Homestay experiences seems to be Magic
There’s a type of magic that no hostel, hotel, or Airbnb can provide you with, homestay experiences are a kind that comes from lodging with a stranger who welcomes you into their home (and heart). In 2025, I opted to forgo the traditional stays and discover the world by way of homestays—and trust me, these experiences revolutionised my approach to travel.
From the art of making chai in a Himalayan home to garden BBQs in Cape Town, these 10 homestays reminded me that travel is not merely about where you are, but who you encounter.
Let’s immerse ourselves in the most touching moments from this journey of connection.
1️⃣ Homestay experiences with a Ladakhi Family – Leh, India
✨ Where: A typical mud-brick home in the mountains of Ladakh.
✨ What was special about it: I got to churn butter the traditional way and sipped butter tea with three generations near the fireplace.
✨ Why it was special: The raw hospitality and the peace of the Himalayas made it more like a spiritual retreat.
2️⃣ Sunset Stories with the Diaz Family – Oaxaca, Mexico
✨Where: Colourful courtyard residence close to Monte Albán ruins.
✨What made it stand out: The family welcomed me to assist in making tamales for Día de los Muertos, and I felt like family when I left.
✨ Why it was unique: Culture immersion by food, folklore, and genuine connection.
3️⃣ A Zen Garden Homestay experiences– Kyoto, Japan
✨ Place: A wooden ryokan-style house along the Philosopher’s Path.
✨How’s it special: I attended early morning tea ceremonies with my host grandma and assisted her in caring for her bonsai trees.
✨ Why it stood out: A quiet, slow connection that spoke louder.
4️⃣ Fjordside Friendships – Flam, Norway
✨ To where: A warm wooden cabin looking out over the fjords.
✨ What is unique about it: Dawn fishing with my host and drinking hot chocolate under the Northern Lights.
✨ Its speciality: Nature + heat = unforgettable.
5️⃣ Cape Town Conversations – South Africa
✨ Where: A Bo-Kaap home with views of the Mountain.
✨ What was special about it: Weekend braais (BBQs), spicy Malay food, and in-depth discussions of identity and culture.
✨ Why was it special: Travel with intention and awareness.
6️⃣ Soulful Nights in Chefchaouen – Morocco
✨Where: A blue-painted house overlooking the Rif mountains.
✨What made it unique: My host’s mother taught me how to prepare khobz and mint tea while regaling me with tales of the desert.
✨ Why it was unique: Moroccan hospitality exists, and it’s strong.
7️⃣ Canoe Commutes in Kerala – India
✨ Where: A simple backwater house amidst water lilies.
✨ What made it unique: Morning canoe commutes to school with the host’s kids and banana leaf lunches.
✨ Why it was unique: A stunning respite from urban life and a schooling in slow living.
8️⃣ Strangers to Sisters – Tuscany, Italy
✨ Place: A house on the Chianti hills.
✨ What was so special about it: We cooked pasta, crushed grapes, and laughed at homemade wine like friends from another time.
✨ Reason behind speciality: Real Italian hospitality that warmed the heart.
9️⃣ In the Outback with the Walkers – Queensland, Australia
✨ Where: A 3-hour drive from Brisbane.
✨ The highlight: Sunrise sheep herding and starry night campfire tales with the children.
✨ The reason it was special: A rural reminder that happiness is found in simple pleasures.
🔟 A Forest Retreat in Costa Rica
✨ Where: A solar-powered rainforest home in the canopy.
✨ What made it special: Waking up to toucans, sipping fresh cacao, and studying permaculture.
✨ Why it was special: Living off-grid and tuning in to the planet.
❤️ Why Homestays Are the Future of Travel in 2025?
- Immersion over luxury
- Low-cost but high-value
- Authentic stories > reviewed online
- Kind to the environment (low-impact stays)
