Become a StayLocal Guide
Share the India you know.
Join a curated network of local guides across India. Help travelers from around the world experience the country through your eyes — the places, stories and small moments only you can share.
- Travelers
- From abroad
- Notice
- ~7 days
- Terms
- Agreed up front
Estimated earnings
See what a guide can earn.
Illustrative only. Actual payment is agreed per assignment based on scope, destination, duration and the rate we settle on together.
Estimated earnings
Example rate: ₹1,000 / guest
Illustrative example only. StayLocal does not guarantee a daily rate, booking volume or minimum income. Each assignment is scoped and quoted individually.
Why join StayLocal
More than a guide. Be part of StayLocal.
StayLocal is building a curated network of local people who know India deeply — and want to share it with travelers from abroad.
- 01
Meet travelers from around the world
Share your corner of India with people who flew across the globe to see it — curious travelers who actually want to listen.
- 02
Share the India you know
The places, stories and small moments only locals carry. The India behind the brochure.
- 03
Choose assignments that fit your availability
Say yes to the opportunities that fit your schedule. Pass on what doesn't. You stay in control.
- 04
Get paid for your time and local expertise
Payment is agreed before each assignment, based on scope, destination, duration and the rate we settle on together.
- 05
Work with a travel brand that values trust
StayLocal is built on honest advice and personal relationships — not volume, not pressure, not up-selling.
- 06
Build experience working with international travelers
A chance to work with visitors from the USA, UK, Europe, Australia and beyond — and grow a profile that reflects it.
Compensation depends on the assignment, destination, duration, relevant experience, and the rate we agree on. StayLocal does not guarantee earnings or booking volume.
What you get
What you get on an assignment.
Every assignment comes with clear terms — written down, agreed up front and never improvised halfway through.
Guide payment, agreed up front
Scope and rate are confirmed before each assignment — never in the middle of one.
Travel allowance when applicable
If an assignment requires travel outside your usual area, StayLocal may cover or arrange it. Specifics are confirmed before you accept.
Stay when overnight travel is required
When the assignment requires an overnight, StayLocal may cover or arrange accommodation. Confirmed per assignment.
Meals when part of the scope
If meals are part of the agreed scope, they're paid by StayLocal — not deducted from your payment.
Clear assignment details
Dates, destination, scope, duration and payment are shared in writing before you accept.
StayLocal support during the assignment
Someone from StayLocal is reachable while you're guiding — in case anything about the plan changes.
Depending on the assignment, StayLocal may cover or arrange travel, accommodation and meals required to complete the work. The exact inclusions are communicated before you accept the assignment — nothing is assumed.
Your role
What will you actually do?
Guiding looks different in every city, but the shape of the day is simple — meet travelers where they are, share the India you know, keep the experience comfortable.
- 01
Meet travelers at the agreed location
- 02
Help them navigate the destination
- 03
Explain local culture, history and places
- 04
Share practical local knowledge
- 05
Recommend appropriate food and experiences
- 06
Help travelers communicate when language is a barrier
- 07
Help them avoid common tourist confusion
- 08
Keep the experience comfortable and organized
- 09
Communicate with StayLocal when something changes
A StayLocal Guide is responsible for the agreed scope of the assignment. Guides are not responsible for emergency, medical or security services — StayLocal and local services remain the correct contact for those.
A day as a guide
A day with StayLocal.
Example day — actual schedules vary by assignment, destination and what the travelers want from their time with you.
- 08:30
Meet the travelers
At the agreed starting point — café, hotel lobby, trailhead.
- 09:00
Start the day's experience
Set the pace. Share the first thing actually worth paying attention to.
- 11:00
Share the places and stories
The context that turns a street into a story — the stuff a travel blog won't tell them.
- 13:00
Local food, local pace
The right place to pause. Travelers tend to remember the meal as much as the view.
- 15:00
Continue exploring
More ground, more context, more small discoveries only a local would plan.
- 17:00
Wrap up and say goodbye
A clean finish. Practical next steps, a WhatsApp handover to StayLocal if useful.
Assignments
How assignments work.
Every assignment follows the same path, from the moment a traveler books with StayLocal to the day you meet them on the ground.
- 01
A traveler books with StayLocal
Every assignment starts with a real traveler planning a real trip.
- 02
We identify the right guide
Based on destination, dates, scope, languages and relevant experience.
- 03
We contact you about the opportunity
You get an outline of the assignment — scope, dates, destination, estimated duration.
- 04
Around 7 days' notice when possible
We aim to give guides around 7 days' notice whenever we can. Some opportunities may come with shorter notice.
- 05
You confirm whether you're available
Yes or no. Passing on an opportunity doesn't close the door on future ones.
- 06
You receive the complete assignment details
Final scope, payment terms, who you're meeting and how to reach them.
- 07
You meet the travelers and guide them
Deliver the agreed experience. StayLocal remains reachable throughout.
How it works
From application to your first assignment.
- 01
Apply
Tell us who you are, where you know and what kind of guiding you can offer.
- 02
Review
We review your application and the information you've shared.
- 03
Interview
If shortlisted, we'll contact you for a short conversation.
- 04
Join the network
If selected, your profile becomes part of the StayLocal Guide Network.
- 05
Receive opportunities
When a suitable traveler request comes in, we'll contact you.
- 06
Guide
Accept the assignment, meet the travelers and deliver the agreed experience.
The people
Meet the people behind StayLocal.
The India that lives behind the brochure — told by the people who grew up with it.
Your city. Your perspective.
Local knowledge makes the difference.
History told by someone who grew up with it.
The places you'd never find on a search.
Trails that reward a local pace.
The patience to find the right moment.
Where we're building the network
Guide network — growing across India.
These are the regions StayLocal is currently exploring on the ground. We're open to applications from across India — including states not listed below.
- Goa
- Himachal Pradesh
- Odisha
- Sikkim
- Uttarakhand
- West Bengal
Trust & review
Why travelers trust their guide matters.
Travelers come to StayLocal because the people they meet on the ground are the point. We take time to understand everyone who joins the network.
Identity and details
We review the information you share in your application against what travelers would reasonably want to know about the person they'll meet on the ground.
Destination expertise
We look at where you actually know, how long you've spent there, and whether your knowledge matches what travelers typically ask for.
Communication
A great guide can read the room and explain things clearly. We weigh how you communicate when we talk.
Reliability
Travelers are placing a day — or several — in your hands. Dependability is non-negotiable.
Relevant experience
Where it applies, we consider prior guiding, hosting or related travel work. Prior professional guiding is not a requirement.
StayLocal does not perform formal background checks or issue official certifications. The review process focuses on the areas listed above.
Common questions
Before you apply, the things people ask.
Become a StayLocal Guide
Know India. Share it with the world.
Join the growing StayLocal guide network.