When we travel to a new city or country, we often crave more than sightseeing. We want to meet locals, understand their culture and experience life as they live it. One of the easiest ways to do this is through homestays. It’s a system where travellers stay in the homes of local residents and become temporary members of their families. Nepal has successfully embraced this model across South Asia.
Nazmul Evan, a Bangladeshi traveller, had such an experience while visiting Nepal a few days ago. Initially, he stayed in a hotel, but a chance meeting with a local resident in Nagarkot introduced him to the homestay concept.
“Staying in a local’s home, eating home-cooked meals and exploring nearby areas which weren’t in my travel list. What could be a better experience than that! It was a new experience for me, but I really enjoyed it,” he said.
Nazmul also mentioned that his host was associated with an organisation called Community Homestay Network. This organisation connects travellers with local families, which benefits both travellers and the families. It serves as an alternative source of income for them.
Similarly, many families in Nepal have now started their own homestay services. One of them is Babu Raja Maharjan, the owner of Homestay Nepal. He launched his homestay service in Lanagol, a village located 10 kilometres away from Kathmandu. Maharjan started this journey with just one room in his parents’ home. Now he has his own house and has already hosted guests from more than 50 countries.
“I’m not only a homestay owner, but also a tour guide. I organise tours for my guests. I have bookings till the end of April 2026, because in my area I’m the only homestay owner,” he said. He stated that currently, there are fewer tourists compared to the period before the political unrest in Nepal.
Although such homestay services have not yet been officially introduced in Bangladesh, houses or rooms can be rented in urban areas for vacations through some apps.
When asked about how safe the homestay system might be in our country, solo traveller Mirza Fahimul said, “Our country’s social context doesn’t yet allow this. But if we can form a regulatory organisation like in Nepal, and if families offer services under that organisation, I believe it would be more trustworthy and safer. Once people gradually become familiar with this system, they can start it on their own initiative.”
Experts note that homestays could be a game-changer for rural Bangladesh. Beyond generating income, they could also bring travellers closer to local culture and heritage. That will allow Bangladeshis and international visitors alike to experience the country in a deeper, more meaningful way.
