FOLLOW YOUR LEADER
For those of you who have previously traveled with ElderTreks, you may know one or even several of our tour leaders listed below. Their expertise, commitment and sensitivity to our travelers as well as the people and environments we visit are the reasons we get such great feedback on our guides from our past travelers.
The following is a tentative schedule of our tour leaders upcoming adventures. Please bear in mind that this is only a provisional schedule and while these leaders are scheduled to be on these trips, circumstances beyond our control may change these schedules.
We are proud of all of our first rate tour leaders, but if you have traveled with one and really want to travel on another trip they are leading, we extend to you a formal invitation to "Follow your Leader".
Roger Burrows
| Roger has led innumerable ElderTreks trips, and as a veteran tour leader, he brings a wealth of experience to his job as all-round trip facilitator. Roger's travels have taken him all over the world, including Europe, South America, Asia and Africa. His keen interest in local people and cultures often offers travelers the unique opportunity to visit local homes, orphanages and schools. An avid animal lover, Roger has even been known to bring treats for local cats and dogs. | |  |
"Enthusiastic, knowledgeable, caring for his people and culture."
Thomas Wilbanks - Madagascar
Guilherme (Gafa) Stamato
| Guilherme is a native Brazilian (nicknamed "Gafa") and graduated from Sao Paulo University with a degree in Physical Education along with a Black-belt in Kung Fu and Tai Chi Chuan. He lives in Sao Paulo and has two children, Raphael who is 11 years old and Sophia who is 8 years old. Gafa is an excellent photographer and wildlife expert who will add great local knowledge to the explorations on your tour. | |  |
"Gafa was a gem. He was always looking to make our experience rewarding. A very nice person."
Pat Booth - Brazil
Lajos Nemeth
| Lajos (pronounced Lay-osh) is a proud native Hungarian and, as a biologist, has a formidable knowledge of natural history and the underwater world. Lajos brings a wealth of experience and character to his job and will be outstanding as all-round facilitator on your trip. In addition to travelling extensively in Eastern Europe, he also feels at home around the Mediterranean, as well as having a serious travel passion for many countries in Africa. Lajos loves the great outdoors and sometimes spends several weeks in bush-camps in search of birds, butterflies and wildlife. His other passions include history, politics, photography, rare natural history books, fly-fishing, scuba diving, deep desert exploration and... oh yes, Hungarian wines. | |  |
"Lajos is caring and flexible when plans have to be changed."
Jurgen Pitsch -
Manuel Velazco
| Manuel originally from the Andes of Peru (Cusco), began in the travel business at the tender age of 14. He has a degree as a Professional Tour Guide, specializing in Inca Culture and is one of Peru's most experienced and respected tour leaders. Manuel has been sharing his wonderful sense of humor and love of the mountains with ElderTrekkers for many years and has hiked the Inca Trail over 250 times. He also speaks three different languages, English, Spanish and Qechua (the language of the Incas) and brings plenty of fun and learning to every adventure he guides. | |  |
"Manuel was knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and courteous. He has a passion and enthusiasm for his job."
Marnie Bracht - Peru
Claudio Portal
| Claudio received his Tour Guide degree in 1985, specializing in Archeology. He enjoys all sorts of outdoor activities including fishing, hiking and horseback riding. With extensive worldwide travel experience, which includes living on a kibbutz in Israel and spending long periods of time in Europe, Claudio speaks English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Greek and Italian. His love of the outdoors and love of other cultures will be sure to add fun to your adventure. | |  |
| May 16 | - | May 30,2018 | Azores |
| Sep 20 | - | Sep 29,2018 | Camino de Santiago |
| Oct 16 | - | Nov 04,2018 | Sumatra |
| Nov 04 | - | Nov 23,2018 | Java and Bali |
| Mar 11 | - | Mar 28,2019 | Borneo |
| Apr 04 | - | Apr 23,2019 | Sumatra |
| Apr 23 | - | May 12,2019 | Java and Bali |
| May 06 | - | May 28,2019 | Chinese Silk Road |
| Oct 03 | - | Oct 22,2019 | Sumatra |
| Oct 22 | - | Nov 10,2019 | Java and Bali |
"Claudio has been the best tour leader we have experienced. He was relaxed and appeared to enjoy himself along with the group."
Mary Wright - Hidden Treasures of South America
Eric Fengler
| Eric was born in the Netherlands where he studied Environmental Engineering at Wageningen University. During his studies he trained in Tucumán, 1,300 km northwest of Buenos Aires moving there in 1992. He has traveled extensively throughout South America and has been guiding tours in Argentina and Chile since 1996 specializing in the Patagonia region. Eric speaks English, German, and Spanish as well as his native Dutch. Eric has worked with ElderTreks for many years and we welcome his local knowledge and international flair. You are in very capable hands with Eric. | |  |
"I just wanted to send you a quick note to let you know how much Mom and I enjoyed the trip!! Our two weeks were so well organized, we saw so many sights and had such wonderful hikes - geared both for Mom and for me. But most of all I wanted to let you know that Eric is just the greatest Tour Guide... from his sense of humour to his organizational skills, to his people skills - he was just fabulous! I can't imagine adventure travelling with anyone other than Elder Treks and have been telling everyone the same."
Janice and Ruth - Patagonia Trekking
Nitin Dhami
Nitin calls the world his classroom. Traveling extensively throughout India and the world, Nitin offers a unique perspective about the adventures you take with him. He has a wealth of knowledge about the history, the heritage, the cultures and customs of the people of India and a keen understanding of the geography of South Asia. Nitin has led a variety of adventures in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Iran, Papua New Guinea, East and West Africa, Ethiopia, Borneo, Laos and Sri Lanka. Nitin is happiest in the mountains of Northern India and the higher the better, as he is an advanced mountaineering expert having climbed to 19,685 feet twice. Nitin speaks English, Hindi, Punjabi and several local Indian dialects. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder (NOLS, California USA).
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| May 07 | - | May 29,2018 | Chinese Silk Road |
| Aug 16 | - | Sep 05,2018 | Papua New Guinea |
| Sep 13 | - | Oct 03,2018 | Papua New Guinea |
| Nov 21 | - | Dec 10,2018 | Lions & Tigers of India - 20 Days |
| Jan 08 | - | Jan 30,2019 | Tigers, Temples and Lions of India |
| Mar 14 | - | Apr 04,2019 | Malawi, Zambia & Zimbabwe |
| Jun 27 | - | Jul 18,2019 | Mountains & Monasteries of Northern India |
| Sep 04 | - | Sep 26,2019 | Chinese Silk Road |
"Nitin is without peer. An incomparable leader who handled logistics flawlessly. His knowledge of India was impressive and the local guides he chose to expand our understanding of a variety of sites was most helpful. He established a positive personal relationship with each and every member of our tour group. I would travel anywhere with Nitin and trust him with my life. I will recommend him as a tour guide to go anywhere he is going to my colleagues and friends. He is a rare leader and a phenomenal human being. "
R. Kukes - Classic India
Abdul Sebak
| Abdul Moez is a graduate of the Faculty of Archaeology and is the Director of Egyptology at the Giza Pyramids. He has worked on several important archaelogical digs including Abu Rawash, Worker's Village in Giza, (pre-dynastic period at Saqqara) and currently serves as an advisor for archaelogical digs in and around the Giza area. He also holds a diploma in Tourism/Guiding from the Faculty of Tourism in Egypt and brings a wealth of knowledge to his role as Tour Leader for ElderTreks. In addition to leading our ElderTreks' groups since 2005, Abdul also had the pleasure of showing the Giza pyramids to former US President Jimmy Carter. | |  |
| Feb 16 | - | Mar 09,2019 | Egypt |
| Oct 19 | - | Nov 09,2019 | Egypt |
"Abdul was extremely patient - always willing to explain one more time whatever information we needed to know - very kind, thoughtful and always up beat. His passion for archeology, pyramids, pharaohs, and tombs was contagious and inspiring. Very knowledgeable - wonderful sense of humor."
M Twitchell - Egypt
Tomas Havlicek
| Tomas, a native Czech, received his University degree in English and American studies as well as philosophy. He has worked as a guide since 2000, specializing in Central Europe. Tomas has a keen interest in history, architecture, and post-communist development of the region. Since he has lived half of his life under the communist rule and the other under democracy, Tomas has a truly unique perspective which he loves to share with those he is travelling with. Tomas will do all that he can to make your travel experience with him most memorable! | |  |
"I cannot imagine a better guide."
J. Rigg - Medieval Treasures of Eastern Europe
Turin Tun Maw
| Thuyein "Turin" Tunmaw Turin was born, raised and educated in Yangon (Rangoon), Burma (Myanmar) Despite earning a Physics Degree and a Computer diploma, his passion lead him towards history, geography, languages, traveling and meeting people. His Mom was working in Tourism and it seemed like a natural decision to follow in her footsteps. He recieved his guides license in 1994 and has been working as a guide and tour leader ever since. Turin speaks English, Spanish and of course his native Burmese. We know that Turin's knowledge, passion and caring attitude will make any trip to Burma a very special one. He loves to share his knowledge and experience with anyone he travels with. We are sure you will agree. | |  |
Claire Prest
| Claire has lived and worked throughout the Indian Subcontinent and South East Asia for the past 10 years, originally from Down Under. Her philosophy of respect for the environment, culture and communities nurtures incredible travel experiences. Her passion for authentic cultural exchange shines through and helps cultivate hands-on experiences that help bridge boundaries and open up a world of possibilities. Through eco-tourism initiatives, Claire ensures positive benefits for local communities while enriching experiences for our travellers as much as local people. A Journey with Claire will surely be a memorable one! | |  |
"I cannot imagine a better guide for India then Claire. She remained calm, cheerful and helpful.She has a great sense of humor and an obvious love of the country. She gave us history and understanding based on personal experience.She moved easily through the group sharing meals and conversation with all of us at different times. She encouraged everyone to get to know each other. She was great.
"
J. Dittmer - Classic India
Olman Quiros
Olman (Ollie) Quiros is a certified tour guide with more than 20 years experience leading diverse groups in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. General and natural history are two of his interests. He is an avid outdoorsman who loves to do white water rafting, surfing, horseback riding, and hiking among other activities. Ollie was a cultural exchange student in Finland and Sweden and has traveled extensively throughout Europe learning about different cultures.
His volunteer work includes working with the Costa Rican National Parks Foundation to preserve the Green Turtle and get more acquainted with the different ecosystems in the country. He speaks Spanish and English and understands Finnish and Swedish. | |  |
"He was indispensable to the enjoyment of the tour. He was very knowledgeable but also used a reference book if we asked unusual questions. We always felt that we were getting a correct answer and not just any response he happened to think of. He also made us laugh a lot."
F. Lokay - Costa Rica
Lucas Mhina
| Lucas was born and raised at Arusha Tanzania. His parents are from two different tribes (Bondei from coast of Tanzania and Chagga from Mt Kilimanjaro region) . He was educated in London (UK) at East London University (BAîHonsi Hospitality and Tourism), Nairobi Kenya at Strathmore College (Diploma in Tourism and Tour Guide) and received further training in Tour Leading and Guiding as well as First Aid while in South Africa. He has a keen interest in Ecology and truly enjoys being with people so that he can share his knowledge of the birds and wildlife of East Africa. He has been guiding and leading groups in East Africa since 1999. Lucas is married and has two children ( Sylvia and John) and while not leading trips, he enjoys spending time with his family. | |  |
"Lucas did everything he could possibly do for us. He was a wonderful fit for our group."
J. Boring - Tanzania
Duane Rankin
| Duane is a veteran tour leader with over 20 years of experience. Originally from South Africa, Duane has traveled extensively all over Southern Africa including Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho. Duane and his family live in beautiful Cape Town, truly one of the world's most beautiful cities. You would be hard pressed to find a more competent, enthusiastic, dependable and knowledge tour leader than Duane. | |  |
"Duane was one of the most knowledgeable guides we've ever had. He gave us running commentary during our long bus rides. He knew the history, tribal cultures, topography, some geology, and the route. He was also very familiar with most of the lodges we were staying at. He never minded answering the blizzard of questions we all threw at him."
A & S Rosenzweig - Kingdoms of Southern Africa
Thuy Nghiem Hong
| Thuy is a graduate of English at the National University of Hanoi. She has been a national tour guide in Vietnam since 1991 and is well versed in the countries rich history, culture and culinary reputation. Thuy is always eager to share her life experiences, growing up in a rapidly changing Vietnam. Her style of tour leading is a direct reflection of her Buddhist and Confucian beliefs which place an emphasis on responsible tourism and a general respect for all sentient beings. | |  |
"Thuy was excellent - very informative about her country. She gave me a real insight into Vietnam."
D. Webb - Vietnam
Ham Juuko
| Ham was born in Western Uganda and grew up on his family's cattle farm. He graduated school with a diploma in Accounting and Customer Care. Ham has put his passionate interest in wildlife and his experience caring for clients together to become a senior tour guide in his homeland. He recently became accredited as a guide for bird-watching groups. | |  |
"Ham was terrific. I can't say enough positive things about him. He was knowledgeable, a keen guide- saw birds so far away I was amazed. He had a wonderful sense of humor and we had many laughs. He is just a complete gem.
"
E. Sullivan - Uganda
Doyle Cheng
| Doyle has traveled to most parts of China but has most of his experience and travels within Yunnan province, which is probably China's most ethnically rich area. His knowledge of Yunnan's ethnicity, culture and history is quite impressive. He was an English major from Hainan University. As a well trained and experienced tour leader. along with his knowledge and enthusiasm, will make Doyle a great person show you the beauty, history and culture of Yunnan, China. | |  |
Guiper Rosales
| Guillermo or 'Guiper' has been leading for eight years and has a passion for the Mayan world - it's history, it's culture and of course the incredible legacy of Mayan sites. You will be impressed by Guiper's knowledge of the Mayan world as well as contemporary knowledge of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize. Guiper is well certified in the art of guiding and safety and first aid but it just might be his sense of humour and energy that will leave the greatest impression on you. We hope you will have the opportunity to enjoy Eldertreks' Lost World of the Mayan's with someone as capable and passionate as Guiper. | |  |
"The ratings of excellent for Guiper should, in our opinion, be higher. Extraordinary would be more accurate. Guiper has a social intelligence that is literally off the charts and his natural thoughtfulness and lovely sense of humor make being in his company an absolute delight."
A&G Schwartz - Lost World of the Mayans
Suzanne Ivan (Manka)
We are thrilled to welcome back Susanne, (or 'Manka' as she is known) to the ElderTreks family of expert leaders. For many years Manka led our Transylvania and Adriatric Adventures, along with her husband Lajos, and after a hiatus of several years devoting time to their two children, Manka is returning to the job she loves - as a tour leader.
Manka brings not only her great smile and wonderful communication style, but also degrees in biology, marketing and tourism, and most recently, a doctorate in the Evolutionary Psychology of the Roma (gypsy) people. As if this background and expertise weren't impressive enough, did we mention she speaks word-perfect English and German as well as her native tongue? All that's left to mention is her adventurous spirit and love of the outdoors, and you'll see why Susanne is everything you could hope for as your guide. In fact, to use the words of one of her clients, “you will be in the best of hands”. | |  |
Helen Tait
If you have a question about anything on your tour, Helen is definitely the woman you want to ask. Not just because she has more than a dozen years of experience as a tour leader in more than 20 countries, but because her degree in library science and resultant high-profile positions in that field make her a true curator of information. You can be sure, if Helen doesnít know the answer, she knows how to find it!
Equally resourceful when it comes to the practical side of life, Helen is always keen to offer up a wealth of day-to-day information on the country she has called home for over 26 years, from historical or cultural information to recommendations for great shopping!
If learning and discovery are what you expect from your tour, expect nothing but the best with Helen to guide you. | |  |
"Helen absolutely made our trip. She worked overtime to give us a fabulous experience and succeeded way above expectations."
G. Haar - New Zealand
Sahil Chowfla
Born and raised in the Indian Western Himalayans, Sahil has experience in leading group tours and itineraries at high altitudes and over mountain passes. Highly knowledgeable in Indian geography and Himalayan mountains, he has traveled extensively throughout India, including; Northern India, Ladakh, Kashmir and Andaman island. He's certified in mountaineering and water sport courses and an experienced climber above 6000 meters. Sahil is great with people and loves the opportunity of sharing experiences that tour leading brings.
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"Sahil was just perfect. He made everything run smoothly, was caring, had a good sense of humor, imparted a wealth of knowledge about all we saw and did plus was fun to be with."
D. Henkel - Classic India
Miguel Delgado
| Miguel is a certified tour guide who has been leading tours in his native Costa Rica since 1997. He is an avid bird and butterfly watcher with a great passion for tropical plants and is also well versed in rainforest biodiversity. He has worked as a naturalist guide throughout Costa Rica for many years and speaks English and Spanish. | |  |
Sammy Tilahun
| Sammy graduated from Hawassa University as well as the Insistute of Tourism in Addis Ababa, specializing in Ethiopian History & Cultures, Agriculture and Tourism. He speaks English, Amharic and Oromifa (the national and local language of Ethiopia). He has lead tours for numerous passengers including journalists, photographers and film crews from all over the world. Sammy has recently been acknowledged in a published novel by Manola Lizy titled "Ethiopian Highlands" and also in an article by Anna Murphy titled "Holy days and Highland Rock Churches of Ethiopia". With Sammy's passion for History, Archaeology, Photography, Anthropology and Birdwatching combined with his incredible guiding experience, you will have an unforgettable adventure! | |  |
Walt Bruwer
| Walt was born in Namibia and grew up using Etosha National Park as his playground. His passion for nature, history, tribal cultures and exploring behaviours of animals in the wild persuaded him to choose a career in the tourism industry. Over the past 16 years, Walt has lead numerous tours around Southern and East Africa including South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Walt's incredible sense of humor, charm, passion for cooking and first hand extensive knowledge of the region will be sure to make your travel experience memorable. | |  |
Christos Lepouras
| Christos has been guiding tours in Greece for 10+ years. He has excellent communication skills and is very enthusiastic to show people his country. He holds an MSc in Human-Computer Interaction with Ergonomics from University College London (UCL) and has recently published two hiking books about Crete and Mount Parnitha. You are in great hands with Christos who always receives rave reviews from clients who have toured with him. | |  |
Thilantha Abesinghe
| Thilantha Abesinghe has been leading tours since 2008. He has studied tourism at the Ceylon Tourist Board where he earned his accreditation as a National Tour Guide. Thilantha has many interests including eco-adventure travel, ornithology and culinary arts. He also has earned his yellow belt in karate. Thilantha is well versed in English and is always happy to show his home country of Sri Lanka to visitors. | |  |
Jeff Zephyrin
| Jeff was born in Madagascar and has worked in the tourism industry for over 30 years. Jeff fluently speaks English, French; various dialects found in Southern Madagascar, and currently learning Japanese. Jeff's holistic leading approach combined with his caring personality, extensive knowledge and passion for the local culture and wildlife will be sure to make your experience as wonderfully diverse and unique as Madagascar itself. | |  |
Isidro Rodriguez
| Isidro was born in “Villa Clara”, the geographic center of Cuba. He combined his rural education with a major in foreign languages obtained at the Pedagogical University. He speaks Spanish, English and French fluently and continues to develop his German language skills. Isidro has worked as an expert guide at the Biosphere reserve “Las Terrazas” for over 18 years. His passion for wildlife and nature will be sure to make your experience very special as you learn about the local culture and way of life for the locals in Cuba. | |  |
"Isi was just awesome. He was totally professional. He has a very genuine personality and very aware of the needs of the group. A great sense of humour. He was exceptional!"
Margaretta & Derrick Parry - Classic Cuba
Daniel Merino
| Daniel was born in (San Luis) “Pinar del Rio” a region known for producing the best tobacco in Cuba. Daniel grew up on a farm helping his family with their crops and livestock. He obtained his degree in foreign languages from the Pedagogical University and speaks Spanish, English, French and German fluently. Daniel was an English professor for junior and senior high schools students as well as in a tourism school for many years before deciding to follow his dream. Danielís passion for nature and the great outdoors brought him to the Biosphere reserve “Las Terrazas” were he has been a nature expert guide for over 12 years. His favourite activities include bird watching, trekking and swimming. Daniel enjoys sharing anecdotes of his personal life as well as his experiences as a Cuban. Daniel will keep you laughing and learning during your adventure. | |  |
Sumit Pruthi
| Sumit Pruthi graduated from University with a Tourism and Hospitality degree. He has also completed his formal training with the Ministry of Tourism of Oman. Sumit speaks an impressive 5 languages fluently - English, German, Arabic, Urdu and Hindi. In 2007, his guide and medical training along with his passion for Arab cultures started Sumit on a path that lead him to lead trips in the Sultanate of Oman. Trekking in the stunning landscapes including rugged mountains and wadis, the smell of frankincense, the taste of fresh lemon mint juice, fascinating markets or souqs, forts dotting the countryside, camel herds in the Empty Quarter and the relaxed and welcoming culture of Oman have acted as a stong magnet. After a decade of leading trips in Oman, his passion and enthusiasm have never wained. Patience, politeness, punctuality as well as a great attitude and a wealth of information makes Sumit nothing short of a superb tour leader! | |  |
"I have again enjoyed another Eldertreks trip and have more planned upcoming. I just wanted to let you know that in all my years of traveling--and with several different tour companies--I've never had such a good guide as Sumit Pruthi! My friend and I experienced a wonderful tour thanks to his excellent skills. Just wanted to let you know what a jewel you have!!!"
Kay Ward - Oman
Janell Pekkain
| Janell Pekkain, a native of San Francisco Bay Area, considers herself a citizen of the world. A graduate of International Tour Management Institute in 1996, she's spent 12 years abroad. She lived in Japan for 10 years and traveled extensively throughout Asia, India, Tibet, Nepal, Western Europe, North Africa, South America, and New Zealand. Travel has always been her passion and connecting to people and culture as natural as breathing. She’s thrilled to return to Eldertreks as a trip leader after a long hiatus. | |  |
Samir Harit el Mir
| Samir has been leading ElderTreks Morocco tours for the past 7 years. He studied in Casablanca before attending university and studying tourism in Tangier City. He has been guiding English speaking groups since 1987 and has covered every corner of his country. He specializes in the history of Morocco as well as of Islam and the Arab world. He speaks English, Arabic, French and Japanese. His Moroccan collegues look to Samir for his knowledge and guiding expertise. | |  |
Our Other Departures
| Sep 16 | - | Sep 29,2018 | Hiking in the British Isles |
| Jan 11 | - | Feb 02,2019 | Ethiopia |
| Apr 29 | - | May 12,2019 | Malta & Sicily |
| May 15 | - | May 29,2019 | Azores |
| May 23 | - | Jun 01,2019 | Camino de Santiago |
| Jul 02 | - | Jul 11,2019 | Iceland |
| Sep 09 | - | Sep 25,2019 | Classic China |
| Sep 19 | - | Sep 28,2019 | Camino de Santiago |
| Sep 15 | - | Oct 04,2019 | Japan |
| Sep 21 | - | Oct 12,2019 | Iran Highlights
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| Oct 01 | - | Oct 14,2019 | Malta & Sicily |
| Oct 04 | - | Oct 25,2019 | Malawi, Zambia & Zimbabwe |
| Oct 16 | - | Oct 30,2019 | Azores |
