Our Experts

Andrea’s journey through movement began with ballet, but it was her serendipitous encounter with yoga that sparked a profound transformation. Having taught and practiced yoga across various countries in Europe, Asia, and North America, Andrea’s passion shines through her teachings. She completed her 250-hour training in Toronto and further deepened her knowledge with a 300-hour training in Rishikesh, India. Andrea’s background as a performer adds an extra layer of vibrancy to her classes, infusing them with energy, passion, and pure joy.

"You can witness the depth of a yogi's practice in a single moment. Ask them to hold a challenging pose with grace and poise!” Namaste! I am Sandhya Balakrishnan, a certified yogi, teacher, and founder of The Yogini Project. My practice encompasses a holistic approach; nurturing mind, body, and spirit. From going to the top business school to leaving a celebrated corporate career, and immersing into the world of yoga and well-being, I live by my motto - embrace the possibility. Now, my purpose lies in inspiring individuals to embark on their own journeys through the transformative power of yoga.

Diane Kochilas is one of the world’s foremost experts on Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. She is the host, creator and co-producer of My Greek Table, the award-winning cooking-travel show on Public Television. Diane hails from the Blue Zone Greek island of Ikaria and New York City and brings a combination of innate Blue-Zone wellness and result-oriented NYC spirit to everything she does. She is an author of more than 18 books on Greek-Mediterranean Cuisine, runs a cooking school in Ikaria and organizes culinary tours in Greece and classes in the US. She has consulted for many Greek restaurants and university dining services. She is also a frequent speaker at the CIA and other major culinary institutions.

I’m a nature lover and a world traveler, captivated by the colors and compositions of different landscapes. I live in Bali, but I have a special bond with villa Gaia in Tuscany, where I spent some years, and Lofoten islands, where I enjoyed fishing, sailing, hiking and northern lights. My work has been featured in various magazines, such as National Geographic and Discovery, and I have collaborated with big brands like Apple, RedBull and HSBC. I’m also an ambassador for Nikon, Gitzo and Lucroit. I enjoy leading photography tours around the globe, sharing my passion and vision with others.

Colby Brown is a photographer, photo educator and author based out of Eastern Pennsylvania. Specializing in landscape, travel and humanitarian photography, his photographic portfolio spans the four corners of the globe and all 7 continents. Not too long after picking up his first digital camera in 2006, Colby was leading workshops for National Geographic in South America, further spurring his love for both travel and photo education. In 2011, he founded The Giving Lens, an organization that blends photo education with support for various non-governmental organizations (NGO) and causes around the world, such as child education, clean drinking water projects, and women’s rights.

You can see a photographer’s mastery over his craft in a single shot. Ask him to shoot a white egg against a white wall! Adding a third dimension is about playing with light facilitated by your knowledge and imagination. After 25 years of my career in advertising, it’s the playfulness and path of continuous discovery that got me into travel blogging and photography. I’ve been to more than 45 countries, won several photography and travel awards, and have written for several publications including Condé Nast Traveller & Smart Photography. I founded Travelure in 2007, a travel blog with an aim to make destinations desirable. Today, my passion is to tell stories that compel action.

I was born and raised in Kyoto, but have been calling Australia home for a while now. I like to design unique small group (max 10) trips that provide unique and intimate experiences of Japan’s culture, nature, history, and cuisine. My trips are thematic and spread across seasons for you to chose from.

Luigi first saw the Marañón as part of the Remando Juntos project to promote its conservation and got deeply involved in it. Whilst regularly writing articles in Peruvian newspapers and magazines to highlight the need for protection on the Marañón, he realized the best way to get people to care is to show them what is there. That’s how he co-founded Maranon Experience. Today, his passion for stunning landscapes, wildlife, and local culture is reflected in his hosted trips that focus on supporting local communities and conservation efforts. Luigi is the national coordinator of the Marañón Waterkeeper that works to raise awareness about the importance of keeping the Marañón river wild and free-flowing.

A passionate photographer, teacher, and adventurer I run workshops and expeditions for other photographers and travelers to some of the world's wildest and remotest regions. My work celebrates the extreme latitudes of the Polar environment. I gave up the corporate world to pursue my passion for photography and strive to create trips and workshops of a lifetime to some of the most magical destinations. I am grateful to have won several awards including World Extreme Environment People's Choice Award and published at leading circulations including National Geographic, B&W + color, and Wildlife Photographic among others.

Cathy Madeo is a yoga expert, entrepreneur, social media influencer and founder of Cathy Madeo Yoga, a global online yoga school educating and empowering thousands of yoga students and teachers worldwide. Cathy's passionate about bringing yoga students and teachers together and bringing out the best version of themselves both on and off the yoga mat through harnessing her deep knowledge and focus on alignment. Rest assured, you'll deepen your practice in her guidance and have the space to find what it is you're seeking from the retreat experience.

Amanda has been traveling, learning and teaching yoga and scuba for 20+ years. She grew up in Indiana, USA and is currently a citizen of St. Kitt’s and Nevis and the wife of a local Rasta. She specializes in weaving the traditional foundations of Yoga into the fabric of everyday experiences. Her aim is to awaken participants to the power of the present moment and help them find their balance of strength and softness both on and off the mat. Past participants have described the experience as “coming to see their good friend (/sister/daughter…) who shares a unique and back-door local perspective of island life, ensuring that you feel less like a tourist and more like family”.

Hi! I’m Alyssa, and I’m addicted to traveling! I’ve been traveling solo, and leading small group trips even since it was not a well-known thing. My passion for exploration has taken me to more than 100 countries, all 7 continents, and all 7 wonders. I’m not afraid to go off the beaten path, climb mountains, dive oceans, and discover new cultures. I love figuring out and sharing the most affordable and awesome ways to travel, especially if it’s lesser known place that involves an epic adventures!

Julie is known for her signature Align and Flow classes that are balanced experiences for your body and uplifting for your spirit. You’ll begin and end each day with yoga classes invoking the mythic stories of yoga, designed to reestablish connection to what really matters. Daily practice and meditation overlooking the wilds of the jungle combined with the roar of the sea will revitalize your routine, and realign you from the inside out.

Kiersten Rich is the founder of The Blonde Abroad & tbaescapes.com, and was named by Forbes as one of the Top 10 travel influencers. She has travelled to over 70 countries and likes designing trips that offer only the best. She advocates women empowerment and sustainable travel, and encourages her followers to explore the world fearlessly, embrace the unknown and expand their horizons.

Bede Clarke is a celebrated artist and recipient of several awards including Lighton International Artist Exchange Award and Kennedy Center Fellowship for Teachers of the Arts. His work is found in collections in the U.S. and abroad, such as at the University of Northern Arizona, Ichon World Ceramic Center, Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, Racine Art Museum, South Bend Museum of Art and the Martin Museum of Art. Bede maintains a studio in Columbia, Missouri where he continues to explore work both in earthenware and wood fired ceramics.

Bayar specializes in capturing the essence of nature, wildlife, landscapes, and the traditional nomadic lifestyle of Mongolia. His dedication culminated in his first photography book, "Bayar’s Photography Impressions," published in 2013. Bayar's travel photography has graced the pages of renowned Mongolia magazines, including National Geographic Traveler, Deejis, Goodali, Mongolian Photo, and Wonderful Life.

T James is a 500-hr certified yoga teacher based out of Brooklyn. He provides empowering classes of mindful movement hoping to curate a practice of abundance and self exploration. In addition to his passion for alignment and muscle engagement, Thai encourages students to weave in elements of playfulness and curiosity, truly making the experience their own. His commitment to diversity and inclusion are at the forefront of his practice, ensuring everyone can access the benefits of yoga and movement.

Hey there, I'm Nateea. I have been teaching yoga and meditation for over 7 years, and you can count on me to be warm-hearted and energetic. As a 500-hour certified instructor, I have had significant training in Vinyasa/Hatha, Ashtanga, Yin, and Meditation from world-class teachers. I learned to appreciate diverse cultures while growing up in Germany with origins in Trinidad/Tobago and the USA. I also became aware of India's old customs. Since then, I've been using yoga as a means of self-discovery, and I'm passionate about imparting my knowledge to those who share my interests in the most breathtaking locations on earth. I currently serve as a private yoga and meditation teacher for a well-known Denver Nuggets NBA player, providing one-of-a-kind lessons and movement meditations that are tailored to each student's requirements and abilities. I'm a cheerful, peace-loving, proactive individual who enjoys skiing, surfing, singing, and hanging out with friends. Join me as we investigate yoga's transforming potential and establish a connection to our natural roots. I can't wait to show you this gem of the planet and share my love of environment and wildlife with you!

The world can’t live without testimonials, so I should place here a few words on awards and publications. I have publications in such magazines as Digital SLR Magazine, UK, Photography week, Photography Master Class, National Geographic, Discovery, Photoworld China, Digital Photo (Bauer Media) magazines. My key clients are Apple, Gazprom Neft’, S7 Airlines, RedBull, HSBC. I am spending most of his time in Norway at Lofoten islands and in Tuscany at our villa Gaia, guiding groups from Europe, UK, US, Asia . I am official Nikon, Gitzo and Lucroit ambassador.

Tiago Silva, is the Owner/Manager of Mauka Lodge. He started calling the ocean his second home at age 13, when they couldn’t get him, or his bodyboard, out of the water! His bodyboard was replaced with a surfboard in 2001, and in 2010, Tiago found his true passion with SUP Surfing. With his degree in Exercise and Wellness and 2 International Certification Courses from ASI and IOSUP he has developed his own method of training athletes based on their individual characteristics and biomechanics. As the founder of Functional Paddling, he has coached world-class paddle boarders like Sean Poynter, Connor Baxter and Izzy Gomez

A restless soul with a thirst for adventure, Sebastian founded Off The Path in 2011 from his humble student room. He grew up in Mallorca, Spain, but has explored over 100 countries and lived in Australia, Netherlands, Germany, Bulgaria, Thailand and Indonesia. Whether it was kayaking with orcas in the waters of Vancouver island, plunging from the world’s highest bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge in South Africa, or rafting down the tallest waterfall in New Zealand; he has experienced it all and now wants to ignite the same spark of adventure in you. Line has been traveling since she was 2. She studied tourism management and loves to plan unforgettable trips and experiences. She is also a horse lover and enjoys riding them whenever she can. She lives with Sebastian in the picturesque Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Nette Klement is a passionate surf and surfskate coach who loves teaching and sharing her skills with others. She hails from Netherlands, left home to go to South America to go surfing and speak Spanish. She started as a snowboarding instructor in Austria, then fell in love with surfing and traveled the world to master it. She worked at various surf camps and hostels, and became a certified surf instructor in Europe (Netherlands, Spain, France, Portugal). She also discovered surfskating, a fun and addictive way to improve your surfing on land. She is now the destination manager and coach for the Salty Souls Experience in El Salvador and Ecuador, where she helps women become confident and happy surfers.

Bruce McWhinney is a practising Australian artist with over 30 years combined experience in ceramics and art. Nature and travel have been the main inspiration for his work – be it wood fired ceramics, sculpture, paintings or drawings. His work is in private and public collections including; Shepparton Art Museum, Campbelltown Art Gallery, Manly Art Gallery Museum, and the collection of the curator of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington USA, private collections.

“Ceci” is a Level III Naturalist Guide at Galápagos National Park Service and a certified Guide Trainer in Environmental Interpretation. She is an avid snorkeler, scuba diver and has a real enthusiasm for sharing this magical place with guests