Nagaland is a land where diversity is not an idea but a lived reality. Shaped by steep hills, forested ridgelines, and tightly held village systems, it is home to seventeen major tribes and many more sub-groups, each with its own language, food traditions, architecture, and ways of seeing the world. These differences do not reveal themselves quickly. They unfold slowly, through walking, listening, and spending time in place.
Summer brings a distinct rhythm to these hills. From April to June, clouds move more freely, forests deepen in colour, and village paths open up under long daylight hours. The landscape feels expansive rather than severe, inviting movement through terraced fields, forest trails, and open ridgelines. It is a season when Nagaland is lived outdoors, when walking becomes the most natural way to understand terrain, history, and everyday life.
Beneath this cultural richness lies a layered past. The Angami region has witnessed centuries of movement and resistance. Colonial encounters in the nineteenth century were met with strong opposition, and decades later, the hills around Kohima became the site of one of the fiercest battles of World War II’s eastern front. The years that followed brought further negotiations around identity and self-determination. These histories are not announced loudly, but they remain present, carried quietly in land, memory, and community life.
This chapter takes you into the Angami homeland, where village organisation has long been rooted in discipline, cooperation, and land stewardship. Terraced fields reflect generations of agricultural knowledge. Morungs and stone pathways speak of shared responsibility and social order. Forests are not separate from settlement, but integral to how life is sustained. While modern influences are visible, the core relationship between people and land continues to shape daily rhythms.
Over six days, the journey moves through heritage villages, forested hamlets, and highland landscapes that invite both effort and pause. You will walk through Khonoma, Asia’s first green village, wander along gentle trails in Dzuleke, spend time in Kohima’s markets and memorial spaces, and trek into the wide openness of Dzükou Valley, where summer brings mist, grasslands, and a sense of scale that resists quick description.
This is not a journey meant to explain Nagaland in full. It is a seasonal chapter, shaped by summer light, time outdoors, and steady movement through place. One that allows the Angami hills to be understood not through instruction, but through presence.
The arrival on Day 1 has to be a maximum of 1:30 pm. The group will depart from the airport by 2:00 pm at the latest. Any arrivals post that (due to timings/flight delays), will have to get to destination Khonoma at their own expense.
We highly recommend flying a day prior if the flights don’t match this timings. For departure, you can book anytime post 11:00 AM on Day 6.
The trek to Dzükoü valley is not that challenging but a long one. It can be considered a moderate level for a beginner.
The cultural diversity of northeast India is so vast that we can’t blame outsiders for not being aware of communities in the region who are purely vegetarians, so much so that they avoid eating onions( they are indigenous to the region, in case you are thinking about communities from mainland India who have settled here). Having said that, we must admit that the region’s food habits especially in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya are predominantly non-vegetarian with a whole lot of red meat-based preparations. But the states have warmed up to tourists recently and almost every place you visit will provide the Indian staple diet of rice, dal and sabji, even chapatis if you are lucky. Your craving for butter paneer may not be satisfied, but you will do just fine as far as maintaining your health and strength is concerned.
The sources of such warnings should be checked and speaking from the perspective of locals living in the region we can say that though some parts of Northeast India do have cases of groups clashing against government forces from time to time, it doesn’t affect a tourist as long as the route is chosen wisely and hours of commute are decided smartly, much like travelling in any other part of the world.
If you have seen warnings in the advisory pages of governments, then we would like to remind you that governments (of different countries) will always take precaution and not be in sync with the real situation. Northeast India is absolutely safe with warm and welcoming locals. You should have no issues even going to the most interior places. As with any other tribal dominated region, respect the local culture and don’t hurt their sentiments, and you will have a great time in a beautiful place. Because so little is known about the region in general, it may be a wise idea to get in touch with some travel experts before you plan your trip.
A 60-litre backpack would be ideal. Suitcases are also fine for this trip; however, you will need a separate daypack for the Dzükoü Valley trek. The rest of your luggage will remain at Jakhama while you explore the valley.
No, absolutely not! Although the language used in this region is Angami, you can converse with the locals in English. Almost everyone knows English and a few might also surprise you with Hindi in an Angami accent.For starters, Keneka Ase?’ means How are you? in Nagamese and ‘NMeza!’ translates to Thank You!
The minimum group size for this trip is 4 participants. We recommend early travellers book flexible flight tickets. In the unlikely event that the trip is cancelled due to insufficient bookings, we will inform you at least 21 days before the start date.
Rooms are shared on a double sharing basis. In case you are a solo traveller, you will be paired up with another solo traveller of the same gender. Please note that almost all of the properties will have double bedded rooms.
It is important to note that booking flights before reserving a slot with us does not guarantee availability. In the event that we are sold out, we cannot be held responsible for any inconvenience caused.
We accept up to 3 people from the same group in our set departures to keep the group dynamic open and engaging. For larger groups, we recommend our Bespoke Trips — tailored to your preferences and budget.
To comply with the latest guidelines set by the Government of Nagaland, ILP applications must now be completed by the individual traveler through a system that requires a live photo capture. As third parties are no longer permitted to apply on behalf of travelers, the ILP cannot be bundled as part of a travel package.
While most of your expenses are taken care of in the trip cost, an additional Rs. 1,000 per day (Upper limit) would be more than enough for all your expenses. Most places along the route also accept online payments, making transactions convenient and hassle-free.
Applying for the ILP is a simple online process. Travelers can visit the official ILP portal of the Government of Nagaland at https://ilp.nagaland.gov.in and follow these steps:
Once approved, the ILP will be issued digitally and can be downloaded from the portal.
Once you sign up for the trip, we will be sending you a detailed list of Things to Carry for the season!
We’ll be staying at simple homestays and a very basic dormitory throughout the trip. None of the properties on the trip are boutique/luxurious. They are all clean, comfortable and hygienic and have been vetted by our team! The property at Dzükoü Valley is extremely basic and is the only option, unless you’re looking to carry your own tent to pitch.
Jakhama Campsite has three categories available. A comfortable and clean 3 men tent (double sharing basis), three cabins (double sharing basis) and one stone cottage with attached washroom (double sharing basis). Stay in these is allotted on your choice and on a first come, first serve basis.
Dzukou Valley often starts flowering from May onwards, depending on when the consistent monsoon hits the valley. Approximately the wild flowers start blooming somewhere from the month of May and last till July, when the monsoons starts retreating.
Dzukou Lilly, an elusive rare lilly that is found in the valley often starts blooming anytime starting mid May and lasts till Mid June. Please note that the exact blooming period is unpredictable and varies depends on the monsoons every year. The volume of travellers visiting to witness the rare lilly is also high around this time.
Single occupancy requires an additional room and impacts overall group capacity. To maintain the experience quality and balance trip logistics, a limited number of single rooms are offered with a single-room supplement.
This trip is suitable for travellers with moderate fitness levels, but it does include one physically demanding day during the Dzükou Valley trek. The trek involves walking for about 5–6 hours each way on mountain trails, with long uphill and downhill sections. While it is not technical and does not require prior trekking experience, you should be comfortable with sustained walking, uneven terrain, and carrying a small daypack.
The remaining days involve village walks, short hikes, and sightseeing at a relaxed pace. If you are reasonably active, enjoy walking, and are open to a challenging but rewarding trekking day, you will be well-suited for this journey.
This trip may not be ideal for travellers with knee issues or those uncomfortable with long walking days.
From April to May, Nagaland transitions through spring into early summer. Days are generally pleasant and sunny, with temperatures ranging between 13°C and 24°C, occasionally interrupted by brief showers or overcast skies. Light, passing rains are common during this period, while nights remain cool, breezy, and comfortable.
As June approaches, the region begins to receive monsoon showers. Rainfall becomes more frequent and, at times, heavier. Dzukou Valley is known for its highly unpredictable weather — it is not unusual to experience steady rain, clear sunshine, and cold, windy conditions all within the same day.
With ongoing climate shifts, weather patterns have become increasingly erratic, making precise predictions difficult, even for locals. Guests are advised to be prepared for changing conditions throughout the journey.
