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Travelers Can Stay In Traditional Navajo Hogans Using Airbnb

Winter and spring are the busiest seasons of the year for visitors escaping the cold for sunny Arizona.

And for those wanting a more rustic experience, several traditional Diné homes on the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona have increased in popularity. 

More than 50 different homes, sheep camps and hogans on the Navajo reservation are becoming popular places to stay for tourists who use Airbnb. However, unlike most Airbnb homes, Verna Yazzie says these structures aren’t known for their amenities, but their simplicity. She opened up three hogans in 2016.

Some owners see hosting as an opportunity to guests to experience their culture firsthand.

"You know, we don’t have running water or electricity down in Monument Valley," said Yazzie. "So, it’s pretty much primitive, rugged ... sleeping inside the hogan, a lot of my guests come away that, it is so quiet that sometimes it is hard for them to sleep."

After their stay, she hopes her guests have a greater appreciation for the Diné culture. 

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Emma VandenEinde was an intern at KJZZ from 2019 to 2020.