trip.
  • Remaining 50% shall be paid at the beginning of the trip after boarding vehicle.
  • Payment mode will be shared by our Bookings Team.

What's next after booking your trip?

  • Operations Manager will get in touch with you close to the trip dates.
  • A Whatsapp group will be created few days before to coordinate everything.
  • Instructions about itinerary, places, stays, timings, any special scenarios etc., will be given in the same group during the trip.

Terms & Conditions

  • The itinerary is fixed. No special requests to change itinerary/schedule shall be entertained. Guests are not allowed to ask Driver to change the itinerary.
  • Guests are expected to respect & follow instructions of Driver & the Operations Manager in order to smoothly cover places in the itinerary.
  • Every guest is responsible for his/her for your own safety. Don’t indulge in any illegal or silly activity that causes harm to self or locals.
  • No alcohol & smoking during journey and outdoor activities. You may consume liquor or smoke at the stay (night time) in a responsible & moderate way.
  • Using foul or abusive language, threatening, and/or involving in a physical assault will not be accepted and will stand a chance of complaint at the local Police Station.
  • Unexpected situations: In rare scenarios, we cannot cover all the places mentioned in the itinerary because of unpredictable reasons like bad weather, landslides, wild animal presence, abrupt blocking of sites by the local authorities, traffic conditions, etc. In most cases, if the time permits, the Operations Manager will suggest alternate places. But in some cases, we may not have any choice. No refund is applicable in such scenarios.
  • Every guest is expected to sign a liability/waiver form given by the Operations Manager online. This liability form will discharge Muddie Trails of any unexpected incident like injury/death/theft etc.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation by Guests

  • 80% refund if a cancellation request is sent 30 days before the trip start date.
  • 50% refund if a cancellation request is sent between 30 to 15 days before the trip start date.
  • An email has to be sent to muddietrails@gmail.com to raise a cancellation request.
  • No refund within 15 days of the event start time whatever is the reason (Health, COVID, Accident, Family crisis, Office issue, or anything else).
  • No refund during/after the event.
  • No refund on the partial payment (advance) done to block your seat for the trip.

Cancellation due to external factors

If the event has to be cancelled due to external factors that are beyond our control like – Natural Disasters, Extreme Weather Conditions, Red Alerts, Political Disturbances, War, Bandh/Curfews, Local Issues, Covid-19 or any other disease outbreaks etc..

In such scenarios:

  • No Refund is applicable.
  • 100% trip amount can be used for future dates.
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