A&K Guides: Only the Best

Since he was a teenager, Lillehammer native Audun Tholfsen has immersed himself in the outdoors. He followed his passion into a career in adventure tourism, where he has been a guide on the whitewater rivers in Norway, a snowmobile guide, dog musher and a crewmember on a drift over the Arctic Ocean. Currently, Audun works to provide logistic solutions and field support in Arctic regions.

Diaa Shawki Michail has explored the Egyptian desert for 25 years, guiding nearly 5,000 overland expeditions into the White Desert. He has also guided the Egyptian military in search and rescue operations in the desert.

Raised in the rural town of Ciudad Quesada, next to a national park, naturalist guide Blanco was exposed to Costa Rica's rich biodiversity at an early age. He studied tropical biology at the University of Costa Rica and is currently working toward a masters' degree in wildlife management. An avid mountain biker and expert swimmer, Blanco has guided multi-sport and wildlife programs since 2006.

Geoff Somers has completed several "firsts," including the then-longest unsupported Arctic journey of 1,400 miles and the first and only crossing of the entire Antarctic continent by its greatest axis, a seven-month, 4,000-mile journey. During both these epic adventures, Geoff oversaw logistics.

Rakmi brings nearly 30 years of experience to every expedition in his beloved Morocco. He earned an English degree from Cadi Ayad University in Marrakech and likes to show visitors Morocco's deep culture and wondrous sites, including Fez, the largest living Islamic medieval city in the world. Rakmi hails from a long line of expert fishermen, and likes to fish in his spare time.

For the past five years, Karma has led mountain biking groups throughout his native Bhutan. In addition to being an avid mountain biker, Karma also specializes in Buddhism, deriving from a long lineage of great Buddhist masters. Ever the adventurer, Karma recently travelled to India several times to practice meditation.

Born and bred on the Baja California peninsula, Rodriguez is a keen wildlife observer and a passionate advocate for the area's unique flora and fauna. As one of the most experienced local guides in Baja, he blends a naturalist's perspective of local wildlife with in-depth knowledge of Mexico's unique culture.

Raed Saleem has been with A&K since the opening of the Jordan office in 1998, escorting hiking, trekking and camping programs. Raed has a B.A. in Literature from Kuwait University and has attended many training courses and workshops in ecological tourism.