Sirubari
About
Sirubari is a Gurung village on a sunny ridge in Syangja, at about 1,700 m, where Nepal's village homestays began in 1997. The idea came from the village itself: families would open their homes to visitors, take turns as hosts, and share what they earned. Guests are still welcomed with garlands and music, shared out among the houses, and invited to the evening songs and dances. Two nights give time to walk the stone lanes, sit in the kitchens, and climb before dawn to the viewpoint above the village for the Annapurnas, Machhapuchhre and Dhaulagiri in the first light.
A private tour
A few days that belong to you
Namaste, and welcome. Just your group, your own car and me. You wake in a quiet guest house, walk when the light is good, and rest when you want to. Nobody hurries you to the next stop on someone else's timetable. For these few days, the road is yours.
- Your own start
- I pick you up at your hotel at the time you choose.
- The plan can change
- If a day is better spent in the village, we stay longer there.
- No shopping stops
- We go to shops only when you ask.
- Your own car and driver
- It stops for a view, a tea shop or a photo whenever you ask.
- Mornings without an alarm
- Sunrise if you want it, a slow breakfast if you do not.
- One person to ask
- The same guide all the way: for the history, the food, the road and anything that goes wrong.
- Quiet places to sleep
- Small guest houses, chosen for calm rather than size.
- The plan bends to you
- A place left out, a longer stay, a slower day: we decide together as we go.
With warmth, Rujan Neupane
Along the way
What this day is known for.
- Nepal's first community homestay village
- Gurung songs and dances in the evening
- Sunrise over the Annapurnas from the ridge above
- Stone lanes and slate-roofed houses
- Meals in a family kitchen
- Hosts chosen in turn, so every family shares in it
Day by day, night by night
Where we go, how long on the road, and where you sleep each night.| Day | The day | On the road | The night | Room + meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Day 1 · Pokhara to SirubariBy car south-west into the hills of Syangja, then a short walk up to the village. The welcome, your host family, and the evening programme.
|
About 3 to 4 hours by car, then a short walk | Sirubari, a homestay | Car; homestay |
| Day 2 | Day 2 · A day in the villageUp before dawn to the viewpoint above the village for sunrise, about 2 hours' walk; then a slow day in the lanes, the fields and the kitchens.
|
Sirubari, a homestay | Homestay | |
| Day 3 | Day 3 · Back to PokharaA last morning in the village, then down to the car and back to Pokhara by early afternoon.
|
About 3 to 4 hours by car | Car |
Is this tour for you?
Walking, steps, heat and access, honestly.Not sure? Tell me who is coming, and I'll tell you honestly. Write to me
The honest downsides
What I'd want to know before booking.- Simple rooms; toilets are often outside.
- The evening programme is a welcome for visitors, as in every community homestay.
- The road is rough at the end and slow after rain.
- The mountains are often hidden from May to September.
More about this tour
Best time to go
Best in October and November, and in March, when the air is clear.- GoodJAN
- GoodFEB
- BestMAR
- GoodAPR
- HazyMAY
- RainJUN
- RainJUL
- RainAUG
- RainSEP
- BestOCT
- BestNOV
- GoodDEC
From late March to May the far views are often hazy; from June to September the monsoon brings rain, leeches on forest paths and cloud on the mountains. December and January nights are cold in the hills.
Time of day
Festivals worth planning for
Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year; I confirm the date when you ask.
Before you go
The small practical things.Visiting with respect
These are living places of worship, not museums.- Take off your shoes at the door, and do not step over the fire or the stove.
- Ask before entering the kitchen or the prayer room.
- Dress with shoulders and knees covered.
- Ask before photographing people, especially children and elders.
- Pay what the homestay asks; in community homestays the price is fixed and shared.
Staying away: 2 nights
You pay me only my guide fee. Rooms and meals are paid at what they actually cost, with nothing added by me.Where your money goes
Every amount, and who receives it. I charge only my guide fee; the rest is paid at cost.| What | Who receives it | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guide fee | Rujan Neupane | My day rate × 3 days, plus my overnight allowance × 2 nights away from Kathmandu | For your whole private group |
| Car and driver | The driver or car company | Agreed before the tour | Paid at cost |
| Entry tickets and park fees | Paid at the gate | Official price | See Entrance fees |
| Rooms and meals | The hotels, lodges and homestays | What they charge | You pay them directly, or I book at their price |
I don't sell packages. I guide, and I help you arrange the rest (rooms, transport, permits) at what it actually costs. If you would like it all put together as one package, ask me: I make one only on your request, and we confirm it by email.
Photo notes
From a guide who is also a photographer.The places in detail
The history and stories behind what you will see.Sirubari
Sirubari lies on a south-facing ridge in Syangja district, at about 1,600 to 1,700 m, west of Pokhara. It is a Gurung village, and in 1997 it became the first village in Nepal to welcome visitors into family homes as a community, an idea proposed by a retired soldier of the village. The families take turns as hosts and share the income, and the village was soon named a model for village tourism across Nepal.
The days
You are welcomed with garlands and music, given to a host family, and invited to the evening programme of Gurung songs and dances. Before dawn on the second day, a walk of about two hours leads to the viewpoint above the village, where the Annapurna range, Machhapuchhre and Dhaulagiri stand in a line on a clear morning.
See what a night with a family is like before you go, and my other village stays.
My promises
Written down, so you can hold me to them.- No pressureAsk me anything. Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing, and I will never rush your decision.
- Nothing hiddenEvery cost is written down before you pay anything, and nothing is added later without your agreement.
- Your day, your paceWe stay longer where you want to, and skip what doesn't interest you.
- Reviews as writtenEvery review here is published as the guest wrote it. I don't edit reviews or remove critical ones.
Before you go
What I would read first, from my own guides and tours.Guides to read first
- Nepal Trekking Etiquette: A Local Guide’s Guide to Culture and Respect on the Trail12 min read
- Useful Nepali Phrases for Trekking: Words That Open Every Door4 min read
- Festivals in Nepal and Trekking: Dashain, Tihar and the Trekking Calendar7 min read
- Upper Mustang Trek Guide: Tibet Without Leaving Nepal7 min read
Frequently asked questions
Is it far from Pokhara?
About 3 to 4 hours by car, then a short walk.
What is the room like?
A simple room in a family home; the toilet is often outside.
Will we see the mountains?
On clear mornings from the ridge above the village, mostly from October to April.
Can children come?
Yes; families are very welcome.
Is the guide fee for each person?
No. One rate for your whole private group of 1 to 5 people.
Can you book everything?
If you want, I book the car, rooms and flights at their own price and send you every price by email first. You can also book them yourself.
Reviews from guests who toured with me are published automatically, exactly as they wrote them. Reviews sent through the open form are checked for spam only.
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- +977 984-3808583
- Phone
- +977 984-3808583
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More than 5 of you? Write to me. I guide up to 5 people at one rate. For a bigger group we can talk it through by email. I reply myself, usually within a day. On the trail there is often no network, so it can take a few days.
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