About Us

Marie Cullen

Born in County Louth and fluent in Gaelic, when not guiding walking tours, Marie Cullen is an artist, working mainly in oils and mixed media. She hosted visitors on Great Blasket Island, over a mile off Ireland’s west coast, in a restaurant and guest house for 10 years before moving to County Cork and founding the Working Artist Studios. She also teaches art to children, adults, and people with special needs. Marie has studied various holistic therapies and swims year round in the Atlantic Ocean.

Marcello Bertino

Marcello Bertino still mixes a spoon of Nebbiolo wine in his winter soup, just like his grandmother used to do. That’s just one of the thousands of tastes of the Langhe, where he was born and still lives with his wife and family. Marcello spent his youth studying in technical school while also hiking and biking, and it was here where his fascination with art, history, music, and wine slowly grew. Even after over a decade working as a certified guide, his goal is still the same: to help you fall in love with the flavors of the hills he calls home.

Christopher Atkins

With a deep knowledge of local history and significant outdoors experience, Christopher Atkins is the ideal guide to lead visitors through Québec’s distinctive landscapes.Fluent in two languages (he grew up speaking French), he is also a proficient Spanish speaker. In his free time, Chris enjoys a number of active sports, ranging from basketball to paragliding and including, of course, hockey! He has traveled extensively around the world, from the Arctic Circle to the Andes, and is a certified open-water diver as well.

Xabier Etxarri

Xabier Etxarri, or Xabi as he’s known (pronounced ’shabby’), hails from Navarra, in the Basque Country and is a true Renaissance man. Originally a science teacher and physicist with a specialization in astrophysics, he decided to leave it all behind and travel to southern Chile where he unlocked his passion for poetry, writing over 14 volumes since! He soon became a fully-licensed trekking guide with a particular interest in nature and the natural sciences. His passion for the mountains of his native Pyrenees remains undiminished and he now splits his time between Patagonia and Spain. What Xabi brings to this journey is an intimate knowledge of the local wines and the flora of northern Spain.    

Claire Thioliere

A native of Chamonix, Claire Thiolière spent months during her youth vacationing in Normandy thanks to her parents’ passion for the local history of Honfleur, Mont Saint-Michel, and the Cotentin Peninsula. She also traveled extensively in her youth throughout Africa before returning to France where she received a Master’s degree in Geography and Geomorphology. She is a certified guide who has been leading people throughout the Alps for more than 25 years and has also led groups along the Norman coast when not sailing that same coast herself! An avid hiker and skier, Claire’s enthusiasm extends to the impressionist painters whose artistic movement was born in Le Havre, as well as French literature, architecture, and gastronomy.

Keegan Alagna

With his American mother and Sicilian father, Keegan Alagna grew up in a bilingual home in the Umbrian countryside near Assisi. From his childhood on a working farm to post-graduate work in geology, he has always pursued his passion and curiosity for the outdoors, through teaching, guiding, and exploring. He brings his depth of knowledge of geology, nature, Italian history and culture to his walking tours and to his position as a key member on Italy’s premier outdoor group—the CAI, the Club Alpino Italiano.

Julia Thorne

From a traditional Kiwi upbringing in Northland, New Zealand, Julia Thorne’s life and vocation have segued through worlds of journalism and editorial photography, to property development, artwork, and eclectic roles in the adventure travel sector. Julia’s undying passion for Aotearoa and sharing its natural treasures and culture with visitors eventually led her to her current adventure-guiding guests around her beloved native country.

Alan Wright

Alan Wright is very proud of his Glasgow roots but has lived most of his life just outside Stirling, which is on the edge of one of Scotland’s only two National Parks. His love for the outdoors began over 25 years ago and he has hiked extensively all over the Scottish Highlands and Islands giving him a wealth of knowledge and wonderful experiences. Following a career in the finance sector, he changed gears and qualified as a mountain guide in 2014 so he could spend his time following his passion for the wonderful landscape, varied wildlife, and remarkable history that his country has to offer.