New homestay experiences launched to bring travelers closer to communities in Nepal
23 June, 2025 – Community Homestay Network, Nepal’s pioneering homestay and immersive local experiences operator, has successfully wrapped its second annual Community Connect event in Kathmandu, in collaboration with, and supported by, Nepal Tourism Board.
The event was attended by a group of more than 30 international agents and media, as well as local Nepali stakeholders, who are working together to implement community tourism initiatives in the country using tourism as a driver for economic progress and women’s empowerment.
Preceding the Community Connect 2025 conference, attendees were given the opportunity to travel on one of three new itineraries being launched to coincide with the event. These trips are designed to showcase the power of community tourism in tandem with Nepal’s cultural and natural beauty.
Representing the U.S. travel industry was Fora travel advisor and content creator, Stephanie Hays, who says visiting the Dhankuta region, an undiscovered part of eastern Nepal, to connect with Indigenous communities was the experience of a lifetime.
“Community Connect opened my eyes to what a great fit this type of homestay experience is for a variety of travelers. Community-based tourism doesn’t have to be a standalone trip or a hard sell – it can complement luxury, adventure, cultural, and even wellness-focused itineraries.
“Advisors shouldn’t be afraid to offer community tourism experiences like homestays, and I feel certain that it’s travel like this that clients will remember the most.
“What the Community Homestay Network is doing for tourism in Nepal is truly impressive and it was a privilege to engage with the communities they’ve cultivated over the years,” says Hays.
Shiva Dhakal, founder of Community Homestay Network, says he intends for the Community Connect event to provide attendees with a stronger understanding of the importance of the organization’s work.
“I would like people to leave with a renewed sense of commitment to co-creating a tourism industry that puts people, the planet, and partnerships at the center of every journey. Together, I believe we can shape a future where travel brings not only joy and discovery, but also dignity and resilience for everyone involved,” says Dhakal.
The three new trips that were announced by Community Homestay Network, which was recently named one of TIME’s ‘World’s Greatest Places of 2025’, see travelers experience Nepal through its people as they share truly local and real experiences with local communities, ensuring travel has a positive impact along the way.
Experiences include exploring the emerging destination of Narchyang while cooking local recipes and tasting local wine, connecting with the Aathpahariya culture in eastern Nepal, and promoting sustainability with eco-crafts and water conservation in Dhankuta, as well as helping to boost artisans’ livelihoods in Bungamati and Bhaktapur by joining craft workshops designed to sustain local traditions.
The three new Community Homestay Network trips are available to book as follows:
- Hidden Gems of the Kathmandu Valley: Culture, Crafts, and Nature – This eight-day trip unveils the soul of Kathmandu Valley through authentic Newari experiences. Travelers will engage with artisans in Bungamati, cook momos in Kirtipur, hike to Nagarkot, and connect with local people via homestays; blending culture, nature and community.
- Rural Life with the Locals: A Journey through Narchyang and Hemjakot – This eight-day journey from Kathmandu to Narchyang and Hemjakot offers hikes to waterfalls and viewpoints, cooking with locals, and homestay experiences, ending leisurely with Pokhara’s lakeside beauty.
- Eastern Nepal: The Road Less Taken – This eight-day eastern Nepal adventure starts in Kathmandu, journeys to Dhankuta for Aathpahariya homestays and hikes, and ends in Janakpur with Mithila art and a visit to Janaki Temple, blending nature, culture, and sustainability.
For more information, please visit: https://communityhomestay.com. For sales and agent partnership inquiries and rates, please email info@communityhomestay.com. For more information on travel to Nepal, please visit: https://ntb.gov.np.
About Community Homestay Network
Community Homestay Network was developed to bring tourism to Nepal responsibly and sustainably, and to encourage entrepreneurship in local communities significantly benefitting women, youths, and marginalised communities while safeguarding local culture and tradition. With a strong focus on co-creation, Community Homestay Network (CHN) collaborates with 50 communities across Nepal, actively engaging local residents to assist in developing and managing their tourism services. Locally owned and operated, the award-winning Community Homestay Network currently has 50 different experiences available for travellers to book, made up of 40 community homestays and 10 experiences focussed on spending time with local artisans. This year, Community Homestay Network was named as one of TIME’s ‘World’s Greatest Places of 2025’.