MEET OUR TOUR LEADERS

Andrew Thomasson

		South African born Andrew Thomasson, has a passion for travel photography. As director of his company Focus 10, Andrew spends his time co-coordinating and teaching a series of training courses throughout Australia and running photographic workshops around the world. Andrew has led many photographic tours for World Expeditions including recent trips to Western Australia, the Flinders Ranges, the Red Centre, Morocco and southern Africa. During the course of his photographic tours you will learn about your film and digital camera, and pick up invaluable tips and techniques from a master trainer.

Al Bakker

		Al has a long standing relationship with World Expeditions dating back to the early 1980's with his river rafting days down the Franklin river and later running our Australian adventures program. Nowadays Al operates our trips to the pristine islands in Fiji and Vanuatu as well as our Antarctic and Arctic sea kayaking program.

Andrew Lock

		Andrew is Australia's most accomplished high altitude mountaineer. His impressive mountaineering resume includes successful climbs of 13 of the world's 14 eight-thousand metre peakd including Everest, K2, Nanga Parbat, Makalu, a solo ascent on Broad Peak and alpine ascents on Manaslu and Lhotse in the same season! In between expeditions and Antarctic postings, his easygoing nature makes him an ideal choice to lead some of our high altitude expeditions.

Andreas Holland

		Andreas makes our South and Central American programs special. He has lived in South America for over 25 years. Much of this time has been spent in Peru where he has amassed a wealth of experience that would be hard to equal. His innovative itineraries and desire to share his love of South and Central America are key factors that ensure the success of our outstanding program. His expertise also extends south to the Antarctic.

Angel Armesto

		Angel, who lives and works in Argentina, has an extensive climbing background and is head mountaineering guide on our Aconcagua Expeditions. Currently completing his UIAGM guiding levels, Angel also on occasion leads our mountaineering trips in Nepal, including Ama Dablam and Lobuche and Island Peak, and is well known for his witty sense of humour and excellent culinary skills.

Brigitte Muir

		Brigitte has been climbing mountains all over the world for the last 27 years. In May 1997 she became the first Australian women to climb Everest and the first Australian to scale the highest mountains in each of the seven continents. Details of these expeditions are described in her book 'Wind in My Hair'. This year she will be leading our introduction to mountain climbing in the Everest region of Nepal.

Chris Buykx

		Chris started with the company as guide on our Kakadu and Arnhem Land trips and has gone on to lead treks in the most of the great African mountains ranges including Morocco's High Atlas, Ethiopia's Simien mountains, Egypt's Sinai, and East Africa's Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya. Chris has also pioneered many new African walking safaris including the Maasai Mara Trek, Madagascar Adventure and the Botswana Walking Safari.

Clive Dougherty

		Growing up in the Kenyan bush has inspired Clive to seek out East Africa's greatest adventures. From the summit of Mt Kenya and Mt Stanley to the plains of the Masai Mara, his rapport with fellow Africans and local knowledge ensure that our trips in Kenya and Uganda offer an exceptional insight into the cultures, wildlife and environments of the region.

Jim Duff , Dr.

		Jim is a mountaineer and medical practitioner who enjoys the distinction of being on a number of Everest climbs including the successful Australian ascent in 1984 and the historic British SW Face Expedition in 1975. Jim is our medical advisor and has over the last decade supervised the medical courses for our local leaders in Kathmandu. He is the author of the definitive medical guide for trekkers to the Himalaya carried by all our leaders. This year Jim will again guide a trek for medical professionals that will cover some of the health care problems of travelling in remote areas and trekking at high altitude.

Frank Taylor

		For over 30 years Frank has explored the remote trails in the highlands of PNG. His knowledge and experience of the Kokoda Trail would be hard to match, having walked the track on more than 25 separate occassions. He practices "responsible tourism" , having assisted in many social projects in the region.

Garry Weare

		Garry has been involved with World Expeditions since its inception in the mid-1970s. He is a recognised authority on the Indian Himalaya and his intimate knowledge of the region is documented in his Lonely Planet guidebook 'Trekking in the Indian Himalaya', now in its 4th edition. He is also a founding director of the Australian Himalayan Foundation. As our Himalayan consultant he also spends time on the trail in Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan.

Gary Hayes

		Few could match Gary's impressive resume of leading climbs on the trekking peaks of Nepal. He has pioneered many of our exploratory treks while he recently completed a demanding six-month traverse of the entire Nepal Himalaya and an expedition to Annapurna IV. This year he will also lead our Tian Shan Circuit in Central Asia. Gary also makes a big contribution to trekking in Australia. Gary coordinates all our Tasmanian trekking operations as well as leading challenging trips like the South Coast Track. Gary has also walked throughout Australia including leading treks on the Larapinta Trail.

Greg Mortimer

		In 1984 Greg and Tim Macartney-Snape became the first Australian's to climb Everest. Since then Greg has completed some outstanding climbs including an ascent on the North Face of K2 in 1993 and Manaslu in 2002. He has also pioneered Polar voyages with over 80 leads to the Antarctic with his company Aurora Expeditions.

Gustavo Giorgis

		In the wilderness of Patagonia, having a guide with extensive local knowledge, who speaks Spanish and who enjoys nature and people alike is a must. Gustavo certainly fits this bill. As many of our past trekkers to Patagonia will attest Gustavo's energy, his knowledge that goes beyond the norm and the love of his motherland is a highlight of our treks to the region. His knowledge has been instrumental in shaping our Patagonian trekking program.

Heather Kirkpatrick

		Heather is a true wilderness professional with decades of experience leading expeditions amongst the planets wildest regions. Heather guides many of our Franklin River Rafting Expeditions as well as working in the Antarctic as a trainer. Heather will join Jon Muir as guest lecturer on the Antarctic Explorer in 2007.

Herve Valluy

		French by birth, Spanish speaking Herve has been leading trips in Patagonia for over 10 years and specialises in the Paine Circuit. His passion for trekking in remote regions is infectious, as our groups on the circuit will agree.

Hjorleifur Finmssom

		One of Iceland's leading trekking and Mountain guides, Hjorlei has set a strong professional standard for our Iceland adventures. His good humor and insight into Icelandic culture offer a great understanding of this fascinating destination.

Ian Perlman

		After living in Japan for over a decade Ian lives and breathes the country. His intimate knowledge of the language and culture, his familiarity with the backroads and mountain trails together with his love of Japanese buildings (Ian is an architect) ensure that our unique range of Japanese adventures are led by a true expert and enthusiast.

Ian Williams

		Ian's travels have taken him to most adventure destinations where he has led countless trips to remote and wild places. His commitment to Nepal and to developing new treks is reflected in his moderately graded ' Annapurna Exploratory' trek. Ian supervises our leader training program in Kathmandu and has been instrumental in establishing philanthropic programs with orphanages and schools in Nepal.

Joe Robinson

		A work-life balance coach, trainer and author, Joe Robinson is one of the country's most quoted experts on the role time off plays in our time on and the power of vacations. Author of "WORK TO LIVE: The Guide to Getting a Life," Joe helps individuals and companies (from IBM to Imagine Entertainment) turn down the stress and overload and turn up the balance. His programs show that there's a healthier road to success: You can be productive AND have a life. Joe's investigation of overwork's cost to families, health and productivity led him to launch the Work to Live Vacation Campaign, an effort to put a minimum paid-leave law on the national agenda and cure the growing affliction of Vacation Deficit Disorder.

Jon Muir

		on is recognised as one of Australia's top mountaineers and explorers, as well as one of our most colourful wild-wise characters. He has been on five Everest expeditions and summitted in 1988. In line with his true expeditionary nature he has also recently completed an unassisted trek to the North Pole. He has a deep love for Australian wilderness has seen him become the first person to cross Australia unassisted on foot. This season he will be leading our Aconcagua Expeditions.

Ken Collins

		Ken's journalist background combined with his love of the outdoors is evident in his definitive guide to the SW Tasmanian wilderness. His other abiding passion is China where his interest and exploration is reflected in our Great Wall of China trip.

Lincoln Hall

		Lincoln has had a long association with World Expeditions and was in 1978 one of the first guides on our payroll. He is also one of Australia's most accomplished mountaineers and has since 1976 climbed extensively in the Himalaya, the Andes and Antarctica. He is also a well known author, columnist and a director of the Australian Himalayan Foundation.

Meraj Din

		'Mr Din' has been the driving force behind the operation and management of our Nepal trekking program for the past fifteen years. His tireless commitment to trip quality and focus on responsible tourism practices has ensured that World Expeditions remains at the forefront of the Himalayan trekking scene.

Peter Hillary

		Peter's long association with the Himalaya needs little introduction. His numerous mountaineering exploits include a successful ascent of Everest in May 1990 37 years after his father. He returned to Everest recently to complete his second ascent. At present he is coordinating a series of trekking programs in the Everest region that will coincide with the 50th anniversary of his father's 1953 summit on Mt Everest.

Pip Macartney-Snape

		Pip's adventurous spirit is reflected in her great passion for the outdoors. She has guided in the European Alps and is an established World Expeditions leader on our climbing and trekking trips in Patagonia, Pakistan and Nepal. She has also climbed and explored extensively in the mountains of Chile and Argentina.

Simon Yates

		Simon first came to prominence as a mountaineer in 1985 after the first ascent of the West Face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes and the ensuing epic descent described in Joe Simpson's book and award winning film 'Touching the Void'. However his impressive climbing career includes many first ascents to some of the world's most remote peaks, taking to such places as the Karakoram, European Alps, Tien Shan, as well as Patagonia Tierra del Fuego. In 2006 Simon will be leading World Expeditions Spantik Expedition.

Soren Kruse Ledet

		Soren was a member of the 1995 and 2003 Annapurna 4 Expedition and also accompanied Gary Hayes on a six month trek across Nepal. He has led many climbs and treks in Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. His keen and enthusiastic nature, as well as being an accomplished photographer is thoroughly appreciated by those on his trips.

Su Zhi Wei

		Our association with 'Mr Su' goes back more than two decades when we jointly pioneered the first commercial cycling trips in Southern China. Defying all the odds, Mr Su's vision of providing active, off the beaten track experiences for our travellers to China has been a marvelous accomplishment in a tightly regulated industry.

Matt Carlin

		Based in Tasmania, Matt is a qualified teacher of Physical Education and lectures at Hobart TAFE. When not in school Matt guides on the peaks of the Himalaya and rafts the rivers of Tasmania. Whenever time allows Matt pursues his love of the mountains and remote wilderness experiences. He was a member of the 2003 Annapurna IV expedition and has also summited Cho Oyu in Tibet.

Sumit Joshi

		Starting as a trekking guide in Nepal over 12 years ago, Sumit has an insatiable passion for the outdoors and now leads our mountaineering trips. An accomplished rock and alpine climber in his own right, he is fluent in English, Nepali, Hindi, Urdu and Newari. When he is not leading our groups in Nepal and Tibet, Sumit spends his free time climbing rock walls in Australia and New Zealand.

Tim Macartney-Snape

		Tim is Australia's best known mountaineer and a popular World Expeditions leader. He has climbed Everest twice, from Tibet in 1984 and in 1990 during his famous 'Sea to Summit' Expedition. He has also climbed many other peaks in the Himalaya including Ama Dablam, Dunagiri in the Indian Himalaya and Gasherbrum 4 in the Karakoram. Tim is the Chairman of the Nepal Eye program Australia, a program founded by the late Professor Fred Hollows. Tim regularly leads our exploratory treks in Nepal and in the Indian Himalaya.

Wangchuk Samshu

		Since 1985 Wangchuk has managed our operations in India and has a real knack for developing programs centered on discovery of the regions using active travel as the vehicle. This philosophy is reflected in our trekking, cycling and camel riding holidays in northern India. Wangchuk, who himself lives and breathes adventure, ensures that our itineraries are at the cutting edge of tourism development.