MEET THE EXPERTS
DIRECTORS
Nick Van Gruisen
Managing Director
Rowan Paterson
Executive Director
Hamish Van Gruisen
Director
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Ollie
Asia Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4621
Inspired by stories of his parents’ travels, Ollie set off on a four-month solo journey across India at 19. Since then, he has dived with manta rays in Raja Ampat, browsed Tokyo’s backstreets and tracked orangutans in Borneo, always eager to explore new corners of Asia.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Lisa
Charity
+44 (0) 20 7386 4680
Lisa is Assistant Director and Expeditions Leader on our Ultimate Challenges Charity Team.
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Jennie
Charity
+44 (0) 20 7386 4680
Jennie is Assistant Director and Expeditions Leader in our Ultimate Challenges Charity Team
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Heidi
Corporate Travel Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4666
Heidi specialises in organising corporate travel
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Roz
Corporate Travel Specialist
+44 (0) 20 7386 4666
Roz specialises in organising corporate travel
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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WHY CHOOSE US
TRUSTED BY FELLOW TRAVELLERS
“TAILORED TO PERFECTION”
Our holiday in Thailand was superb – custom-built exactly to our preferences. The Ultimate Travel Company were super attentive, listening carefully to what we wanted and designing an itinerary and hotel selection that really delivered. Even while we were away, they responded quickly to a query. A brilliant experience from start to finish.
“EVERY TRIP EXCELLENT – AND MORE TO COME”
I’ve been on several small group holidays with The Ultimate Travel Company and every one has been outstanding. My most recent trip in February was no exception – expertly organised, responsive to questions, and full of memorable experiences. The itineraries are well thought out, the hotels top-notch, and the group sizes just right. Their tour leaders are knowledgeable, supportive and great company. I haven’t looked elsewhere since discovering Ultimate – and I’m already planning my next.
“IN SAFE HANDS, EVEN WHEN PLANS CHANGE”
Every detail of our Patagonia tour was expertly arranged – from transfers and flights to the choice of hotels. When our onward flight to the Falklands was delayed by two days, The Ultimate Travel Company stepped in immediately and secured a hotel for us. It was an enormous relief, especially as we don’t speak Spanish and had no idea what to do next. That level of thoughtful, responsive service stayed with us – it turned a potential travel hiccup into a lasting positive memory.
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