Things to do · Chitlang
Chitlang Community Homestays
Stay with Newari farming families in Chitlang for home-cooked meals and gentle valley walks.
Chitlang's community homestays are the heart of a visit to this green Newari farming valley in Makwanpur. Instead of a hotel, you stay in a family farmhouse, sharing home-cooked meals and the daily rhythm of valley life — a model of community-run rural tourism that keeps tourism income with local households.
What to expect
Rooms are simple, clean and comfortable, usually in traditional slate-roofed homes. The real draw is the time spent with your hosts: cooking together, learning about farm life, and eating generous dal bhat, seasonal vegetables and local dairy — including the valley's famous goat cheese. Many homestays organise short walks to nearby fields, water mills and shrines.
How it works
Households take turns hosting through a community homestay network, so it pays to arrange your stay ahead, especially at weekends and during festivals. This keeps the welcome warm and spreads the benefit across the village. Most hosts can also point you to a guide for the salt-trade trail or arrange transport to Kulekhani reservoir.
Why homestays suit Chitlang
Chitlang was an early adopter of community-based homestay tourism, and the model fits the valley well. Because the village is compact and rural, there are no large hotels to dilute the experience; instead, income from visitors flows directly to farming households and helps keep young people in the valley. Staying this way also gives you a far richer picture of rural Nepal than a hotel ever could — you see how a farming day is structured, how seasonal work shapes life, and how Newari customs play out at home rather than in a museum.
A typical stay
Most travellers arrive in the afternoon, settle in over tea, and spend the evening sharing a home-cooked meal with the family. Mornings are unhurried: a leisurely breakfast, then a walk to the goat-cheese farm, the Newari temples or a stretch of the salt-trade trail. Hosts are generally happy to involve guests in light farm activities if you ask, and to advise on day trips to Kulekhani reservoir and Markhu.
Good to know
- Bring cash — there are no ATMs in the valley.
- Pack a warm layer; evenings are cool at this elevation year-round.
- A small gift or genuine interest in farm life goes a long way with hosts.
- Communicate any dietary needs in advance, as menus are home-cooked and simple.
- Standards are clean but rustic — set your expectations to farmhouse, not hotel.
Build your stay around a tour of the goat-cheese farm and a wander past the valley's Newari temples and heritage. For more on choosing a base, see where to stay in Chitlang, and read up on Newar culture and heritage and the culture and people of Nepal before you arrive.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Chitlang community homestay like?+
You stay in a family farmhouse in the valley, sharing simple, clean rooms and home-cooked Newari and Nepali meals with your hosts. Days are spent on gentle walks, farm chores if you like, and visits to the cheese farm and temples, at an unhurried pace.
Do you need to book a homestay in advance?+
It is best to arrange a homestay ahead, especially at weekends and during festivals, through the village's community homestay network or a local operator. This helps spread guests fairly between households and ensures someone is expecting you.
Are Chitlang homestays good for families?+
Yes — the safe, traffic-free valley, farm animals, hands-on cooking and easy walks make homestays a relaxed choice for families and anyone wanting an authentic rural break close to Kathmandu.
What food is served at a homestay?+
Expect hearty dal bhat, seasonal vegetables, local dairy and Newari dishes, often using produce grown on the farm. The valley's goat cheese frequently appears at the table, and meals are eaten together with the host family.
