Gay Asia travel: discover the best places the continent has to offer

The unrivalled king of Gay Asia is the unassuming, sweet potato-shaped island of Taiwan, not far off the east coast of China, in easy reach of Japan in the north and the Philippines in the south. The only country in Asia where gay marriage is legal – this is just one of many reasons why Taiwan is our number one. A liberal, open-minded meeting point for the international gay community, this democratic underdog nation is also full of unique cultural wonders, a fantastic food scene and a lovably laidback population. Plan your trip around October to take part in Asia’s biggest and best gay pride celebration, avoiding the hot and sticky summer months between July and September if you know what’s good for you.

Spilling out from the affordable capital of Taipei, Taiwan presents forested mountain regions, hot spring villages, epic river canyons and rugged beaches all the way to the exotic coastal park of Kending in the south, near second city Kaohsiung. Hire a car, motorbike or take the high-speed train, stopping off at any of the 100 big peaks (or 100 other little ones) for trekking adventures amid stunning natural scenery and beside indigenous towns, filling up on your return trip in the foodie of Tainan capital of Tainan. Learn more about Taiwan’s best natural attractions and life outside of Taipei with our comprehensive Taiwan travel guide.

Both the gateway to Angkor Wat and the nightlife capital of Cambodia, Siem Reap offers mayhem and ancient mystery in equal measure. Well-equipped for tourists with its fair share of boutique hotels and lavish brunch spots, the city is also well within reach of authentic Cambodia. Just jump in a tuk-tuk and brace yourself for the bumpy roads out of the city, to discover the floating villages of Tonlé Sap or lesser-visited traditional towns surrounding sacred mountain spots. But of course, it’s Angkor Wat that steals the region’s thunder, and rightly so. The largest religious monument in the world spread over 1.6 square kilometres as the heart of the ancient Khmer Empire (ruling from the 9^th to the 15^th centuries), Angkor Wat is sure to impress. Come at either sunrise or sunset to view the huge main temple and its peachy reflection upon the royal ponds, renting either a quadbike, tuk-tuk or (ideally electric) bicycle to get around from there with differing levels of ease.

Though the main temples are likely to keep you busy for at least a day or two, back in town there’s loads more to see and do. Get pampered in some of the most luxurious spas you’ve ever seen, sampling everything from Khmer street food (barbequed scorpion anyone?) to Michelin-starred French cuisine. If the tourist markets and independent stores don’t cut it for souvenirs, check out the Cambodian Cultural Village, which, as well as selling handicrafts, will also initiate you into local traditional culture. Discover what else lies outside of Siem Reap, with our full Cambodia travel guide.

The humble port city of Osaka, though hardly rivalling Tokyo in terms of size or popularity, is without doubt among the top gay travel Asia destinations for its cosmopolitan outlook and foodie credentials. Both modern and traditional, in proximity to the Geisha centre of Kyoto and the wild deer colonies of Nara, Osaka is a wonderful base for exploration on Honshu island. Stay in any number of boutique or international hotels, day-tripping amongst the city’s top museums, such as Kamigata Ukiyoe which showcases national artistic styles. Choosing from Osaka’s countless cultural attractions can be difficult, but standouts for us include the Sumiyoshi Shrine, built 1,800 years ago as one of the oldest Shinto shrines in the whole of Japan, and the impressive architecture of Osaka Castle based in a gorgeous city park that turns pink with cherry blossom every spring.

With its unpretentious merchant history, Osaka shakes the conservatism found elsewhere in Japan, making social life in the city is a little easier to integrate into. After exercising the local act of kuidaore (‘eating ‘til you drop’) on Dotonburi food street, stay among the neon lights for izakaya-style bars and a worldly choice of karaoke clubs. Learn more of the city and its surrounding attractions in our Osaka travel guide, or bookmark our Japan 10-day itinerary for advice on getting the most out of your short time in Japan.

Capital of Nepal and home to as many as seven UNESCO world heritage sites, Kathmandu is a winning addition to any gay Asia travel itinerary. History lovers will especially love Kathmandu; for the ancient Hindu temples of Pashupati and Changu Narayan and the divergent Buddhist stupas of Swayambhu and Boudha, to name but a few. A city of contrasts with wild rickshaw drivers shaking up the zen atmosphere en route to the buzzing Durbar Square, Kathmandu is both invigorating and exhausting. Though Thamel District is popular as the main backpacker centre with its pashmina handicraft stores lined with pushy trekking touts, to fully experience Kathmandu you’ll need to leave the central comforts, winding through the backstreets past craft workshops and artistic heritage, and out into the rest of Kathmandu Valley, a region packed with evermore sacred religious sites, royal palaces and Himalayan wonders. Uncover Nepal at large with our article on the spiritual power of Nepal.

The remotest state of India based on a series of islands 1,000 kilometres off the Bay of Bengal, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands take a little while to reach. Factor in a flight or ferry journey from Kolkata, Chennai or Visakhapatnam to be rewarded at last with the verdant beauty of the Andamans, a place boasting immense biodiversity both on land and underwater. Besides the wildlife within the dense tropical forests, dive from almost any of its beaches to find untouched coral reef among crystal-clear waters. Said to be the world’s richest marine reserves, as yet undamaged by human life, the Andaman Sea is a real delight for snorkelling and diving adventures in accord with tropical beach getaways.

Off-limits to foreigners and most Indians until as recently as 2018, the Andaman Islands still lack tourist infrastructure and visiting outside of season could be difficult. Avoid monsoon season by travelling between the months of November and April, scheduling your trip between December and March to coincide with tortoise nesting season. Besides diving, other adventures in the region include island hopping across almost 600 atolls, starting and ending at the most popular islands of Great Andaman and Ritchie Archipelago, flip-flopping between water sports and beachside relaxation. The Andaman and Nicobar islands are home to a great number of native tribes, many of whom follow animism, a religion marking the supernatural power of nature and the natural world, controlled by the deity Paluga. Trek the mangrove-lined rainforests growing mindful to the sounds of the jungle, to experience this religion firsthand.

A vast city of 10 million and capital of the ‘Land of Morning Calm’ is the city of Seoul, South Korea. Bound to be top of any South Korean itinerary, Seoul leaves most newcomers completely transfixed by neon-lit hieroglyphs on commercial streets pumping K-pop tunes both day and night. It’s not all chaos and street dance however because there is a quieter side to the capital, whether in the palace-flanked teahouses of Insadong and Bukchon hanok village or among the clouds on any of the rocky peaks both in and outside of the ancient city walls. With 5,000 years of culture, well preserved after many years of being shut off from the world, South Korea is something truly unique to Asia. Venture to the northern border to come face to face with the DMZ and North Korean military, or embrace the country’s natural beauty with a trip to rural mountain valleys, zip-lining to the K-drama set of Nami Island for the best fall foliage.

Back in the city, Seoul nightlife will keep you wide awake, either in the ex-pat area of Itaewon (and the nearby Homo Hill!) or the mega clubs in upmarket Gangnam or youthful Hongdae. Whichever it is, be sure to fill up on marinated pork belly BBQ at any of the 24-hour BBQ joints in town, going easy on the cheap local favourite of Soju and Beer (Somaek) if you have an early start. Gain insight into gay Seoul’s best points of interest with our Seoul travel guide, or follow our Korea 10-day itinerary for the very best vacations in South Korea.

With an apt appetite for fresh local shellfish and proximity to Thailand’s best coral reef islands, Krabi is a dream destination for those wanting to explore the less-travelled southern region while still being in reach of wild parties of Koh Phi Phi and beyond. Though many use Krabi as a neat jumping-off point to the climber’s paradise of Railay Beach or the slow-moving isle of Koh Lanta, Krabi is a more than worthy of its own tourists, luring ever-more people to cruise its mangrove forests, scale its limestone cliffs and mosey through its traditional fishing villages, all among perfectly stunning coastline to rival the southern islands.

Though nearby Ao Nang wins the majority of wild nightlife, we think central Krabi is all the better for its understated bar scene, free from backpacking crowds and sleazy tourist traps. While the gay scene is somewhat lacking, many of Krabi’s live-music bars and laidback hangouts are all gay-friendly affairs, offering an easy way to make new friends and experience local culture. Head to the riverside to feast on seafood and cheap beer before mellowing out to reggae vibes at the liveliest bars. Otherwise, take the next ferry out to Koh Phi Phi where the young club scene around Tonsai Village and Loh Dalum is sure to keep you busy. Those hungry for more Thailand travel advice can help themselves to our story on the best destinations to enjoy gay Thailand and our 10-day Thailand itinerary.

Once a playground for merchant pirates and an outpost of the Sumatran Empire, Singapore now stands as a thriving centre of international trade and a cultural melting pot, serving as an excellent leaping-off point into the continent. Access Singapore in both comfort and convenience, getting a fine introduction to Chinese, Malay and immigrant fusion culture upon the multilingual public transport system, which will take you from the chapatti cafés of Little India to the dragon temples of Chinatown in minutes. For sophisticated glamour, Marina Bay has you covered, with the iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel enticing guests with the world’s largest rooftop infinity pool and world-class dining experiences. For all lesser budgets, the hawker markets compete most adequately – if fact, even Singapore’s street food stalls are not without Michelin stars these days.

When the heat and humidity gets all too much, shopping in the city’s air-conditioned malls on Orchard Road or browsing its fancy art galleries are top activities, but otherwise, this green city is best seen from the treetop bridges within the urban design feat of Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO world heritage site said to be the lungs of Singapore. Come nightfall, Singapore becomes a regional gay mecca, hosting myriad bars, clubs, spas and saunas appealing to the local and international gay community. The House of Blue Spin is a particular highlight, alongside the Sunday Tanjong Beach Club parties. Largely you’ll find young Singaporeans to be wholly progressive and anti-discrimination legislation ensures LGBT people are protected in spite of backwards colonial laws. Find more of the best places to visit in Singapore with our dedicated Singapore travel guide.