Staff at Discover the World

Email megan@discover-the-world.co.uk
Tel +44 (0)1737 214 235

Megan joined the Nordic team in September 2010. She started her career in travel four years ago for Kuoni. After her first two years working sales she moved into the weddings department where she spent a further two years. During her time at Kuoni Megan has visited many exciting holiday and wedding destinations including, Italy, America, Maldives, Seychelles & Sri Lanka. Since joining Discover the World, Megan has visited Iceland where she saw waterfalls, geysers, and of course the amazing Northern Lights as well as the Icehotel, southern Sweden and Norway.

Megan's Top Travel Experiences

• Seeing the Northern Lights
• Elephant riding in Sri Lanka 
• Flying into the Grand Canyon in USA 
• Meeting and spending time with orphaned children in a small rural community in Egypt 
• Relaxing in the Blue Lagoon 
• Chilling at the glacial lagoon

Email kim@discover-the-world.co.uk
Tel +44 (0)1737 214 272

After achieving a degree in fashion design with her final collection inspired by travels to the Ice Hotel in Swedish Lapland and numerous visits to Iceland, Kim joined Discover the World’s Nordic team before moving into our schools department for a period. She is now back in the Nordic fold and enjoys talking to people about the places which have provided the inspiration for her designs. A keen traveller, Kim has visited Paris, Rome, Miami, The Bahamas, Spain and Portugal to name but a few.

Kim's Top Travel Experiences:

• Husky sledging and ice sculpting in Swedish Lapland (not at the same time though!)
• Snowmobiling on Vatnajökull in Iceland
• Whale watching in Husavik
• Ice driving and go-karting on a frozen lake in Iceland

Email  alex@discover-the-world.co.uk
Tel +44 (0)1737 214 236 

Since joining Discover the World in the midst of the Eyjafjallajokull eruption in May 2010, Alex has become a Nordic convert – so much so that he has been banned from mentioning anything about Iceland, the Icehotel, or the northern lights by his friends and family! Why? Because he simply can’t stop talking about them! Bravely starting out his career in travel as an airport-based Passenger Services Agent, Alex caught the travel bug after waving everyone else off on holiday at London Gatwick Airport. A rugby tour in 1999 cemented New Zealand as one of his favourite places in the world to explore, but further wanderlust has introduced him to the wonders of North America; both on piste and in the saddle!

In Cambodia, Alex was particularly entranced by the beauty of Angkor Watt and its surrounding temples. Then came Iceland and he was simply wowed by the most dramatic scenery of the North, followed by time spent exploring in the East, South and West of Iceland.  Alex loved the epic road driving in Norway (read his travel story). More recently, he was lucky enough to visit the Icehotel, taking a turn working as a representative for DTW, and that is where his new obsession currently lies. With eleven years of experience behind him in sales and customer services he is an asset to the Nordic team.

Alex’s Top Travel Experiences:

• Shedding a frosty tear looking at the sky light up with aurora borealis at the Icehotel.
• Absolutely anything to do with the Ice Hotel – from the northern lights snowmobiling, to the Ice Bar, the husky sledging – just being out there – pure winter wonderland!
• Checking out the music and book shops in Reykjavik and looking through all the fantastic music artists and art books they have there
• Whale watching in the crisp arctic air from Husavik (North Iceland) and spotting thousands of puffins learning to fly! (read my blog)
• Spotting yellow-eyed penguins in Oamuru on South Island, New Zealand
• Navigating through the Norwegian Fjords and mountains – the most exhilarating driving I have ever done! (read my travel story)
• Soaking in the Nature Baths in Myvatn in -9 conditions – certainly cold, certainly memorable!
• Visiting the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary in Kuala Lumpur; feeding the elephants and watching them bathe in the river
• Powder skiing in the back bowls of Vail, Colorado USA

Email amy@discover-the-world.co.uk
01737 214 265

Amy joined Discover the World in 2009 and has been in travel for nearly eight years. During this time she has spent summer seasons in Cyprus and Spain before moving back to England to spent two years working with an internet travel agent specialising in customer service and looking after clients in resort. With her passion for travel she has been lucky enough to travel to America, Austria, Portugal, Germany and recently achieved her lifelong dream to explore the expanses of Australia (read her blog). 

Since joining Discover the World Amy has especially loved visiting Iceland; travelling around this amazing volcanic island (her next mission is to witness an erupting volcano!). She has also visited the Faroes and enjoyed a fantastic trip to East Greenland in May 2011  (read her blog). One of her favourite trips to date was travelling to Swedish Lapland to look after Discover the World guests visiting the Icehotel, which included two sightings in three nights of the magical aurora borealis. She also braved a night 'on ice' in one of the incredible Art Suites, and even managed to oversleep (proving that they are incredibly comfortable!).

Along with travel, Amy is passionate about the customer service that she gives and the first-hand destination knowledge she is eager to share with her clients. Amy is currently co-ordinating Discover the World's Lapland and Iceland weddings programmes, arranging special days that adventurous brides and grooms will never forget!

Amy's Top Travel Experiences

• Relaxing in the natural waters of the Blue Lagoon.
• Watching the icebergs silently drifting on the Jokulsarlon lagoon while dipping a toe into the icy water.
• Swimming in clear blue waters of the Mediterranean surrounded by fish.
• Snowmobiling on the frozen lake near the Icehotel and catching some amazing sightings of the northern lights.
• Hiking into the mountains of Tasiilaq village to discover the amazing waterfall under fresh snow.
• Taking a first helicopter trip over the amazing icecaps and glaciers in Greenland.
• Being just metres away from a wild crocodile and her young on the Daintree River in Queensland.
• Admiring the breathtaking views and stunning beaches at Cape Tribulation. 

Email aggie@discover-the-world.co.uk
Tel +44 (0)1737 214 005

Aggie’s keen interest in travel brought her to Discover the World in 2009 having previously worked in various travel roles after finishing her Masters degree in Sociology and Tourism. She takes great care in developing travel itineraries as in her view, preparation is just as important as travelling itself in order to receive full enjoyment from your holiday.

Aggie's Top Travel Experiences

• watching the beautiful Arctic scenery while husky sledding in Kulusuk, East Greenland - one the most remote places in the world 
• floating in the Dead Sea in Jordan – the most surreal experience of my life – and no swimming skills required
• watching the Northern Lights appear over the Icehotel, Sweden for the first time in my life – no words can give this truly magical phenomenon justice – you have to see them for yourself!
• climbing the Great Wall of China – an unforgettable experience to last a lifetime
• snowmobiling over the glaciers in Iceland followed by a nice bowl of hot Icelandic meat soup
• experiencing a true sense of freedom quad biking through the wilderness and vast open fields of North Quebec province, Canada and finishing off the day with roasting marshmallows overa campfire while gazing at the stars above
• exploring the deep underground salt mines in Wieliczka, Poland (which includes an entire church carved out of the rock salt!) at night with the lights out and only a miners’ helmet light to guide the way.
• backpacking through mystical Morocco, a country of many contrasts, and connecting with the locals to understand their way of life. 

Read about Aggie's husky adventures in Greenland »

Email nikki@discover-the-world.co.uk 

Nikki began her career in travel in 1998, organising educational trips throughout Europe. She joined Discover the World two years later, and has been involved in various programmes with the company, ranging from the Bahamas to the Polar regions and most recently looking after our Iceland and Greenland programme. Nikki has travelled extensively throughout Iceland and Western Europe, North America, Sri Lanka and Latin America, and is particularly drawn to remote and dramatic mountain scenery, or in fact any place with glaciers, icebergs and a cooler climate in general! She has spent two austral summers in Antarctica, living and working in the company of gentoo penguins at historic British base Port Lockroy (for the charity UK Antarctic Heritage Trust), and was Base Leader there for the 2010-11 season.

Nikki’s Top Travel Experiences

• Watching gentoo penguins 'fly' underwater in Antarctica, penguin chicks nibbling at her boots, listening to stranded icebergs crackle whilst wandering along the shoreline after a storm.
• Taking a relaxing dip in North Iceland's nature baths, looking out over volcanic craters and towards shimmering Lake Myvatn.
• Driving empty roads that skirt the water's edge in the magnificent West Fjords of Iceland, under bright blue skies and with good music and company.
• Kayaking in the rain towards the meringue-peaked Shoup glacier near Valdez, Alaska.  Seeing bald eagles in the wild!
• Seeing the magical northern lights in Churchill, northern Manitoba after a wonderful day watching polar bears play on the tundra. 
• Watching amazing aurora borealis displays from South Iceland after a mouthwatering gourmet meal at Hotel Ranga.

Read Nikki's travel stories on South Georgia and the Falkland Islands »

Email laura@discover-the-world.co.uk
Tel +44 (0)1737 214 280

Laura joined Discover the World in summer 2010 and brings a wealth of travel experience with her. Lucky enough to have travelled from a young age, she has visited America, Canada, Africa, The Caribbean and most of Europe. Laura has worked in travel for over 10 years now dealing largely with winter activity holidays such as skiing and Lapland breaks. She has also worked in worldwide cruise holidays. With a passion for different travel experiences, this year, Laura has enjoyed seeing the wildlife and participating in water-based activities in Thailand as well as discovering the amazing scenery of Iceland (read her blog), comprising geysers, glaciers and waterfalls.

Laura's Top Travel Experiences

• Swimming in the Blue Lagoon and seeing the northern lights in Iceland
• Snowmobiling, reindeer sledging and husky sledging in Lapland
• Scuba diving in Barbados
• Gambling in Las Vegas
• Climbing Dunns River Falls in Jamaica
• Reaching the top of Table Mountain in South Africa

Email paolo@discover-the-world.co.uk

Paolo has been working in the travel industry for 10 years. Since joining Discover the World, he has had the opportunity to visit amazing places such as Iceland, Greenland and New Zealand, making him truly passionate about these destinations and loving nothing more than putting together the perfect trip!

Paolo’s Top Travel Experiences

• Admiring Gullfoss waterfall in Iceland - any time, any season
• Taking a boat trip to the fascinating glacier Apusiâjik from Kulusuk, Greenland
• Flying by helicopter amongst the Southern Alps in New Zealand and over Lake Wakatipu

Email john@discover-the-world.co.uk  
Tel +44 (0)1737 214 253

Johnny joined Discover the World in September 2009. He started his career as a travel agent visiting some fantastic destinations such as Bermuda, Mexico, Egypt and most of the Caribbean to name a few. Johnny previously worked for the Nordic shipping company, Hurtigruten. He got a chance to experience one of Hurtigruten’s voyages journeying the spectacular far north of Norway in winter from Tromso to Kirkenes. Since joining Discover the World, Johnny has visited Sweden staying at the amazing ICEHOTEL, a snowy remote log cabin and visiting The Aurora Sky Station at Abisko. At the Sky Station Johnny was fortunate to see the breath-taking aurora borealis!  In May 2011 he visited Iceland to see what the country is like after the Grimsvotn eruption, and has just revealed a talent as an on-camera, roving reporter for Discover the World!

Johnny’s Top Travel Experiences

• An unexpected showcase of northern lights onboard Hurtigruten
• Snowmobiling from The ICEHOTEL
• Taming a reindeer in a Sami Camp in Sweden
• Holding a husky pup at the Kennels in remote Norway
• Visiting the Valley of the Kings in Egypt
• Relaxing by the fire in a cosy log cabin in rural Sweden

Email thora.ingvarsdottir@discover-the-world.co.uk
Tel + 44 (0) 1737 214 272

Although born in the UK, Thora was raised in Iceland from an early age. With her international background and her father’s tour guiding in the Icelandic highlands, Thora has been a keen traveller all her life. After receiving a diploma in Travel and Tourism Studies and going to university in Iceland, she moved back to the UK, where she soon joined the Nordic team at Discover The World. Some of the places Thora has travelled to are Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Monaco, Bulgaria, Turkey, Slovenia, Hungary and Italy.

Thora’s Top Travel Experiences 

• Sitting at the edge of a cliff on Iceland’s northern coast at midnight on a sunny summer night, watching the sun sink towards the Arctic ocean before starting to rise again.
• Whizzing across the snowy Icelandic highlands on a snowmobile.
• Swimming in beautiful Lake Bled in Slovenia at the foot of the Alps – in a thunderstorm!

Email misha@discover-the-world.co.uk

Misha joined Discover the World Lapland team in 2006 after igniting a passion for travel as cabin crew with BA and Virgin Atlantic. Misha now oversees the wedding team, making dreams come true for many a happy couple. During her time with the company, Misha has travelled extensively all across the Lapland region as well as sampling the wonder and adventure of Iceland. Somewhat appropriately for someone who used to fly for a living, Misha firmly believes that the sky’s the limit when it comes to people’s dreams!

Misha’s Top Travel Experiences

• Snowmobiling through snow-clad forests under a starry night sky in search of the magical northern lights.
• Sitting quietly alongside a glistening glacial lagoon listening to the icebergs ‘sing'.
• Cruising around Iceland in a Superjeep.
• Jumping aboard a Zodiac in the Norwegian Fjords searching for majestic orca. 

Misha is currently on maternity leave.

Email emma@discover-the-world.co.uk
Tel +44 (0)1737 214 287

Emma started her career in travel as a tour leader for an adventure travel company which took her to many fascinating countries in Africa, Scandinavia and Central America. Three years later she decided to return to the UK after a life on the road and joined Discover the World in order to pursue her love of working in travel. Emma has since developed a real passion for the Nordic regions, especially the scenery and opportunities they provide for outdoor pursuits.

Emma’s Top Travel Experiences

• Experiencing the midnight sun in Iceland and hiking in the magnificent highland regions with spectacular views.
• Snowmobiling across the wide open slopes at Bjorkliden.
• Sampling the world famous waffles at Laktatjakko mountain lodge.
• Drifting down the meandering Klaralven river on a timber raft enjoying the wilderness of Varmland in central Sweden.

Email gary@discover-the-world.co.uk
Tel +44 (0)1737 214 208

After gaining a degree in Geography and briefly dabbling in the world of retail, Gary’s travels to South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji left him with no doubt that the travel industry was to be his final destination. He joined the Discover The World family in February 2009 as an operations and dispatch executive. However, his boundless enthusiasm for travel has now been put to good use by the Nordic team. Since changing roles he has travelled extensively throughout Iceland, Lapland and Norway and can not wait for his next adventure.

Gary's Top Travel Experiences

• Walking through the famous IceHotel Sweden for the first time. It surpassed all my expectations which was quite an achievement, considering the amazing stories my colleagues had told me. Quite possibly the greatest work of art I will ever see.
• Falling hopelessly into the icy water during an attempt at raft rodeo… a game our guide gleefully invented as we hurtled down the River Hvita’s rapids near The Golden Circle. (I was fine.)
• Feeding giant turtles on the Great Barrier Reef is another incredible experience and has the added bonus of being slightly more sedate.

Email jo.betts@discover-the-world.co.uk

Jo has worked in the travel industry for a number of years and began her career working in the Product department of a Canada Specialist Tour operator. Jo joined Discover the World in 2002 as part of the Iceland Operations team and is now responsible for the smooth running of the Nordic operations team. Destinations she has travelled to include Canada, Sweden, the Caribbean, Iceland, Greece and France, to name a few!

Jo’s Top Travel Experiences

• Enjoying the midnight sun on the beach near Hotel Budir in Iceland.
• Watching minke whales within a couple of metres of our boat on a whale watching trip from Reykjavik harbour.
• Hearing the roar of the the thundering water at Skogafoss with the waterfall framed by a rainbow.

Email sari@discover-the-world.co.uk

Sari has worked in the travel industry for more than 20 years and joined Discover the World in January 1994. Finnish by birth, she has in-depth knowledge of not only her native country, but also of Iceland and other Nordic countries. Together with her extensive experience of the Arctic, Sari has travelled to Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and North Africa.

Sari’s Top Travel Experiences

• Seeing blue whales, humpbacks, orcas, minke whales and dolphins off the coast of Iceland.
• Diving in Lake Thingvallavatn in Iceland in the rift where the tectonic plates are pulling apart.
• Driving her own husky team in Lapland and sleeping in the ICEHOTEL.

Email silvena@discover-the-world.co.uk

Silvena started her career in travel as a tour guide in Bulgaria before starting work at Discover the World in 2003 as part of the Iceland operations team. Now she organises the Nordic sales team thanks to her fantastic knowledge of all the destinations and activities. Be it examining glaciers in Greenland or speeding through the Finnish wilderness, Silvena’s been there, done that and got the t-shirt!

Silvena’s Top Travel Experiences

• Standing quietly in awe of the northern lights dancing across the sky in Swedish Lapland.
• The surreal experience of luxuriating in the warm waters of the Blue Lagoon in Iceland – despite having frozen eyelashes!

Email kassie@discover-the-world.co.uk
Tel +44 (0)1737 214 232 

Kassie has worked in travel for eight years, five of those at Discover the World. She have travelled to many places, including America, Dubai, New Zealand, Lapland, Iceland and even lived in Sydney, Australia. She started at the company  as a sales executive in the Lapland department and moved across to the administrative side in April 2007. In December 2008 Kassie temporarily left us to have her son, Max before returning in January 2010 to join a newly formed Nordic team.

Kassie’s Top Travel Experiences

• Husky sledging across the frozen lakes and forest trails of snowy Lapland.

Email michael@discover-the-world.co.uk
Tel +44 (0)1737 214 262

Michael has worked in the travel industry for twelve years, spending five years at French Railways. He joined Discover the World in 2006 and has travelled throughout Europe and Scandinavia. One day he hopes to venture further afield to Australia and New Zealand.

Michael’s Top Travel Experiences

• Snowmobiling across the frozen sea in Finland and stopping for a lunch of freshly caught Arctic Char cooked on a camp fire - delicious!
• Visiting the frozen Seljalandsfoss waterfall in Iceland and watching it throw off many rainbows. Not another soul around, so peaceful.
• Husky sledging in Sweden: all you can hear are the dogs breathing and you really feel that you are away from it all.

Email drifa@discover-the-world.co.uk

Drifa was born in Husavik, Iceland and brought up by Lake Myvatn where her parents ran a hotel and welcomed clients from Discover the World for many years. After Drama training in London, Drifa joined the Iceland Sales Team and has worked for Discover the World on and off over the years, mainly on sales but more recently in customer service. Drifa's travels consist of flying from UK to Iceland and back again, spending her life in the two countries she loves.

Drifa’s Top Travel Experiences

• Enjoying the midnight sun on top of Hverfjall by Lake Myvatn
• Feeling the pulling power of the largest waterfall in Europe, Dettifoss
• Experiencing the hospitality of the Icelandic people in Dalvik on Fish Day at the beginning of August