Home Stay

Arrive in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. You can explore some of the iconic landmarks like Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), Boudhanath Stupa, and the bustling streets of Thamel.

Meet the Host Family: In the afternoon, travel to the home stay location, which could be in a nearby village or the outskirts of Kathmandu. Meet your host family and settle into your accommodation.

Welcome Ceremony: Experience a traditional Nepali welcome ceremony, which may include putting a "tika" on your forehead and offering flowers as a symbol of respect and goodwill.

Nepali Dinner: Enjoy a delicious Nepali dinner prepared by your host family. You may have a chance to sample local dishes and get to know the flavors of Nepali cuisine.

Start the day with a traditional Nepali breakfast. Engage in cultural activities like learning to cook Nepali food, trying on traditional attire (sari or daura-suruwal), or participating in a short language class to learn basic Nepali phrases with the host family.

Village Walk: Take a guided tour of the village, where you can observe local life, interact with residents, and learn about their daily routines, farming practices, and traditions.

Community Interaction: Depending on the homestay's location, you may have the opportunity to engage in community activities like helping with farming, participating in a local festival or ceremony, or contributing to a community project.

Evening Entertainment: In the evening, enjoy cultural performances such as traditional dance or music organized by the host family, or the local community.

We will visit the Swayambhunath stupa. Swayambhunath also known as Monkey Temple is believed to date back to 460 AD that evolved spontaneously from a lotus flower that bloomed in the middle of the lake. The Swayambhunath complex consists of various shrines and temples, but the main attraction is the unique white dome-shaped stupa having a deep symbolic meaning. The white dome of Swayambhunath represents earth, the nose-like shape is the Nepali number 1 signifies unity, the third eye above the compassionate eyes symbolizes the all-seeing insight of Buddha, and the tower is the 13 stages to Nirvana. Around the stupa are Harati temple, Pratapur and Anantapur temple, Vajra Thunderbolt, and Chaityas courtyard. The complex has a monastery, Saraswati temple, and a world peace pond. You can enjoy the 360-degree view of the Kathmandu Valley from the top and rotate the prayer wheels around the stupa.

After Swayambhunath, you will be transferred to another Unesco World Heritage site Bouddhanath. The Buddhist shrine of Boudhanath is one of the largest Stupas in the world and one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimages plus a tourist destination in Kathmandu. It stands with four pairs of eyes in the four cardinal directions keeping watch for righteous behavior and human prosperity. Boudhanath is part of the shared history of Nepal and the Tibetan part of China. It is built on an octagonal base inset with prayer wheels and houses of Lamas or Buddhist priests, monasteries and shops ring the stupa. Monasteries are the core of Buddhist life and community. They are spiritual centers of peace, inspiration, and prayer that offer study and contemplation opportunities. They are a place for solace and support for the local community. The tour ends with a prayer session and the lighting of candles in one of the many monasteries around Boudhanath.

Patan Durbar Square is one of the three ancient cities from which Kathmandu Valley was made up of and is commonly known as the city of fine arts. According to legend, the founding of Patan dates back to pre-Christian times. As opposed to the Malla Kingdoms of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur which were mainly influenced by the Hindu religion, Patan was for many years a major Buddhist city. It is believed that it was founded in the third century B.C. by the famous Buddhist emperor, Asoka – who visited the town while on a pilgrimage from Northern India and built four stupas that enclosed the center of the old town. This would make it the oldest continuing Buddhist town in the world. The area is recognized for fine arts and architecture and was announced as a UNESCO site in 1979. The Durbar complex is filled with Hindu temples, museums, Shrines, and Buddhist monuments dating back from the 12^th to 18^th century. In total, there are 136 courtyards and 55 temples in the Durbar Square area. Apart from this, the palace turned museum, Patan Museum, is a must-visit place as it displays the artifacts acknowledging the long history and evolution of the Newari ethnicity.

After the completion of the Patan Durbar Square visit, you will be visiting the most tourist marketplace called Thammel where you will visualize multiple shops with ancient products, paintings, food, and other entertainment means that Thammel is offering for a long time. 

Wake up early to witness a beautiful sunrise over the Himalayas (if your homestay is in a mountainous region).

Farewell and Departure: After breakfast, bid farewell to your host family, expressing gratitude for their hospitality. Take some final photos and share your experiences with the family.

Departure: Depending on your flight schedule, you can depart from Nepal with unforgettable memories of your homestay experience.

Please note that this is just a sample itinerary and can be customized based on your preferences and the specific homestay location. Some homestays may offer additional activities like hiking, birdwatching, or visits to nearby monasteries. Please coordinate with team Gyan to plan the best itinerary for your homestay adventure in Nepal.