ChaloHoppo to Dzukou and Nongriat
We bring to you two most popular treks in Northeast India – Dzukou valley & Nongriat. Campsite Yedikha is considered as one of the best camping spots in Nagaland overlooking the terraced rice fields. A beautiful cheap campsite with the best food. Trekking in Northeast India will be unfulfilling if you miss visiting the Dzukou valley in Nagaland and Double-decker Living Root bridge in Nongriat, Meghalaya. Undoubtedly, Dzukou and Nongriat treks are the popular treks in Northeast India.
Walk down 3000 steps into the magical world of this Meghalayan village to witness the most amazing work of symbiosis between man and nature. In Nagaland survive a night in the alien bamboo land of Dzukou valley. Time to hit the gym, eh? If you are looking for the best treks in the Northeast, you are in the right place.
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Reviews 0 Reviews0/5
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Vacation Style Holiday Type
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Camping
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Activity Level Challenging
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Group Size Medium Group
The first time we thought of clubbing these two iconic hikes of Northeast India was in June 2017. We had called it the “Trek to Independence” and officially launched it on August 15, 2017.
From the moment you step out of your vehicle at the base village of Tyrna and till you come back up to board your car, a lot will change in you and words, unfortunately, won’t be able to describe that change. This trek is nothing like a typical trek as you need to climb down 3000 steps (you can count it as you go down) and cover an approximate distance of 3.5 km. Your knees will start to give in and you will be drenched in your sweat but you will recover every drop of that sweat when you cross multiple turquoise pools and finally reach the double-decker living root bridges. Blessed with beautiful streams, lush vegetation, pretty butterflies and great people Nongriat has managed to remain the same throughout, apart from some brick and mortar work coming to the aid of travellers. One cannot put a definite number to the days that you can spend in this natural fortress.
When it comes to Dzukou valley, the trek itself isn’t as challenging as the one you just finished but surviving a night in the barebone facility near the valley is the thrilling bit. The beauty of the hills covered in what looks like grass but are bamboo plants and the amazing sunset will be memorable. But when the sun sets is when your real adventure begins. Between stargazing and dinner, be prepared to help fellow trekkers and yourself since the only source of entertainment will be your sense of positivity and sense of humour and the only source of light will be the fire inside you.
Highlights of the tour:
- Staying in a handpicked boutique resort in Sohra(Cherrapunjee) jamming with a local band.
- Nature hikes and visiting waterfalls in and around Sohra (Cherrapunjee)
- Stopping over to experience local markets.
- Trekking to the Double Decker living root bridges and staying in the village for 2 nights!
- Hiking to Rainbow fall
- Plucking fresh fruits from trees on the hikes
- Overnight train journey! (that’s definitely something we need to take with a pinch of salt)
- Camping in serene environs overlooking terraced paddy fields of Jakhama village
- Village walk, through Jakhama village to see and appreciate the diversity of Meghalaya and Nagaland
- Trek to Dzukou valley and staying overnight in the most barebone dormitory you have ever seen in your life
- An attempt at acquaintance with the local Naga rice beer of the Angami tribe
- The Joy of camping and relaxing in a campsite that feels like a homestay after your hard night in Dzukou.
- Overnight accommodation on twin/triple sharing basis on all days (Day 6 will be in Dzukou Dormitory)
- Breakfast on all days (Except Day 5)
- Lunch and Dinner on Day 5, 6 and 7
- English Speaking Local Guide for Nongriat Trek (Day 2, 3 and 4)
- English Speaking Local guide for Dzukou Trek (Day 6 and 7)
- Transport in a Dzire/Innova/Tempo (based on the number of travellers) from Day 1 to 4
- Sleeper Train Tickets from Guwahati to Dimapur
- Transport in a Sumo from Day 5 to Day 8
- Breakfast on Day 5
- Lunch and Dinner from Day 1 to Day 4, and Day 8
- Flight Tickets
- Return Train Tickets
- All food & beverages cost apart from the ones mentioned above
- Entry fee to any monuments etc if any
- Inner Line Permits (You could make this online. If you want us to make it, it would cost Rs. 500 per person
- Any camera fees
- Cost incidental to any change in the itinerary/ stay on account of flight cancellation due to bad weather, ill health, roadblocks and/or any factors beyond the control
- Potters hired for personal use
- Anything not specifically mentioned under the head “Inclusions”.
- Day 1 The day you fly into Northeast India and drive to Meghalaya
- Day 2 The day you do the trek to remember -walking over living root bridges
- Day 3 The day you spend roaming in a tropical paradise
- Day 4 The day you trek back and board the train to Dimpaur
- Day 5 The day you realise Nagas could do with better roads
- Day6 The day you trek to Dzukou valley and survive a night
- Day7 The day you get into the valley’s lap and head down to Camp Yedikha
- Day 8 The day you take a train back to Guwahati/ Fly out of Dimapur
Sai Mika
Each cottage in this resort is differently designed. From the exteriors to the interiors, not a single cottage is identical. If room service isn’t your priority, this is the place to be.
Campsite Yedikha
The campsite itself resembles the terrace farms of Nagaland as it has three levels. The first level has the parking space, the kitchen area and a few tents. The second layer has most of the tents and the bonfire area. The third layer is the best as it offers an uninterrupted view of beautiful paddy fields of Jakhama village, with the backdrop of the hills. The whole campsite has a natural boundary of oak trees with flowers and orchids ornamenting it. It is only 5.4 km away from Kisama village, the venue of the annual Hornbill festival in Nagaland.
Nongriat Homestay
Nothing to describe the homestays in Nongriat apart from asking you to leave the conventional idea of stays and what they offer. Choose between rooms or camping on roofs.
Dzukou Dormitory
This is just a bare concrete structure to let you spend the night in safety in Dzukou. We provide sleeping bags and pillows and try to make the place comfortable for you. But one should be aware that this place otherwise does not provide you with any kind of comfort other than a shelter for survival. It is a rectangular long hall where sleeping bags will be placed next to one another.
30 Days prior to arrival: 50% refund
15 Days prior to arrival: 25% refund
Less than 15 Days prior to arrival : 0% refund
What type of bag to carry?
Carry a small bag(10 to 15 litres) for your trek down to Nongriat village that can fit essential toiletries and change of clothes for 1 night to reduce the weight on your shoulders and make the trek easier.
Basic toiletries and allergy medications and tissue rolls (if you need)
head lamps/ Torches with batteries
quick dry towels
band aids
ID Proof – Voters card/ Pan Card/ Passport/ Drivers license/ Aadhar card (to be sent on mail upon confirming the trip to [email protected])
Other things that you may bring along :
Sun tan lotion
Playing cards and small board games,in case you don’t feel sleepy at night
Any sort of alcoholic beverages
Go pro for under water shots
We will have pick up and drop facility to and from the Guwahati airport once you share the arrival time of your flight.
Campsite: Please avoid carrying plastic bottles or even buying sealed bottles while at the venue as want to have a litter free zone as much as possible.
Swimming: You have to be careful as it’s deep and sometimes the current could pull you in. If you aren’t a swimmer, please mention that specifically and put a request for renting a life jacket on email.
Avoid plastic: Please avoid buying mineral water, specifically while in Nongriat(Double decker living root bridges village) since it is a major cause of pollution in the delicate eco system of Nongriat. Remember to take up whatever you bring down.
Service: Though we will try our best to give you great service, please understand we won’t be able to give you hot towels, bed tea and the like.
Entry to the states of Meghalaya does not require a permit.
A most definite yes, as long as you are okay travelling in a mixed group of other solo travellers or small group of friends.
Not all travellers who sign up for a tour with ChaloHoppo are swimmers so the experience doesn’t get hampered due to lack of that skill. It is certainly an advantage for those can swim but life jackets can be rented along with a guide to ensure safety of the travellers.
- Winter jacket
- balaclava/ beanie (something that covers your ears and your head)
- Sports socks and Swimwear for the Nongriat trek, you can also get swimming goggles or snorkelling masks, and swimming cap
- Raincoat (just in case, since you are travelling in ‘abode of clouds’)
- Trekking shoes (basic ones will do)
- quick dry towels (plastic bag/ ziplock to carry your wet clothes)
- Allergy medications and other medicines, since these are very remote places with very little access to most basic things.
- A non-disposable water bottle to fill water and AVOID BUYING MINERAL WATER
- ID Proof – Voters card/ Pan Card/ Passport/ Drivers license/ Aadhar cardYou can always buy these things from the Decathlon (1 km away from the airport) in Guwahati, if you wish.
Other things that you may bring along :
Tissue rolls
headlamps/ Torches with batteries
Playing cards and small board games, in case you don’t feel sleepy at night
Bottle openers
Go pro for underwater shots
Ideally a 60-litre backpack should be convenient, however, there is no real hiking or trekking with the bags, so a suitcase or trolley is also fine.
Do carry a separate smaller bag(10 to 15 litres) for your trek down to Nongriat village that can fit essential toiletries and change of clothes for 1 night only to reduce the weight on your shoulders and make the trek easier.
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. As far as Tripura, Assam, Manipur and Sikkim are concerned vegetarians have decent number of options. 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.
