Building a Climate-Resilient Community
Dhankuta Community Homestay, Sipting nestled in the hills of Dhankuta and home to the Aath Pahariya community, marks a new beginning for tourism in the region. Before 2024, this area saw virtually no travelers, and the concept of homestays was entirely new. With support from the HI-GRID Project, led by ICIMOD and implemented in collaboration with Dhankuta Municipality, Chhathar Jorpati Rural Municipality, and Community Homestay Network, five homestays were established to open Dhankuta as a sustainable tourism destination. Through capacity-building training in hospitality, local cuisine, waste management, and climate-adaptation practices, the community is transforming Sipting into a climate-resilient and culturally vibrant destination. Tourism here is not just about welcoming guests—it is a vehicle for community revival, fostering livelihoods, preserving heritage, and laying the foundation for Dhankuta to be recognized as a meaningful destination on Nepal’s tourism map.
Where is Sipting?
Sipting is a serene village located in the eastern hills of Dhankuta, perched at an elevation of approximately 2,080 meters (6,825 feet) about a day’s journey from Kathmandu. The climate is mild, with temperatures ranging from 7°C to 21°C, making it ideal for exploration and relaxation. The best time to visit is during spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November), when the weather is most pleasant.
Accommodation
The homestays in Sipting are traditionally built, reflecting the architectural style common in rural Nepal. As tourism is very new to the area, the houses offer basic facilities, but guests can enjoy a comfortable and restful stay. While there are no attached bathrooms or Western-style toilets except for a few houses, clean squat toilets are provided. Staying here offers an authentic experience, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the daily rhythm of village life while sharing meals, stories, and traditions with the host families.
Activities and Experiences
Guests at Sipting Community Homestay can immerse themselves in the daily life, culture, and natural surroundings of the village through hands-on experiences that connect them directly with the community.
Village Walks & Hiking – Explore village paths, terraced fields, and surrounding trails while interacting with locals.
Orange Picking (Seasonal) – Participate in harvesting fresh oranges during the season and learn about local farming practices.
Cultural Programs – Witness traditional dances, music, and rituals that reflect the community’s rich heritage.
Tapari Making with the Host Family – Learn to make traditional leaf plates while understanding the livelihoods and daily life of the Aath Pahariya community.
Cooking Local Meals – Join host families in preparing traditional dishes using fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
What You Can Do In and Around Sipting
Sipting offers visitors a blend of cultural immersion, scenic beauty, and hands-on experiences. Guests can take an auto ride to Dhankuta Bazar to explore local markets, or enjoy a walking tour around Orange Town, learning about seasonal fruit farming. Within the village, travelers can join in farming activities, cooking local meals, and traditional craft-making like Tapari. Nature enthusiasts can wander along terraced fields, explore surrounding trails, or simply relax and soak in the tranquil rural setting, connecting with both the land and the community.
Why Sipting, Dhankuta?
Sipting, Dhankuta is a destination in the making, quietly emerging as a new stop for travelers seeking authenticity, culture, and natural beauty. What makes Sipting unique is not just its cultural richness, but its role in shaping Dhankuta as a climate-resilient destination. The village faces challenges such as limited water availability, a growing concern tied to climate change. Community tourism here is being developed as an alternative source of income, helping families reduce dependency on climate-vulnerable farming. Importantly, this is not just any form of tourism, it is community tourism, ensuring sustainability, inclusivity, and respect for both people and nature. By staying in Sipting, you support a pioneering effort that places climate and indigenous knowledge at the forefront, creating a model for how rural destinations can adapt while preserving culture and environment for future generations.
Your Stay, Their Story
Choosing Sipting Community Homestay means being part of a rare journey, witnessing and supporting the birth of a destination from the very beginning. Before 2024, no travelers stayed here, but today, with just five homestays, the community is opening its doors to the world in a way that is both humble and visionary.
By staying in Sipting, you are not only experiencing authentic Aath Pahariya culture and rural hospitality, but also contributing to a model of tourism that has sustainability at its core. From the start, Sipting’s journey is about more than welcoming guests—it is about building resilience, finding alternatives to climate-vulnerable farming, and ensuring benefits are shared across the whole community. Your presence helps shape the future of Dhankuta as a climate-resilient destination, where culture, environment, and community stand at the heart of development.
