hashem
Bachelor Degree in Archaeology from Cairo University. Masters Degree in History & Archaeology from Cairo University. Egyptian National Guide Diploma.
Arabic, English, Italian, Russian & Spanish.
Egypt, Jordan & Sudan.
Sipping tea at sunrise in front of the Great Pyramid of Cheops. My dream is to sip tea at sunrise on the top of the Great Pyramid Of Cheops!
Since the day I was born I have spent every day immersed in the history of my country. The great Egyptian pyramids felt like my backyard and the temples were my playground. My passion today is to show these wonders to the rest of the world. My decision to become a tour guide and tour leader came about through my desire to meet other people and learn about the rest of the world whilst teaching them about mine. I love my job and I love Egypt !
voogd
Schooled in Holland, South Africa, England and France. Business, Travel, Languages, History & Technology.
English, French, Dutch, conversational German & Afrikaans; sufficient Italian & Spanish to get around.
A nice variety of everything from Southern Africa & Namibia, North Africa, Poland & the Baltic States (including St. Petersburg), Australia and Italy ... including walking tours of Tuscany.
It's always impossible to nail it down to one place; but my shortlist includes Southern Africa, Italy, French Guiana, and Turkey. Each of these fantastic places have left a unique and lasting impression on me from experiences at different stages of my journeying around the globe.
Alex first started leading tours for Adventures Abroad over 20 years ago! His diverse background includes Professional Military, Adventure Travel, White Water Rafting Operations, Corporate Destination Management, High Tech, and Business. Alex currently lives in Delta, British Columbia. "Travel light & with an open mind; be ready to embrace new experiences and expect only the unexpected".
baker
Bachelor's in Diplomacy, Peace Studies and Security. Master's Degree in International Studies and Diplomacy.
Aaah, this would have to be Guatemala. But, my favourite cuisine will always be Italian!
The Travel bug bit me in my early 20's, and there has been no looking back ever since! I upped and moved from Vancouver to London in the UK where I completed my Master's in Diplomacy. The location enables me to jet off to any European destination whenever possible. I love incorporating sports travel into my itinerary, attending several World Cups and Olympics in order to be part of a truly international celebration. I tour guide in London in-between touring abroad, and love meeting new faces who are excited to see new places. Other interests: backpacking, camping, seeing animals in the wild, sports-related travel, taking my parents to new destinations, learning as many languages as possible.
baltzer
Amy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies and Anthropology from Dalhousie University where she took every opportunity to study abroad, completing field school in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Cuba. She then continued her studies at the University of Ottawa, completing a Masters in Conflict Studies where she attended field school in South Africa and presented in a colloquium at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban.
Gubbio in Italy, Fez in Morocco and Granada, Spain but anywhere with tasty local food and great coffee!
A natural logistics coordinator, Amy is always organizing trips to enjoy with her friends and family, whether it is helping them explore new sights in her home province of Nova Scotia, or taking them abroad for a new experience altogether. Amy is thrilled to continue doing this as a Tour Leader with Adventure’s Abroad. When Amy is not working, she can be found biking long distances, swimming in nearby lakes, trying new vegetarian recipes, adventuring with her favorite four-legged companion Skip, or planning her next adventure.
fernandez
Communication and Psychology.
English, Spanish and French (after living in Belgium for 5 years).
Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, the Guyana's & Suriname, Cuba, Poland, the Baltic States, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain and Morocco.
I love travelling in Central America. The natural history is astounding, all the birds, mammals, flora and fauna! As a certified diver and avid sportsman, the area offers many opportunities for diving, kayaking and rafting.
Growing up in an international environment allowed me to interact with people from different cultures and learn from them. I would say that's when I became a traveler... To me, traveling is not only about the sites and highlights of a destination, it's mostly about the people and their history, about how they solve things. It's about their lives!
tripodi
Instead of the 3 R's, Chris studied the 3 M's; Math, Music & Maps. University for Mathematics. College for Music. Travel for Understanding.
Chris spent the pandemic era taking Spanish, Italian & French lessons, learned the Cyrillic & Arabic alphabets, and is currently inspired to improve his Greek vocabulary in order to impress η νονά του στο Ροδος.
Chris has not led tours to Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, or Grenada. But he has led tours in over 110 of the remaining countries.
There it has always been, where he has never been.
Chris travels because it is the most interesting thing he can think of doing between meals. Anyone can buy a plane ticket, but helping a country come alive through its people, sights, culture, cuisine and customs is what Adventures Abroad is all about. Chris enjoys the inevitable challenges, the unforgettable moments, the warm people, the stories shared, the memories made, and every single morsel of each tour.
morency
B.A. Laval University. Multidisciplinary studies: geography, anthropology, communication, cinema and journalism. Training over the years: Red Cross, St-John’s Ambulance, Emergency Procedures, etc.
English, French and Spanish. Basic conversational in a few others.
Mexico, Central & South America, Spain & Portugal, North, West & Central Africa, Ethiopia, Sudan, Middle East, Gulf States, Iran, Caucasus, Indian Subcontinent, South East Asia, Indochina, Australia & New Zealand.
Wherever there’s real authenticity, content and depth. Recent favourites: Sudan, Oman, Georgia, Armenia and Iran. Long-time ones: Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Spain, Morocco, Mali, Ethiopia, India, Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines.
After fifteen years on the road worldwide, Claude joined the Adventures Abroad team in 1998. He enjoys challenging destinations with a strong adventure factor. He shows a definite interest in landscapes, wildlife, ecology, arts, traditions and history. International friendship has always been his ultimate travel objective and personal reward.
vidal
National Tour Guiding and Tourism Management; Naturalist Guide with a mention in Taxonomy and Ornithology; Exchange Student in Senior Year at Saint Fulgence College in Quebec, Canada.
Spanish, English and French.
Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
Ecuador because of the amazing variety of landscapes, people, weather, fauna and flora; Peru and Bolivia for their colourful markets, ancient history and the majesty of the Andes.
bodnarchuk
Shortly after James finished his BA in Psychology and English Language he developed a passion for gardening which led to further studies in Horticulture and then Botany as a lab assistant. He frequently uses the world as his classroom to learn about ancient civilizations, geography, ecology, and history as he travels.
English with lots of practice using nonverbal communication and gestures to charade his way through the rest of the world.
Throughout the Mediterranean, Middle East and Central Asia; including everything from Jordan, Egypt, Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Spain, Portugal and Greece.
Nature 1) Galapagos's marine wonderland 2) Namibia's harsh deserts 3) South America's lush Iguazu Waterfalls 4) Patagonia's frigid glaciers 5) South Africa's self-drive safari parks Cities 1) Beauty of Vancouver, Canada (home) 2) Nature within Cape Town, South Africa 3) History in Berlin, Germany 4) Authenticity of La Paz, Bolivia 5) Culture of Kyoto, Japan Ancient World 1) Petra - the ancient Nabatean capital city 2) Mayan carvings of Copan, Honduras 3) The endless ancient antiquities of Egypt 4) Mysteries of the Nazca Lines, Peru 5) The sprawling temples of Angkor Wat, Cambodia
James' insatiable wanderlust is satisfied each year between seasonal jobs at home in beautiful Vancouver, Canada. In the summertime he works outdoors as a beach lifeguard and in the winter he works in an urban forest spreading holiday cheer. Happiest while outside and exploring, he is excited to have the whole world as his workplace as an International Tour Leader for Adventures Abroad.
hodgson
BA in Psychology at McGill University; MBA at the University of British Columbia; self-educated passion for history and culture.
English; conversational French; improving Spanish and Russian. And a decent Scottish accent.
I have led tours in over 100 countries over the last 17 years of working for Adventures Abroad on all of the continents except for Antarctica.
Where to begin? Each place has something that makes it a special destination. A few that spring to mind: Kaieteur Falls in Guyana; the snow-covered mountains of Ladakh, India; sipping tea in a chaikhana of the old town of Bukhara, Uzbekistan; and watching the changing colours of Uluru (Ayers Rock) at sunset.
Jonathan has lived much of his life dedicated to the idea that he would rather have a wealth of experiences than a wealth of riches. Having taken up a nomadic lifestyle shortly after finishing his undergraduate degree, he has been on the move on and off over the last 25+ years. The wanderlust has taken him to basing himself in places such as Scotland, Australia and Uzbekistan, and to visiting many more locations around our planet. Now (sort of) settled in Vancouver with his wonderful (and patient) family, he still loves the idea of having the world as his office and always enjoys trying to capture the essence of the locations he travels and tours in with his photography.
carballo
Degree in Advertising & Public Relations. Spanish language teaching certificate.
My native language is Spanish but I also speak English and French.
I have always loved countries that surprise all of my senses. I enjoy the chaos of places like India, and have a true love for countries like Morocco, Thailand and Vietnam. India has played an important role in my life, as it is there that my son was created ... and where I was trapped during the pandemic! It is a country full of contrasts, colors and living history...a place that not only takes you back in time but also allows you to grow as a human being.
Even though I´m Spanish, I have always felt I was born in the wrong place. As far back as I can recall I have been drawn to foreigners and traveling. I have a restless mind and am versatile, so I never get bored. I try to share this energy with the people that I travel with. I started to travel at a very young age, and it became an addiction that I satisfied as possible. I left my advertising career behind over 12 years ago and started to teach Spanish to students of all ages from all over the world. I started organizing my own trips to places such as Ireland, Morocco, and India, which proved so satisfying that I´m now fully embracing this path today. I love to connect with people and show them the world. I can't think of a better job!
lissner
Ongoing.
English and some Spanish.
Adriatic, Caucasus, Baltic States, Italy, Turkey, Ethiopia, North Africa, Middle East, Central and South America
I love to travel anywhere that is off the beaten trail...Yemen, Columbia, Ladakh and Ethiopia have been a few of my favourites of my recent travels. Drinking butter tea with newly made friends in Ladakh or learning new ways to set a sail in Turkey make this job one of the best you could dream of.
Lorna has been with Adventures Abroad for over 15 years, working both as a Tour Leader and a destination specialist in the office.
sawatzki
No Favourite for me. Everything I have done in life was and still is influenced by my passion for people. That's why being a tour director is such a pleasure for me. Meeting new people from all over the world, and doing my best to give them a great travel experience just makes me happy! Even after all these years.
Originally born in Germany, Marion has lived in Atlantic Canada for over 20 years, and has worked as a Tour Director since 2009. She fell in love with Nova Scotia’s South Shore while travelling throughout the Maritimes, and now lives in Lunenburg. Her favourite destination to showcase is Newfoundland & Labrador! "In spring, my husband and I like to spend time in Spain or Italy enjoying the warmer weather and indulging in the food and culture there.... I could eat pasta every day, but only if it's cooked by my husband who grew up in Italy and knows exactly how to do the real "cucina Italiana""
charlton
Bachelor's Degree in Geography; further studies in Archaeology & Anthropology. Life's real education happens outside the classroom.
English and some French & Spanish.
Having designed and led tours for Adventures Abroad for almost 30 years, there are few corners of the globe where Martin’s left a stone unturned: everywhere from North Korea to Nauru, Saudi Arabia to Sudan, Guinea-Bissau to French Guiana. With over 200 tours through over 125 countries under his belt, it might be faster to list the regions where he hasn’t led a tour.
"My love of travel and infectious enthusiasm for different cultures has taken me to over 150 countries. The further off the beaten path, the better. For a favourite place: perhaps South Georgia Island, the Canadian Arctic, Tasmania or Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. World's best city = Istanbul!"
For as long as I can remember I have always had a deep-rooted need to travel and discover new places. Today I feel incredibly fortunate to have spent almost three decades researching, organizing and leading tours worldwide.
nevison
Bachelor of Arts: Liberal Studies (History, Cultural Studies, Languages, Literature) Diploma in Fashion Design and Technology
English, Emergency Spanish/ German (good in a pinch)
Iceland, Italy, Switzerland, Malta, Cuba, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Australia & New Zealand.
Very hard to choose! I love something about everywhere I’ve been, but I definitely have a soft-spot for Cuba and Ireland.
With a background in history and museums I have worked with groups and given tours for years. I love to travel, to experience the thrill of discovering a new place and to witness its differences. For me, traveling is all about the people, those connections you make with locals and fellow travellers along the way. I prefer to truly immerse myself in the culture! My feeling is that travel is one of the few things in life you can buy that truly enriches you.
boycott
Undergrad: Medieval History, Greek and Roman History. Masters: Medieval History
English and French
It’s so hard to pick a favourite destination as there are so many factors in making a destination amazing! For history my favourite is Ireland but for nature it is Tanzania, ask me next week and you will get a different answer!
I have been passionate about travel my whole life because it allows you to immerse yourself in a different world. Travel has inspired me to pursue studies such as history, archaeology, art and art history.
schewe
Pam speaks English and can get by in both French and Spanish. Pam is also rather proud of the fact that she can say “thank you” in at least 40 languages.
Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Central & Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Caucasus, Iceland, Caribbean Islands, the Guyana's, the Gulf States, "The Five Stan's" & Southern Africa.
Pam spent many years working in radio broadcasting in Vancouver but decided that instead of working in order to travel, she would be much happier traveling for work. The only real difference between the two careers is that now she can tell immediately when her jokes are not funny. “Is this mic on…??”
barathan
Business & Sports Management.
English, passable French, slowly learning Afrikaans and Zulu.
Peter has led tours for Adventures Abroad in over 70 countries; spanning Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
Each country provides something unique, but I like to get off the beaten path and find raw, authentic experience. So far, it’s been hard to get any more raw and authentic than Kavieng, Papua New Guinea.
Peter was raised on the seven seas, cruising from port to port with his family. After visiting 50+ countries before the age of 10, he settled and grew up in Vancouver. During and after University, Peters various jobs always involved international travel, which maintained his passion for exploring the world and learning other cultures. He currently resides in South Africa with his wife and kids.
bertsch
English.
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, China, Gulf States, Morocco, Cuba, Guyana's, the South Pacific, and throughout all of Central America.
Whether it is hearing the call to prayer in Istanbul, smelling the rain-forests of the Inca Trail, feeling the sun setting on the African plains, watching the kaleidoscope of colours on any street in India, or tasting a freshly baked scone smothered with Devonshire cream in England, I love the destinations that offer something unique to experience.
Raised in small town British Columbia, her travels also include living on two continents and aboard a cruise ship sailing the high seas.
ogden
Recreation Management.
English, French and learning Czech from my 2 children.
Over 50 countries, covering everywhere from Austria to Zambia.
Born and raised in Deep Cove, North Vancouver - Robert took off on a world-wide sojourn in 1988 and hasn't look back. With experiences ranging from a hotel barge captain, sailor, ski and snowboard instructor, alpine hotel manager, tour leader and guide. He has explored more than 70 countries, has led tours in over 50, and has lived in several. After recently settling down back in his birthplace he now feeds his passion for adventure by spending the winters as a manager at a local ski resort, summers leading tours throughout the Rockies and spring and fall on the road with Adventures Abroad.
kruse
Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance & Organzational Development)
English, Emergency Spanish, Italian
All over Eastern Europe, most of the Middle East, East & Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, Mongolia, Nepal, Bhutan, Madagascar & Indian Ocean, the Pacific Islands and many more.
An impossible choice; favourite cities are either Istanbul or Cape Town, favourite place to relax is Mayotte.
After growing up abroad and spending a few years travelling through exchanges, visits to friends, work, and personal trips, tour guiding came as the natural next step. I'm a die hard history nerd, and love to discover new places, meet new people, and experience everything I can. I led my first tour for Adventures Abroad in 2007 and spent many years leading tours to locations all over the world. I now live in Central BC and guide tours part time.
baksoy
Ongoing; TESL certification.
Turkish and English.
Istanbul, Turkey (because there's no place like home).
Rustem has been leading tours for more than 20 years, and he has a wealth of guiding experience in his native Turkey. When he's not on the road, you can find Rustem working as a translator for TV channels, film festivals and publishers. Over the years he has also translated several books into Turkish.
mounib
School of life with a side dish of MBA in International Hospitality and Tourism Management and a TEFL Certification.
English, French and Arabic. Some Spanish and German and bits of Japanese and Italian.
Throughout the Mediterranean, Western & Central Europe, Mongolia, North Africa, the South Pacific, and the Middle East.
Iceland – the geological mystery of the land of ice and fire, the friendly locals and the yummy food. Egypt – I am proud to be a descendant of such a historical and culturally rich civilization. Japan – the most humble people I have had the pleasure to meet… oh and the food!
Having lived in nine countries on four continents, Sama takes great pride in the exposure she had to all the different cultures. Her thirst for knowledge and passion for travel have allowed her to see and experience so much more than she could have dreamed of… and she’s only just begun!
hughes
MA in English Literature. BA in Middle Eastern and Islamic History.
English, French, conversational Swedish and Mandarin.
Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, island nations of the South Pacific, Mongolia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, India, Madagascar, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Greece, Italy, Central Europe, Iceland, Cuba, Atlantic Canada, among others.
Ethiopia for its constant surprises, authenticity, and unspoiled nature, Greece for its vibrant culture and a history that continues to inspire through its well-preserved archaeological sites, and Taiwan, a place that still seems to evade the interest of much mainstream tourism and reveals its charms in a myriad of subtle, unexpected ways.
One of our senior tour leaders, Serra has been leading tours for Adventures Abroad since 2005. She is now based in The Netherlands where she is working on a PhD in literature while doing custom tour arrangements for Adventures Abroad and leading the occasional tour.
fougère
Traveling nearly 6000km to visit family on Canada’s west coast at the age of just 8 months old, injected me with a lifelong travel bug! It’s impossible to choose a favorite, as each place has it’s unique landscape, food, art, culture and people. Delighted to have traveled in more than thirty countries on four continents, I am still happy to call Nova Scotia my home.
Sheila was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and is a lifelong Haligonian. After raising two lively children she enjoyed a career as a conference & event planner, employed by contract both in the public and private sector. Many happy hours have also been spent volunteering for groups in sport, business, education and non-profit endeavors. “The common thread in my life has always been enjoying working with people. As a university student, I spent my summers showing off Atlantic Canada as a Tour Director. Being able to resume this work in my retirement is a gift!”
searing
Bachelor of International Business with a Minor in Spanish. The degree also included spending a year studying abroad in Chile.
English, Spanish, and some French & German.
This is Sierra's least favourite question. It is impossible to choose between the mystery and serenity of Peru, the spectacular wildlife sightings of South Africa, and the impossible construction of Meteora, Greece. She enjoys every destination in its own unique way and has yet to find a country she didn’t fall in love with.
Sierra's dream in life is to explore every corner of the globe. When not travelling (and also while travelling), she loves the outdoors, wildlife, and photography and spends most weekends hiking, no matter the season or weather.
taeter
Bachelor of Education, but I have learned so much more from my years of traveling around the world!
English, German, Spanish and French
Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Poland, Baltic States, Denmark, Finland, Norway & Sweden.
It’s so hard to pick! Perhaps Spain for the amazing architecture & interesting cities, la joie de vivre of the locals, traditions that are still very much alive, and of course Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. Mexico, because there is a perfect mix of friendly and welcoming locals, a delicious (and spicy) cuisine, vibrant culture, stunning nature and ancient history. Canada’s Yukon, for the incredible wilderness. There is nothing better than canoeing down an unspoiled river, hiking up one of the nameless mountains or spending a night under a million stars while the northern lights dance above you.
After working as a teacher in my home country, Belgium, I headed out for what was supposed to be one sabbatical year! Twelve years later I find myself having learned two foreign languages, hiked up Southeast Asia’s tallest mountain, mustered cattle in Australia, volunteered in an orphanage in Guatemala, and found a second home in Canada’s far north. After dreaming about living in Spain for many years, I took my chances in September and moved temporary to sunny Andalusia where I’m currently working as an English teacher.
tamang
Bachelor of Arts (Geography & Economics).
Nepali , Hindi and English.
Throughout the entire Himalayan region, including everywhere from Darjeeling and Sikkim to Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Spiti. Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and India from north to south.
Watching the sunrise over the Kanchenjunga from Tonglu in Darjeeling, especially the first rays touching the mountain.
Focus on a healthy life: Balancing the 'elements' is an important thing in ones life to be healthy physically, mentally and emotionally healthy. I have rediscovered walking barefoot on earth as it helps to balance the 5 elements of which we human beings are made of EARTH , WATER , SUN , AIR and SPACE. We need to continuously rejuvenate our energy.
mdluli
National Certificate in Tourism. Level 4 Guiding: Nature and Culture - FGASA (Field Guide Association Of Southern Africa).
English and IsiZulu
Throughout all corners of South Africa and Eswatini (Swaziland)
'I started working as a nature conservationist at Mkuze Game Reserve in South Africa in 1996. In 1999 I started working as a site guide leading bird watching tours throughout the Reserve. In 2001 I began my training to become a Field/Game Ranger, and I worked for different game reserves around KwaZulu-Natal (Zululand). I later upgraded my qualifications to 'provincial guiding' as both a nature and cultural guide. In 2017 I completed my qualifications as a National Guide in South Africa. My biggest dream is to be able to travel the world, but right now the world comes to me in South Africa.
romagnoli
HBA English BA History
Being able to speak several languages has made travelling an enriching experience; the conversations one can so easily slip into with locals - who come from all walks of life - adds greatly to my feel for a place.
Over a span of almost 30 years, I have lead tours virtually all over the globe.
Some of my favourite tours just come into being suddenly as a result of a request; someone will ask me to put together an itinerary that will include the highlights of several countries and the next thing you know we have, for example, a tour to Uruguay, Paraguay & Bolivia, or Lesotho, Namibia & Botswana. Sometimes I will be asked to arrange a detailed itinerary to just one region within a country - like a close up look at Sicily or Crete or the Basque Country or Newfoundland. Without the keen curiosity that so many of you travellers have, none of these "spontaneous" tours would come into being. But they do.
I love the excitement of getting up each morning on a tour and not knowing exactly how a day will unfold. It keeps me on my toes so to speak, and adds a breath of excitement to each day on tour. With almost 30 years of tour leading under my belt, I thank all of you for being a part of this exciting journey.
reis
Social Anthropology & Cultural Studies
English & Turkish
Yasemin has been leading tours throughout Western and Eastern Turkey for almost 25 years!
Also a translator, Yasemin has worked for Discovery Channel Turkey, Nippon TV and several film festivals. She has published several articles presenting an anthropological look at the confluences of medicine, medical culture, history, myth, religion and art, in Asklepios: Journal of Medical Culture, Plan B Publications, Istanbul.