While some people explore the globeĀ to escape reality, more travelers are looking for authentic experiences abroad. Eating traditional dishes, taking public transportation and exploring with native tour guides are all good strategies for going local, though if you really want to go beyond the typical tourist experience it’s recommended to stay with locals, as well.
Book the below homestays around the world for a truly memorable andĀ culturally-immersive trips. You’ll experienceĀ how locals live while supporting the community you’re visiting.
Bonus // AirBnB offers the incredible opportunity to stay in local homes around the world. Snag your coupon here:
1) Stay In A Wooden Malay House In Tanjung Datu National Park (Borneo, Malaysia)
Sematan āĀ a historic fishing village overlooking the South China Sea in Malayasian Borneo āĀ is known for its beaches, birding and wildlife. With Audley Travel’sĀ Telok Melano Homestay program, you can immerse yourself in the laidback lifestyle. Youāll stay 45 minutes away from Sematan along, Sarawak’s southernmost coast in a traditional wooden house. Here, dine onĀ home-cooked food with your host family and enjoy pristine views.
Like this one:
The Kampong village is home to about 50 families ā just over 200 people.Ā During the monsoon season, the town is completely isolated and only accessible by boat. While the accommodation is basic, youāll enjoy incredible Malaysian hospitality as you stay with locals as part of this new homestay project.
Click here for more information.
Want a truly immersive #travel experience? Check out these places where you can stay with locals around the world! #travel #rtw Click To Tweet2) Visit A Yurt Settlement & Meet Kyrgyz Eagle Hunters (Kyrgyzstan)
Join MIR Travel for unique insight into the nomadic traditions and village culture of the Kyrgyz outback. This tour takes you to the remote village of Kochkor where youāll stay with a family, watch an eagle hunter and learn about the villageās traditional felt craft.
Throughout the trip there are multiple opportunities to meet locals, including eating atĀ an Uyghur family’s home and staying in a guest house in the traditional village of Chon-Kemin.
This 8-day trip starts at $2595. Ā Click here for more information.
3) Roots & Culture, Yoga & Wildlife Retreat (Kenya)
Travel Therapy Tours designs socially conscious travel experiences that benefit the community, while allowing guests to live with locals, eat local food, shop at local markets and learn the local language.
Their Roots & Culture retreat includes opportunities to learn about Kenyan culture by staying with families in traditional Kenyan-style homes. Youāll watch a cultural dance show, learn how to bead from members of the Maasai tribe, attendĀ a zumba class, eat at local farms and practice yoga daily. Ā This trip doesn’tĀ shy away from important issues ā you’ll visit a shelter for victims of female genital mutilation āĀ andĀ there’s plenty of time for discussion andĀ reflection.
This weeklong retreat starts at $2100. Click here for more information.
4) Stay With Nuns & Hike To A Scenic Village Overlooking Mkonmazi National Park (Lushoto, Tanzania)
If you like hiking through rainforests and want Ā an immerse experience that includes local buses, staying with nuns and eating with families, consider this trekking tour.
The two-day hikeĀ starts in Lushoto, where you’ll take public transport through the Magamba Rainforest into the mountains. After a picnic lunch, you’ll spend your first night at the Sisterās Convent in Rangwi village. The next day, trekĀ through villages and mountain forest, eat with a local family and visit an all-womenās pottery workshop in Mambo village.
When you arrive at your final destination of Mtae, there’s a reward ofĀ spectacular Mkomazi National Park views below. Sometimes you can even spot Kilimanjaro in the distance!
Revenue from your hike supports local artists, a tree nursing and planting program, environmental education workshops, and community initiatives in cooperating villages. Rates startĀ at $107.
Click here for more information.
There are so many places to stay with locals around the world! #5 sounds so amazing! #travel #immersivetravel Click To Tweet5) Meet The Indigenous People Of The Rural Andes (Cuzco, Peru)
Machu Picchu isnāt the only gem near Cuzco. The culture of the indigenous Andean people is also special, and your visit helps preserve it. CBCtupay and Centro BartolomĆ© de Las CasasĀ offer a two-day itinerary allowing you to learn about the rural reality of Quishuarani and be welcomed into their community with a traditional ceremony. Youāll learn about the flora and fauna that play a key role in the medicine and culture of the village, but are sadly nearing extinction. Youāll walk to a local lagoon, potentially passing a herd of llamas and learning how locals process, dye and weave alpaca and llama fiber into colorful handicrafts.
Day 2 involves visiting a local school and enjoying the mineral healing properties of the Thermal-Medicinal Baths of Lares.
The tour starts from Cuzco and costs $152 per person. Ā Proceeds support community-based tourism efforts.
Click here for more information.
6) Experience Life In The Jungle With An Amazon Homestay (Ecuador)
If you stay with an indigenous Quichua family in the Amazon, you may leave with a different perspective on life. Spend four nights atĀ CabaƱas Pimpilala,Ā which includes opportunities to hike through the rainforest, swim in waterfalls, and understand medicinal uses of tropical plants.
Youāll learn about cacao and āĀ if itās the right season ā help collect cacao pods, roast and de-shell the beans, and re-heat the beans with milk and cinnamon into a chocolate fondue. Savoring your creation fire-side with local fruits is the perfect jungle snack.
OtherĀ special experiences: viewing a mock jungle wedding, witnessing a shamanic healing ceremony, getting an adrenaline rush with whitewater rafting, seeingĀ how a blowgun and darts are made and used in the jungle, and even peeking into a community school (which your tourism dollars support).
G Adventureās 7-day Local Living Ecuador Amazon Jungle tour starts at $674.Ā Click here for more information.
Have you ever wanted to stay with locals when uncovering a #culture? Now you can! Here's how! #travel #immersivetravel Click To Tweet7) Connect With Local Artisans And Relax With A Lakeside Homestay (Lake Atitlan, Guatemala)
In the southern part of Guatemala, 95% of the 4000+ inhabitants of are indigenous Mayans of the Tzāutujil ethnicity who struggle to find work in the rural villages.
G Adventuresā nonprofit foundation, Planeterra, worked with the San Juan La Laguna community in Lake Atitlan to develop a homestay program and visitor center. This project is helping towns preserve their cultural heritage while supporting over 100 peopleĀ involved in Mayan art, traditional medicine and more.
Arrive by boat to San Juan La Laguna on the lakeās northwest shore and spend the afternoon exploring the town. Youāll meet your host family, peruseĀ the paintings of local artists, watch weavers, or go for a hike and admire the view.
G Adventureās 11-day Mayan Trail tour ā which includes a night at this home stay āĀ starts at $1104. Click here for more information.
8) Help Out At A Farm InĀ Arequipa (Arequipa, Peru)
Start your visit by meeting your host family and feasting on aĀ traditional Peruvian lunch prepared by villagers. After the meal, learn about day-to-day farm life and help withĀ field work, wool harvesting, craftwork and gathering supplies.
You’ll also explore Sibayo village, even takingĀ a guided walking tour through the town’s most impressive landmarks, including the church, suspension bridge, and scenic Mirador de Largarta. There you willĀ learn how to weave crafts from alpaca wool.
Finally, relax withĀ a home-cooked dinner prepared by your host family before a night of dancing with the locals. The next morning greets you with a homemade breakfast prepared by your host family.
This tour costs $60. All proceedsĀ from your visit are reinvested into the community for infrastructure such as internet access for the village and touristic development. Click here for more information.
If you want to have a local experience but donāt want to stay with them, considerĀ GuruWalk.Ā This startup is like an Airbnb of free walking tours, connecting freelance local guides with travelers who pay what they think their guides deserve at the end of the tour. Guides are encouraged to customize their city tour, which can lead to very interesting alternative visits, all based on tips.
What’s your favorite way to stay with locals? Share your top homestays and AirBnBs in the comments below!Ā
Katie Foote
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Great job on this post! please keep up the good work!