Open any Thailand travel brochure, flick through to the honeymoon section, and you’ll almost always encounter a phrase that goes something like this: ‘The Land of Smiles is the perfect backdrop for your love story.’ It’s easy to dismiss it as well-worn destination copy, designed to coax hopeless romantics into booking a suite at some expensive beachfront resort with infinity pools and two Michelin-starred restaurants. Spend enough time in this country, however, and you’ll soon find that the sentiment is completely grounded in reality. Thailand may be known for its sunshine, temples, and incredible food scene, but if there’s one thing that truly sticks with travellers (particularly LGBTQ+ travellers) long after they leave, it’s how openly we celebrate love – in all its forms. Still unconvinced? Just ask Queer Connect co-founders Korbyn and Janni.
The pair met in 2018 while living in the temple-dotted Northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. Janni (they/them), who is originally from Denmark, had already been based there for several years after buying a one-way ticket, while Korbyn (she/her), who grew up in Arizona, had only recently arrived when they crossed paths. Janni invited Korbyn to one of the queer meetups they were hosting, and the two quickly hit it off like the main characters in a travel romance. One thing led to another, and before long, the couple found themselves tying the knot in Chiang Mai, surrounded by friends and family.
The couple’s years in Northern Thailand would later influence the creation of Queer Connect, a global LGBTQ+ platform and directory designed to help queer people connect with one another – and queer-friendly businesses – wherever they are in the world. More recently, that same ethos has expanded into Queer Connect Travel, a curated programme of group trips built around community, connection, and considered travel. We caught up with the couple to get the lowdown on their exciting upcoming itineraries in Thailand.
Queer Connect began as a directory hub and social networking platform, but you’ve since expanded into travel. What prompted that evolution? What made you want to organise and host group trips?
We’ve always been travellers, it’s actually what led us to creating Queer Connect in the first place. We wanted to create a resource for LGBTQ people like us who want to connect with their community wherever they are in the world. From the very beginning, we had plans to create in-person events for networking and connection. Community-inclusive group travel just seemed to fit naturally into our overall mission of bringing our community around the world closer together. So that’s how Queer Connect Travel came to be!
You recently hosted your first Queer Connect Travel group trip. What made Chiang Mai the right place to begin?
We used to live in Chiang Mai! Janni for five years, and Korbyn for two – it’s where we both came out, and it’s where we fell in love – with each other, with the culture, the food, the nature, the drag scene… but most importantly, it’s where we found community.
Chiang Mai is a second home for us. We knew that it was the perfect place for us to bring this dream of hosting LGBTQ+ trips to reality, both because we know the city so well and because of the connections we have made with the locals and the LGBTQ+ community over the years. We’ve danced all night with drag queens, had private cooking classes in the back kitchen of our friend’s Thai restaurant, gotten muddy with elephants, explored hidden caves, and played random Thai drinking games under jungle canopies. We’ve experienced the magic of Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand, and now we want to share it with our community.
What is it about Thailand as a whole, in your experience, that resonates so strongly with queer travellers?
Thailand is special; it’s called “the land of smiles” for a reason. Thai people are the most friendly and warm people you’ll ever meet. Maybe it’s just the culture of politeness and hospitality, but personally, we have never once been discriminated against or even stared at while walking down the street holding hands. It’s common to walk into a shop in Thailand and see a trans woman, a straight guy, and a gay guy working and laughing together in harmony. There is just a feeling of overall acceptance there that makes queer people feel seen and safe.
Tell us more about your wedding in Chiang Mai. It must’ve been magical!
It was magical – so diverse, so queer, and so much fun! We had our Malaysian Sikh friend officiate our ceremony, and we had a drag king boy band, an 80’s “glamrobics” dance workout, a Tuk Tuk photo booth, and a solar-powered burger truck. But what really created the magic was the friends and family from over 10 different countries who were there, loving and supporting us.
We’re sure you’ve heard about Thailand’s historic step to legalise same-sex marriage. How does it make you feel as a queer couple who have lived and loved here?
It’s about time! It makes us so happy to know that LGBTQIA+ people are not only accepted culturally in Thailand, but legally too. Just on this past trip to Chiang Mai, while getting tattooed, we had a heartfelt moment where our artist was bragging about his cute husband who walked into the shop – it put a big smile on our faces.
Your upcoming group trip, ‘Bangkok to Koh Samui: LGBTQIA+ Pride & Songkran Festival’, is on the horizon. What can travellers expect?
We’ll start off with a couple of nights in Bangkok, complete with rooftop city views and incredible drag shows, before flying South to Koh Samui. Our base for the week will be two stunning private villas with infinity pools and ocean views – there we’ll have queer family BBQ nights, spa days, and catered dinners. We’ll explore Samui by 4×4, and spend a day at an ethical elephant sanctuary, we’ll go on boat cruises to stunning beaches, hike to amazing viewpoints, and so much more.
The highlight of the trip will definitely be celebrating Thai New Year with the Songkran water festival, which overlaps with Koh Samui Pride – we’re talking rainbows, drag queens, and island-wide waterfights! It’s going to be the perfect mix of fun and adventure, relaxation, and connection. We can’t wait!
When you put together these itineraries, what do you usually look for?
We are always aiming to curate experiences that mix luxury and local charm. We believe that queer people deserve to feel celebrated and spoiled, so we look for private accommodations that are a little “extra”, and aim to put together authentic experiences in each destination that make our guests feel special. We value slow travel, off the typical tourist track. So we typically stay in one place, with maybe a couple of day trips throughout the trip, rather than hopping from city to city and checking into a new hotel every other night.
Our itineraries are well-balanced and give our guests fun and adventure, plus the opportunity to experience the culture and connect with the locals – and each other – without feeling rushed or exhausted. Most importantly, we do our best to work with local LGBTQ guides and businesses as much as possible when planning each trip.
What would you say makes Queer Connect different from other LGBTQ travel companies out there?
What really sets Queer Connect Travel apart from other LGBTQ group travel companies is our focus on community-inclusive trips, our commitment to slow travel and genuine connection, and our mission to support our community around the world.
We’re doing our best to carve out space in the LGBTQ+ travel scene that reflects our whole community – by creating inclusive, intentional, and affirming group trips for LGBTQIA+ adults of all ages, all identities, and all backgrounds. We believe in the power of shared stories, lived experiences, and cross-community connection. Because when we show up for each other and step into each other’s worlds, we grow stronger as a collective.
As a part of our mission to leave a lasting impact on our global community while we’re out exploring the world, we’re dedicated to actively supporting our community in every destination we visit. We do this by partnering with queer-owned businesses and local guides, as well as donating a percentage of profits from each trip to local LGBTQIA+ causes.
You’re also planning another Chiang Mai–based adventure later in the year. What parts of the trip are you most excited for?
This coming November, we’re actually doing a two-part trip, which can be booked together or separately. The first trip will be an incredible week in Chiang Mai – our favourite parts of the trip have to be visiting a hill tribe elephant sanctuary, bamboo rafting in Mae Wang, and celebrating the lantern festival. Loy Krathong is the most magical night of the year in Northern Thailand and is the perfect time for connection and self-reflection.
This past trip, we had a “krathong” flower lantern workshop at a local LGBTQ-owned tea house by the river, and released our own lanterns into the river later that night – it was hands down our guests favorite part of the trip, and we’re so excited to be doing it again this year. The second trip is what we are most excited about, because we’ve been lucky enough to partner with The Tuk Tuk Club! After Chiang Mai, we’re going to set off on an adventure into the mountains of Northern Thailand by Tuk Tuk, trekking to waterfalls, exploring temples, a small community-run elephant sanctuary, hill tribe villages and other hidden gems. Guests can choose to drive their own Tuk Tuk or be chauffeured. It’s going to be an adventure of a lifetime!
To stay up to date with Queer Connect’s upcoming trips, follow them on Instagram at @queerconnectofficial.