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Sea caves and jungle vines, elephants and monkeys, await in "The Land of Smiles"

Gay adventure travel in Thailand: Frequently-Asked Questions about Honah Lee

We explore three distinct regions of "The Land of Smiles". Visit the exquisite temples and fabled nightlife of lively Bangkok. Swing on a vine with the chattering monkeys of the lush rainforest. And kayak amongst the cave-studded islands of the Andaman Sea before spending a day on the beach.

This FAQ page is intended to accompany other pages about this trip and about our company (see links at left). Some of the answers below may include links to other other sites; please use the BACK key of your browser to return to this page.

Contents:

• What are the dates and itinerary for the optional pre-tour extension to Laos?
  
• What is the cost of the Laos Trekking Extension to this tour?
  
• What is gay life like in Thailand?
  
• Are there nude beaches in Thailand?
  
• I'm traveling alone. Will everyone else be in couples?
  
• Where did the name Honah Lee come from?
  
• What are the accommodations like?
  
• How much extra spending money should I budget for this trip?
  
• What is the cost of airfare to Thailand?
  
• I'm a certified diver. Can I get some diving in?
  
• Why does the trip end in Phuket instead of Bangkok?
  
• Can I talk to someone who's been on this trip?
  
• Is it true you'll see more same-sex couples walking arm-in-arm in Thailand, than heterosexuals?
  

What are the dates and itinerary for the optional pre-tour extension to Laos?
In February, 2008, the pre-tour extension begins in Bangkok on February 2, and ends back in Bangkok on February 7, the day the main Honah Lee tour begins.

The tour is as follows:

Day 1: arrive in Bangkok; spend one night at our Bangkok hotel.

Day 2: fly from Bangkok to Luang Prabang in the middle of the day, then have an after city tour of this ancient capital of the Laotian kingdom.

Day 3: Depart from Luang Prabang in the morning for a 6-hour trek to a Hmong Village where we will spend the night.

Day 4: Take a 4-hour trek to another village which will be our home for the night.

Day 5: Take a 6-hour trek back to our waiting vehicle, then drive back to Luang Prabang for one night.

Day 6: Visit the Pak Ou Caves after breakfast. Lunch is on your own back in town before a mid-afternoon flight back to Bangkok. Transfer to our Bangkok hotel and join the rest of our group to start our Honah Lee tour.

What is the cost of the Laos Trekking Extension to this tour?
The Laos Extension is $750 per person in double occupancy, and the single supplement is $250 (available for the three hotel nights only).

This price includes 1 night in a deluxe Bangkok hotel, 2 nights in a Luang Prabang hotel, and 2 nights with homestay in Hmong villages. It also includes 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners, as well as transfers between our hotels and the airports for group flights. A Laotian guide will accompany the group throughout, as well as an Alyson Adventures tour director (subject to minimum participation).

The Bangkok-Luang Prabang round trip flight, 2 lunches and 2 dinners are not included in the extension price.

What is gay life like in Thailand?
Whatever you've heard, it probably represents just a piece of a much larger picture.

The prevailing Buddhist philosophy in Thailand does not partition off human sexuality in the way that North American and European culture often does. Most Thais do not make a strong distinction between gay and straight, so what two adults do in private is not seen as anyone else's business.

Our Gay Thailand website includes more about gay life in that country.

Are there nude beaches in Thailand?
No, because in public, Thais are extremely modest and discreet. It's considered improper to kiss in public, or even to hold hands romantically. You may spot two young Thai men or two young women walking down the street arm-in-arm, but that's just a sign of friendship in Thai society. If you go to a gym, people will keep a towel around them in the locker room as they change clothes. Nudity on a public beach would be unthinkable.

As one observer noted, "In America, you can say anything in public, but you can't do it. In Thailand, you can do anything in private, but you can't talk about it."

I'm traveling alone. Will everyone else be in couples?
Most of our trips draw more single travelers than couples. When couples do join us, it's usually because they're looking forward to interacting with a gay group; if they wanted a holiday by themselves, they wouldn't have signed up to travel with us. Furthermore, the activities included with our trips serve as natural ice-breakers. Within a day, you'll be traveling with friends.

You don't need to pay the single supplement if you're traveling alone. We'll be happy to match you with a roommate. Pay the single supplement only if you want a bedroom to yourself.

Where did the name Honah Lee come from?
See if you can guess. If not, please click here.

What are the accommodations like?
Our goal has been to give you a sample of Thai life. In Bangkok we stay in one of our favorite hotels, that is very comfortable, has spacious views, and is a short walk from the night life. On Phuket, we stay in a comfortabe resort near Patong Beach. But we've also planned some visits to remote areas where hotels don't exist. There, we'll use facilities appropriate to those areas: simple private homes in the hills of Laos for two nights during our pre-tour extension, and bamboo huts that float on rafts in the Khao Sok National Park for two nights, as well as treehouse lodging in the National Park for one night.

How much extra spending money should I budget for this trip?
The vast majority of your expenses are included in the trip price. All breakfasts and most lunches and dinners are included, as well as beverages (soft drinks, beer, water, fruit drinks) with meals. A few meals aren't included, on days when we find people enjoy going off independently, but these probably won't cost you more than $70-$80 in all. You'll probably have some expenses for drinks and club admissions if you go out in the evenings, but these are typically less expensive than in North America or Europe. In short, $300 should be enough to cover everything you need for a good time, beyond what's included in the trip price.

But ... you're likely to spend more. You're going to find some great bargains in Thailand, and chances are you'll want to take advantage of them. You can buy handcarved figurines for $10, a colorful shirt or robe for $15-20, or get two custom-tailored suits for $300-400 (yes, they're good quality). Just about everyone who goes to Thailand ends up buying an extra piece of luggage ($10 to $30) to carry home the results of a shopping spree.

What is the cost of airfare to Thailand?
As you know, airfares change daily, and it's impossible to say just what a given flight will cost. Typically, airfares from North America to Thailand are about the same as from North America to Europe in high season. The best thing to do is monitor the fares and book as early as possible. You might consider some of the Asian carriers which offer value at a fair price. If you would like help feel free to give us a call and we will be happy to check the best deal available at the time you are flying.

I'm a certified diver. Can I get some diving in?
Yes. There's great diving off the island of Phuket, where we'll spend three full days with one day mostly free. You can arrange dives after we've arrived.

Why does the trip end in Phuket instead of Bangkok?
We've tried to schedule this trip so that if you have limited time available, you can do it in just two weeks, or slightly more. But as long as you're coming this far, it makes sense to stay longer if you can. The island of Phuket, on the Andaman Sea in southern Thailand, offers a wealth of activities for those who want to extend their stay. Rather than including a Phuket-Bangkok flight in the trip package, and have you pay for something you might not use if you continue your stay in Phuket, we felt it was simplest to just end the trip here.

Can I talk to someone who's been on this trip?
We encourage you to do so. Outside Magazine says that talking to people who have taken a trip previously is one of the best ways to evaluate whether it will be right for you, and we agree.

Our website includes a full page of comments from past travelers. Most of them have volunteered to talk about their experiences with future potential travelers. Please call for the names and phone numbers of references in your area.

Is it true you'll see more same-sex couples walking arm-in-arm in Thailand, than heterosexuals?
Yes -- and no. Before visiting any new country, it's helpful to know about some of the ways its culture varies from ours. When visiting a country as different as Thailand, some advance preparation is particularly important. That's why we've got an entire Thailand website where you'll find a discussion of this, and other intriguing questions.

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