Three Nepal trips that most visitors never hear about. The Millennium Homestay Trek is 13 days of easy walking through more than 30 Gurung, Magar, Brahmin and Chhetri hill villages southeast of Pokhara, sleeping in family homes and never going above 1,709 m. Bardia National Park in the far west is Nepal’s largest park in the Terai, with 112 tigers in the 2026 count and far fewer visitors than Chitwan. The Limi Valley in Humla is a remote restricted-area trek of about three weeks along the Tibetan border, crossing passes up to 4,940 m. Bardia and Limi both start from Nepalgunj, so you can join them into one long trip.
- Millennium Homestay Trek13 days, easy, max 1,709 m, homestays in 30+ villages
- Bardia National Park7-day safari, 968 km², 112 tigers (2026), Ganges river dolphins
- Humla Limi Valley Trek20 days, strenuous, Nyalu La 4,940 m, restricted area
- Shared gatewayNepalgunj, about an hour’s flight from Kathmandu
- PermitsLimi needs a Humla Restricted Area Permit, a licensed guide and at least two trekkers
- Best monthsOctober to April for the homestay and Bardia, May to October for Limi
- SwotahAll three run as group departures, and Swotah can arrange each as a private trip
It is true that most people come to Nepal to trek in the Himalayas. Whether it’s the scenic and culturally diverse Annapurna Circuit Trek or the iconic Everest Base Camp Trek, even those who would not class themselves as ‘trekkers’ love to get into the mountains!
But what if you want something a bit unusual and different? For example, did you know Nepal has 13 national parks? Some are in the hills and mountains, accessible only by trekking there. Others are easy to reach from Kathmandu. Chitwan National Park is the easiest to reach and best known. Bardia National Park takes a little longer to get to but in our opinion is well worth it! And did you know there is honey hunting in Nepal? While I’m not going to suggest you climb up a cliff face while being bombed by hundreds of angry bees, I am going to suggest some other unusual trips for you here.
The Millennium Homestay Trek: Perhaps the Best Homestay Ever
I personally love the extremes of a 4-star hotel and the homely friendly touch of a homestay! I’m not really into those 2 or 3-star hotels. It’s full on luxury or deep personal connections that work for me! So I want to introduce you to the Millennium Homestay Trek, which takes you to villages in the Annapurnas, not far from Pokhara, yet which are not on the main trekking routes. On this trek you get the best of both worlds. You get to stay in comfortable hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara and get to stay in the homes of some of the most friendly people in the world and learn about their culture. While I always say, never trek alone from the safety point of view, in the case of this trek it would be impossible to visit these lovely homestay families without going through a travel agent such as Swotah Travel and Adventure who know the families and communities involved personally.
What to expect from the Millennium Homestay Trek
Let’s imagine you book the whole package. That’s 13 days from arrival in Nepal to departure. If you are staying longer or arriving earlier, that can be factored in too.
After arriving in Kathmandu and enjoying a culture tour of the main historic sites in this ancient city, the adventure takes you on a 6 to 8 hour drive out of the Kathmandu Valley to the lake town of Pokhara. Pokhara is a gateway to treks such as the Annapurna Circuit Trek and Annapurna Base Camp Trek and also a gateway to Mustang.
Pokhara has such a relaxed atmosphere, particularly around Lakeside where most of the tourist hotels are. There are many restaurants, shops, and bars to keep you entertained! And there is the beautiful Phewa Lake to gaze at while sipping coffee. Or to go boating on! After the trek itself, there is a day for sightseeing and shopping. You could even visit the International Mountain Museum which highlights not only mountaineering but mountain peoples and their lifestyles. You will be able to recognise some of those kitchen and work tools from your trek!
The homestay part starts with a drive to our first host’s home in Bankewa Village. From there you get about a week of walking and nights in real homes. The trek ends with a visit to a Tibetan refugee camp before heading back to Pokhara and ultimately to Kathmandu.
Let me give you some more details:
1. What is the accommodation like?
The homes you will be staying in belong mostly to farmers. They will be made of stone and wood. Overall accommodation will be simple. While your room will definitely not have an attached bathroom, there will be a toilet and you can ‘shower’ via a bucket of hot water. Most likely the toilet and washing facilities are separate from the house itself, in keeping with the local style. But you are here for something unusual and different! Each sleeping room will have 2 beds with clean bedding. If it is possible you may be able to get a room for yourself (single occupancy). Ask when you book whether a single supplement applies. Some travel companies will provide you with your own sleeping bag as not all home owners have extra bedding, particularly in the colder seasons. And then you can also rest easy knowing your sleeping bag has been freshly laundered.
2. What will I get to eat?
There are no menus. Just like if you had visitors to your home, your hosts will make the best traditional meals they can. Dal bhat is the ubiquitous meal in Nepal. It is basically vegetable curry, lentil soup and rice. For breakfast you may be given eggs and fruit may be available. Fruit is not widely eaten in Nepal but more of a festive delight or an offering to the gods. It would be a good idea to bring some snacks with you such as chocolate and energy bars.
With regards to drinking water, I suggest you bring a filter bottle or some purifying tablets with you and fill up at the local pump or tap.
3. Is trekking difficult?
This is considered an easy trek. But having said that, this is the Himalayas so there are definitely ups and downs! Some parts are steep and have steps to negotiate. With the lovely early morning dew, care should be taken as paths can be slippery then. Definitely bring your walking/ trekking boots. Trekking poles will help with balance and are really good if you have any knee issues. Since this trek never goes above 1,709 m (at Pyarsing), altitude sickness isn’t a concern. And it is definitely easier to hike at lower altitudes than higher up!
The scenery is lovely and there is the Millennium Cave carved over time by nature, with unique underground waterfalls. There is an ancient temple, monasteries and a historical fort to explore. The route covers more than 30 villages of Gurung, Magar, Brahmin and Chhetri families in Tanahun and Syangja districts, so there is a lot to see and experience. This is the middle hills, so the temperature is warm and the vegetation lush. Naturally, there are mountains too. On clear days the snow peaks from Kanjiroba to Ganesh Himal form the backdrop to the trek.
4. Why do this homestay trek and not a normal trek?
In one word: the people! You will discover that people throughout Nepal are extremely friendly and helpful. And that goes for lodge owners on normal treks too. But on a normal trek lodge owners are extremely busy dealing with lots of different groups. On this trek, it is usual to have fewer people in a group. Swotah runs it for groups of up to eight, a size the host families can look after properly.
As you are visiting someone’s home it’s a great idea to bring small gifts for the woman of the house and for any small children. Towels, inexpensive Pashmina shawls, hot chocolate and wooden toys go down very well. No plastic, please! If you can bring something from your home town, even better!
Because you are staying in local communities, the people are more than pleased, and very enthusiastic, to show and teach you something of their culture through dances, performances, food and a lot of laughter. In some villages you may even get to meet the local shaman. What you experience on each trip will depend on the season you go. Will there be harvesting to do, will there be local festivals to experience, or a wedding to attend? You can ask your operator at the time of booking.
5. When is the best time to do this trek?
The best season to visit Nepal is generally spring and autumn. Because this is a low altitude trek you have much more flexibility time wise and it is possible to do this trek in the winter also. In fact, winters are lovely as the weather is still warm in this area, and the mountain views are particularly clear. And don’t worry, there is no snow! I would suggest avoiding the monsoon (roughly June to September) as it will be wet and there will be leeches on the trails!
Giving back
The Millennium Homestay Trek supports a school lunch programme in a remote Syangja village on the route. Swotah has also funded scholarships for students in Tanahun since 2017, chosen on the teachers’ recommendations. You can read more about this on our commitment page. By booking this trek, you will be helping us to help the children of Nepal, who in turn will help their families in the future.
The Millennium Homestay Trek is definitely something unusual and so very worthwhile doing. It gives you a very different perspective of the hill peoples living in Nepal and will give you a great appreciation of their way of life.
From People to Animals: Bardia National Park
As well as the mountains and peoples of Nepal I love the wildlife. And who doesn’t love animals? If you are trekking in the mountains you will come across places like the Makalu Barun National Park, Sagarmatha National Park and Langtang National Park etc. In these hilly places, you may be lucky to spot animals such as the Snow Leopard and alpine/ mountain deer, goats and birdlife. But if you want to see the ‘big three’ tiger, elephant and rhino, or if you don’t want to trek, there are a number of national parks in the flat plains in the south of the country.
The best known of the Terai (that lowland region) national parks is Chitwan National Park. About 5 to 7 hours by road from Kathmandu, or a 25-minute flight to Bharatpur, this park has been a centre for wildlife lovers for decades.
But I would like to introduce you to another, less well-known park: Bardia National Park.
1. Why Bardia?
When I first came to Nepal in 1990 I visited Chitwan National Park, like so many others before me. But it was in the spring of 1991 that I visited Bardia National Park and fell in love. In those days the road from the highway to Thakurdwara (the main village of the area) was just being built so it was a 12 km walk over the fields to reach the Park HQ. There were only two accommodation options available, and interestingly they both fell into my preference range: Tiger Tops (expensive and exclusive) and a homestay. We actually decided to camp in the Park HQ land instead, with the warden’s permission of course. That trip was the first time I saw both the Royal Bengal Tiger and the Gangetic Dolphin. It was also the first time I rode an elephant. Today I suggest you don’t ride an elephant as elephant rides are now big no-nos.
I actually returned to Bardia in 1995 to 2000 to live and run my own safari lodge! But aside from my personal experience, you should go to Bardia as it is still one of the best places in Nepal to see a wild tiger, and one of the few places where Ganges river dolphins survive. There are also wild elephants and a host of the ‘usual’ wildlife and an amazing array of more than 400 species of native and migratory birds!
Some numbers to go with that. Bardia covers 968 km², which makes it the largest national park in the Terai. The tiger count released in July 2026 found 112 tigers here, and the 2021 rhino count found 38. The dolphins are rarer than any of them. A nationwide survey in 2016 counted just 52 Ganges river dolphins across the Karnali, Narayani and Koshi rivers, and the Karnali stretch near Bardia holds only a handful, so treat a sighting as a lucky bonus. If dolphins are the main draw, Swotah also runs a Karnali dolphin watching trip and one on the Sapta Koshi.
2. How to get there?
Getting there still remains a bit of a challenge. But thankfully you won’t have to hike over the fields! Situated in the Far West of the country, the nearest airport is Nepalgunj. It takes about an hour to fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, then another 2 to 3 hours to drive to the park (or 4 hours on the rickety bus circa 1992 when it started running!).
3. Accommodation
These days there is a wide selection of accommodation available, from hotels and lodges to homestays. And yes, Tiger Tops is still there if you want to go for jungle luxury and have the money to afford it! The average lodge is very comfortable and some retain the traditional Tharu style of a thatched roof and hand-drawn wall paintings. Menus are varied and fresh and you won’t go hungry!
4. Activities
Activities include a jungle safari walk. Don’t worry, with an experienced guide it is quite safe! If you don’t want to walk or want to cover more ground, jeep safaris are available. Bird watching tours can take place morning and evening and of course, a trip to the river to see the rare and elusive dolphins is a highlight to any visit. Nothing is guaranteed of course. Unfortunately, animal spotting in the wild is not like a visit to the zoo! But Bardia rarely disappoints on the animal front though and even if you don’t see any of the iconic mammals there are still plenty of deer, monkeys and birds to entertain. Not to mention the unique experience of being in the jungle! And a Tharu culture dance.
Bardia National Park is on our list of our favourite places for its diversity of wildlife and because there are still relatively few tourists there.
Humla Limi Valley Trek
The wonderful thing about Nepal is you can link so many trips/ activities together. All you need is the time. So here is my idea of a wonderful link to visiting Bardia National Park. Or of course, you can do each separately on two different trips to Nepal or at two different times.
Limi Valley is situated in Humla District which is high above Bardia National Park. But both trips start at Nepalgunj! And since Nepalgunj is not a tourist destination for anything other than Bardia National Park and trekking in Humla, Jumla and Mugu, why not make it a once-in-a-lifetime, month-long adventure!
1. What is different about the Limi Valley Trek?
Humla itself is a little-visited area of Nepal and remains quite pristine and untouched. The Limi Valley is usually said to have opened to foreign trekkers only around 2002, and even now very few have actually been there. This is a restricted area. You need a Humla Restricted Area Permit (USD 50 per person for the first week, then USD 10 a day), a licensed guide and at least two trekkers, all arranged through a registered agency. Limi is a remote valley up near the Tibetan border and the people you will see follow a Tibetan Buddhist way of life. In fact, a lot of Nepali citizens now living in Humla came with their parents or grandparents when they fled from Tibet in 1959.
Combining Tibetan culture, exotic wildlife including the Snow Leopard and wild yak, and fabulous mountains you will follow the ancient salt trading route and the old pilgrimage route to Mount Kailash in Tibet. Pilgrims still use it, although China has made the border crossing harder, and the rules change often.
This is a camping trek which simply adds to the excitement, peace and tranquillity. But more than that it offers you a glimpse into Tibetan lifestyle without having to actually go to Tibet. Imagine prayer flags fluttering in the wind, mani stone walls (stone walls with carved prayers), prayer wheels and the ancient Rinchenling Gompa at Halji, founded in the 11th century and still in use.
2. How to get there?
Fly to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu where you will have to stay overnight to get an early morning flight to Simikot. And just hope the weather is favourable. Once I got all the way to being able to see Simikot from the plane when we turned around as visibility was poor! But in the Himalayas, that’s a common occurrence and just adds to the adventure. And that is also why we say give a little leeway after your trek before your international flight!
From Simikot (headquarter town of Humla) start walking! I would like to add that the first few days of this trek remind me so much of Scotland! If you imagine you are standing at sea level (not over 2,000m) and that the mountains you are gazing at are actually hills! Vegetation and weather are pretty similar at the start too. I'm remembering being drenched by the rain then being dried very quickly by the high winds! Once you get up near the valley itself, the landscape changes and becomes dry and definitely more Tibetan than Scottish!
3. Is it a difficult trek?
This is definitely a demanding trek and you cross passes as high as 4,940 m (the Nyalu La, with the Nara La at about 4,620 m). Care must be taken regarding altitude though. Please research and ask your travel company about that. There are a couple of long 7 to 8 hour days. But most are in the 5 to 6 hours and 6 to 7 hours range. As the trek takes almost 3 weeks (20 days on Swotah’s itinerary), just the length of time itself can be tiring. But it can also be inspiring and wonderful!
4. What about the facilities?
This is a camping trek. Which usually means a two-man tent to sleep in and a dining tent to eat in and toilet tents for …well you get it! Food will be freshly-prepared daily. The porters and staff normally go ahead of the trekkers to set up camp so it is ready when you arrive at the camping place. Sitting around the campfire under the stars each night is magical!
Swotah’s version uses simple lodges on the lower trail where they exist and camps in the Limi Valley itself.
The Limi Valley Trek is on our list of favourite places because even when compared with other treks off the beaten track such as the Mardi Himal Trek or the Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek the possibility of meeting other trekking groups is low. The fact you have to take two flights to get there and sleep in tents just adds to the overall expedition feel and excitement! And as I said earlier, you can combine it with a trip to Bardia National Park!
The Three Trips Side by Side
They could hardly be more different. One is a gentle walk between family homes, one is a week in the jungle, and one is a three-week expedition to the edge of Tibet. The bars show the highest point you sleep or walk at on each.
| Trip | Days | Difficulty | Highest point | Where you sleep | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millennium Homestay Trek | 13 | Easy | 1,709 m | Family homestays | |
| Bardia National Park Safari | 7 | Easy | About 150 m | Jungle lodges | |
| Humla Limi Valley Trek | 20 | Strenuous | 4,940 m | Lodges and camping |
If you join Bardia and Limi into one trip, plan on about four weeks and leave a spare day or two before your flight home. Simikot flights cancel for cloud more often than most.
Book These Unusual Trips with Swotah
All three run as fixed group departures. Swotah can arrange each one as a private trip on your own dates, and every Swotah guide is licensed, trained and first-aid certified. If you’d like a guide of a particular age, gender or language, ask when you book and Swotah will try to match you.
| Trip | Days | Best months | From (group departure) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennium Homestay Trek | 13 | October to April | USD 1,250 |
| Bardiya National Park Safari | 7 | October to April | USD 1,100 |
| Humla Limi Valley Trek | 20 | May to October | USD 3,890 |
Prices are the cheapest upcoming group departure per person, checked October 2026. Dates and prices change, so check the trip page.
FAQs: Unusual Trips in Nepal
Is the Millennium Homestay Trek suitable for beginners?
Yes. It’s graded easy and never goes above 1,709 m, so altitude isn’t a worry. There are steep stone steps in places, and paths get slippery with morning dew, so bring proper boots and trekking poles if your knees complain on the way down.
Can you see tigers in Bardia National Park?
You can, though nothing is guaranteed. Bardia had 112 tigers in the count released in July 2026. Most sightings come on long jungle walks or jeep drives along the Karnali and Babai rivers, and your odds improve with every extra day you spend in the park.
How do you get to Bardia from Kathmandu?
Fly to Nepalgunj in about an hour, then drive 2 to 3 hours to Thakurdwara, the village at the park entrance. The bus straight from Kathmandu takes 14 to 16 hours.
Do you need a special permit for the Limi Valley?
Yes. Limi is in a restricted area, so you need a Humla Restricted Area Permit, costing USD 50 per person for the first week and USD 10 a day after that. Permits are only issued to groups of at least two trekkers through a registered agency, with a licensed guide.
Can I combine Bardia with the Limi Valley Trek?
Yes. Both trips start at Nepalgunj, so you can finish one and fly straight on to the other. Allow about four weeks in Nepal, with a buffer day for the Simikot flight.
