“Why should I spend my tourist dollars in a country that wants to throw me in jail?!”

This was our dilemma before setting off for our big travel adventures in Asia – as a gay couple.

If it isn’t illegal (like in Sri Lanka, Singapore, the Maldives, Malaysia, India, Myanmar…), then it’s certainly not truly welcomed (think Indonesia, China or Mongolia).

Will you welcome this gay couple into your country?

A few (like Nepal and Vietnam) have taken proactive steps to start to protect their LGBT community instead of criminalising them.

And some have gone further to not only protect their LGBT community, but to embrace, support them and in addition, actively promote gay tourism: Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines.

The Mandala Spa on Boracay island in the Philippines used our image to promote their Rainbow Romance package

So as a gay traveller, does that mean you shouldn’t visit countries like India or Myanmar? Are you really under any practical danger visiting a country like Malaysia or the Maldives? Should you take that hard line approach and avoid visiting some of the most beautiful areas of our planet just because of some really archaic, backwards laws?

After over 18 months travelling as a gay couple in Asia, here’s a few lessons we learnt and hope we can relay to all gay travellers in this post:

1. Ignore the anti-gay laws: as a foreigner you are completely safe!
2. This is because it’s one rule for locals, another for tourists.
3. Despite anti-gay laws, it IS ethical to spend money in these countries.
4. Going out there as a tourist is more effective to their LGBT community then a blanket ban on visiting.

The Nomadic Boys at the Great Wall of China

#1 Ignore the anti-gay laws: as a foreigner you are completely safe!

One common opinion we found in every single country we visited: most people just couldn’t care less about you. Not in a bad way of course. Their priorities are their jobs, family, paying their bills, educating their children, putting food on the table.

No one heterosexual was ever interested in what the Nomadic Boys got up to in the bedroom (or bathtub…!):

What could the Nomadic Boys possibly be doing behind closed doors? (Bath fun in Hue, Central Vietnam)

At no stage during our travels in Asia did we ever feel threatened or in danger for being gay.

At worst, the gay club we went to in Delhi was busted by the police at 1am. The policemen were using the anti gay laws to get a bribe from the club promoters. Everyone else was left alone and told to leave via the back door.

Look out for those corrupt police in India…any excuse for a bribe!

We are not obviously gay when you first meet us, we don’t mince about waving a rainbow flag, nor do we show any public displays of affection like holding hands or kissing (we don’t do this anyway back home in London/Lyon).

At the very worst, we got the whole“double bed – are you sure?!” or “are you twins/brothers?” type of questions a lot.

Do we really look like brothers? Posing at Jaipur’s City Palace in Northern India

#2 One rule for locals, another for tourists

In every country we visited in Asia, gay tourists are always treated differently compared to LGBT locals.

Our friend Kaluu from Colombo pointed out that whilst homosexuality is illegal in Sri Lanka, the police almost always turn a blind eye to tourists: no one wants to get involved with foreign embassies if it ever came to that.

Will the Sri Lankan police turn a blind eye if they caught this stolen kiss on Mirissa beach?

In Malaysia, we met many gay locals, really excited to show us round. However, they asked us to not use their name on our blog for fear of negative implications on their work and by their society.

Yet the hotels we worked with throughout Malaysia were delighted to embrace and welcome us as a gay couple and promote pink tourism, like The Four Seasons on Langkawi island who arranged this lovers ritual ceremony for us:

Part of the lover’s ritual following our massage at the Four Seasons Langkawi spa in Malaysia

Tourism is big business, so foreigners will always be given special treatment despite the homophobic laws.

The only exception is Brunei: a tiny country on Borneo island, which is financially independent, funded by oil, so no interest in tourism. And also the autonomous Aceh province in North Indonesia.

In both Brunei and Aceh, extreme Sharia Law applies, so both gay locals and LGBT tourists risk some form of public whipping and/or death by stoning.

“BAD GAY BOY STEFAN! THAT’S 100 LASHES!” Sebastien demonstrating some of the subtleties of Sharia Law

#3 Despite anti-gay laws, it IS ethical to spend money in these countries

Is it ethical to spend money in countries which criminalise their LGBT communities?

We say a big fat yes of course!

We have been criticised for promoting LGBT travel to countries like the Maldives, Malaysia, Sri Lanka etc, but we always question the true value of a blanket ban on gay tourists visiting such countries.

We say bring on the gay tourism to all of Asia!

The money you spend on holiday mainly goes to the local businesses you are eating at, staying at or touring with.

In other words, the people benefiting are every day people like you and me (maybe straight, maybe gay), who simply want to make a living for themselves, and not the politicians who are creating and promoting anti gay laws.

In most cases, these local businesses probably don’t even agree or care for these laws.

Gay life in Kuala Lumpur continues to strive at Marketplace‘s gay night every Saturday despite Malaysia’s anti-gay laws

Most importantly of all, if you visit a gay owned or gay friendly establishment during your travels, your money helps them flourish in a society, which is likely to be fighting to close them down or make their lives difficult.

Your presence there is invaluable in supporting the local LGBT community and businesses, as well as helping them flourish.

And finally, we strongly believe that meeting and engaging with gay locals is far more productive then refusing to visit their country in the first place.

Embracing our new friends at Bali Joe gay bar in Bali, Indonesia

#4 So go on and book your flight to Delhi, Male, Colombo etc

We strongly believe boycotting a country like India, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Maldives, Sri Lanka etc is counter productive.

Actually going out there and supporting LGBT owned businesses and making friends and interacting with the local LGBT community is far more effective then boycotting their country.

Imagine you were in their shoes, would you prefer your gay sisters abroad to ignore you, or come over and embrace and support you?

We sure know what we’d choose.

And you’ll make heaps of friends along the way!

Hanging out with our friends in Kuching, Sarawak on the Malaysian side of Borneo island

For more inspiration:

• read why we think India is safe for gay tourists
• check out our Huffington Post article about 5 reasons gay couples should travel to Asia
• listen to our interview below with Touriocity about our gay travels in Asia:

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The post What’s it like travelling as a gay couple in Asia appeared first on Nomadic Boys.

We spent several months travelling in India as a gay couple, from North to South, and absolutely loved it.

We visited world famous monuments like the Taj Mahal and stunning palaces across Rajasthan. We were in awe at the intense spirituality in Varanasi, chilled in the popular backwaters of Kerala, and loved all the delicious Indian food we tried. But our absolute highlight was the people. The Indians stole our heart. As well as being full of charm and character, they were very hospitable and never disrespectful to us. We found them to be welcoming, curious, very friendly, and eager to show off their country to these two foreigners.

On the face of it, India does not appear to be very gay friendly, particularly as the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 to uphold the colonial laws dating back to 1861 banning sex between two consenting men. Whilst this law was decriminalised by the High Court of Delhi in 2009, it was subsequently overturned by the Supreme Court because the judges concluded that such an amendment should be left to parliament to decide, and not the judiciary. The law is thankfully being reviewed again in the Supreme Court – a testament to how strong the LGTBQ community is in India.

In practice, gay relationships do of course exist and thrive in India, as they do in any other country. However, social norms in India tend to discourage public display of affection no matter sexual orientation.

But do the maths – this is a country with a population of over 1.3 billion people, which means statistically there are around 130 million gay boys waiting to welcome you. The LGBTQ community in India is growing in confidence massively. It’s more visual than ever before, with more gay events taking place, more gay bars and clubs opening up, and even a famous gay Indian Prince charming the international community:

We’re not saying come to India expecting it to be like Fire Ireland or Falsom in San Francisco. India though culturally vibrant, colourful, festive, and flamboyant, it is still in many ways shy when it comes to public displays of affection. But if you’re respectful of the local culture, and aware that certain things may not run as smoothly as they would back home, you’ll find that India is safe, and quite exotic for gay tourists. You’re also doing the local LGBTQ community a world of good by being a positive visible presence as we argued in our article about travelling as a gay couple in Asia.

These are our 5 reasons why India is safe for gay tourists, and why you should definitely add it to your bucket list.

The Pink Rupee: local gay tourism is thriving in India

That 130 million statistic we mentioned earlier? Even on a very conservative assessment, taking into account men in the closet due to sociological pressure, there would be at least 2% of the population that is gay. For a country of 1.3 billion, that works out to 26 million, which is a very large market. For businesses, this is a very important market to target because they are likely to be more affluent, with a greater spending power.

As such, more businesses in India have realigned themselves to target the lucrative Pink Rupee market, which speaks volumes about how gay friendly the country truly is. In other words, if local businesses are actively trying to target their own internal LGBTQ community as customers, then they sure as hell are going to want  you as well.

From our own personal experience over the past several years, we’ve seen India thriving amongst the international gay travel community, with an increase in tour companies catering specifically to us. One example is Serene Journeys, a Delhi based company offering bespoke tours. We like them because unlike other travel agents, they prequalify the businesses they work with in terms of gay friendliness. For us, this is so inspiring to witness, but more importantly, a reason why gay travellers should be visiting India. The country is on the brink of a pink evolution, albeit slowly.

Lots of awesome gay events in India

Despite the silly anti-gay sex law, India has its fair share of gay events taking place throughout the year. Kolkata led the way in 1999, hosting the country’s first ever gay Pride event called the “Rainbow Pride Walk” with just 15 people attending. Today, most of the big cities have their own pride festivals attended by thousands of community members and friends, particularly in Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore and Pondicherry.

In addition to Pride events, India has a range of other gay events, such as an annual film festival in Mumbai, which draws the likes of Sir Ian McKellen, and even a gay pageant in Kolkata.

These are some of the best gay events in India taking place throughout the year:

• Mumbai Pride: the Queer Azaadi Mumbai (QAM) gay pride takes place in January/February.
• Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival: every May the Kashish queer film festival takes place in Mumbai. Sir Ian McKellen famously inaugurated the 7th festival in 2016.
• Chennai Pride: takes place in June, with a range of other events alongside it, organised by the Tamil Nadu Rainbow Coalition.
• Delhi Pride: the capital city has its own pride parade on the last Sunday of November.
• Bangalore Pride: the Bengaluru Pride and Karnataka Queer Habba is a festival that takes place in October and November.
• Kolkata Pride: the Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk is held in December.

India also takes its annual Mr Gay World pageant very seriously. Every January in Mumbai, the team of Mr Gay World India (MGWI) work towards finding the person who will represent the country at the international pageant later in the year.

Samarpan Maiti PhD student chosen to be Mr Gay India 2018

Gay bars clubs and saunas in India

The anti-gay sex law hasn’t deterred the LGBTQ community of India. There is a vibrant gay culture in most of the large Indian cities:

• Mumbai: is the economic capital of India and also the heart of the country’s Bollywood movie industry, which makes it one of the most progressive cities in the country. There are regular gay meet-ups and gatherings organised by the Gay Bombay group worth checking out as well as gay parties organised by Salvation Star.
• Bengalore/Bengaluru: nicknamed the Silicon Valley of India due to the high number of multinational IT companies based here. As such, it has a younger and more international community than anywhere else in India, making it one of the more tolerant places in the country. There is a small thriving gay scene with bars like Pink Sky Bar, the Chin Lung resto bar and more.
• Delhi: the capital city has a weekly weekend gay party taking place in Connaught Place, which is announced a few days beforehand. We advise finding out by asking locals on Grindr. There are also a handful of gay saunas in Delhi like Mykonos and Kalph Kaya. Other gay bars in Delhi include the Depot 48 resto bar, which has “Pink Tuesday”, the PDA Martini Bar, which has “Rainbow Thursday”, and also The Lalit, which hosts “Kitty-Su” on Thursday evenings.

More gay friendly hotels in India opening up

One of the things we found during our travels in Asia is that despite local customs, you can’t go wrong staying at a global brand like Taj Hotels, Oberoi, the Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott etc. These international brands are well versed with dealing with gay travellers and will have had appropriate training given to their staff.

What pleasantly surprised us in India was that local boutique hotels are also actively targeting gay travellers. Hotels like Planet Hollywood in Goa, Dera Mandawa in Jaipur and Hotel Fifu in Jaisalmer, to name just a few are making a concentrated effort to focus on attracting the LGBTQ traveller.  You won’t get curious looks from the staff or an awkward response to sharing a bed.

As with booking any accommodation wherever you are in the world, we advise emailing or calling ahead and asking if they’re ok hosting a gay couple/traveller. The response (if any) is very telling.

The gorgeous grounds of the gay friendly Dera Mandawa hotel in Jaipur

Men hold hands in public in India!

When we first arrived in Delhi and saw men walking the streets holding hands,we thought we’d arrived in the middle of a big gay festival. At the local gay gym we signed up to in Kochi in South India, the personal trainer was very touchy/feely with us, quick to hold our hand, which back home would imply something very different!

We quickly found out that in India, it’s a cultural norm for men to be very docile with each other in public, whether they are straight or gay. This is not an expression of sexuality and no sexual connotation is intended. It is simply a sign of brotherhood and friendship, as it is in much of the Arab world and elsewhere in South Asian countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Having said that, we would still advise exercising caution with public displays of affection with your same sex partner in India. It is still very much a socially conservative country and you don’t want to invite any unwanted attention.

To read more, check out our interview with Raj from Delhi about what it’s like growing up gay in India.

We spotted these cute Indian boys holding hands in public in Jaipur

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Delhi was our first stop in India, where we met up with our friend Andrew, visiting us from London and we just HAD to check out a Bollywood class as part of our trip here.

Happy travels are safe travels

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you book your accommodation, an activity or your insurance, we’ll earn a small commission. There is never an extra cost to you for using these links and it helps us keep the site going.

Bollywood is part of the large Indian film industry – a mix of Mumbai's former name of Bombay, and Hollywood.  The industry dates back to 1913 when the first silent Bollywood film (Raja Harishchandra) was released.

Bollywood films are great fun.  They are extremely camp and melodramatic with a simple storyline to appeal to all.  They also involve a lot of singing and dancing so that you really don't need to understand Hindi to appreciate what's going on.

We watched the latest hit, “Bang Bang”, which inspired us to take this a step further…

Dancing in Delhi

We took a dance class with the brilliant Delhi Dance Academy, set up by handsome brothers, Arjun and Anant Sandhu:

We were welcomed with a marigold flower necklace (“mala”), a red dot tikka painted on our foreheads and given snacks for the day.

Our class involved learning four different Indian dance routines:

1. Bollywood

First up was Bollywood, the one we were looking forward to the most.  Traditionally dancing in Bollywood films started with the introduction of sound to the cinema and was mainly classical Indian dance styles.  But over the years, the influence from MTV and Hollywood creeped in.

Now it's all about cheesy dance routines with lots of attitude, hips gyrating and posh spice style pointing:

2. Dandiya

Dandiya is a more traditional dance from the Gujurat region of India and popular in Western India.

It involves dancing in a circle with each person holding a stick (the ‘dandiyas') in each hand.

Dandiya is usually popular during the Indian 9 day festival called Navratri.  Navratri is a Hindu 9 day long affair in late September/early October celebrating Goddess Durga and the victory of good over evil.

The Dandiya dance is the staging of the victory of Goddess Durga over the buffalo headed evil demon-king, Mahishasura.  It's nicknamed ‘The Sword Dance' because the dandiya sticks represent the swords of Durga.

3. Bhangra

Bhangra is a high energy Punjabi (an area of North India) dance, traditionally used to celebrate ‘Vaisakhi' (Sikh festival celebrating a good harvest season).

Bhangra is popular at Sikh weddings, parties, family celebrations and of course in Bollywood films.

It's often danced in circles, uses a lot of arm and shoulder movement, and of course, lots of attitude:

4. Belly dancing

Belly dancing is an Arabic dance not as popular in India because it is considered too risqué for such a conservative country.

Its actual origins are varied.  Some claim it's originally a religious ancient Greek dance during fertility to help prepare girls for labour and was part of the delivery ritual. Others trace it further back to a form of Egyptian social dance, which spread throughout the Middle East with the migration of the gypsies. The gypsies eventually reached Europe and Flamenco developed.

For more tips check out some of the best hotels in Delhi and watch our video mashup of our 4 Bollywood classes at the Delhi Dance Academy:

FOR MORE FROM OUR TRAVELS IN INDIA, CHECK OUT OUR VIDEO:

The post Our dancing lesson with Delhi Dance Academy appeared first on Nomadic Boys.

We arrived in Kathmandu, geared up and ready to spend our time in Nepal trekking in the mountains. Our first week was mainly taken up getting our Indian tourist visa. The process for getting an Indian visa in Kathmandu is relatively simple, bureaucratic, takes 7 working days and requires 3 visits to the Indian embassy in Kathmandu. This is set out in detail below.

If you are visiting India for less than 60 days, you can actually do this process online, which takes less than 72 hours. You can apply for an E Visa to India on the government website here, no less than 5 days and no more than 30 days before the date of travel. You can also use an agent like iVisa which allows you to apply at anytime. You visa is then processed and and sent to you in as little as 18 hours.

Here is our simple summary based on our experience.

1. Pre-fill the Indian Visa Application form online

First before doing anything, you need to complete the Indian Visa Application form online.

This is the hardest part simply because Nepal has frequent power cuts and finding reliable internet in Kathmandu is a bit of a challenge. Reliable internet is required because the Indian Embassy website is very slow and frequently crashes.

We recommend Electric Pagoda in Thamel for good internet if your hostel/hotel wifi doesn’t work very well.

The link for the application form on the Indian Embassy’s website can be found here (use Chrome or Internet Explorer).

2. Print a copy of your application

Your hotel should be able to print it out for you, if not you'll easily find an internet café to print it off. Once you've done that, sign it the day before your intended first visit to the embassy.

3. Visit the Indian Embassy to validate your application

The first visit to the Indian Embassy Visa Centre is to give them:

1. your signed application form

1. x2 large non passport sized photos (get a local agency to do these)

1. a copy of your Nepalese visa

1. a copy of your passport

1. the visa fee

For the photos and photocopying your passport and Nepal visa, there are a few helpful agencies next door to the Embassy who can do this for you for a nominal fee. We advise getting them to do the photos as the size required for the Indian visa is much larger then a standard passport sized photo.

The Embassy’s Visa Centre is located at the Indian Visa Service Centre, 296 Kapurdhara Marg, Kathmandu (Next to the Embassy of India, Kathmandu).  It's around 15-20 minutes walk North from Thamel (the dark grey area in the map):

The Embassy’s Visa Centre is open between 9:30am to 12pm on Mondays to Fridays:

We advise getting there before 8:45am to ensure you are one of the first in:

Once in, you get a ticket, wait your turn in the queue (it’s very quick).

When your number is called, you go to the counter, hand your papers and pay the fee:

At the counter desk, they will then confirm the date for you to return for visit number 2 with your passport – usually in 5 working days.

Note – the Indian Embassy is closed on Indian public holidays not Nepalese ones.

Here’s the list of Indian public holidays for 2014 for guidance:

The visa fee is around £30-40 for most countries, except for UK who are charged a whooping 14,150 Nepalese rupees (around £88 / $137)):

4. After 5 days, return for a second visit to the Indian Embassy

After five working days (or the date given to you from your first visit), you return with your passport and visa fee receipt. You hand this to them, collect a receipt and leave.

Same thing applies – arrive early (just before 8:45am) to get in first and leave soon. The queue starts to get quite busy the closer you get to 9:30am.

You will normally be told to return the day after between 5-5:30pm to collect your passport and visa.

5. Collect your passport the next working day

The next working day after your second visit, at 5-5:30pm, you come to collect your passport and visa and voila, you have clearance for India (we were given 3 months):

Where to stay in Kathmandu?

Thamel is the touristic heart of Kathmandu, so you will not struggle to find a place to stay. To be as close as possible to the Indian embassy, we recommend you stay in a hotel or guesthouse north of Thamel as we did. These are the places we recommend in Kathmandu which were also ok to host LGBTQ travellers and didn't mind two men sharing a double bed:

Advice for LGBTQ travellers to Kathmandu

We found Nepal to be one of the most LGBTQ friendly countries in Asia. The Nepalese are such kind, friendly, super curious and welcoming people, especially to foreigners – straight or gay. However, society is still very conservative, so the situation is quite different for LGBTQ locals. All the hotels and guesthouses we approached in Kathmandu did not have an issue hosting LGBTQ travellers, helped largely by the fact that the city is very touristic and has a large international crowd. For more, read our interview with local boy Tilak from Kathmandu about gay life in Nepal.

HOTEL MI CASA   Book online

• Located in the north of Thamel, this beautiful hotel has very friendly staff and a delicious breakfast.

• Prices start from $45 / £30 a night with breakfast.

HOTEL ENCOUNTER NEPAL   Book online

• More budget option, this place is clean and comfortable.

• Staff is very polite and professional stag.

• Prices start from $29 / £19 a night.

In January 2014, the Indian government apparently announced informal plans to widen the visa on arrival to a further 180 countries to boost tourism and business (to include most European countries) in mid October 2014.  But, at the date of posting this article (mid October 2014!) nothing has yet transpired on this…

Watch more from our travel in Nepal in our awesome video:

Happy travels are safe travels

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you book your accommodation, an activity or your insurance, we’ll earn a small commission. There is never an extra cost to you for using these links and it helps us keep the site going.

The post How to get your Indian visa in Kathmandu, step-by step guide appeared first on Nomadic Boys.

Let's get ship faced…we're going on a cruise!

It's every gay boy's dream whether you want to admit it or not. From the moment we both came out many many many moons ago, it was always our dream to go on an all-male gay cruise.

Since those days, the number of gay cruises available has completely mushroomed. As well as the large party orientated ones, there are now cruises going to places beyond the well-trodden pink destinations – like India, Indonesia and even the Galapagos Islands! There are even many gay naked cruises you can go on!

In this guide, we've put together some of the best gay cruises in 2019 and 2020, which include all LGBTQ cruises, ie not just male-only. We've sorted them in order of when they depart…and oh boy are we spoilt for choice!

How to pick the ideal gay cruise for you?

There are many different types of gay cruises available these days, from ones that are action-packed and thrilling to those that slowly saunter down the Danube, stopping in at local wineries. You can cruise on huge ships, small luxurious yachts, catamarans or traditional sailing boats. Whether you’re looking to party with thousands of new friends, or cycle among historic towns before relaxing with a drink at sunset back on board, there's a cruise for you. We’ve compiled all the different options here so that you can easily figure out which gay cruise is the perfect one for you.

Just be aware that some gay cruises are exclusively gay, meaning you will only be sailing with other gay guests, while others are actually small groups of gay travellers within a much larger cruise. This means you'll still get to be around like-minded friends but there will be other straight travellers on the cruise as well. These sorts of cruises can be ideal if you want to travel with your straight friends, but keep an eye on the fine print if you really want to be only surrounded by your rainbow family!

1. Gay river cruises

Going on a cruise doesn’t necessarily mean you’re taking to the high seas. Some quite luxurious cruises take place on rivers through Europe, Asia or India, where you’ll be able to relax onboard as well as explore cute villages, wineries and other places along the way. These are usually very relaxed and romantic cruises, ideal for couples or those who are looking for a cruise with a strong focus on culture. Our top pick for luxury gay river cruises is the Splendors of India and the Ganges River from Brand G taking place on 30 September – 12 October 2019.

2. Clothing-optional or nude gay cruises

If you like to truly relax on your cruise and let it all hang out then perhaps you should join a gay nude cruise! These cruises are usually hosted on small yachts or catamarans and take place in warm destinations so, you know, you won’t get cold while naked. There are also some cruises that are exclusively gay and naked, while others are clothing-optional, so you don’t need to feel pressured to be nude all the time if you don’t want to. The Everything to Sea cruise in Indonesia is our favourite clothing-optional gay cruise, while GaySail Tahiti cruise is our top pick for nude cruises.

3. Gay party cruises

For a fun-filled cruise packed with plenty of hot young guys and lots of great parties, check out some of the bigger gay cruise companies like Atlantis. These usually take place on the larger cruise ships, with lots of pools, bars and different entertainment like DJs or drag performers. They usually attract a young and energetic crowd, but anybody who’s up for a good time will be welcome! Some of the best party cruises include the Atlantis LA to Mexico gay cruise or the Travel Gay Redefinition Cruise in the Mediterranean.

4. Gay cruises for single travellers

Single travellers are often daunted at the prospect of going on a cruise alone as you usually have to pay an expensive single supplement to have a room to yourself. If you still want to join a gay cruise but without paying a huge supplement then you can choose one of the cruise companies that offer programs to pair you up with a bunkmate with similar interests. This way you can still enjoy everything the cruise has to offer, plus you’ll meet at least one new friend. VACAYA offers a cool “Solo Travelling with Ease Program” (or STEP) where you can fill in a questionnaire and be paired up with a like-minded travel mate. The Atlantis and GaySail cruises also match single travellers up with others to share a room at no extra charge.

5. Adventure gay cruises

Do you like your luxury with a side of adventure? There are some excellent gay cruises that include exhilarating activities like snorkelling, SCUBA diving, hiking or getting up close and personal to lots of wildlife. Generally, you will need a reasonable level of fitness in order to take part in all the fun activities on this type of cruise, although there will also be plenty of opportunities for relaxing. Out Adventures do some really exciting ones, particularly their Galapagos gay cruise that will have you hopping all over the islands, spotting Galapagos tortoises, sea lions and beautiful tropical fish. 

6. Gay cruises for bears

If you identify as a Bear, a Cub, or just a friend of these men then there are also some cruises exclusively for the Bear community. Adventure Bears organises an exclusive cruise for bears (and those who love them) to the southern Caribbean islands. This is a very welcoming cruise that hops between the best islands and beaches, including the best nude beach on St Maarten. 

7. Gay cruises for lesbians

Don’t worry ladies, we haven’t forgotten you! It’s not all about the gay men as there are companies that organise exclusive lesbian cruises to stunning locations, so you can relax and enjoy yourself with like-minded female travellers. Olivia Travel is a great company that organises exclusive lesbian tours and cruises like this fun Tahitian Intimate Luxury Cruise. 

01

Everything to Sea naked gay cruise in Indonesia

28 September – 01 October 2019*

They sail on a Pinisi boat, which is a large wooden sailing ship made completely without nails. As for accommodation, the Everything to Sea team offers a private room or the option to share with other guys… Note that their website describes the ship as “an ideal spot for men to enjoy each other – mind, body and soul”…

As for the sights, we’re amazed by the locations and wildlife you can enjoy on this trip, such as crystal clear water, breathtaking mountains, flying fish, flying foxes and of course, the notorious Komodo dragons. Everything to Sea runs 12 trips a year. The next available date is 19-25 August, and they run one almost every month thereafter. Prices differ depending on whether you choose a four-day or seven-day cruise.

*Other dates available: 23-29 Oct and 2-5 Nov plus more dates in 2020!

Everything To Sea is offering our readers an exclusive 5% discount valid for any cruise booked on their website. Just use the coupon code SAILNOMADICBOYS at checkout.

02

R Family ‘Out On The Danube' With U River Cruise

21 – 28 September 2019

For something a bit different, they offer cooking classes and mixology lessons onboard as well as excursions at the different stopovers. The stopovers will be in Germany, Austria and Hungary, including Austria’s Wachau Valley, a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site,

There will be plenty of entertainment onboard: comedy, music shows, dance parties, themed events, delicious locally sourced meals and lots more! Make the first month of Autumn a little less glum with this fantastic opportunity!

03

The Travel Gay Redefinition Cruise in the Mediterranean

22 – 26 September 2019

Alongside the non-stop party offered by The Redefinition Cruise, there are plenty of sporty activities available, including shuffleboard, mini-golf, tennis and more. There is also a fitness centre that includes a gym, a jogging track, yoga and aerobics classes.

For more relaxed activities there's a video games room, a beauty salon, a spa, saunas, Turkish baths, a cinema, a library, an art gallery and so much more. It looks like there’s something for everyone to enjoy this amazing experience!

This is only the second Redefinition Cruise to take place and one we think is definitely worth checking out. The MSC Orchestra can accommodate around 3,000 guests so you know you're going to be part of one gigantic awesome party!

TravelGay is offering our readers an exclusive discount of 30 euros / person valid for the Redefinition cruise.

04

Brand G Splendors of India and the Ganges River

30 September – 12 October 2019

You get to see some incredible things: the inside of the ancient Mughal capital of Old Delhi, Rajasthan’s fabled pink city of Jaipur, mosques, churches and the legendary Taj Mahal. The last day also features a sunrise tour of the Taj Mahal, if you can wake up early enough of course!

Brand G promises that the energy onboard emulates the energy of India: harmony and peace. So even when you’re not exploring the stops along the Ganges River, you can explore the healing sensations of Ayurvedic or traditional European spa treatments onboard.

05

Gay Sail: cruising in the Seychelles

19 – 26 October 2019

To top it all off, you'll get to spend a night in the bay of Beau Vallon. A night with bae in a bay called Beau– how sweet is that? With picturesque surroundings and plenty of unique shops and restaurants by the beach, you will feel thoroughly spoiled.

This cruise takes place on a luxurious, spacious and air-conditioned catamaran, which also includes the services of a gay cook. Your breakfast and lunch will be provided each day, while in the evenings you'll be able to head to shore to try out the many local restaurants.

Gay Sail is offering our readers an exclusive 5% discount valid for any cruise booked on their website. Just use the coupon code NOMADICGS5 at checkout.

06

Atlantis LA To Mexico Cruise

20 – 27 October 2019

The ship is well equipped with big, modern rooms, resort-like amenities and smart, sexy public spaces, to match the sexy men on board. The itinerary starts from LA and stops at some breathtaking places further down the coast including Cabo San Lucas, home to some of the peninsula’s best beaches where the desert and the sea adjoin, and Mazatlán, a romantic, historic capital with incredible food, weather and music.

This vacation looks ideal if you’re interested in visiting some beautiful locations, having a lot of fun and sailing on a ship with 2,700 other dudes in speedos. Plus, there is plenty of stellar entertainment on board, such as a gay circus show and the legendary La Voix performers.

07

Adventure Bears Southern Caribbean Cruise

9 – 16 November 2019

We love the Caribbean and some of the destinations on the itinerary look incredible! Puerto Rico, Dominica, Barbados…these are just a few of the places that Adventure Bears will be visiting, with stop-off visits on every island. This includes St. Maarten, known to have one of the best nudist beaches in the Caribbean, ooh la la!

If you don’t fancy getting your kit off, there are plenty of snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities throughout the cruise as well. You'll be able to socialise with the friendliest group of bears, cubs and otters in the most stunning spots imaginable.

08

Brand G European Christmas Markets River Cruise

2 – 10 December 2019

The main attraction for this cruise is that guests will be sailing down the Danube river, stopping off in multiple ports in Germany and Austria to explore the fantastical Christmas markets. Day 3 will entail a stop off in Nuremberg, home to arguably one of the most famous Christmas markets in all of Europe, so definitely high up there on our bucket list.

On the ship, spaciousness is expected thanks to the Amadeus Star’s generous public areas and big cabins. Packages include a guaranteed all-LGBTQ charter, complimentary free-flow spirits, wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages, superb dining with all meals included throughout the cruise and complimentary shore excursions offered daily.

09

Brand G Antarctica Luxury Expedition Group Cruise

9 – 16 February 2020

But, c'mon, cruising to Antarctica, in absolute luxury no less? Talk about a major bucket-list moment! You'll be travelling on the World Explorer cruise ship, which boasts multiple viewing or relaxing areas, a gym, spa, sauna and even an outdoor running track. All rooms come with a balcony so you can marvel at icebergs from the comfort of your accommodation. There's an on-site restaurant as well as a bar, library, boutique and a lecture theatre where you can learn more about Antarctica's unique environment.

As well as spending time on board with your new gay friends, you'll be able to take part in daily land excursions to get up close to the penguins and seals that call the icebound continent home. For an extra cost you can also go kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding in the Antarctic waters, or even camp overnight! Yes, there's a steep price tag, but for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, it's so worth it.

10

Atlantis Auckland to Sydney Gay Cruise

14 – 26 February 2020

The cruise kicks off in Auckland during their gay pride festival and arrives in Sydney just in time for you to experience the legendary Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. So not only will you have plenty of opportunities to party while onboard, but you'll also be book-ending your trip with not one, but two amazing gay festivals! During the cruise you can see a wide variety of comics, singers, drag performers, variety acts, and even a gay acrobatic show.

The Noordam ship features multiple pools for some splashing about, as well as a gym and spa. There are four different delicious dining options and you can even join a cooking class in the culinary centre. When you leave the ship you'll be exploring some of New Zealand's most exciting cities before heading to Hobart in pristine Tasmania and then Eden in the Australian state of Victoria. Here you can enact your own Adam and Adam fantasy or just spot whales off the coast.

11

R Family The Broadway Cruise

28 March – 04 April 2020

You'll be travelling with a group of other LGBT travellers onboard Symphony of the Seas, which features incredible shows like the Broadway musical Hairspray as well as aqua theatre shows, ice-skating performances, live bands and stand-up comedy. You will enjoy exclusive cocktail parties and trivia nights with your group. There are also plenty of dining options, bars for drinking, swimming pools, rides and even laser tag, so you're definitely not going to get bored.

Because this is a Broadway cruise, you can also take part in a musical theatre camp to hone your skills and take part in the ship's famous closing show. On top of all this, there are, of course, shore excursions to explore port towns in Mexico and Honduras, as well as a day at the Royal Caribbean ‘Perfect Day at Cococay' waterpark. Good thing it's a seven-night cruise otherwise you couldn't fit everything in…

12

Source Events Miami Pride Cruise

06 – 10 April 2020

You'll be sharing this cruise with other passengers but have exclusive South Beach drag queen diva hosts, as well as private events like a welcome cocktail party, tea-dances and a classic disco. And you'll be making lots of new gay friends when you dine together each night, maybe in the onboard edition of Jamie Oliver's Italian? There are many other dining options, eight different bar/lounges, shows, a spa, ice-skating and so much more. This is not a cruise where you are ever going to get bored!

The Navigator of the Seas is a very fun cruise ship, with the longest waterslide at sea, multiple pools, sports courts and an aqua-coaster! This cruise also spends two days at Royal Caribbean's private island “Perfect Day at Coco Cay” which is jam-packed with fun activities, as well as ample spots for lounging and relaxation. You'll also spend a day at Nassau in the Bahamas, perfect for a spot of gambling in the casino resort, or just some more partying.

13

GaySail gay nude cruise in Tahiti

11 – 18 April 2020

The boat is small enough to feel intimate, yet big enough to separate yourself from the other guests when you want some alone time. It's definitely the kind of holiday you should take if you're looking to escape the madness of your life. Surrounded by calm waters, cool beaches, and relaxed company, this cruise is simply bliss.

It takes place on a luxury catamaran with spacious rooms. You'll also be enjoying the services of a gay cook who will prepare your breakfast and lunch each day. At night you'll be able to go ashore and try the local cuisine. There's also lots of space for lounging on the deck or socialising in between the frequent swimming stops.

Gay Sail is offering our readers an exclusive 5% discount valid for any cruise booked on their website. Just use the coupon code NOMADICGS5 at checkout.

14

R Family Hawaiian Islands Cruise

09 – 16 May 2020

This cruise offers a wonderful opportunity for you to learn about traditional Hawaiian culture from locals as you visit the islands of Hawaii, Oahu, Maui and Kauai. There are plenty of locations onboard the ship for you to perhaps spot whales and dolphins, as well as the stunning views of the Hawaiian coastline.

There are more than 16 dining options onboard, most of which serve local Hawaiian cuisine. The Pride of America also has a variety of shows to entertain you, while the R Family group also organises private LGBT mixers, theme nights, shore excursions and group dinners.

15

Brand G Amsterdam and Castles of the Rhine Cruise

15 – 24 June 2020

The cruise takes you from Switzerland through France, with stops for sightseeing and wine-tasting, then on through Germany where you will spot many gorgeous castles. Finally, you end your time in one of the most exciting cities in Europe: Amsterdam! Highlights of your trip include the picture-perfect French town of Strasbourg, the opportunity to tour Cochem Castle in Germany and the traditional village of Hoorn in the Netherlands.

The dining options onboard the luxurious Amadeus Silver III are an absolute treat, and there will be plenty of Brand G's signature gay entertainment to keep you amused. The first two nights of this package also includes staying in lovely accommodation in Bern. The ship's bedrooms are very elegant, with panoramic windows, or even a private balcony.

16

GaySail Exclusive Cruise in Croatia

25 July – 01 August 2020*

This might be a seven-night cruise, but you can also add on extra time to make it a two-week cruise, join different departure dates or even join a nude sailing option if you dare to bare it all. The cruise gives you time to explore the beautiful city of Dubrovnik, before hopping between the islands of Miljet, Lastavo, Vis and Brac, then ending up in the bustling city of Split.

Breakfast and lunch each day are included in the price. There is plenty of shore time included to explore Croatia's cutest villages, perhaps doing a spot of shopping or dining in local restaurants. The knowledgable crew will also take you to the most secluded bays and islets to swim in the warm waters or sunbathe on deck. Bliss!

*Other dates and itineraries available including nude cruises: 27 June-July 04, 04-11 July, 11-18 July, 18-25 July, 01-08 Aug, 08-15 Aug, 15-22 Aug

Gay Sail is offering our readers an exclusive 5% discount valid for any cruise booked on their website. Just use the coupon code NOMADICGS5 at checkout.

17

GaySail Exclusive Cruise in Montenegro

01 – 08 August 2020

Like their Croatia cruises, this one by GaySail takes place on a luxury catamaran with the services of both a gay skipper and a gay cook. Breakfast and lunch are provided each day, while at night you'll get to explore local seaside dining options at each port of call, with the freshest local seafood you can imagine! You'll get ample time to swim and relax on the beaches as well as opportunities to visit pretty villages.

While Montenegro is gaining in popularity with travellers, most of the time this cruise will be a chance to escape the hustle and bustles of crowded tourist destinations in favour of more secluded spots. You can also choose to combine this cruise with a week-long nude cruise, also of Montenegro, or one of the Croatia options to make your holiday twice as long.

Gay Sail is offering our readers an exclusive 5% discount valid for any cruise booked on their website. Just use the coupon code NOMADICGS5 at checkout.

18

Brand G Prague & Danube River Cruise

14 – 23 August 2020

The cruise starts off in Prague, one of our favourite gay friendly cities in East Europe. You'll spend two nights here experiencing the fabulous gay nightlife, before setting off down the River Danube to stops like Vienna and Bratislava then ending up in Budapest. We definitely recommend spending a day or two in Budapest at the end of the cruise, so that you can try out some of the city's famous baths!

This cruise is perfect for combining history and culture with a bit of fun nightlife. You'll be able to relax onboard, particularly in the indoor swimming pool that also features a retractable roof which is opened during fine weather. Then there are lots of included shore excursions, where you can go shopping, join walking tours of medieval cities as well as exploring cathedrals, palaces and even a palace.

19

GaySail Special Cruise Greece

15 – 22 August 2020*

During this cruise, you'll explore the Saronic Gulf of Greece, which is packed full of historically significant ancient ruins, secluded islands, vibrant nightlife, a warm culture and terrific cuisine. You'll be cruising on one of two luxury sailing yachts, each yacht houses 11 guests but you will also have opportunities to socialise with the passengers on the other yacht when the yachts drop anchor.

You'll also benefit from the services of a gay skipper as well as a gay cook to provide your breakfasts and lunch, but dinner will usually give you the opportunity to try local onshore restaurants. There will be plenty of chances to check out the gay nightlife (particularly in Athens) as well as partying with your new friends. During the day you can relax in the sun on the yacht or go swimming in secluded coves.

*Other dates and itineraries available including nude cruises: 22-29 Aug, 29 Aug-05 Sep, 05-12 Sep, 12-19 Sep, 19-26 Sep

Gay Sail is offering our readers an exclusive 5% discount valid for any cruise booked on their website. Just use the coupon code NOMADICGS5 at checkout.

20

VACAYA Iceland Gay Cruise

30 August – 06 September 2020

For eight days you'll get to explore Iceland's breathtaking scenery of glaciers, lava fields, geysers and steam baths. One of the best things about this cruise is that it's also very eco-friendly, with low-impact shore excursions and a ship design that avoids damaging the seabed by using a dynamic positioning system instead of dropping anchor.

Since this is a French cruise you'll be able to dine on sumptuous French cuisine while you're on board. Le Jacques Cartier also boasts elegant staterooms, a panoramic viewing deck complete with pool, multiple bar/lounge areas (one with a grand piano!) and a theatre. There's also a wonderful wellness centre for all your pampering and relaxation needs.

21

The Olivia Lesbian Tahitian Intimate Luxury Cruise

03 – 10 September 2020

We think Bora Bora, in particular, is an invigorating stop and truly the definition of paradise; author James Michener described Bora Bora as “the most beautiful island in the world”. You'll be able to experience all this beauty with hundreds of other gay women of all ages and background.

There are plenty of ways to explore the island too. Olivia offers snorkelling tours, underwater walks, helicopter tours and sunset tours by jet boat. The excitement doesn’t end when you return to the ship though: Barbara Higbie, DJ Rockaway and Teresa Trull are just some of the headline acts on this cruise.

22

Brand G Burgundy & Provence River Cruise

15 – 24 September 2020

After your time in Paris, you'll transfer to the luxurious MS Amadeus Provence in Lyon, which is considered to be the gastronomic capital of the world. Prepare yourselves for plenty of sumptuous wining and dining! You'll also get to explore the French town of Arles, where the painter Vincent Van Gogh painted many of his most famous pieces, as well as Tournon and it's 16th-century castle.

In between all your land-based activities, you will be amply looked after onboard the ship, which is basically a floating five-star hotel. There's an onboard infinity pool, a glass-shielded river terrace for you to enjoy views of the landscape as you pass by, an elegant restaurant and the Panorama Bar for very romantic sunset drinks. The staff are also on-hand to attend to your every wish and ensure your experience is unforgettable.

23

Brand G Royal Clipper Mediterranean Sailing

24 September – 03 October 2020

Embarking from glittering Cannes, you'll get to spend time at sea as well as exploring stops on the Italian islands of Corsica and Sardinia, before heading to Monte Carlo in Monaco. Keep an eye out for celebrities and super-yachts on your shore excursions, while you feel completely pampered onboard the grandiose ship. Real daredevils can also climb the rigging…

The Royal Clipper has dazzling interiors, with luxurious cabins and plenty of amenities to enjoy. There are three different swimming pools and multiple Jacuzzis to relax in. There's also a piano bar for elegant drinks, a tropical-themed bar and an underwater lounge where you can look out the portholes at the sea life! You'll experience fine dining with plenty of new gay friends as you enjoy Brand G's signature onboard entertainment each night.

24

R Family ‘OUT in Venice' Cruise

04 – 11 October 2020

This exclusive LGBT charter is packed full of fun activities, like comedy performances, cabaret singers, cooking classes and dance parties. There are also shore excursions to explore some of northern Italy's prettiest gems, like Padua, Porto Viro and Chioggia. You'll get to go on walking tours of markets, biking or sailing on a small bragozzo and even learning to make traditional Italian pasta in Bologna.

Venice is, of course, the highlight of this trip, so you can look forward to an after-hours visit to St. Mark's Basilica, as well as a “Venetian Painters at the Academia” tour with an art historian, for the truly cultured among us! This is definitely a good choice for anyone who who is into history, culture, fine dining and romance.

25

Out Adventures Galapagos Gay Cruise

14 – 23 November 2020

You'll spend seven nights onboard the yacht as well as two nights in a lovely four-star hotel in Quito at the beginning and end of the tour. But with seven full days of cruising, you'll get to see all the main islands with lots of opportunities for swimming, snorkelling, hiking and getting up close to the diverse wildlife of the islands.

The whole yacht is outfitted with sleek polished wood and looks oh so glamorous. The indoor dining room is where you'll be provided all your meals on board, in the lovely air conditioning while you get to know all your new gay friends and be prepped about what to expect for each day's adventures.

For more inspiration:

• If you like to cruise while naked make sure you check out our guide to the best gay nude cruises
• Find out why we think everybody should do a luxury cruise in Croatia at least once
• Read our review of an incredible luxury gay cruise in the Galapagos Islands
• If cruising makes you wish you were a mermaid/merman then find out how you can become one in Boracay
• If you like the sea but don't like boats, make sure you read our guide to the best gay beaches in Europe
• We also have a guide to the best gay nude beaches in Italy
• Or perhaps you'd like to know all the details about exploring gay Fort Lauderdale?
• Don't miss our guide to gay hotels and resorts in Key West as well!

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The post Best gay cruises to look forward to in 2019/2020 appeared first on Nomadic Boys.

Kerala, popularly known as God’s Own Country, has evolved a way of life that was distinct from the rest of the country – a way of life that expressed a fascinating interplay of nature and humanity across the most diverse terrains one could imagine.

Here, every human act is a way of connecting with everything in nature around them. Everything here feels so momentous, and you are intensely aware of how temporary life is. You learn how to appreciate the beautiful moment while they last, and fall in love with your surroundings.

Everywhere we went in this beautiful region of India, we were met with such compassion, and the locals showed such interest in our lives. With so much to discover, so much to do, this is our experience travelling in Kerala as a gay couple.

Disclosure note: this is a sponsored campaign in collaboration with Kerala Tourism.

Where is Kerala?

Kerala is located in the southwest of India. The main transport hub is the port city of Kochi (Cochin), which has the main international airport for Kerala. This is the city we based ourselves when we toured Kerala.

During our big trip around India, coming to Kerala after North India felt like a breath of fresh air. It was like we were in a completely different country! For example, in cities like Delhi, Jodhpur, Agra and Jaipur in the North, there are rarely pavements for pedestrians. Instead, they have open sewers which you have to dodge. Here in the south, Kerala is a more progressive part of India with more gender equality and much better investment in public services – so no open sewers here!

Is Kerala safe for LGBTQ travellers?

Since the Supreme Court of India decriminalised homosexuality in 2018, gay tourism has flourished. However, society is still very conservative, so although foreigners will be treated differently (almost like royalty!) it pays to be cautious and minimise public displays of affection.

As a gay couple travelling in India, for Kerala, we never had any problems getting a double bed in hotels nor in any of the guesthouses we found. But if uncertain, call/email ahead to double-check with the hotel.

We found Kerala to be one of the more progressive and welcoming parts of India for gay travellers, with an LGBTQ community that has become more and more visible over recent years. For example, the activist group, Queerela, have done wonders for shifting public attitudes towards the Indian queer community, and they play a pivotal role in organising the Kerala Queer Pride. For more, read our interview with local boy Raj about what it's like growing up gay in India.

Cruising on a houseboat along the backwaters

Eat your heart out Venice – you may have fancy gondolas to get around the city, but Kerala has houseboats!

For most, this is the number one reason travellers are drawn to Kerala. The backwaters of Kerala are a network of interconnected canals, rivers and lakes with a number of villages. One of the most romantic things we did as a gay couple travelling in Kerala was to rent a houseboat in Alleppey and drift along the backwaters for a few days, watching the world go by. We also got to stop over in a number of small villages along the way and hang out with locals.

Exploring Kochi (Cochin)

We based ourselves in Kochi for several weeks during our trip around Kerala. We found a super cute homestead run by an old Christian couple who had no issue about welcoming a gay couple.

Kochi city is a pretty city we loved exploring. The architecture harks back to the Portuguese, Dutch and British colonialists who fought to take charge, each leaving their own mark in Kerala's scenic design. The city still echoes with each of the cultures that have touched it.

We also love Kochi because the city is abuzz with so much activity, from mothers yelling at their kids, to young couples kissing in a shop foyer, it can't help but remind you of the beauty in life! One of the most fascinating things to do is head to the old port at sunset and watch the traditional Chinese fishing nets being used.

Kerala Queer Pride in August

Kerala Pride has been taking place for the last ten years. Each July, the queer community across the region unite for one giant fabulous party.

The parade pulls together elements of art and activism, with discussion panels, parties, and education workshops taking place across the city. One of the best things to look out for are the fascinating kathakali shows – a classic Indian dance where the story is told by the eyes and elaborate makeup.

For details of the next Kerala Queer Pride, check out their Facebook page.

The food of Kerala

Known as the ‘Land of Spices‘, Kerala has earned its reputation for its exquisite cuisine. Back in the Colonial years, Kerala was the focal point for trade with Europe and other parts of Asia, making it a melting point for many intricate and unusual dishes.

Simply put, the food in Kerala is unique and delicious. The cuisine caters for all. From lovers of spice to those who can only handle mild tastes, vegetarians to meat fanatics, and the sweetest of fruits, to the sourest of creams. But be warned, it can get very very SPICY!

Exploring the Munnar Hills

A popular honeymoon destination for gay couples to India, the Munnar Hills are famous for their lush green scenery and thriving flora life.

The hills are situated in the middle of South India's largest tea-growing region, on the edge of the Western Ghats, around 3.5 hours east of Cochin. It's also a nice break from the intense heat and humidity of Kochi, with a more refreshingly cool climate.

We especially loved the tea museum and small spice market. But the true lure is the surrounding hills, blanketed by tea bushes! As you climb higher, you become encased within the thick forest – feeling like you're in a scene from the “Jungle Book“.

For more, watch this excellent video about Kerala:

For more inspiration:

• Read about our experience travelling in Varanasi as a gay couple
• Read more about gay India in our guide for LGBTQ travellers
• Don't miss reading about the time we almost got arrested in Delhi for being gay
• Find out why we think India is one of the most gay friendly countries in Asia
• Make sure you follow these tips for gay travellers to keep safe while travelling as well
• Learn how to get your Indian visa while you're in Kathmandu
• Read about the best gay cruises, including one in India
• And for more fun on the seas, check out these gay nude cruises where you can sunbathe totally naked!
• If you're going to be getting your kit off you'll also want to know how to keep fit while travelling

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The post Gay Kerala: travelling as a gay couple in “God’s Own Country” appeared first on Nomadic Boys.

Sail away, sail away, sail away…

We all know that Enya classic – you know the one – the lyrics had you googling where the Orinoco is, checking Maps for where the Yellow Sea is and singing “from Peru to Cebu, feel the power of Babylon…from Bali to Cali…“ For us, it's always a song we associate with cruising the oceans, exploring waters new out in the vast blue – just like Pi Patel and his tiger on board that wreck in the middle of the Pacific in the Ang Lee 2012 movie: Life of Pi.

There's nothing better than a gay cruise, especially in our favourite continent – Asia. We're always super excited to see a growing number of them popping up. We've sifted through them all and put together this comprehensive guide to the best gay cruises in Asia.

For our guide, we've split them up into two parts: the first for exclusive gay cruises and the second for cruises where there is a gay group amongst a larger charter.

PART 1: Exclusive gay cruises

01

INDONESIA: Everything to Sea naked gay cruise

17-23 April 2020*

When you're not enjoying the freedom of body and spirit, you have the entire Indonesian archipelago to behold. Thousands of islands, big and small, surrounding you, awaiting discovery. Some are uninhabited, others are just home to an assortment of unusual creatures, especially the Komodo Dragons!

Despite it being a relatively short trip, there is a lot packed in to the itinerary, from snorkelling in the sea to hiking through the Indonesian islands. This trip allows for lots of lazy days on the beach and stargazing from the boat. It's a journey that doesn't take a lot out of you, yet gives you such an other-worldly experience.

One of the highlights has to be the trip to Namo Island, famous for its red sandy beach. The contrast of the flaming ground against the soft green mountains in the background is a picture-perfect treat. Of course, the real adventure is swimming through the Rangko cave where the crystal clear waters sparkle so brightly, you can see it light up the darkness of the cave, whilst dodging the friendly resident sea turtles.

The boat itself is super luxurious, with expansive decks to relax on, spacious cabin rooms, attentive staff and a stunning dining area. It's perfect for meeting and interacting with your fellow passengers. It's made from wood in the traditional “Bugis” style, which avoids using any nails. Bugis style boats have the ability to last forever, as long as you look after and preserve them well – leave them to neglect and they begin to rot (kind of like our Seby on a grumpy day…).

*Other dates available in 2020: April 27-30, June 12-18, June 22-25, July 17-23, July 11-15, August 14-20, August 24-27, September 18-24, Sept 28-Oct 1, November 2-5

Everything To Sea is offering our readers an exclusive 5% discount valid for any cruise booked on their website. Just use the coupon code SAILNOMADICBOYS at checkout.

02

VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA: Brand G Jewels of Vietnam and Cambodia

15 – 27 October 2020

Spending 13 days across Vietnam and Cambodia allows you to get an in-depth and comprehensive flavour of each country. The trip starts with a 3-night stay in a luxury hotel in Siem Reap before embarking on the cruise. The cruise itself is 7 nights aboard a luxurious ship, complete with delicious meals, an incredible gym and plenty of space to lounge around. The final two days are spent in a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

The ship's design takes after the French colonial era, with a sophisticated and comfortable interior. Plush seating, spiralling staircases and wide-open spaces are to be found within. As for the trip itself? Highlights include visiting seaside towns like Long Khanh Island. Stopovers allow you to wander around the markets, try out the different local food and buy a few souvenirs.

The excursion to Phnom Penh is a surprise highlight. It has a fantastic gay scene we had no idea about. We also recommend visiting the Killing Fields (Choeung Ek). It's an extremely harrowing experience, but one we think everyone should undertake and learn about some of Cambodia's darkest days. We also love the gay scene of Saigon and highly recommend checking out some of the bars and clubs here on your final 2 days of this trip.

BrandG is offering our readers an exclusive 5% discount for this cruise. Click the button below to check availabilty and prices.

03

THAILAND: GaySail Exclusive Catamaran Cruise

24 – 31 December 2019

Though each cabin has two men per room, we recommend going with a partner. That is unless you're comfortable sharing with a stranger – you never know, it could lead to a lifelong friendship or more!

This cruise is based in and around the famous south-west islands of Thailand, including Phuket (which has an airport and is, therefore, the transport hub) and Phi Phi, which is famous for being the island featured in the Leonardo DiCaprio movie “The Beach”.

Highlights from this trip include rainforests, mountains, limestone pinnacles jutting out from the sea and of course, some of the best beaches we've ever been to. If like us you're into snorkelling and diving, you'll be in paradise on this trip.

Plus, you may have noticed the dates the trip sets sail on…that's right: Ho ho ho! The cruise ship team make a fantastic dinner on December 25th, so it will feel no different than being at home. Then, on New Year's, ring in midnight in Patong with a fabulous gay party!

Gay Sail is offering our readers an exclusive 5% discount valid for any cruise booked on their website. Just use the coupon code NOMADICGS5 at checkout.

04

VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA: Out Adventures Mekong River Gay Cruise

1 – 13 January 2020

The gay cruise itself stretches across 13 glamorous days. You'll be snickering at the thought of all your pals freezing in the miserable January cold back home. After all, this is the only way to get over the post-Christmas blues.

We particularly love the idea of the pot-making class in Ben Tre. If you're old enough, you'll also want to recreate that Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore moment from the movie: Ghost.

This cruise also gives you the chance to sail on sampans (flat-bottomed boats) through the lush mangroves and bamboo groves of the coast. Landing at the fruit orchards, you will meet with locals who happily provide you with tea and honey. Yep, this trip sure is a treat! With a taste of the bustling cities, as well as an in-depth look at the rural countryside, you will quickly fall in love with Vietnam and Cambodia just as we did!

Out Adventures is offering our readers an exclusive $150 discount for this cruise. Click the button below to check availabilty and prices.

05

VIETNAM: Out Adventures Vietnam Gay Cruise and Tour

13 – 17 January 2020

Over the subsequent five days, the cruise continues to explore more of the Vietnamese coast with lots of activities offered on-board, like Tai Chi. Other highlights of the trip include a sightseeing tour of Hanoi, learning about how Vietnam declared its independence and how it survived the Vietnamese War.

You'll get to go on excursions to charming villages, magical grottoes and secret lakes. You can even take part in a spot of night-time squid fishing – a truly unique experience! This gay cruise can be booked as a stand-alone journey or added on to the end of the above Mekong River gay cruise if you want even more bang for your buck, as it were…

Out Adventures is offering our readers an exclusive $150 discount for this cruise. Click the button below to check availabilty and prices.

06

THAILAND: SaltyBoys Au Natural Sailing

21 – 28 March 2020

This gay naked cruise explores the Thai coastline such as the fabulous islands of Phang Nga Bay and the famous ‘James Bond Island'. Whilst there's no 007 to be seen out here, you'll instead get your fill of dazzling coastline views! Other highlights include Koh Hong, Railay beach, picturesque Krabi and Koh Phi Phi.

Choose between going on a yacht or boat, either one is relatively small and intimate. There are generally 10 gay guys per boat/yacht so it never feels too overcrowded. One awesome thing about this cruise is you can try your hand at sailing. Your captain (also referred to as the skipper), will happily show you the ropes and let you take charge!

PART 2: Gay groups among other cruises

Ok, ok, so I suppose the gays can't have everything… we've included some cruises that aren't exclusively LGBTQ folk, but usually comprised of a small gay group within a larger cruise. That being said, they are still a fun way to get to know other gay travellers while seeing stunning parts of the world:

07

CAMBODIA AND VIETNAM: Diva Destinations Luxury Mekong River Lesbian Cruise

1 – 13 October 2020

Meeting in Ho Chi Minh City in south Vietnam, the girls start by exploring the Ben Thanh night market – a mix of stalls selling homemade art and delicious cuisine. The cruise itself is jampacked with markets in fact, it even includes one that floats on a river. While later sitting atop the Mekong river, locals from the towns of Vinh Long and Cai Be take to the waters to present their treats and goods to you from their own small boats.

Another highlight of the trip to look forward to is Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Despite decades of political hardships, the citizens are still smiling and welcoming towards any new faces. Its charming spirit is truly infectious and you will quickly fall for the delicate architecture and quaint facades.

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CHINA, JAPAN & SOUTH KOREA: Pied Piper Gay Group Cruise

14 – 28 March 2020

The ship itself is relatively new, having been built in 2002. It can carry over 2,000 people, so the festivities onboard feel super grand. As part of the Pied Piper experience, you will be placed within an LGBTQ group, which is when all the real fun begins!

Boarding in Hong Kong, the cruise then sails to Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, before spending two nights docked in Beijing, China. This gives you plenty of time to go ashore and explore one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world: the Great Wall of China.

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DUBAI, INDIA AND SRI LANKA: Pied Piper Gay Group Cruise

2 – 17 March 2020

Though we do highly recommend you pull yourself out of the ship's Jacuzzi and go out and explore as much as you can when the ship docks. This gay cruise allows you to meet locals, shop through markets, visit museums and get a real feel for each country's culture, particularly in South Asia (you'll be a master head wobbler in no time!)

With stops in Oman, India, Sri Lanka and Phuket, you'll have plenty of opportunities to explore famous sights like the Taj Mahal or just relax on some glorious beaches. During the days out at sea, you can enjoy the ship's many lush amenities, like the rooftop movie theatre, the nine different restaurants and the luxurious spa. One thing's for sure, you will never forget your time spent on this cruise!

For more inspiration:

• Find out what it's like to travel in Asia as a gay couple
• These are our favourite places to go scuba diving in Asia as well
• For more au naturel cruising options, check out these fun nude gay cruises
• As well as some exciting gay cruises to the Galapagos Islands
• Make sure you attend at least one of these biggest gay Pride events in the world
• If you need some inspiration, have a look at these fabulous gay Pride outfits
• And don't forget to pack these must-have gay Pride accessories
• See where the gay Pride movement all began by attending Pride in New York City
• Find out why we love attending Pride in London as well

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The post The 9 BEST gay cruises in Asia for 2020 appeared first on Nomadic Boys.

India is out, loud and super proud!

After a decade of backflipping in and out the closet with its anti-gay laws (the Delhi High Court repealed them in 2009 but in 2013 the Supreme Court reintroduced them), in September 2018, the Supreme Court finally repealed them once and for all in a landmark decision.

This was huge! Remember, this is a country with a population of almost 1.5 billion people. That's a vast proportion of the world's LGBTQ population – and these guys are super active!

Day by day the Indian LGBTQ population is growing more and more confident. All the main Indian cities have a gay scene, particularly in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, which have their own gay pride parades, weekly gay parties and even LGBTQ film festivals. Bollywood has even started to embrace its LGBTQ community with the release of a gay Bollywood movie called Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (Extra Careful of Marriage)! It's for this reason we rate India as one of the most gay friendly countries in Asia.

However, Indian society remains very conservative. Indian men are expected to marry a woman and have lots of children to please their family so as to avoid being ostracised by their local community. Because of this, we found that a large part of the gay scene in India is still underground. We suggest using gay dating apps like Grindr to tap into the local LGBTQ community, as we found out in our gay night out in Delhi. This is where we met up with our buddy Raj from Delhi to find out more about what it's like growing up gay in India

Raj requested his identity be kept anonymous, so we have used the name “Raj” as his alias. Raj also has a lifestyle blog about his relationship with his boyfriend and their life in Delhi, which we recommend checking out.

Hi Raj, where are you from and what do you do?

Namaste Nomadic Boys – welcome to India and to Delhi! I am Raj, a 28 years old trainee doctor, born and raised in Delhi. I live in Delhi with my boyfriend, Rhys (also an alias name), who I met at university. We've been together for over a decade.

Why did you ask us to make your identity anonymous?

Sadly, bullying and harassment of the LGBTQ community is still rife in India. Added to the social stigma we face, it is just too risky to be openly queer in India, especially for young folks like me. Whilst the anti-gay laws have been overturned, society here remains very conservative, so I have to be careful.

Being anonymous is not my choice, neither do I like it. But since I belong to a very traditional family, I have no option than to hide the gay side of my identity in public. Even on Grindr for example, it is rare to see anyone with their real names on display.

Are you out to anyone at your work, friends or family members?

I came out to my father a few years ago, but this went horribly wrong. He exploded! There were a lot of tears and arguments. He took me to a series of psychiatrists and counsellors to try to “cure” me of this “disease”. Turns out I can't be cured (surprise surprise!) so we have since agreed to ignore the issue and not talk about it.

My closest friends know about me of course, and they have no issue with it. You do see a huge difference of opinion towards homosexuality by the older more conservative generation like my father, compared to the more accepting, open-minded millennials who see as normal human beings and not freaks who need to be cured!

What's it like living as a gay couple in Delhi?

It is not without its share of headaches. All of our close friends know about us of course and share in our life. However, we are careful not to divulge too much about our relationship to neighbours who we know would take issue with us if they knew we were sleeping together. For them, we just let them believe we're roommates or cousins and keep them at arm's length.

Fortunately, Indian men are generally very docile with each other in public, which allows us a degree of leverage to get away with a few tender moments. But we do have to be careful not to refer to each other by our private nicknames in public like “my love” etc.

Are there any risks to your job prospects in India if you’re openly gay?

Sadly very much so, especially in the medical profession. Can you imagine in this very conservative homophobic society having any problems at all bending over and coughing for a *gay doctor*!? 

As a trainee doctor, it is a huge risk because I don’t think anyone would want to be examined by a gay doctor, no matter how qualified they are. So at work, I maintain the pretence that I have a fake girlfriend who I drop into the conversation when I need to.

Do you think the situation will improve for the LGBTQ population in India?

Of course! Although it seems a very slow process, especially when you see the antipathy in society, I am hopeful it will eventually get better. It has in any case considerably improved over the past decade, especially with greater visibility of LGBTQ issues in the mainstream media, which helps to normalise us. Today we even have excellent local gay tour companies like the Delhi based Serene Journeys.

Are there any famous openly gay Indian celebrities?

Not many as this would cripple your career as a celebrity in India. Having said that, we do have a famous gay prince called Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, who is the heir apparent to the throne of Rajpipla in western Gujarat state. He divorced his wife in 1992 and publicly came out in 2006. His family disowned him of course – publicly, with an ad in their local newspaper!

He was on the news recently for opening his palace doors to LGBTQ victims who have also been shunned by their families for their sexuality. He has been interviewed by Oprah after coming out, which for me was such an inspiring thing to see:

Are there any gay pride or other gay events in India?

Not many people know this, but Kolkata led the way in 1999, hosting India's first-ever gay Pride event called the “Rainbow Pride Walk” with just 15 people attending.

But it wasn't until summer 2008 when larger Pride events started to take place for the first time in Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore and Pondicherry. They have been taking place ever since, with a growing influence online.

Here's a summary of some of my favourite annual gay events in India taking place throughout the year:

• Mumbai Pride: the Queer Azaadi Mumbai (QAM) gay pride takes place in February.

• Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival: every May the Kashish queer film festival takes place in Mumbai.

• Chennai Pride: takes place in June, with a range of other events taking place alongside it organised by the Tamil Nadu Rainbow Coalition.

• Delhi Pride: my city's gay pride takes place on the last Sunday of November.

• Bangalore Pride: the Bengaluru Pride and Karnataka Queer Habba is a festival that takes place in October and November.

For more, be sure to check out our detailed gay guide to India.

Any advice for gay travellers visiting India?

The first thing I'd say is that yes society is fundamentally conservative in India, but this is pretty much the norm across most of Asia. We have a huge gay population here waiting with open arms to welcome you. Seriously – we Indian guys love meeting foreign guys.

As you boys discovered, having a Grindr profile definitely helps you connect with local guys and find out what is happening in the gay scene.

And of course, putting all the gay stuff aside, India is rich with so much history, beautiful temples, incredible food and so much culture to discover. One of the most romantic things I've done in India is renting a houseboat in the backwaters of Kerala. I love Kerala a lot and definitely recommend it, especially to travellers who've only seen North India. It's so different there, like a completely different country.

Why are Indian men so docile with each other in public?

Guys holding hands in public is the cultural norm in India. It is a sign of friendship amongst men, but nothing to do with sexual orientation at all. Personal space and privacy take a back seat when you live in a very crowded place like India. Hence men holding hands and touching/fondling each other publicly are not frowned on.  

Despite this, I feel more comfortable holding hands or hugging my straight male friends in public than Rhys. I think it's because we have been brought up with such a restrictive moral code that any display of affection for your partner is considered “wrong”. So however much we want to shake off those homophobic feelings, they still linger.

And finally, what's this about erotic religious carvings depicting anal sex?

Hahahaha – we do have some of the best temples in the world, right? You're thinking about the famous Khajuraho Temples in the Madhya Pradesh province in central India. Well, I love these temples – they're very beautiful medieval monuments and one of our most famous UNESCO World Heritage sites. Basically they have a range of really intricate carvings depicting the traditional lifestyle of women in the medieval ages, which includes some super erotic carvings.

It is believed that the erotic sculptures are a way of giving importance to the love of life and to general wellbeing. During the medieval era, there was a common belief that having erotic sculptures or “alankaras” would bring luck and considered auspicious.

See more from our travels in India in our video:

For more inspiration:

• Check out this 15 days Kerala itinerary
• Read about our time exploring the holy city of Varanasi in India
• As well our gay guide to Kerala
• Check out our interview with local boy Kaluu about gay life in Sri Lanka
• Then read about seeing blue whales in Sri Lanka
• We also did some incredible safaris in Sri Lanka
• Including this one to see the elephants at Udawalawe
• Find out which are the most gay friendly countries in Asia
• As well as our experiences travelling through Asia as a gay couple
• For a bit of luxury, you might also like to join one of these incredible gay cruises heading to Asia soon

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The post Gay life in India: interview with local gay boy Raj from Delhi appeared first on Nomadic Boys.