Escape to
Things to do in Dzükou Valley
A two-day trek into open grassland.
The list
The short version: Rolling grassland at about 2,400m behind the Japfü range, Nagaland’s most loved trek.
01
The valley floor
Open grassland, a cold stream, and no signal worth mentioning.
02
Dzükou lilies
Blooming in the monsoon months, June to September.
03
The climb
Forest and bamboo staircases, steady, moderate, worth it.
04
Sunrise above the clouds
The reason trekkers stay the night.
Know before you go
- Trailhead
- Viswema, about 1h from Kohima
- Climb
- 4–5h to the valley floor
- Duration
- 2 days / 1 night
- Season
- Access varies, check status
In the monsoon the valley fills with the Dzükou lily, which grows here and almost nowhere else. From October the grass turns gold and the views open right across the ranges.
Best time: June–September for lilies and green; October–November for clear views and gold grass. Check current access status with us before planning.
Practicals
Permits & season for Nagaland
ILP required for Indian nationals outside the Hornbill window (waived Dec 1–10 with photo ID), online at ilp.nagaland.gov.in; foreign nationals pay a fee.
October to March is the clean window; December adds the Hornbill Festival, and the monsoon makes eastern roads slow.
Trips that include Dzükou Valley
All of Dzükou Valley, none of the guesswork
Fixed departures you can join solo, or a private plan around your dates. Prices on the page, real people on WhatsApp.
Keep planning
- Nagaland travel guide
- Flying into Dimapur Airport: flights, cabs and onward connections
- Dimapur Railway Station railway station: trains, cabs and onward connections
- Nagaland permits: the complete guide
- Aoleang Festival: the Konyak festival of Mon, Nagalandfrom the journal
- Best time to visit Northeast India, month by monthfrom the journal
- Capital of Nagaland: Kohima, the Hill Capital Explainedfrom the journal