LOS ANGELES—Airbnb Inc. upended the hotel industry by convincing people it is normal to spend the night in a stranger’s home. Now, it is asking them to allow strangers to take them sumo wrestling, truffle hunting and off-road biking.

After months of testing in a few cities worldwide, the company on Thursday said it would begin offering excursions immediately in a dozen global locations as diverse as Detroit, Havana and Nairobi. Dubbed “Trips,” the tours generally will cost about $200 and be organized by locals who purport to be experts in such varied experiences as Korean embroidery and craft-beer brewing.

To mark the launch, the startup is using some of its recent $850 million funding to host an elaborate three-day event through Saturday in downtown Los Angeles, covering several city blocks and featuring pop band Maroon 5, an awards show emceed by “Late Late Show” host James Corden and appearances by actress Gwyneth Paltrow and restaurateur Danny Meyer, among other celebrities.

Airbnb also has organized dozens of neighborhood tours and other experiences around the city.

“Homes is just one small part of a great journey,” said Brian Chesky, chief executive of Airbnb, speaking to hundreds of hosts and reporters at the Globe Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday.