Why Homestays Work Well Here
The Northeast has dramatic landscapes and distinct cultures, but large hotels are limited and often far from villages. Homestays let communities earn directly from visitors, and they fit naturally with local hospitality traditions.
Women at the Centre
A World Bank-supported livelihoods project has worked with nearly 23,000 women’s self-help groups across Sikkim, Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura. In South Sikkim, one self-help group became the first in its district to set up a bank credit line and has joined the state’s homestay and eco-tourism wave.
Government and private programmes have followed. In 2018, the National Commission for Women partnered with Airbnb on a pilot to train women from Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh to start homestays. A later initiative called Project Maitri, from the Women Entrepreneurship Platform and MakeMyTrip, aimed to support women homestay owners in the region. Arunachal Pradesh has also been promoting women-led rural tourism that includes homestays, guiding and cultural activities.
What You Get as a Guest
- Home-cooked regional food, often from the family’s own kitchen
- Conversation and stories you won’t hear in a hotel lobby
- Local guides and walks arranged by people who live there
- A direct way to put money into the village economy
What Hosts Often Say They Need
Training in hosting standards, access to credit, reliable internet, better road connections and marketing support. Many of the women running these stays are balancing them with farming and household work.
How to Be a Good Guest
- Book directly or through trusted platforms, and confirm what is included
- Respect house rules and local customs, especially around religious spaces
- Ask before photographing people or their property
- Pay a fair price and avoid heavy haggling
- Leave an honest review that mentions the host by name if you can
Bottom Line
A homestay in the Northeast is more than a cheaper bed. It’s a way to travel slowly, eat well and make sure your trip supports the women who keep these places running.
