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.

In 1974, fresh out of graduate school, Carl Dixon came to Alaska to work for the Alaska Native Medical Center. Carl was soon captivated by Alaska's natural wonders, and he left the medical profession to work full time in rafting, climbing and hiking. He enjoys sharing his passion for the outdoors with travellers on a variety of exciting adventures - heli-hiking and sport fishing in the summer and dog mushing and backcountry skiing along the Iditarod Trail in the winter.

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.

Dismass Mariki is a 30-year-old, licensed guide who has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro 176 times. He became inspired by the "White Mountain" while in secondary school, and paid for college by working as an assistant guide on the mountain. In 2003, he completed intensive training with Kilimanjaro National Park to become a head guide.

For the past decade, Eyjolfsson has led expeditions as a mountain guide on super-Jeep and hiking trips throughout Iceland. He has completed many first ascents in Iceland, including the first crossing of Vatnajökull, the country's largest glacier, by mountain bike. Eyjolfsson also took the longest solo ski trek in Iceland in 30 days. An avid outdoorsman with a keen eye, Eyjolfsson has also worked as a cameraman for RUV, Iceland's national television station.

Since 2001, Karagiannis has led Zodiac and sea kayaking excursions in the Ionian Sea; hiking trips in Crete, Cyclades and Peloponnese; and trekking on Mount Olympus. A certified national parks guide, he also holds a degree in European civilization and is a lifeguard and water ski instructor. Karagiannis has travelled to far-flung locales - including the Amazon and Andes - in search of adventure.

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.

Phinjo Sherpa, a six-time summitter of Everest, has a vast knowledge of the region and the mountain. Fluent in Nepali, Sherpa and English, he is one of Mount Everest's most sought-after professional trekking guides. His trekking experience includes Ghandrung and Gorepani, Langtang, treks around Manaslu including Larkey Pass and Rolwaling Tashi Laptsa Pass.

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.