About Purple Dragon: Our Story and Values

Purple Dragon was founded with a simple vision: create exceptional travel experiences in Asia for LGBTQ+ travelers and allies who value cultural authenticity, personal service, and inclusive hospitality. For over two decades, we've built trusted relationships with guides, hotels, and service providers across multiple Asian countries, developing expertise that only comes from living and working in the regions we serve.

Our History

We established operations in Thailand in 1999 when Asia offered few tourism options specifically designed for LGBTQ+ travelers. While mainstream tour operators provided generic packages, we recognized the need for journeys that respected diverse travelers' needs while delivering genuine cultural immersion. Starting with Thailand operations, we expanded across Southeast Asia, China, and India as travelers sought our approach to authentic, inclusive travel.

Over the years, we've witnessed tremendous change across Asia—increased acceptance in some regions, persistent challenges in others. We've seen tourism transform from niche activity to economic powerhouse. Through all changes, we've maintained our commitment to quality, authenticity, and inclusive values that defined our founding.

Our Approach to Travel

We reject one-size-fits-all itineraries. Every traveler brings unique interests, pace preferences, and travel styles. Some want packed days exploring cultural sites. Others prefer relaxed experiences with time to simply absorb surroundings. Many seek balance between structured activities and spontaneous discoveries.

Our modular tour design allows customization. Choose from our curated experiences, then modify based on your interests, timeline, and budget. Want to combine temple exploration with wellness retreats? Interested in culinary deep dives or textile traditions? Seeking LGBTQ+ nightlife alongside historical sites? We build itineraries reflecting your priorities.

Our Guides: Your Cultural Bridge

Our greatest asset is our network of exceptional local guides. These aren't merely English-speaking tour leaders—they're passionate cultural ambassadors who share their homelands' stories with insight and pride. Many have worked with us for years, some since our early days. They understand that great guiding means reading each group's interests and energy, adjusting experiences accordingly.

All our guides speak excellent English. Many speak additional languages. Beyond language skills, they possess deep cultural knowledge, historical understanding, and current awareness. They navigate practical challenges smoothly while creating space for meaningful encounters and authentic experiences.

Inclusive Hospitality

We partner exclusively with hotels, restaurants, and service providers who share our values of respect and welcome for all guests. In regions where LGBTQ+ acceptance varies, we've carefully vetted properties to ensure inclusive environments. Many of our partners are gay-owned or operated. All understand that hospitality means genuine welcome regardless of guests' identity.

While we specialize in LGBTQ+ travel, everyone enjoys our tours. Allies, straight families, and mainstream travelers choose us because they appreciate our attention to detail, cultural sensitivity, and commitment to quality. Travel becomes richer when diverse perspectives come together with mutual respect.

Responsible Tourism Philosophy

We believe tourism should benefit local communities while respecting cultural traditions and natural environments. Our practices reflect this belief:

• We employ local guides and staff, keeping tourism revenue in communities
• We partner with locally-owned hotels and restaurants when possible
• We support social enterprises employing marginalized groups
• We oppose exploitation and sex tourism in all forms
• We encourage cultural respect and appropriate behavior from travelers
• We promote environmental awareness and minimize tourism's ecological impact

According to UNWTO's sustainable tourism guidelines, responsible tourism creates positive impacts for destinations and travelers alike. We're committed to tourism that respects people and places.

Health and Wellness

Beyond sightseeing tours, we offer wellness-focused experiences. Thailand's medical facilities provide world-class care at affordable prices, making medical tourism increasingly popular. We can arrange consultations, procedures, and recovery accommodations for travelers combining health services with vacation.

We also facilitate yoga retreats, meditation programs, spa experiences, and traditional healing treatments like Thai massage and Indian Ayurveda. Wellness travel creates space for personal renewal alongside cultural exploration.

Why Choose Purple Dragon

Our experience matters. Two decades operating in Asia means deep knowledge, reliable partnerships, and proven ability to handle complex logistics. We understand regional differences, cultural nuances, and practical challenges. We've built trust with our partners and our travelers, many of whom return for additional journeys or refer friends and family.

We live where we work. Our team members reside in the countries we serve, staying current with changes and maintaining quality control. We're not a distant operator coordinating from afar—we're on the ground, personally invested in every journey we create.

We care about getting it right. Your satisfaction matters not just for business reasons but because we genuinely want you to have transformative travel experiences. We respond promptly to questions, handle problems quickly, and continuously improve based on feedback.

Start Planning Your Journey

Browse our destination guides to explore possibilities. Read about specific tour options. When ready, contact us to begin planning your Asian adventure. We'll discuss your interests, answer questions, and design an itinerary that brings your travel dreams to reality.