Homestays
A night with a Bhutanese family in a village farmhouse, sharing their meals, their fire and their daily routine.
Overview
A homestay is the most direct way to see how most Bhutanese still live. You sleep in a traditional farmhouse, eat with the family, and join in whatever is happening: milking, cooking, weaving or preparing for a festival.
Village homestays in Bhutan must be certified and registered with the Department of Tourism, which sets basic standards for hygiene and guest safety. Rooms are simple and comfortable, usually with shared bathrooms.
What to expect
Expect a warm welcome with suja, salted butter tea, home-cooked meals, and evenings around the kitchen fire. Many farmhouses can prepare a hot stone bath. Your guide stays nearby and helps with translation.
Hosts often let guests join in: picking vegetables, milking cows, planting, or helping in the kitchen. This depends on the season, the family and the timing of meals.
Where in Bhutan
When to go
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. Harvest time in autumn is especially lively in farming villages.
Good to know
- Facilities are simpler than in hotels; bring a torch and slippers
- Remove your shoes when entering the house
- A small gift from home is appreciated but never expected
- Farm activities vary with the season and the family, so they cannot be promised in advance
More experiences
Hot Stone Bath
Bhutan's traditional farmhouse bath: river stones heated in a fire and lowered into a wooden tub of water and wild herbs.
Archery
Bhutan's national sport: long-distance matches with bamboo and modern bows, full of songs, dances and good-natured teasing.
Bhutanese Food
Chillies as a vegetable, cheese in almost everything, red rice and butter tea: a guide to what you will eat in Bhutan and what to try.
Buddhist Heritage
Monasteries, temples and fortress-monasteries shaped by more than twelve centuries of Buddhism, and still at the heart of daily life.
Build a journey around what you love
Tell us which experiences matter most to you. We will plan the route, the timing and the local hosts.