“Traveling with North East Explorers isn’t about a glossy, cookie-cutter trip—it’s an open door into the Northeast’s living soul. Whenever we can, we skip the chain hotels and sterile resorts. On our North East India tours, we lean toward homestays and local guesthouses instead—because that’s where the magic of this land hums, right in the walls and the warmth. Here’s the thing: a homestay isn’t your typical hotel stay. It’s something rarer—a chance to slip into someone’s home, their world—and it comes with a gentle ask: a little respect, a little kindness, to honor the heart of what makes it so special.
Imagine pulling into a Meghalaya village after a day on an offbeat travel trail—say, David Scott’s winding path. No buzzers or bellhops wait for you. Instead, a grandmother with a weathered smile hands you tea, her hands trembling just a bit as she pours. Your room’s simple—wooden floors, a quilt patched with care, a window framing hills she’s known her whole life. This isn’t a commercial property churning out convenience; it’s a home, opened to you with trust. Kick off your boots, soften your voice, and tread gentle—because you’re not just a guest here, you’re a part of something alive.
These homestays in North East India are bridges, not buildings. In a Nagaland guesthouse, you might wake to the clatter of a loom or share a grin with a host who’s hunted these hills since boyhood. In Ziro, your bed’s in a hut where stories older than the rice fields linger in the air. It’s not about star ratings or Wi-Fi bars—it’s about the woman who cooked your meal, the kid who shyly asks your name, the family who’ve let you in. Hotels give you walls; homestays give you roots. But that gift comes with a quiet rule: honor it. A sharp word or a careless act echoes louder here than in a lobby of strangers.
Why do we choose this over the shiny and sterile? Because it’s real—and because it matters. Every night in a homestay keeps the Northeast breathing. Your stay buys rice for a table, stitches a roof against the rain, holds a village together. Commercial properties bleed that away—cash flows to faceless owners, not the hands that welcomed you. We’ve seen it ourselves: a Mawlynnong family standing taller because travelers chose their hearth over a high-rise. That’s eco-travel in our bones—not a slogan, but a lifeline to the hills we call home.
So what should you expect? The Northeast doesn’t bend to schedules. Dawn might creep in with mist so thick it hides the sun, or a rooster’s cry might jolt you before light dares to break. Days swing from muddy treks to river plunges—bring boots, leave the flip-flops, and pack a hunger for the untamed. Food’s fierce and honest: smoky pork, sticky rice, a chili that might test your grit. That said, if you are a vegetarian, you will not be disappointed either. A good variety of (local) vegetarian food is also something that North East India boasts of, contrary to popular belief. Nights fall quiet—stars and crickets, not horns and screens—though a campfire could spark with laughter if the mood strikes. It’s not perfect; it’s alive.
Our North East India tours roll with the land’s rhythm. You’ll walk with guides who’ve grown up on these slopes, their words carrying the weight of home. And you’ll sleep in homestays in North East India—not as a customer, but as a guest granted a rare seat at the table. Expect less polish and more pulse. Less noise and more truth.
Come ready—to sink into the Northeast, not just skim it. To trade entitlement for gratitude. To live in a home, not a room. Because here, every stay is a story—and it’s on you to keep it kind.
Our local homestays, cottages and guest houses in the North East India
Cleanliness and amenities at our homestays in the North East
North East India has always been known for its simplicity and cleanliness. And our homestays / local guesthouses are no different. You get your own personal space, clean sheets, and clean toilets, at a local home. However, the amenities/facilities cannot be and should not be compared with what commercial organizations like hotels or resorts offer. That said, the homestays we host our guests at are some of the loveliest and most well-located properties in the region.
To give you some idea, our homestay in Mawlynnong – Asia’s cleanest village overlooks the Bangladesh plains right below the hill on which it is located. Similarly, our homestay in Dirang is surrounded by a kiwi orchard and pomegranate trees. A tribal village and a mountain river are also a stone’s throw away.
Be respectful & get the same in return
All our homestay / local guesthouse owners are very welcoming, accommodating, and helpful. They never shy away from walking the extra step to make you comfortable. However, please remember that they are not professionally trained like hotel staff. Be respectful to them and you will receive the same. If you need anything, just let them know and they will do their best to get it for you. Please do not order‘.
As we say, “Getting the chance to stay with a local’s family is a privilege, relish it. What you pay for your time there is just to cover your costs!
In case you have more questions, do also check out FAQs page or, shoot us your question and we will be more than happy to help 🙂
Happy Travels 🙂 !
