Staying in a Nepali homestay: how to be a good guest
A homestay is not a hotel with a family attached. A few simple habits make the difference between being a customer and being a guest.
Sarita Thapa
Community partnerships
1 min read
Every family on our routes chose to host, and each sets its own nightly rate. They are proud of their homes and genuinely curious about their guests. These habits will help you make the most of it.
Arriving
- Greet your hosts with “Namaste”, palms together. It works at any time of day.
- Take your shoes off before going inside, and before stepping into the kitchen.
- Ask before you photograph people, and show them the picture afterwards.
Eating together
Dal bhat — rice, lentil soup and vegetable curry — is the heart of every meal, and a second helping is always offered. It is fine to say no, but it is polite to try everything once. Eat with your right hand if you want to join in; spoons are always available.
The kitchen fire is the centre of the house. Do not throw rubbish into it, and do not step over it.
Around the house
- Dress modestly, particularly away from the tourist centres.
- Water and firewood are carried up the hill — keep showers short.
- Carry your rubbish out with you. The village has no way to deal with it.
Giving back
Please do not hand sweets, money or pens to children: it teaches begging and rots teeth. If you want to contribute, give through the village school or community fund. Every EEM booking already sends part of its price to Sharing Seeds, our own programme in the villages we visit.
Trips this article mentions
- Annapurna
The Millennium Trek
Seven days through the Annapurna mid-hills, sleeping in Gurung and Magar family homes and walking terraces that have been farmed for a thousand years.
- 7 days / 6 nights
- Moderate
From$1,145 per person
- Everest
Everest Panorama Homestay Trek
Ten days in the Khumbu without the base-camp queue — Sherpa homestays, Tengboche monastery, and Everest from the ridge at Kongde.
- 10 days / 9 nights
- Moderate
From$2,150 per person
Keep reading
- Responsible travel
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Why travel to Nepal?
Eight of the world’s fourteen highest mountains, a hundred-odd languages, and villages where the guest room is someone’s spare bedroom. Here is why people come — and why so many come back.
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Nepal visa information
Most nationalities can get a tourist visa on arrival. What it costs, what to bring, how to extend it, and the trekking permits you need on top.
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Still have a question?
If it is not answered here, ask us. A real person in Pokhara replies, usually the same day.