GAY TOUR NEPAL
Nepal Gay Pride, August 2022 (Photo: Queermandu)
Travel Bible for QUEER Globetrotters Hitting Up Nepal
Babes, this blog is like us, always on the fabulous glow-up! If we missed a beat, slide into our DMs on Insta @queermandu_np, and let’s make it sparkle together!
Welcome to Nepal, Honey!
From the fierce Himalayas to the sassy nocturnal vibes of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal slays with a fresh aura. She serves you a cute, compact airport, honey, where the locals throw nonjudgmental smiles for days. The realness of these folks? No tea, no shade, just pure.
Touching down, get ready to werk through the busy immigration scene, giving you a taste of that modest airport gig. Visa gigs are no maze, and all the deets are spillable at Nepal's Immigration Website. For your coin, they're taking cash or card: $30 for 15 days, $50 for a 30 days kiki, and $125 for a 90 days extravaganza.
Staying plugged into our techy world is a breeze at the airport. Snatch that local SIM card the moment you snatch your bags. We’re all about Ncell, with plans that are giving everything for like $15 or less.
For a ride from the airport, book a prepaid taxi, sis. They’re serving convenience and budget-friendly realness right by the elevators. But when you’re in town, download inDrive for convenience and bargain-free travel.
Queer Essentials
Babe, you're already living the dream in Nepal, I hope you didn't forget your must-haves to keep the party going! Make sure you brought that adapter to keep your devices charged. You know, for keeping Grindr and your other fave dating apps lit.
“The Grindr scene here might be more hush-hush, with the local hotties playing it cool, but it’s getting there. Our international queer family is spicing things up!”
And honey, tell me you remembered your lube, condoms, poppers, and PrEP stash. While you can grab most essentials here, no tea, no shade on the Rx stuff. For the trekking queens, don't forget Mother Nature isn’t your personal runway, so pack smart: reusable water bottle, water purification tabs, sunnies, SPF, insect repellent, copies of your passport, and a passport photo for those trek permits (though you can get these here too). And don't forget to pack a fierce day jacket, sleeping bag, and energy bars to slay all day in the great outdoors.
“Honey, just a little tea spill for ya: this post is rocking some affiliate links. If you snap up something fab through these links, we get a cute little commission—no extra coins needed from your purse, darling! It’s all about keeping our blog as fabulous as you are. So, a big, glittery thank you for your support, babe!”
Stay and Slay
Get your life with both luxe and backpacker digs in Kathmandu, serving you a “versatile” moment. But we think Thamel is where it’s at in Kathmandu for our vibrant queens. It’s not the spot for “cruising,” but for living it up in the nightlife, shopping till you drop, and tasting the world. Plus, there’s a Chinatown moment that’s totally worth the gag!
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Oh, she’s the budget kween, darling! Bag Packer's Lodge is where you wanna be if you're looking to stretch those coins. Serving major backpacker vibes, this place is the go-to for travelers who love to slay on a shoestring. Get ready to mingle and jingle, honey, ‘cause it’s all about that affordable adventure life here!
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This spot is giving you affordable, honey! It’s the perfect place to lay your pretty head without breaking the bank, okay?
Another affordable moment, darling! The Fairfield is serving budget-friendly realness with that Marriott luxe touch. Yes, queen! And you get points for the status whore’s like us.
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Now, she is the ultra lux of the bunch, babe! Dwarikas ain’t in Thamel, but she’s serving opulence and grandeur for days. Get ready to live your best life here, sweetie!
Queermandu Vibes
While legit gay tours are like finding a unicorn, Queermandu is the gag, serving inclusive LGBTQ+ travel realness, with all the tea on affordable luxury and deep, culturally lit experiences in Nepal. Living for the "Queer as fuck, loud and proud" vibe, we're here to slay in diversity, sustainability, and social responsibility, honey, and we’re putting our stamp on South Asia's travel scene. Shy babies who love their alone time can do their own thing, but we’re always on standby to help out. 'Cause, babe, seeing Nepal through a queer lens? It's a wild ride, miles away from the basic straight-and-narrow.
Social Etiquette
Kathmandu is the big kahuna of acceptance in Nepal. Now, don’t get it twisted; other spots aren’t throwing shade, but you might want to keep it cute in the more old-school areas. Love is love, but PDA might get side-eyes outside Kathmandu. Still, Nepal’s stepping up, pushing for same-sex marriage rights and all. Facing shade for who you love is rare here, and loads of places are queer-friendly. In hotels, they might pop the “one bed or two” question, but go ahead and ask for one bed, no drama – it's all part of the check-in spill.
The Fabulous Guide to Nepal’s LGBTQ+ Scene
Our guide is serving a fresh take by diving into Nepal's fabulous LGBTQ+ scene, dishing out the queer tea often overlooked in those basic travel stories. As a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ rights and activism in Asia, honey, Nepal has been turning looks since it said "Yas" to homosexuality in 2007 and started stanning for same-sex marriage rights. This place is known for its fierce inclusivity and equality vibes, making it a total sanctuary for queer jet-setters and locals. Coming up, we're gonna spotlight the fierce orgs, influencers, allies and spots that are the backbone of this nurturing and supportive queer paradise.
Spotlight on the Fierce Ones
Here they are, hunty, in alphabetical order, giving you the A to Z realness:
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(@bluediamondsociety): This fierce NGO is living for LGBTIQA+ rights, serving human rights realness for over two decades, darling. They threw the first pride parade in Nepal 22 years ago and have been slaying ever since.
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(@cruiseaidsnp): This sexual health clinic in Lazimpat is giving life to the Queer fam, with coin from USAID. They’re handing out free health check-ups, ART, PrEP, and PEP to keep the queer dolls of Kathmandu fabulous and healthy.
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(Facebook): A restaurant in Lazimpat owned by a gay duo, including the Mr. Gay Handsome Nepal 2013 winner. They’re serving up love primarily to the queer community, with a special shoutout to transgender women.
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(@kaalo.101): An art hub in Patan where queer artists can strut their stuff and where diverse events are the main dish, honey. It’s becoming the it-spot for liberal art vibes in Kathmandu.
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(Website): This non-profit is all about the advocacy for legal rights and growth for our queer siblings, serving dedication and love.
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(@nepalprideparade): Since 2017, they've been the captains of the pride march and fab events every second Saturday of June (Pride Month), leading the pride parade extravaganza in Nepal.
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(@restaurantpinktiffany): The one and only gay bar in Thamel, serving as the social and entertainment heart for the LGBTIQ+ community for seven fierce years.
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(@pride_perks_): A café in Thamel owned by a queer local, where the community comes to sip and spill.
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(@queerhonkytonk): A queer collective and event organizer giving us a space for queer art and artists to shine. They throw everything from open mics to drag shows, celebrating the art of expression.
Queer Influencers of Nepal
Honey, whether you're homegrown or jet-setting, we’ve curated a glittering lineup of Nepali influencers, all fab queers or fierce allies. Dive into this ever-expanding roster, babes! We personally kiki with each one before they grace our list. 'Cause, darling, spotlighting both the trailblazing orgs and the individual divas shaping queer Nepali culture is major. And FYI, this list ain’t about ranks, it’s all about the sparkle!
Culinary Kiki: Eat, Pray, Love, Honey!
Now, honey, you better not skip the culinary kiki Nepal is serving! Get your life with our Homo Momo tour, a queerlicious momo-making session where you’ll whip up dumplings as colorful as the Pride flag using all-natural dyes. While Dal Bhat is the OG dish around here, Nepal’s cultural feast is a smorgasbord of tastes, crafted by its diverse terrains.
We’re talking robust soups and local sips from the Himalayan highlands, giving you that Tibetan taste vibe, to the spice-kissed creations of the Terai, serving up flavors that nod to the Indian next door. Each spot in Nepal throws in its own fierce flair. The hill areas are mixing it up, blending Himalayan and Terai tastes into a culinary extravaganza that’s all about Nepal’s mixed-up heritage.
Food lovers, get ready to strut through this taste terrain, getting your taste buds zapped by the rich flavors and getting schooled in the cultural stories behind every dish.
Gay Nepal Tours
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In this fab twist on a momo-making workshop, sweeties, we're crafting momos in the vibrant hues of the pride flag, using natural ingredients like beetroot, spinach, carrot, and butterfly pea. As we fold these colorful delights, we’ll gab about LGBTQ+ life in Nepal or spill the tea on the latest. With a playful nudge, "You put the Botox in the face, then you pinch, pinch, pinch" becomes our mantra, humorously guiding the meticulous momo-shaping process. It's all about blending culinary flair with heart-to-hearts on diversity and acceptance, creating a space where flavor meets conversation.
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In Kathmandu, darling, temples dripping in queer history are the tea, blending right in with the city's spiritual and cultural fabulosity, all among the hustle of markets and chill of courtyards. These holy spots spill the tea on a past where the divine and human worlds slay together, serving deities who are all about that gender-fluid life and festivals celebrating the whole spectrum of identity realness. These temples are giving us the lowdown on Kathmandu’s hush-hush queer past, shining a spotlight on its cultural and spiritual inclusivity.
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Step into our fabulous workshop, darling, for a half-day extravaganza mixing metalwork, history, and all things queer culture. Flying solo or rolling deep with your squad, we’ve got you with a fierce experience that you can tailor from two to six hours of top-notch forging. Sip tea and nibble on cookies while you werk on a fierce Gurkha knife. And honey, what makes our gig stand out is the bougie Indian rosewood we use for the handles, plus you get to slay with personalization by stamping your initials on your blade, 'cause it’s all about that individual flair, right?
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Darlings, get ready to sashay away 40 km from Kathmandu, where we'll spill the tea in the tranquil fringes of the Kathmandu Valley, honey! This spot is a total snatch, untouched by city smog and giving you the purest peek into rural Nepali fabulosity. We’re talking a scenic strut through storybook landscapes, crossing fierce rivers on swaying suspension bridges, and serving you old-world charm with mud and brick houses. As we vogue through this fantasy, we’ll throw shade with ancient temples and monasteries, tucked into lush, green runways where the local farmers werk the land like nobody’s business. This journey is a full-on eleganza extravaganza, taking us on a 3-hour glam walk over about 10 km of curvy, breathtaking terrain. It's not just a walk, it's a journey through Nepal’s natural beauty and timeless cultural heritage, all while turning the party!
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Felicia, we're throwing the ultimate pottery party in Kathmandu, where you can literally fix your 'mug'! Dive into the world of hand-building and wheel-throwing, crafting fierce pieces that echo Nepali folklore. Guided by a master artisan, you'll not only perfect your pottery skills but also embrace the full-on queer fest vibe. This is more than a pottery sesh; it's a celebration of our community, creativity, and self-expression in a fabulously supportive space. An empowering and unforgettable experience for LGBTQ+ babes and allies, where everyone’s inner pottery royalty shines through.
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Foodie queens, get ready to scout out Nepal’s hidden culinary treasures, tucked away in the buzzing alleys of Asan, Kathmandu’s old-school hood. Each adventure serves a rainbow of flavors, but you’ll likely gag on the deliciousness of Bara, these savory lentil pancakes, and get your life with the sweet complexity of Yomari, a fig-shaped treat made of rice flour stuffed with molasses and sesame seeds. Don’t sleep on the Tibetan Laphing, honey, a zesty and spicy cold noodle moment that screams exotic. But it ain’t just about stuffing your face, babe. You’re gonna live for the artistic opulence, serving temple realness between snack breaks at these lively food booths, filling you up with not just tasty grub but a feast of cultural fabulosity.
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Strut through Kathmandu on the “The Devil Wears Chappals” tour, a sickening nod to the iconic flick “The Devil Wears Prada.” This tour is the ultimate personal shopping spree for those with a taste for the unique, serving a cheeky tribute to the fab clash between high fashion and the everyday realness of Nepal’s must-have footwear, the chappal. It’s where couture meets street, darling, all wrapped up in one fabulous package!
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Start your journey with the Glitz to Grit Tour, babes, where we kick off in Kathmandu's swankiest spots, sipping on exquisite cocktails in the lap of luxury (Nepali style, of course). Then, we vogue our way down to the vibrant, beating heart of LGBTQ+ nightlife at Pink Tiffany’s. Transition from the plush and intimate to the electric atmosphere of inclusivity and diversity, where every queen and king gets to shine. This tour is all about celebrating the lush contrast of Kathmandu’s nightlife, offering an unforgettable exploration of both refined elegance and the spirited, bold community. Join us, fabulous ones, for a night out where we traverse the city’s eclectic bar scene, turning every moment into a celebration of diversity and flair.
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Dive into the heart of Patan, darling, where the 'city of arts' Lalitpur awaits to serve you the exquisite Thangka painting experience. This isn’t just any class, honey; it’s a fabulous journey through Tibetan Buddhist art, guided by a Thangka master who’s been turning it out for over three decades! In just 4 hours, you’ll get to channel your inner artist, choosing from chic designs like the serene Sakyamuni Buddha or the glamorous White Tara with her lotus flower. Don’t worry if you’re not the next Da Vinci, babe; this class is perfect for all levels with a pre-outlined canvas that makes painting as easy as a strut down the runway. So, come paint the town – and your canvas – and leave with a piece of Nepalese heritage that’s as fabulous as you are!
Concluding Fabulousness
Babe, we're all about tailoring your journey to fierce perfection. To kick off your personalized adventure, hit us up through the inquiry link or slide into our DMs on Instagram. We’d be over the moon to guide you, but, honey, the real tea is we want you to dive deep into Nepal’s vibrant queer culture, flying solo or with our fab support. Here’s to safe and sickening travels, darling!
