Dzukou Valley itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Dzukou Valley

1. 01

   Day 1: Fast out-and-back from Viswema

   A day trip is possible only for strong walkers who start from Kohima very early, since the climb and return take most of the day and you will get little time in the valley. Drive to Viswema, register at the trailhead and climb with a local guide. Spend an hour on the valley floor, eat your packed lunch away from dry grass, and start down early enough to be off the slope before dusk. A night in the valley is much more rewarding and is the pattern most visitors follow.

Plan 02

2 days in Dzukou Valley

1. 01

   Day 1: Up from Viswema to the valley

   Check trail status with the Kohima administration or the local youth organisation, then leave Kohima in the morning for Viswema. Register, hire a guide or porter if you want one, and climb through forest and then open slopes to the valley rim and the guest house. Settle in, walk the nearby meadow while the light is long, and keep warm layers handy for the evening.

2. 02

   Day 2: Valley walk, then down via Jakhama

   Walk a little further into the valley in the clear early light, then pack your rubbish and descend by the Jakhama path, which has stone steps and is steep underfoot. Arrange for your car to meet you at Jakhama, and be back in Kohima by the afternoon.

Plan 03

3 days in Dzukou Valley

1. 01

   Day 1: Kohima and Kigwema

   Arrive in Kohima, collect your permit paperwork, check trail status and rest. If you have time, visit Kigwema, the village where the Japfü trek begins, and look at the peak from below.

2. 02

   Day 2: Trek to the valley and stay overnight

   Climb from Viswema to the valley, arriving by early afternoon. Walk the meadow, eat early and sleep early; the nights are cold.

3. 03

   Day 3: Descent and the road home

   Walk out through Jakhama or back by Viswema, meet your car and return to Kohima. Keep the afternoon free; legs will be tired.

Pacing

Pacing a Dzukou Valley trip for parents and children

• Be honest about fitness. The valley is a long uphill walk of several hours at altitude; if stairs and slopes tire you, enjoy Kohima's museum and the Kigwema area instead.
• If you do go, go up by the gentler Viswema path, hire a local guide and a porter for bags, and set a slow pace with frequent stops.
• Carry layers. Even in warmer months the valley is cold at night, and wind and rain can arrive quickly.
• Take your regular medicines, a basic first-aid kit and a printed copy of your permit. There is no medical facility in the valley and mobile signal is unreliable.
• The Jakhama path has steep stone steps. If your knees are not good, go up and down by the gentler Viswema path.
• Check that the trails are open and which entry points are active before travelling, since trekking has been suspended at short notice after fires.

Dzukou Valley with elderly parents: the full guide →