Driving the growth of community tourism in Nepal

When Shiva Dhakal, Managing Director of Royal Mountain Travel (RMT), visited Panauti—a picturesque village in the Kathmandu Valley—for a family festival, he saw it in a new light.

Although he had been there before, experiencing the celebration with RMT guide and close friend Ashok Amatya, his wife Shila, and the local community made him realize that Panauti had so much more to offer travellers.

Inspired by his extensive tourism experience and recalling Bruce Poon Tip, founder of G Adventures and Planeterra, passionately speaking about how tourism can transform lives by directly benefiting local communities, Shiva reflected on how to bring that vision to Nepal.

He saw an opportunity to create a positive impact for both locals and visitors. He suggested that Ashok and Shila open their home to RMT trekking guests, giving travellers an authentic glimpse of Nepali culture.

The idea was a hit: travellers loved the authentic experience, and Shila and Ashok gained extra income.

Seeing the success of this initiative, Shila and Ashok encouraged other women in the community to open their homes to guests. Despite initial skepticism about a women-led business and the new concept of homestays, the positive changes in Shila’s life inspired others to get involved.

By 2012, ten women had joined forces to establish the Panauti Community Homestay. Over the following years, this model inspired similar community homestays in other locations, eventually leading to the creation of the Community Homestay Network (CHN).

Established legally in 2017 by Shiva Dhakal , CHN now supports a network of 36 homestays across Nepal, connecting them with travellers from around the world. CHN empowers women and community members by providing new income sources and developing leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

With a shared vision for empowering local communities, Planeterra and CHN have built a strong partnership from the very beginning. What started with support for a single homestay has grown into ongoing collaboration, connecting CHN’s homestays with travel companies like G Adventures to ensure a steady flow of travellers and economic boost income for community members.

Additionally, CHN serves as a Strategic Partner of the Planeterra Global Community Tourism Network in Nepal, creating opportunities and market connections for CHN’s community-led experiences.

Shiva reflects on the journey:

“What began as a small experiment quickly grew into something much larger. G Adventures and the Planeterra Foundation became crucial partners, offering guidance and support as we expanded from that single home to connecting multiple communities across Nepal. Their belief in the potential of community tourism further fueled my drive to create meaningful change through our work.

One of the most inspiring moments along this journey was discovering Bruce's book, Looptail. It has been one of the most influential pieces of learning for me—an invaluable guide that shaped not only my vision for Community Homestay but also transformed my understanding of tourism as a force for good. The lessons from Looptail continue to inspire me daily, reminding me that tourism, when done right, holds the power to uplift communities, preserve cultures, and change the way we see the world."

Meet the Communities Supported Through This Partnership:

Panauti Community Homestay

The homestay that started it all. Since its founding, the Panauti Community Homestay has given local women the opportunity to take on greater responsibility within their community. It has boosted their confidence as they showcase their skills to every guest who visits.

Through this program, women are learning English and engaging confidently with travellers. The community has also seen improvements, such as the installation of solar panels and better sanitation.

Planeterra connected the Panauti Community Homestay with G Adventures, linking them to the broader tourism value chain. This partnership provides a steady flow of travellers, boosting the homestay's business and allowing the community to reinvest in what matters most to them.

Barauli Community Homestay

Barauli, home to the Tharu people, is a small Indigenous community near Chitwan National Park in Nepal. While the park is famous for its wildlife, the rich cultural experiences it offers travellers are less known.

Because Barauli is far from the usual tourist hotspots, the Tharu residents were not benefiting from tourism. In 2014, RMT collaborated with the local community to develop a homestay program to address this.

However, in 2015, Nepal was struck by a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake. In response, Planeterra and G Adventures launched a campaign to raise funds to support long-term tourism redevelopment in Nepal.

These funds helped rebuild the homes of over 150 porters, local guides, and resource-poor women in the tourism industry. Additionally, seven solar panels, hot water tanks, and street lights were installed, providing electricity, hot water, and improved safety to the community for the first time.

The community has also benefited from mentorship, training, and grants, enabling them to continue improving their equipment as they strive to use renewable energy (solar).

Today, the Barauli Community Homestay is thriving, offering diversified income opportunities for the region.

Kirtipur Community Homestay

Kirtipur, a charming town just outside Kathmandu, was once an agricultural community. However, as farmland decreased, the need for new job opportunities—especially for women—became urgent.

The community turned to tourism, but initially, most visitors were day-trippers from Kathmandu who didn't contribute much to the local economy. To change this, the Kirtipur Community Homestay was established.

Planeterra supported Kirtipur by providing a catalyst grant and training, enabling local women to create a momo-making demonstration and serve traditional Newari meals. With the right equipment and technical skills, they could host guests professionally and offer culturally rich experiences.

Through our partnership, CHN and Planeterra are driving the growth of community tourism in Nepal??

This article is inspired by Nicole Melancon 's post for the Planeterra blog . You can also read her article for GLP Films , titled 'The Power of Community-Driven Tourism,' here .?

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??We’d love to hear your thoughts on this article. Have you visited Nepal or experienced a stay at one of the wonderful homestays supported through our partnership?