Community Homestay Network Community Homestay Network | Page 22

“The Homestay project has helped my family by providing us extra income. I feel very happy when the guests say that they liked staying in my house more than in a hotel.” - Gol Bahadur Ghale “Many of the trekkers say that they come all the way from seven oceans to spend a day with us in our Homestays. It is a moment of pride.” - Chit Bahadur Ranamagar 9. Annapurna Community Trek Annapurna Trek is a unique experience in itself, which offers a rare opportunity to observe the indigenous lifestyle of Himalayan tribes, and mostly their honest hospitality. During the trek, mesmerizing panoramic sights of legendary mountains, like Mt. Annapurna, Mt. Dhaulagiri and Mt. Fishtail, are guaranteed. This region is so much pure and pristine; one may see traditional Yak herders during the trekking, which is a very rare sight in this Modern Time. After the welcome ceremony, guests will be taken to their respective rooms. Lodges are built by the people from the community. Rooms are clean, traditionally designed, and services are performed according to the local culture. As all of the staff are only from the community, this is to encourage, empower and employ the very own inhabitants. If a guest would like to spend their time within a house of local people, they are more than welcome to join in, cook, and eat together. This is, perhaps, the only way to understand the beauty of Nepalese culture. Mission: This project is operated to improve the economic status of the locals though hosting home stay. Also, the project operates to maintain and preserve the indigenous lifestyle of Himalayan tribes. The host, locals, welcome guests with their traditional hospitality, and the surplus from the Homestay project goes to the development of local education and small scale industry. “Because of our complicated landscape, we, mountainous people, are one of the less developed communities in Nepal. However, this project has created job opportunities, which has helped us to improve our economic condition and also to connect with the people from all around the world.” - Shyam Sunder Poon Vision: This particular trekking route has a huge potentiality of attracting tourists like any other popular trekking trails of Nepal. But, before this pristine trail gets much commercialized, we aim to develop this trail into a complete environment friendly trail. The major aim of the project is to benefit nature and locals. 22 www.communityhomestay.com www.communityhomestay.com 23