Our Guides
Marco
Marco is originally from Florence but now lives in the verdant hills above Lucca. His love of travel has taken him on hiking adventures all over the world, from the Sahara to the Amazon to Nepal. A man of many skills, he has worked in the fashion industry in Florence, as a chef on a super-yacht, and as an artist and mosaicist from his home studio. Marco fervently supports “La Fiorentina”, the Florence football club, and is a diehard fan of the Rolling Stones. He is happiest when scrambling up a mountain, or savoring a Brunello from one of his favorite producers. He guides our hiking tours in Andalucia, the Republic of Georgia, the Dolomites, the Cinque Terre, Tuscany-Mountains, Amalfi Coast, and Sardinia. Languages: Italian, English, and Spanish.
Francesca
Francesca loves music, books, good food and wine, and above all, travel and adventure. She believes that travel is an essential part of life; it nourishes our mind and our souls. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe, making friends wherever she goes. She loves taking long hikes to discover secluded beaches or historical sites, which allows her to stimulate her long-held passion for archaeology. Born and raised in Arezzo, Tuscany, she completed a degree in Classics. She then worked in a press office for cultural events in Arezzo, as a production manager for music and theater festivals, and managed an arts center in Arezzo before turning to guiding full-time. In the off-season, she works in a sports trekking store and writes reviews for an online music magazine. “Franci” leads our hiking tours in Andalucia, the Cinque Terre, Piedmont, Sicily, Puglia and Basilicata, Tuscany, Amalfi, the Dolomites, our boat-based hike in Croatia, and our Scooterbella Vespa tours in Puglia and Tuscany. Languages: Italian, English, and Spanish.
Samantha
Samantha was born in England and spent much of her youth in Wales before moving to Tuscany 20 years ago, where she raised her two boys with her Italian partner. Traveling throughout Italy with her extended family, she has seen firsthand the positive impact travel has on all ages. Before embracing guiding as a vocation, “Sammy” enjoyed many working adventures, including running her own bar in an Italian village and working in the high-end fashion industry in Tuscany. Her transition to guiding has fulfilled a long-held desire to combine her love of nature, travel, meeting new people, and sharing wonderful moments together. Sammy leads our hiking tours in Sicily, Puglia and Basilicata, Lake Como, and the Dolomites and our Scooterbella Vespa tours in Puglia and Tuscany. Languages: English and Italian (with a pronounced Tuscan accent!).
Brett
Brett is originally from Ottawa, Canada. After completing a Master's Degree in International Relations in 1990, he spent the summer in France guiding bike tours before traveling to Nepal, India, and Indonesia. In 1994, he abandoned a nascent career with the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs to pursue his love of travel and adventure. He moved to Tuscany and eventually created Customwalks in 1996. A bon-vivant, avid hiker, and raconteur, Brett brings great enthusiasm and knowledge to every tour he accompanies. He also has a keen interest in history, cuisine, and wine, which he is happy to share. With 35 years of guiding experience, Brett is now content to step back and allow his wonderful team of guides to lead all the departures, but he still accompanies many tours to ensure that the tours are being done the "Customwalks Way." Languages: Canadian-eh, French, and Italian.
Rachele
Rachele is “Comasca,” which means she was born and raised in the beautiful lakeside town of Como in northern Italy. At 16, she went to Australia for a year, living with a family and attending high school. She returned to Italy and studied management, tourism, and languages at university in Milan. Rachele has lived in Spain and Greece, and she has traveled extensively throughout Europe, as well as in Central America and India. Still, she has always returned to her hometown of Como. When she is not on tour, she helps her mother run a shop in the center of Como, and every year, she relaxes on the Greek island of Folegandros, where her family has a house. Rachele guides our hiking tours in Sicily, Puglia and Basilicata, Tuscany, the Dolomites, and, of course, in her home region of Lake Como. She also leads our Scooterbella Vespa tours in Puglia and Tuscany. Languages: Italian, English, Spanish, and a little German, Russian, and Greek.
Dennis
Dennis has always loved traveling, an off-shoot of being born on the Isle of Man into a British-Italian family. Dennis grew up in Italy but spent his summers on that island in the Irish Sea, so he is perfectly bilingual and bi-cultural. Indeed, he has a passion for intercultural experiences and completed postgraduate studies in international cooperation and development. He has left his footprints in the deserts of Morocco and the jungles of Peru, climbed the Pyrenees in Spain, and volcanoes in Mexico. Our guests appreciate his professionalism and love his good humor and camaraderie. Dennis guides our tours in the Dolomites, Tuscany-Chianti, Tuscany-Mountains, the Cinque Terre, Andalusia, Amalfi, Piedmont, and Turkey. Languages: Italian, English, and Spanish.
Isabel
Meet Isabel, a born adventurer from the stunning Alentejo region, now calling the Azores islands home. With a background in Environmental Engineering and nearly a decade of experience leading hikes, Isabel’s passion for Portugal’s landscapes and ecosystems shines through every tour. In 2017, REI Adventures recognized her as a Top Guide for her incredible work leading REI groups in Portugal. From hiking and camping to exploring new corners of the country, Isabel is happiest outdoors. She’s also an artist at heart, capturing the world around her in sketches that reflect her love of nature and the people she meets along the way. Isabel often leads our Portugal Camino Hike. Languages: Portuguese, English, and Spanish.
Pedro
Pedro, a native of Portugal, Pedro attended university in Connecticut and earned his master’s degree in international economics in Lisbon. After a successful career in finance, he saw the light and decided on a major career change in order to allow him to indulge his passion for hiking, and biking, in the beautiful Portuguese countryside. He is also an avid surfer, and soccer van, and continues to stimulate his grey matter by reading about international current affairs. Pedro won the REI Top Guide award in 2015. He loves the fact that his work as a guide helps to promote cultural understanding, which he believes makes for a better world. Languages: Portuguese English, Spanish, French and Italian.
Chiara
Chiara Scarselli comes from Tuscany, Italy, where hospitality and attention to detail are part of everyday life. With a passion for organizing and a love for travel, Chiara has built a diverse career in event management and tour planning.
After studying multimedia arts and earning certifications in project management, Chiara managed courses and coordinated events in Florence, refining her organizational skills. She further developed her expertise in Cantagallo, handling large seminars and media outreach, and founded "SoulFood" in 2018, an eco-sustainable catering service using local products.
Chiara's technical skills were showcased when she redesigned the website for the Florence School of Regulation and created multimedia content. Her career also includes roles as a videographer, event organizer, and chef in Berlin and Carrara. She speaks Italian, German, French, English, and Spanish.
Passionate about holistic disciplines, Chiara teaches Hatha Yoga and practices meditation.
Manuel
Manuel was born and bred in Portugal although his natural curiosity and sense of adventure has taken him to foreign lands on many occasions. A natural joiner and organizer who enjoys working in teams Manuel has worked on many large events in Portugal as well abroad, most notably at the London and Rio Olympic games. His interest in sports, the outdoors, and meeting people from different countries and cultures has led him to lead active tours throughout Portugal and Spain. He loves hiking and camping but also has a keen interest in the history and culture of the Iberian peninsula. Manuel is one of the stalwart guides who lead our Camino de Santiago tour in Portugal and Spain. Languages: Portuguese, English, Spanish.
Lisa
Lisa is from the Italian region of Romagna, where riding a bike and rolling out homemade pasta is a part of everyday life. Curious by nature, her childhood dream was to see the world, so eventually she moved to California where she completed a Master’s degree in Museum studies and then worked in the museum world for seven years. Her yearning for adventure led her to quit her job and explore the world, and she soon realized that the best way to do it was slowly: by bike or by foot. She then transformed her passion into a profession, and has been leading biking and walking tours throughout Europe ever since. A courageous traveller and adventurer Lisa has also spent a year cycling solo through Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece and back though Italy to her home. Her latest passion is white water kayaking. Lisa guides our Cinque Terre and Sardinia hikes and researches and develops some of our new destinations. Languages: Italian, English, and Spanish.
Sagra
Sagra has been guiding for us since 1999 leading trips in Tuscany, Lake Como and the Cinque Terre. Sagra’s native tongue is Spanish, but she also speaks Catalan, English, French and Italian. When not guiding, she teaches secondary school in Spain and is also pursuing a Master’s degree in anthropology. She has a playful sense of humour and she is a delight to travel with. When not guiding our tours she loves hiking, swimming and sharing adventures with her daughter Carla. Languages: Spanish, French, English, Italian, Catalan.
Josko
Josko guides our tours in Croatia: Croatia Bike and Boat, Croatia Hike and Boat, and our Croatian Islands scooter tour. Josko is a native of Split and knows the Dalmatian islands like the back of his hand. A certified guide for the city of Split and its famous Diocletian palace, Josko is an avid hiker and takes great satisfaction in showing off the hidden gems of his homeland. When you travel with Josko you will meet dozens of locals as he brings you to meals with families as well as special visits with olive oil producers, brandy makers, and of course wine makers! Languages, Croatian and English.
Rudy
Rudy was born and raised in Chianti, Tuscany’s beautiful wine region. He has degrees in anthropology and photojournalism but is also a yoga instructor and practitioner of shiatsu and osteopathy. He embraces a holistic approach to well-being so has studied the health benefits of plants and herbs and their culinary uses. He also loves backpacking around the world to learn about other cultures, and enjoys the beauty of our wonderful planet. He found a way to combine his interests by becoming a certified hiking guide, and since 2011 he has been guiding hiking and cycling tours throughout Italy for eight months of the year while spending the other four on his journeys of discovery.
Irma
Irma is from the mountainous Tusheti region of Northeast Georgia and accompanies our tours in the Republic of Georgia. She is an accomplished horseback rider and could almost ride before she could walk! She graduated from medical school and currently divides her time between her urban apartment in bustling Tblisi and her slate-stone house in the isolated village of Olmo in the Caucasus mountains. Irma is justifiable proud of both Georgia and the mountain people of Tusheti. She is a wonderful ambassador to her country. Languages: Georgian, Russian, and English.
Bill
Bill is a Blenheim boy, born and bred in the heart of New Zealand Wine country. An experienced and enthusiastic “boatie” with a lifetime passion for the sea, he also has a passion for New Zealand’s flora and fauna, as well as a fascination for Marlborough’s local history and its colorful characters. He has a background in commerce and has built careers in the timber and engineering industries, as well as launching an award-winning coffee brand that’s roasted locally. He enjoys mountain-biking, orienteering, travelling, and sampling New Zealand’s excellent craft beers. Joining the Customwalks team was a perfect opportunity for him to showcase and further explore the region he loves and knows so well, and to meet some new friends along the way.
Manuela
Manuela was born and raised in the beautiful Tuscan countryside around Siena. She has a keen sense of adventure, which led her to study abroad in Ireland and Spain. She has a degree in environmental conservation and sustainable tourism. After graduating she remained in Ireland, spending five years in the Emerald Isle before returning to sunny Tuscany where she worked at “Dievole,” a leading producer of Chianti Classico wine, as well as at an Eco-hotel near Siena. This winter she hiked 630 kms, from Logrogño (near Pamplona) to Santiago di Campostella. She is now a licensed “environmental” guide for Tuscany and is looking forward to guiding our hikes in Tuscany and in the Cinque Terre, and sharing with you her love of Italy’s natural wonders. Languages: Italian, English, Spanish.
Vedrana
Vedrana is Croatian. She lives in Zadar during the winter months and next to the Adriatic Sea in Split during the summer. Vedrana worked for many years for the European Commission in Croatia before deciding to leave her desk job to pursue her love of travel and nature. She trained and qualified as a Mountain Guide in 2018, and she has been leading people into Croatian's backcountry ever since. Vedrana guides our Croatian Islands Boat Based Hike. She is a wonderful ambassador to her country, and her first-hand experience of being a part of Croatia's recent journey from Communism to full entry into the European Union enriches your experience. She is fluent in her mother tongue, Croatian, but also in English, French, and Italian
Nina
Until recently Nina was a tormented soul. She was torn between her life as a corporate lawyer in Auckland and her need to sling on a backpack and get out into New Zealand’s gorgeous backcountry. Happily, Customwalks may provide the perfect solution to Nina’s dilemma as she can guide a couple of tours a year for us down in NZ with us while continuing her career in law. During one hiatus from the corporate world Nina worked as a guide on two of NZ’s most famous multi-day hikes; the Routeburn track and the Milford track. She also guided groups along the Greenstone and Caples valley routes. Imbued with an innate sense of Adventure, she has sailed extensively in the Mediterranean and worked and travelled in Western Canada. Nina’s professionalism, good humour and cheeky wit will keep you both informed and entertained during the tour.
Licia
Licia is from the heel of Italy, Taranto, to be precise. However she left Puglia to go to University in Siena where she graduated with a degree in pharmacy. After many years working as a pharmacist in various towns and villages in Tuscany Licia decided to embrace her desire to travel and learn English. A three-month trip to New Zealand turned into a year and a half stay during the pandemic which helped her achieve both goals. Now she knows many fantastic hikes in the South Island of New Zealand and she knows how to employ "dag" as both a noun and an adjective. Licia started to work part time in the office during the 2022 season and she has become a full-time employee as of January 2023. She looks after all of the administrative tasks involved with receiving payments and paying our suppliers, among other things. Besides being a keen hiker Licia also enjoys sketching and painting water colours. Languages: Italian and English.
André
André is a Portuguese native. He is happiest when guiding visitors who wish to travel slowly, by foot, and discover the natural beauty and enduring culture of his homeland. André attained a PhD in geomorphology which fits well with his general love of nature and interest in natural history, animal tracking and bird watching. He is also a keen photographer. André guides our Portugal Camino de Santiago walking tour. Languages: Portuguese, English, Spanish and French.aq
Dimitris
Dimitris is a native Athenian who has backpacked through more than 25 countries, so traveling is his way of life. He originally studied engineering but decided that sharing his passion with others was much more vital, and interacting with people has always been an inspiration. He loves the outdoors, especially rock climbing and hiking, and when he is not guiding, he is probably off somewhere on his bike. Dimitris also plays a mean Bouzouki. Sharing his love of Greece “off the beaten track” is his dream job. Dimitris guides our Meteora and Zagori hike, Cyclades Island Hopper hike, and our boat based tours of the Southern Dodecanese Islands, and the Northern Dodecanese. Sometimes he helps us out on our Dolomites tours as well. Languages: Greek and English.
Stefanos
Stefanos feels that contact with nature is where his true self lies. However, life took him in a different direction, and he became a university professor teaching statistics and developmental psychology at various universities across Europe and at international conferences worldwide. Although he may have partly betrayed his “true self,” he keeps that fire alive by escaping into nature whenever possible. His preferred habitats are forested trails and rocky peaks, seeking broad views and a sense of wanderlust. He primarily follows a herbivorous diet. When confined to the academic world (too often), he finds solace in trail running. Guiding people in nature allows him to combine his passion for teaching with his love for the outdoors.
Alex
Alex lives in Athens, but his heart is divided between his home island of Nisyros in the Southern Dodecanese and the wild mountains of the Balkans. A keen outdoorsman, Alex has pursued his love of nature to become a white-water rafting guide, nature photographer, and filmmaker. He has made films on Baffin Island, Iceland, and Greece. His other passions include Greek music (he plays traditional Greek instruments) and Modern Greek history. He has guided hiking tours throughout Greece for the past ten years while pursuing his filmmaking career. He is also a connoisseur of Greek food and wine, so always have what Alex has at dinner! Alex guides our boat-based tours in the Dodecanese islands, our Cyclades Island Hopper tour, and our Meteora and Zagori hike. Languages: Greek and English.
Nefeli
Nefeli was born in Athens and went on her first backpacking trip at the age of 15. A trip to Turkey with her mother and brother made her an avid outdoor enthusiast and a passionate traveller. She loves to explore her native Greece, with its beautiful countryside, unique culture, rich history, and amazing contrasts. She studied to be a teacher and did an internship at a Folk Art Museum where she developed their educational programs. She also does environmental and outdoor education for children. And on top of it all, she’s a passionate Flamenco dancer! Nefeli guides our boat-based tours in the Dodecanese islands, our Cyclades Island Hopper tour, and our Meteora and Zagori hike. Languages: Greek and English.
Vanessa
Vanessa is half Vaudois (extra points if you know what that means) and half Italian. She is equally fluent in French and Italian, and her English is excellent. She spent several years living and working in the United States for the Swiss Government before she decided she did not want to be tied to a desk. Vanessa has been a professional road racing cyclist and biked in many parts of the USA and Europe for work and pleasure. She has been a professional cycle and hiking guide in Italy, France, and Switzerland for over twenty years. She enjoys traveling with her partner and their young daughter when time permits. Vanessa has guided dozens of cycle tours in Provence, and she guided our Provence hike in 2023. Besides being very professional and prepared, she is wonderful company on the trail and at the dinner table. Vanessa guides our Provence Hike. Languages: French, Italian, English, and Spanish. (Until Vanessa sends me a better photo,.....Vanessa is in the middle!)
Sara
Sara is 100% Tuscan and lives in Arezzo. As a young person, Sara traveled widely in Europe to experience different cultures and languages. She studied in Seville, became fluent in Spanish, and now has a lasting affinity for everything Andalucian. She went to live in Santa Domingo for six months to learn Latin dance, and every year she hosts a Salsa music and dance get-together. Despite, or maybe because of her travels, Sara is deeply devoted to her hometown of Arezzo. She is a licensed city guide for the historic city and its province. Generous by nature, she never tires of helping people discover Tuscany's beauty, history, and traditions. Sara guides our hikes in Tuscany, Sicily, Puglia and Basilicata, and Lake Como. She also guides our Vespa tours in Andalucia, Puglia, and Tuscany. Languages: Italian, English, Spanish.
Heidi
Heidi was born in Gibraltar but was raised in Plymouth, in the U.K. She studied Social Policy and Administration at Brighton University and worked in Social Care for a few years, but eventually embarked on a round-the-world trip during which she spent 7 months in New Zealand. She fell in love with the country and returned to live there in 2013, making a new life in Christchurch where she's busy raising two daughters. She now works part-time for us taking payments and issuing trip agreements.