Our Leaders

Local Leader Armenia

For all our holidays in Armenia we used experienced local guides who are fluent in English.

Mary Mirzakhanyan (pictured) is one of the guides who leads our holidays in Armenia. Mary specialises in guiding walking and cultural tours and has over 10 years experience in leading groups, particularly those from the UK and Europe. Mary also worked as a trainer for guides between 2016 and 2020. She is hard-working, passionate about her job, has a good sense of humor, and excellent communication skills – in fact everything you could want in your holiday guide.

Local Leaders, Easter Island & Chile

In both Easter Island and Chile, we use expert, English-speaking local guides who have an intimate knowledge of the area and an infectious passion for nature. They are all very hard-working, attentive and helpful.

Sherpa Leader, Nepal

This trek will be led by a professionally trained, English speaking Sherpa. They have an intimate and expert knowledge of the history, culture and nature of Nepal and will make your trip a memorable experience.

Local Leader, Mera Peak

Our Mera Peak expeditions are led by fully qualified IFMGA guide’s with many years of mountaineering experience.

Brahmaputra River Guide

During the river cruise, a crew of 21 hospitality staff will attend to your every need. An English-speaking guide will accompany your shore excursions.

Local Leaders in Resort

Your holiday will be led by the appropriate experts in each resort. All speak excellent English and are professionally trained.

Local Leader Croatia

Your guide will speak good English, have guiding qualifications and in our experience, will guide you with great patience and charm.

Ilija Miloš is one of our leaders for this trip. Ilija is an experienced guide, certified by the Croatian Mountain Rescue organisation to lead walking, trekking and cycling trips. He is great company and enjoys sharing his extensive knowledge of all things Croatian, especially history which he studied at university. When he’s not working as a guide Ilija enjoys travelling, sea-kayaking, playing competitive football and rowing for his local clubs.

Local Leader Georgia

Your local guide will be English-speaking and will look after all arrangements for you, as well as being able to provide you with a wealth of knowledge about both Georgia and the remote Svaneti region.

Local Leader, Costa Rica

Your walking holiday in Costa Rica will be led by a highly experienced and knowledgeable, English-speaking Costa Rican guide who will help you interpret the geography, geology, flora and fauna that you encounter on your journey across the country.

For some tours you will also be accompanied by a local, expert wildlife guide or ornithologist to enhance your experience.

Nepalese Sherpa, Mustang

Our Sherpas have been leading treks in Mustang for many years. In fact, we have been taking groups there every year since 1994 (with the exception of the years of Maoist rebellion). We have used the same group of Sherpas for our Mustang treks in all that time. They are extremely knowledgeable about the culture, history, geology, flora and fauna of the Mustang region.

Local Leader, Eswatini & South Africa

Throughout your African adventure you will be escorted by an experienced local guide and a driver. If your group size is four there will only be one guide/driver.

Your walking and jeep safaris in South Africa are led by experienced, English speaking guides based in each camp the guides are highly knowledgeable and their expertise is broad. Specialists in their field, they have excellent knowledge of the terrain, bird and wildlife found in Kruger National Park. The quality of the guides on this walking safari will ensure that you get the most out of your safari experience.

On walking safaris you will also be accompanied by an armed guide.

Local leader, Claree Valley

You will be met on arrival at Turin airport by your French guide, Antoine Allier. Antoine is a fully qualified mountain guide and has been guiding walking groups for over 18 years across France, Spain and Scotland. He lives in Névache with his family throughout the year and is very passionate about exploring the mountains. He is extremely knowledgeable about local history, mountain flora and the wildlife of the valley.

Local leader, Camino de Santiago, Spain

Our Camino de Santiago holiday is led by professional Spanish guides who speak excellent English and who are very knowledgeable about the local history, flora and fauna.

Guides may include Íñigo Ayllón, a Professional Mountain Guide who holds degrees in Law and Mountain Sports. He dedicates his time to his passion, the mountains, working as a guide and as a legal adviser for activities in the natural environment. He is from Aragon and he speaks Spanish and English.

Sue Lawty - Artist

Sue is one of Britain’s finest artists. Alongside other mediums, Sue has worked with textiles all her life and has exhibited extensively across the world. She is a tutor and visiting lecturer and has travelled on ‘weaving journeys’ to Bhutan, Morocco, America, Australia, India, Nepal and Poland

Sue held a year long Residency at the V&A in London and has been awarded prestigious Artist Research Fellowships at both the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC and the Faculty of the Environment, University of Leeds. She was recently invited to take up a significant three month international artist residency in Stockholm.

Sue is an accomplished fell runner and mountain trekker and has led many successful trips for Mountain Kingdoms since she led our first Weavers’ Trail in Bhutan in 1995, later also leading treks to Dolpo and Zanskar. More recently, in 2019, she returned to Bhutan to lead our specialist Weavers’ Trail walking holiday and in 2022 and 2023 led the first departures of Colours of India.

Local leader, Canada

Our walking and trekking holidays in Canada are led by experienced, friendly and knowledgeable, English-speaking local guides. They have extensive knowledge of their surroundings and bring an in-depth aspect to your adventure. Our local guides are members of professional organisations including the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, they are Wilderness First Responders accredited by the National Outdoor Leadership School, and are members of Leave No Trace Canada.

Local leader, Balkans trek

Your guide will speak good English, have guiding qualifications and, in our experience, will guide you with great patience and charm through the Balkans.

Local leader, Uganda

In Uganda you will be led by a local English-speaking guide with guiding qualifications and valuable experience. They will share with you their passion and knowledge to ensure you have an enjoyable holiday in Uganda. These guides have extensive knowledge of the wildlife and are excellent are spotting these!

Local Leader, Vietnam & Cambodia

Our holidays in Vietnam and Cambodia are led by professional English-speaking tour leaders. They have an intimate and expert knowledge of the history, culture and nature of these wonderful countries. They will be sure to provide you with an unforgettable experience.

Specialist Safari Guide, Zambia

Our Luangwa Walking Safaris are led by the experienced, English-speaking guides based in each camp, without doubt some of the best in Africa. They are all South Luangwa National Park experts and most have grown up nearby in Mfuwe. All the guides have passed stringent exams and have excellent knowledge of the region’s bird and mammal species and the various habitats found in the park.

The quality of the guides on this walking safari will ensure that you get the most out of your safari experience, whether you’re a first timer or an old Africa hand. Our partner in Africa was winner of Best Walking Safari in Africa at the 2016 Safari Awards

Your guides may include John (pictured here) who has a keen eye for the small details in the bush, Julius an experienced walking guide based at Kakuli, and Lawrence, manager at Luwi Camp and an excellent bird mimic and superb raconteur..

Local Leader, Japan

Your trip will be led by an English-speaking Japanese guide. They are all highly experienced, and will greatly enhance your experience on holiday. They will both guide you on the trail, and accompany you on all train and road journeys.

Local Cycling Leader Burma

These departures will be escorted throughout by an English speaking Burmese guide. Your guide will accompany you throughout the tour. Our local leaders are licensed to guide throughout the country and receive regular ‘top-up’ training. In addition to speaking English, many guides will speak the dialects used by some of the ethnic groups encountered in rural areas, once more adding to the interest and enjoyment of your holiday.

Local Leader Chile & Argentina

You will have local guides for both the Atacama Desert in Chile and for Northern Argentina. They will be experienced, qualified guides who live in the area and who have expert knowledge of the walking trails, the geology of the areas you are visiting, the local history and flora and fauna.

Local Leader Luxury Lodges

Our Nepal 'lodge' treks are led by professionally-trained English-speaking Sirdars. They have an intimate and expert knowledge of the trekking regions of Nepal and will make your trek a memorable experience.

Local leader, Kerala

For this holiday in Kerala you will have specialist local guides at all places in the itinerary where sightseeing is indicated. You will also have an experienced driver with you throughout.

Local Leader, K2 Base Camp Trek

You will have local English-speaking guides for your K2 Base Camp trek from Islamabad up to base camp and back. Our guides are trained, experienced, and qualified and are from these areas (Karakorum valleys). They have expert knowledge of the trekking routes in Karakorum, Pamir, western Himalayas and Hindukush Mountain Ranges and also the local environment, flora and fauna. As well as leading the treks they will be able to give you an insight into both the traditional way of life for the local inhabitants of the area and how modern life is now changing this.

Local Leader, Hill Country Heights, Sri Lanka

Your Sri Lankan guide will have an in-depth knowledge about the culture, history, flora and fauna of this beautiful island which they will be very happy to share with you. By nature they will extend a warm welcome to their country and they will also speak good English.

For the trekking portion, you will be joined by an experienced trekking guide.

Mountain Kingdoms Appointed Leader

On some of our most remote and longest treks you will be led by a Mountain Kingdoms Appointed Leader, often supported by a local guide. Your leader will be very experienced having led many of our trips across the globe and will often have a particular expertise in the region you are visiting.

Local Leader, Vietnam

Our holidays in Vietnam are led by professional English-speaking Vietnamese tour leaders. They have an intimate and expert knowledge of the history, culture and nature of Vietnam.

They will be sure to provide you with an unforgettable experience in their wonderful country of Vietnam.

Local leader, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Our holidays on the Amalfi Coast are led by professional Italian guides who speak excellent English and know the area well.

Guides for this trip include Veronica Verde, an enthusiastic licensed guide who speaks 5 languages in addition to her mother tongue, Italian. Veronica is a keen trekker who loves nature. Her favourite places to walk, outside Italy, are Iceland, New Zealand and Scandinavia.

Local Leader, Galapagos Islands

Our Galapagos guides are fluent in English, and are incredibly passionate about their country's flora, fauna and history. They bring the Islands' fascinating birds, animals and landscapes to life in an entirely new way with their expert knowledge, and also share the incredible stories of the Islands' human inhabitants - a side of the Galapagos that many travellers never discover. Our guides are trained to support the well-being of natural areas and the wildlife and people who live in and around them. They are highly qualified and experienced ecotourism specialists with a commitment to providing an unforgettable travel experience and top quality, personalised service.

Local Leader, Albania & Montenegro

Your guides will speak good English, have guiding qualifications and in our experience, will guide you with great patience and charm.

Steve Berry

Managing Director

Born in Shillong, just south of the Bhutanese border, Steve has returned to the Himalaya many times as leader of numerous treks and expeditions. These include the first British ascent of Nun Kun in Kashmir and attempts on Cho Oyu in Nepal and Gangkar Punsum in Bhutan. His main passion is the Himalaya and he has trekked extensively throughout the entire range. His favourite regions are Bhutan, Ladakh, the kingdom of Zanskar, Nepal, and Tibet. In recent years he has been seeking the whereabouts of the Yeti and has appeared in two films on British television. The search continues!! He has also trekked and climbed in many of the other great mountain ranges of the world. Steve is the author of two books 'Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon' and 'Straight Up'. The former is now out of print but 'Straight Up' is available from our office.

Seraphina Berry

Reservations Manager

Reservations Manager, Seraphina, has a true passion for travel. She has explored many corners of the world with Bhutan topping her long list of favourites. Seraphina has also undertaken reconnaissance trips for Mountain Kingdoms in various destinations including Sri Lanka, Peru, Japan, Albania, Kosovo and more recently Argentina and Georgia. She has also led treks in Bhutan, Northern India, Ladakh and Nepal and climbed Kilimanjaro and Ladakh’s highest mountain, Stok Kangri. Closer to home, there's nothing she enjoys more than trekking in the Alps.

Niki Morgan

Operations Manager

Niki has been with Mountain Kingdoms for an impressive 20 years. Her hobbies include fell running, racing, hill-walking and travel. She has taken part in the Everest Marathon and tries to spend as much time in the mountains as possible. Not only has she led trips for Mountain Kingdoms to Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Zanskar and Kazakhstan, but Niki has also completed many reconnaissance trips for the company. These include, summiting both Mera and Island Peak, trekking in Ethiopia, walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in Spain and more recently has been among the first few westerners to trek in the Dagana region of Bhutan.

Local Leader, Kyrgyzstan

For our holiday in Kyrgyzstan, you will be provided with an expert local Trek Guide. They are certified/registered guides, and in their company you will certainly gain an insight into the way of life, traditions and culture of the country you are visiting.

Local Leader, Finland

You will have a fully qualified English-speaking 'Wilderness Guide' who will teach you how to handle the dogs, harness them, and how to drive your sled. Your guide will be happy to take you on a 5 day husky adventure through the wilderness of west Lapland and brief you each day. During the husky sledding you will be responsible for feeding and caring for your hard-working dogs and will no doubt build up quite a bond with them by the end of the trip.

John Turner

An experienced Trek Leader, John has led numerous treks in Morocco and the Alps. However, his real passion is for the Himalaya where he has trekked much of Nepal, travelled from west to east across Bhutan and taken a close up view of Everest from the top of Ama Dablam (6,950m). Most recently, he successfully led our Lunana Snowman trek in Bhutan - one of the most challenging treks in all the Himalaya.

Harry McAulay

Harry McAulay is a highly experienced Mountain Leader with I.M.L. qualification. He has been a trek leader for us since 1988 when he led our first trek over the Shingo La into Zanskar, back in the days when the Shingo La was still covered in snow. Harry is a keen mountaineer, walker, climber and sea kayaker. He was a member of the 1984 Bristol expedition to Cho Oyu, and the 1986 expedition to Gangkar Punsum in Bhutan. He has also led expeditions to Kilimanjaro, Stok Kangri and has trekked extensively in the Himalaya and the Karakoram.

Sue Lawty - Trek Leader

Sue Lawty is one of Britain’s finest artists. Alongside many other materials, Sue has worked in textiles all her life and exhibits all over the world. She is a tutor and visiting lecturer and has been on ‘weaving journeys’ to Bhutan, Morocco, America, Australia, India, Nepal and Poland. Professionally she has been Artist in Residence at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, a visiting artist at the Australian National University in Canberra and has been awarded prestigious Artist Research Fellowships at both the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC and the Faculty of the Environment, University of Leeds. Sue is also an accomplished mountain trekker and fell runner and has led many successful trips for Mountain Kingdoms since she led our first Weavers’ Trail in Bhutan in 1995, later also leading treks to Bhutan, Dolpo and Zanskar. More recently, in 2019, she has returned to Bhutan to lead our specialist Weavers’ Trail walking holiday and in 2022 lead our first Colours of India trip.

Chris Darby

Chris is a doctor with an interest in high altitude medicine. He has considerable climbing and walking experience in the UK and the Alps, as well as leading treks and trekking peaks for us in Nepal, India and Tibet. Chris has summited Huascaran Norte in Peru (6,664m)and Cho Oyu, the sixth highest peak in the world at 8,200m. In 2012 Chris took a rest from expeditions and did the Iron Man Zurich Triathlon instead. Chris then led our challenging K2 and the Gondogoro La trek in 2017 and travelled with our MD, Steve Berry, to Morocco in 2020.

Michael Rutland

Michael has known Bhutan since the early Seventies when he moved to the kingdom and assisted in setting up the Ugyen Wangchuck Academy. He was also tutor to the future Fourth King of Bhutan. Michael founded the UK-based Bhutan Society which is dedicated to increasing knowledge about the kingdom and raising funds for worthwhile projects including schools and village schemes. In 2004 he was awarded an OBE for services to British-Bhutan relations and holds both the Bhutan Order of Merit (Gold) for services to Bhutan and the Bhutan Coronation Gold Medal. Needless to say, he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of Bhutan’s history and culture and many deep connections with the country. With Michael as your leader you will enjoy a privileged insider's view of Bhutan.

Local leader, Dolomites

Our holiday in the Dolomites are led by a passionate, experienced mountain enthusiast who will speak good English in addition to at least one of the principal languages of the region – Italian, German or Ladin. They will have a professional outdoor leadership qualification, know the area well and most importantly, be great fun to trek with. Our leaders are all fully qualified UIAGM/IFMGA guides, all speaking good English.

Local leader, Morocco

The trip will be led by a qualified Berber guide who is ideally placed to give you an insight into and information about their country, especially as much of this tour runs through the Berber, or Tachelhit speaking parts of Morocco. The Moroccan government closely controls the appointment of both mountain and town guides. Your guide will have completed a year of training at the Centre for Mountain Guides in Tabant in the Central High Atlas. During their training, guides complete courses in First aid, Geography, History and the Natural science of Morocco as well as testing their fitness.

Our Moroccan leaders are selected on the basis of their experience, levels of spoken English and helpfulness. Like the Berber culture from which they come they are all very welcoming and have a love of showing you their country.

Local leader, Tanzania

Our Tanzania trips are led by experienced, English-speaking local guides. In addition, whilst on Mount Meru you will also be accompanied by an armed national park ranger.

Local leader, Jordan

Throughout the tour you will be accompanied by a professionally trained English-speaking Jordanian guide, who will have a large fund of knowledge regarding the history and culture of the country.

Local leader, USA

The trip will be led by an experienced driver/guide, ideally placed to give you an insight into, and information about, their country. In tribal lands an additional local guide will join you to further enhance your experience.

Local leader, Patagonia

We use expert, English-speaking local guides who have an intimate knowledge of the area and an infectious passion for nature. They are very hard-working, attentive and helpful.

Local leader, Turkey

Your trip will be led by a local English-speaking guide with guiding qualifications and valuable experience. They will share with you their passion and knowledge to ensure you have a memorable holiday in Turkey.

Local leader, Bolivia

This trek is usually led by the owner of our ground handling agent in Bolivia, Javier Thellaeche (pictured here). Javier is a fully qualified mountaineering guide but also loves leading trekking groups though the remote Andean mountains. If, for whatever reason he is not available, he employs many other highly experienced trek leaders who know the route. These include his son, Javier Junior, and his old friend and retired partner, Jose Camarlinghi, who have both led this route for us in the past.

Local leader, Ecuador

Your trip will be led by a fully trained English speaking local guide. In Ecuador these guides are enthusiasts for their mountains and are normally exceptionally highly educated, often in the States or in Europe and have lots of mountaineering and trekking experience. They can provide a fascinating insight into their country and an in-depth view of the area you are visiting. Your trip may be led by Fabien Freire or Pablo Montalvo both of whom are enthusiastic and popular leaders who have led this trip for us in the past.

Local leader, Peru

You will be accompanied throughout your holiday by a local English-speaking guide. These leaders are very knowledgeable and extremely charming and friendly and in their company you will enjoy an insider’s view of Peru.

Local leader, Cambodia

We use English speaking local leaders - they are certified/registered guides, and in their company you will certainly gain an insight into the way of life, traditions and culture of Cambodia.

Local leader, China

James is one of our english speaking local leaders - he is very knowledgeable about the Great Wall and in his company you will certainly gain an insight into the way of life, traditions and culture of China. If James is unavailable we will use another certified/registered guide.

Local leaders, Laos, Cambodia & Thailand

Throughout the tour you will be accompanied by English-speaking, professionally trained tour guides who possess a large fund of knowledge regarding the culture of Laos and Cambodia.

You will be met on arrival at the Laos border at Houeixay by your first English-speaking guide who will accompany you on the river cruise to Luang Prabang and during your sightseeing there. You will then have separate Cambodian guides for your time in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

Mountain Kingdoms will also provide English-speaking Thai guides for the transfers and sightseeing in Bangkok.

Local leader, Gentle Walking Laos

Throughout the trip you will be accompanied by professionally trained English-speaking tour guides. The first Laotian guide will meet you on arrival in Luang Prabang and stay with you until you board your flight to Vientiane on Day 12. Arriving in the capital of Laos you will be met by your second guide who will show you the sights in Vientiane. Your main guide in Luang Namtha and Muang Sing will also be assisted by local trek guides supplied in each case by the local tourism office. We also supply professional guides for the transfers and sightseeing in Bangkok.

Local leader, Mongolia

We use English speaking local leaders - they are certified/registered guides, and in their company you will certainly gain an insight into the way of life, traditions and culture of Mongolia.

Local Leader, Cycling

Mountain Kingdoms have been working with the same partner in Bhutan since 1986.Their guides are some of the best in the Kingdom.They speak fluent English, as this is taught in all Bhutanese schools, and are fully qualified guides.The Tourism Authority of Bhutan insists that a Bhutanese tour leader must pass his/her guiding exams in Thimphu before accompanying groups of foreign visitors.

Phub Tshering ‘PT’

PT is our main cycling guide in Bhutan, his knowledge of flora and fauna is second to none. PT lives in Thimphu with his wife and child and has been guiding for over 13 years so he has great experience and you’ll be hard pressed to find a fact he doesn’t know.

Specialist Leaders, Polar cruises

On board are expert, English-speaking guides who have an intimate knowledge of the area and an infectious passion for nature. They are very hard-working, attentive and helpful. On your Expedition cruise, shore excursions, and on board, lectures will be provided by knowledgeable, expert members of the crew.

The M/S Expedition has one of the highest ratios of expedition team members to guests – with one expert for every 10 guests there is always someone on hand to answer your questions and provide greater insight and appreciation of the world at its extremes. The expedition team is comprised of professional and highly skilled historians, marine biologists, and naturalists who offer keen insight and a unique personal perspective to each and every adventure. Their goal is to provide an informed and balanced interpretation of the destination, accomplished through stimulating lectures, day-to-day briefings, and informal discussions. Your lecturers and Expedition Leader will cover all aspects of the voyage including ornithology, marine biology, geography, geology, history and the environment, as well as practical things like photography. The expedition staff work conscientiously with you on deck and in the field, improving your observational skills to allow you to experience all that the destination has to offer. Their strong sense of ethics and ecological knowledge make for stimulating and mindful conversation whether onshore or at the dinner table. The Expedition Staff will pilot the Zodiac landing craft used for shore landings and Zodiac cruises; they are experienced drivers who operate the Zodiacs in a responsible manner.

Local leader, Montenegro

We use English speaking local leaders - they are certified/registered guides, and in their company you will certainly gain an insight into the way of life, traditions and culture of the country you are visiting.

Local leader, Everest

Your Everest Base Camp trek will be led by one of our highly experienced Sherpa Sirdars, the majority of whom have climbed on, or summited, Everest. They have an intimate and expert knowledge of the history, culture and nature of Nepal and will make your trip a memorable experience.

Local leader, Sri Lanka

Your Sri Lankan guide will have an in-depth knowledge about the culture, history, flora and fauna of this beautiful island which they will be very happy to share with you. By nature they will extend a warm welcome to their country and they will also speak good English.

Local leader, Uzbekistan

Our tour is led throughout by a knowledgeable, English speaking, Uzbek guide. In addition to helping you get the most out of your visit and taking care of you, your leader will co-ordinate all your arrangements, ensuring that everything runs as smoothly as possible.

Local leader, India

Your Indian tour, trek or walking guide will be friendly, very knowledgeable about the region you are visiting and speak fluent English. We use one of the largest and oldest tour operators in India whose staff all have excellent training.

Local leader, Ladakh

Your leader will be a knowledgeable, English speaking guide, most likely from Ladakh. However, sometimes Sherpas come over from Nepal in the summer season and you may therefore have a Nepalese guide. In addition to helping you get the most out of your visit to Ladakh and taking care of you, your leader will co-ordinate all your arrangements, ensuring that everything runs as smoothly as possible.

Local leader, Tibet

Our treks in Tibet have an English speaking Nepalese trekking leader appointed by our agents in Kathmandu. Your leader will be experienced in Tibet and will travel with the group from Kathmandu back to Kathmandu. Their job is primarily to look after the group, liaise with the local crew, handle hotel and airport and check-ins, and in fact do all the little jobs that will help make your holiday trouble free.

Local leader, Bhutan

You will have an English speaking Bhutanese guide. Mountain Kingdoms have been working with the same partner in Bhutan since 1986. Their guides are some of the best in the Kingdom. They speak fluent English, as this is taught in all Bhutanese schools, and are fully qualified guides. The Tourism Authority of Bhutan insists that a Bhutanese trek or tour leader must pass his/her guiding exams in Thimphu before accompanying groups of foreign visitors. Guides receive regular ‘top-up’ training and 15 of our regular leaders have completed an extended training course run by Mountain Kingdoms in Bhutan.

Local Leader, Nepal

Whether it's a cultural tour, gentle walking holiday or strenuous trek, our holidays in Nepal are led by professionally-trained English speaking leaders. They have an intimate and expert knowledge of the history, culture and nature of Nepal and will make your trip a memorable experience.