Community Homestay Network to host second Community Connect 2025 event
Three exciting new trips showcasing the cultural and natural beauty of Nepal are being announced by Community Homestay Network, Nepal’s leading homestay and immersive local experiences operator, which was last week named one of TIME’s ‘World’s Greatest Places of 2025’.
The three new trips will see travellers 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 insights in Dhankuta, as well as helping to boost artisans’ livelihoods in Bungamati and Bhaktapur by joining craft workshops designed to sustain local traditions.
This May, Community Homestay Network will also host its second Community Connect event, which will see 30 travel agents and press experience the three new itineraries being launched. The groups will come together for a special event to celebrate the importance of community tourism in building a strong future for travel to the country, as well as improving the livelihoods of Nepalese people by reducing leakage, which is a concern for tourism in Nepal.
Locally owned and operated, Community Homestay Network currently has 50 different experiences available to book. 40 communities in 23 destinations operate community homestays, while 10 communities provide cultural experiences led by local artisans to showcase their culture and traditions. With regards to the community homestays, there are 20 ‘circuit’ trip options for travellers to stay with multiple families in different communities during their time in Nepal, as well as 20 ‘packages’ whereby visitors spend the duration of their tour with one family, immersing themselves more deeply in a single location. Additionally, there are 10 special 10-day experiences focussed on spending time with local artisans, who are masters of their crafts and are dedicated to preserving, and sharing, their local traditions and culture.
Shiva Dhakal, the founder of Community Homestay Network, says community tourism is a powerful force that goes well beyond travel.
“Community Tourism is about building bridges between cultures, fostering mutual respect, and creating opportunities to support local communities. It is through meaningful connections that we safeguard heritage, support empowerment and ensure that tourism leaves a positive and lasting impact,” says Dhakal.
Deepak Joshi, CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, agrees, saying Nepal’s journey towards responsible tourism is deeply rooted in its commitment to sustainability, cultural preservation, and community empowerment.
“As we continue to welcome visitors, we must ensure that tourism supports local communities’ empowerment journey and protects our natural heritage. By embracing community tourism, we are not just creating meaningful connections but shaping a more resilient and responsible travel future for Nepal,” says Doshi.
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. Travellers 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.
