MEET THE EXPERTS
DIRECTORS
Hamish Van Gruisen
Hamish Van Gruisen is a Director at The Ultimate Travel Company, where his passion for exploration shapes many of the journeys we create. Having travelled extensively across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Antarctica, his approach combines deep destination knowledge with a belief that meaningful travel is rooted in connection to landscapes, cultures and the people behind them.
Read Bio
Tania
Africa & Beyond Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4619
Driven by a love of learning, Tania is always seeking new stories, landscapes and wildlife across Africa. From riding through the Masai Mara and cruising Zambia’s Luangwa River to exploring Botswana’s remote camps, she never tires of the continent’s endless variety.
READ BIO
Sophie
Africa & Beyond Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4619
For Sophie, it’s the quieter moments of an African journey that stay with you: the first hippo call at dawn, giraffes drinking at sunset, tracking chimpanzees in the Mahale Mountains. After living in Tanzania, she continues to explore the continent’s wild places, from the Rufiji River to Zimbabwe’s game reserves.
READ BIO
Cassie
Africa Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4619
Africa has always felt like home to Cassie. Having grown up near Kruger and the Mozambique border, she still returns whenever she can — waking to the sounds of Mana Pools, exploring the Serengeti, and helping others fall in love with the continent time and again.
READ BIO
Rob
Asia Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4621
No two trips to Asia are ever the same, which is exactly why Rob keeps going back. He has cruised Myanmar’s lakes, explored Borneo’s rainforests and unwound on Vietnam’s beaches, always drawn by the region’s endless variety.
READ BIO
Dan
Asia Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4621
With a background in Geography and over a decade in the travel industry, Dan is always in search of new landscapes and cultures. He has drifted through Kerala’s backwaters, crossed Mongolia’s open steppe and explored Kyoto’s streets, seeking out experiences that reveal the heart of a place.
READ BIO
Ayesha
Asia Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4621
Raised in Kerala, Ayesha has been exploring Asia’s cultures and cuisines since childhood. She brings that first-hand insight to every trip she plans, from temple-hopping in Bhutan and trekking through Borneo’s rainforests to discovering the best local markets in Sri Lanka.
READ BIO
Gina
Australia, Canada & New Zealand Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4610
Gina believes the best trips balance adventure with time to pause and take it all in. From hiking through Canadian rainforests and spotting grizzlies to sharing a lakeside picnic, she helps travellers experience wild places at their own pace.
READ BIO
Jonny
Central America, South America & Polar Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4622
What draws Jonny back to Latin America is its variety: one day trekking a glacier, the next exploring colonial towns or rainforest trails. He creates tailor-made trips that give travellers a true sense of the region’s contrasts and highlights.
READ BIO
Claire
Central America, South America & Polar Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4622
Fluent in Spanish and a specialist in both Latin America and Antarctica, Claire helps travellers experience each destination in depth, from the streets of Buenos Aires and the wilds of Patagonia to the pristine landscapes of the White Continent.
READ BIO
Jacob
Central America & South America Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4622
Jacob’s travels through Latin America have left him with a diary full of small moments: a jungle night hike, a jaguar in the Pantanal, a bag of biscuits lost to coatis at Iguazu Falls. He helps travellers go beyond the obvious and experience the region with curiosity and humour.
READ BIO
Lisa
Charity
+44 (0) 20 7386 4680
Lisa is Assistant Director and Expeditions Leader on our Ultimate Challenges Charity Team.
READ BIO
Jennie
Charity
+44 (0) 20 7386 4680
Jennie is Assistant Director and Expeditions Leader in our Ultimate Challenges Charity Team
READ BIO
Heidi
Corporate Travel Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4666
Heidi specialises in organising corporate travel
READ BIO
Roz
Corporate Travel Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4666
Roz specialises in organising corporate travel
READ BIO
Sophie L
Escorted Tours
+44 (0)20 7386 4620
Sophie draws on broad personal travel experience across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America to help plan escorted tours. She enjoys working with clients to prepare thoughtful and well-balanced itineraries.
READ BIO
Emily
Escorted Tours
+44 (0)20 7386 4620
Emily brings over 20 years of experience in planning and leading escorted tours. She designs itineraries with a strong focus on art, history and cultural understanding across destinations worldwide.
READ BIO
Sharon
Europe & Beyond Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4623
Sharon designs trips that are about being there, feeling the reef below you in the Maldives, watching the sun set behind the Pitons of St Lucia, tasting your way through a souk. She brings a practical, global eye to planning across the Indian Ocean, Caribbean, Middle East and Europe.
READ BIO
Catherine
Europe & Beyond Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4623
Catherine plans trips that leave you with stories to tell, whether driving California’s Pacific Coast Highway, snorkelling in the Maldives, exploring Lanzarote’s art and architecture, or island-hopping in the Seychelles.
READ BIO
Alison
Europe & Beyond Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4623
Alison has been designing tailor-made trips for over 20 years, covering everything from European culture and Caribbean beaches to luxury cruises and skiing. She values the diversity of each trip and helping travellers find the right pace and style for them.
READ BIO
Louisa
Middle East & Australasia Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4620
Louisa splits her time between leading escorted tours and planning tailor-made holidays across the Middle East and Australasia. From the deserts of Oman to the vineyards of New Zealand, she helps travellers experience places well beyond the guidebook.
READ BIO
WHY CHOOSE US
TRUSTED BY FELLOW TRAVELLERS
“MEMORABLE TRIP OF A LIFETIME TO RAJASTHAN”
From our initial briefing with the travel consultant through to departure, we received excellent, well-informed service. The itinerary and recommendations were perfectly suited to what we were looking for, and any questions or changes were handled quickly and efficiently. We would highly recommend The Ultimate Travel Company for a big trip: their expertise and advice were second to none.
“A TRUSTED CHOICE EVERY TIME”
From start to finish, everything is handled with care and attention, and nothing ever feels like too much trouble. As a solo traveller, I appreciate the consistency- while there is a supplement, the quality of accommodation is never compromised. The escorted tours suit me perfectly, with excellent hotels, knowledgeable guides and the flexibility to opt in or out of the daily programme. With a relaxed pace and time to properly enjoy each destination, it all adds up to a far better experience. While they may be a little more than some group holidays, the smaller, friendly groups and overall quality make it well worth it.
“PROFESSIONAL, PERSONAL – AND A REAL PLEASURE”
From the moment we got in touch, everything felt smooth and well looked after. The team were not only professional and thorough – providing tailored suggestions with clear costings – but also genuinely friendly. Even after we returned, a follow-up email (and a bottle of wine!) showed just how thoughtful Ultimate Travel really is. Nothing was too much trouble. We already have more trips booked and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.
DISCOVER MORE INDEPENDENT REVIEWS FROM FEEFO
