Villages and homestays in Nepal
35 places of this kind across 24 districts of Nepal, from the Himal to the Terai. Filter by province or belt, or open any dot on the map.
35 places
Hidden gemOlangchung Gola
Taplejung, Koshi ProvinceAn old trading village near the Tibetan border, with a 17th-century monastery and stone houses of the Walung people.
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Hidden gemChainpur Bazaar
Sankhuwasabha, Koshi ProvinceA 19th-century Newar bazaar on a ridge above the Arun, known for its brass and bell-metal craftsmen.
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Namche Bazaar
Solukhumbu, Koshi ProvinceThe Sherpa capital of the Khumbu: a horseshoe of lodges, bakeries and gear shops on a steep slope at 3,440 m.
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Hidden gemKhumjung and Khunde
Solukhumbu, Koshi ProvinceTwin Sherpa villages in a quiet bowl above Namche, with Hillary's first school and a monastery that keeps a 'yeti scalp'.
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Hidden gemThame
Solukhumbu, Koshi ProvinceA peaceful Sherpa village west of Namche where Tenzing Norgay grew up, with a cliff-side monastery that hosts Mani Rimdu in spring.
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Ilam Tea Gardens
Ilam, Koshi ProvinceNeatly clipped tea bushes rolling over the hills around Ilam bazaar, Nepal's first tea estate since 1863.
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Basantapur and Tehrathum Dhaka
Tehrathum, Koshi ProvinceA cold ridge bazaar at the end of the Koshi Highway, in the district famous for weaving Nepal's dhaka cloth.
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Hidden gemMithila Art Centre, Janakpur
Dhanusha, Madhesh ProvinceWatch women artists paint the bright, line-filled Mithila style that once decorated only village walls.
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Hidden gemKirtipur
Kathmandu, Bagmati ProvinceA Newar hilltop town that resisted Prithvi Narayan Shah three times, with temples, lanes and valley views.
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Hidden gemTokha
Kathmandu, Bagmati ProvinceA quiet Newar town on the northern edge of Kathmandu, famous for chaku molasses sweets and the Chandeshwari temple.
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Hidden gemSankhu and Vajrayogini
Kathmandu, Bagmati ProvinceAn old Newar trading town on the route to Tibet, with a forest temple of Vajrayogini on the hill above.
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Hidden gemBungamati and Khokana
Lalitpur, Bagmati ProvinceTwin Newar villages south of Patan: Rato Machhindranath's home, woodcarvers, and Khokana's mustard-oil presses.
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Hidden gemMadhyapur Thimi
Bhaktapur, Bagmati ProvinceAn old Newar town of potters and mask-makers between Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, famous for its Sindoor Jatra at New Year.
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Hidden gemBalthali
Kavrepalanchok, Bagmati ProvinceA terraced Tamang and Brahmin hill village south of Panauti, with a small resort and a big mountain view.
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Jiri
Dolakha, Bagmati ProvinceThe 'Switzerland of Nepal' and the old starting point of the walk to Everest used by the 1953 expedition.
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Hidden gemChitlang
Makwanpur, Bagmati ProvinceA peaceful valley on the old porters' route into Kathmandu, with homestays, goat cheese and a Licchavi past.
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Sauraha and Tharu culture
Chitwan, Bagmati ProvinceThe riverside village gateway to Chitwan, with Tharu villages, stick dances and sunsets over the Rapti.
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Ghandruk
Kaski, Gandaki ProvinceA large Gurung village of stone houses and slate roofs facing Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre.
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Hidden gemDhampus and Australian Camp
Kaski, Gandaki ProvinceAn easy overnight walk from Pokhara to a Gurung village and a grassy ridge facing the Annapurnas.
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Hidden gemSikles
Kaski, Gandaki ProvinceOne of the largest Gurung villages in Nepal, in the Madi valley under Lamjung Himal and Annapurna IV.
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Manang village
Manang, Gandaki ProvinceA stone village at 3,519 m under Annapurna III and Gangapurna, where trekkers rest before the Thorong La.
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Hidden gemNar–Phu valley
Manang, Gandaki ProvinceA hidden valley off the Annapurna Circuit, with medieval stone villages, gorges and monasteries; opened to trekkers only in 2003.
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Jomsom and Marpha
Mustang, Gandaki ProvinceMustang's windy headquarters and, nearby, the whitewashed Thakali village famous for apples and apple brandy.
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Hidden gemKagbeni
Mustang, Gandaki ProvinceA fortress-like medieval village at the gateway to Upper Mustang, with a red monastery and a sacred river confluence.
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Hidden gemTukuche
Mustang, Gandaki ProvinceThe old salt-trade capital of the Thakali, with grand merchant houses, a distillery and Dhaulagiri towering above.
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Hidden gemTsum Valley
Gorkha, Gandaki ProvinceA sacred hidden valley on the Tibetan border where hunting is forbidden and ancient nunneries cling to the hillsides.
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Hidden gemBarpak and Laprak
Gorkha, Gandaki ProvinceLarge Gurung villages near the 2015 earthquake's epicentre, rebuilt and welcoming visitors on a new homestay trail.
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Hidden gemGhalegaun and Bhujung
Lamjung, Gandaki ProvinceModel Gurung homestay villages in Lamjung, with cultural shows and close views of Lamjung Himal and Annapurna II.
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Syangja, Gandaki ProvinceNepal's first model village-tourism project (1997): a Gurung village of ex-Gurkha families hosting guests in their homes.
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Hidden gemChhangchhangdi
Syangja, Gandaki ProvinceA Magar village above the Kali Gandaki with homestays, the Bhirkot fort ruins and Syangja's terraced hills.
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Tatopani hot springs
Myagdi, Gandaki ProvinceNatural hot pools beside the Kali Gandaki, a favourite soak for trekkers coming down from Jomsom or Poon Hill.
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Hidden gemAmaltari Tharu homestay
Nawalpur, Gandaki ProvinceA Tharu village on Chitwan's western edge with community homestays, rhinos by the river and far fewer tourists than Sauraha.
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Dang valley and Ambikeshwari
Dang, Lumbini ProvinceNepal's largest inner-Terai valley, a Tharu heartland with the Ambikeshwari temple and the cities of Ghorahi and Tulsipur.
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Hidden gemDho Tarap
Dolpa, Karnali ProvinceA high valley village of Dolpo with stone houses, chortens and one of the highest schools in the world.
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Hidden gemLimi Valley
Humla, Karnali ProvinceA hidden Tibetan Buddhist valley in far north-west Humla, with the ancient Rinchenling monastery at Halji.
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