There’s a fresh wind sweeping through the Himalayan foothills, and it’s not just the mountain breeze. Nepal’s award-winning Community Homestay Network (CHN) has wrapped up its second annual Community Connect event in Kathmandu with gusto usually reserved for the Everest summiteers. In the process, they’ve launched a suite of new immersive travel experiences that bring visitors face-to-face with the people, passions, and pulse of Nepalese village life.
Yes, while some tourism operators are still touting infinity pools and five-course degustation dinners, CHN is doubling down on what truly matters—authenticity, sustainability, and a good old-fashioned chinwag over a steaming plate of homemade momos.
Shiva Dhakal, founder of Community Homestay Network
Backed by the Nepal Tourism Board and led with unshakable purpose by founder Shiva Dhakal, the Community Connect 2025 conference welcomed over 30 international travel agents and media delegates, getting more than just a glossy slideshow presentation. Before the first handshake at the welcome reception, attendees were whisked away on one of three brand-new itineraries designed to showcase what community-based tourism can look like when it’s done with integrity and not just tacked onto a brochure.
As Dhakal said, “I want our guests to walk away not just inspired, but activated—to join us in co-creating a tourism landscape that genuinely puts people, the planet and partnership at the heart of every journey.” That’s not a throwaway line. You can hear the conviction in his voice. This is tourism with teeth.
A Taste of Real Nepal: Three New Itineraries with Heart
The three new itineraries—launched during the event and already open for bookings—aren’t your average sightseeing jaunts with a souvenir shop tacked on. These are meaningful, community-led journeys where guests are invited to sleep under the same roofs as their hosts, cook together, create together, and better understand the heritage that defines the fabric of Nepali life.
1. Hidden Gems of the Kathmandu Valley
This eight-day expedition explores the cultural treasures of the Kathmandu Valley, with stops in Bungamati and Kirtipur, where travellers can dabble in everything from momo-making to wood carving. There’s even a wholesome hike to Nagarkot for fresh air and perspective. Think of it as a gentle introduction to the Newari culture—minus the gimmicks.
2. Rural Life with the Locals
If waterfalls, warm meals, and winding trails are your style, this journey from Kathmandu to Narchyang and Hemjakot is your ticket to genuine mountain hospitality. Over eight days, guests stay with families, cook local dishes, and round out their trip in Pokhara’s tranquil lakeside district. A journey made for curious spirits—and sensible walking shoes.
Community Homestay Network team
3. Eastern Nepal: The Road Less Travelled
This one’s for the adventurous. Starting in Kathmandu and weaving through Dhankuta to Janakpur, this itinerary dives deep into the Aathpahariya culture and ends with a flourish of Mithila art and temple exploration. Eco-crafts, homestays, water conservation—this is tourism that’s beautifully off the beaten path.
Time Magazine Takes Notice
It’s no small feat that Community Homestay Network was recently named one of TIME Magazine’s ‘World’s Greatest Places of 2025’. That recognition doesn’t come from glossy ads but from doing the hard yards. It comes from making tourism a two-way street, where visitors and hosts walk away richer for the exchange.
And it’s not just three shiny new trips on offer. CHN is quietly revolutionising how we think about where we stay and why. With 50 different experiences across 23 destinations, including 20 unique “circuit” trips where guests move between multiple families, and 20 immersive single-location stays, the choice is as broad as a Gurung smile. Add to that 10 special 10-day packages for those keen on honing a craft—be it weaving, woodwork or Mithila painting—and you’ve got more depth than a Kathmandu alleyway.
What makes all of this tick is local ownership. These aren’t remote-controlled tourism ventures parachuted in from the big smoke. They are grassroots operations run by the communities, many of them led by women who use the platform to build financial independence, self-confidence, and community resilience.
Women at the Heart of Tourism
The empowerment of women through tourism is more than a slogan at CHN—it’s a daily reality. Whether it’s mothers teaching guests how to make pickles in Hemjakot, or artisans in Bungamati preserving centuries-old crafts, these women aren’t just participating in tourism—they’re shaping it.
Dhakal, a calm but resolute figure with eyes that seem to carry the mountains, says, “Travel can be transformational, but only if we share its benefits. When a guest stays in a homestay, the impact is immediate and tangible. It means schoolbooks for a child or a roof repaired before the monsoon.”
It’s a philosophy that refers to when travel was about connection, not consumption. Thank heavens someone’s bringing it back.
Looking Ahead
With tourism now rebooting globally and travellers increasingly craving more than selfies and souvenir magnets, Community Homestay Network is hitting its stride at the perfect time. These itineraries, grounded in culture, community, and care, aren’t just ‘experiences’—they are invitations to become part of something bigger.
So, whether you’re a curious traveller, a travel agent looking for meaningful products, or someone who believes that tourism can be a force for good, CHN is extending a hand. Not just to shake—but to hold, build, and walk together.
For bookings and partnership inquiries, visit: communityhomestay.com.
For destination information, visit: ntb.gov.np.
By Yves Thomas
