Individual  community  members  have  provided  land, Stone and unskilled labour to build infrastructure for four home stays rooms – Three at Gairi Gaon ( Nepali) and one at Kabi ( Lepcha). Gen Jimmy Singh has provided funds for the building hardware, skilled labour and furnishings. Community members retain ownership of their land and have been gifted the buildings and furnishings to start the home stays.

The visitor is offered a village home stay in separate cottages, within family holdings. The home stays have been especially designed to offer comfort, convenience and cleanliness in a unique ambiance. In sum these home stays offer first class accommodation in a rural ambiance, comfort, privacy, excellent service provided by caring hosts at reasonable prices.

Village Homestays

Gairigaon Homestay (Nepali)

Kabi Homestay ( Lepcha)

We are offering a unique, relaxed and fulfilling holiday; which is truly a journey of discovery – at four levels

1. An opportunity to explore rural lifestyles and interact with rural people.
2. Learning skills from village craftsmen and supporting traditional crafts. 
3. Imparting your skills to village folk and their children and teaching English to children
4. Relaxing and enjoying a holiday in scenic surroundings, amongst friendly people

Rates for Home stay Paying Guests

Rooms Available

• Gairi Gaon: 02 x dbl + 01 x sgl.
• Kabi West: 01 x Dbl

Notes

1. Income from Village homestays go directly to host families and support the Awake and shine School

For profile of host hamlets and host families click here to open Host hamlet fact file >>

When: Available year round. The best season for snow views and clear skies is from Oct - Dec, and for flora it is March – May. However there is also opportunity to enjoy the magic of the monsoons and participate in paddy sowing during Jul - Aug. Click here for Samthar Seasonal cycle, and festivals.

Duration: The duration is flexible. However a minimum of a 03-04 nights is recommended

Languages spoken: Nepali is the main language of the people. One member of the host family and local guides can communicate in English.

Homestay at The Samthar Farm House

Guests are also personally hosted by General Jimmy Singh at his country home at Samthar, Called The Samthar farm house. This unique house is listed in Alastiar Sawday,s Special places. All proceeds from paying guests support the Awake and Shine village School. More details>>

Holiday profile

For a do it yourself holiday, visitors can, arrive at Samthar and manage their own day to day activities. Enquire for a range of available activities.

All activities are modestly priced. Enquire with your hosts

How to book ?

Gudongma Tours & Treks provides its professional services, for booking and arranging the home stay holidays, free of charge. All earning go directly to the host family and the school. Click here for your bookings.

Package Tours

For package tours linked to Home stay holidays, click here to open Awake & shine Package Tours

Our Guest Write

“What a fabulous way to end an incredible first visit to India.
 Dear General, your work is such an inspiration, and your place is so beautiful! Thanks to you and your superb staff, we learned so much and experienced so much more!”

Shirley & Helga
USA

“Our very favourite place of all those we stayed at was Samthar village. There was world of difference between this and the organized tourism we found in Bhutan.. People were very attentive and kind and the food was so nice and well prepared. It was great just to be able to hang out and on the first morning we enjoyed just being with children. Charles was a great guide always willing to engage in conversation about the locality, village life and culture. It was so good to get to meet local people on our walks and be able to visit the heart of life in the valley. We left Samthar a little sad in our hearts - a sign I think that it was possible to get to know people just a bit in a short space of time - enough to glimpse their lives and have a hope for their future wellbeing.”

Paul & Helen
UK

“ It was the end of a most happy home stay. Even writing a diary such as this can not capture the multitude of little things that warmed my heart and made me happy. It was a most memorable visit made wonderful by so many special people. It was very sad to say goodbye to Charles (Lepcha host) I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat as I departed ”

Robyn Wardill
Australia

“Not only was everything well organized but the hospitality and friendliness of everyone who we were with was outstanding. I also want to say how much we enjoyed staying in the Samthar village area, both at Gairi gaon and at Charles' homestay. That whole experience, including the visit to the Awake and Shine school was extremely enjoyable and informative. I want to wish you well with your efforts in relation to the school as well as to the other development work you have initiated in that village.”

Arthur C Heidebrecht
USA