Take the plunge now! The Travel Directors has the right adventure waiting for you. Contact us today to find out more.
"We hope you find our tours attractive, exciting and enticing. And we hope to that someday soon you will join us for the adventure of a lifetime!"
- Jim Gill, Kerrie Ware and Tony Evans,
The Travel Directors
More than just tours
Please remember that The Travel Directors are not just about escorted tours, fabulous as they are! We also offer the best deals on flights, cruises and all other travel packages. Our friendly, expert staff will be delighted to assist with all your travel requirements.
About Travel Directors
We are a wholly Australian owned company, having been in business for more than two decades. Based in Leederville, Perth, we specialise in escorted adventure tours to spectacular destinations around the world. Our mission is to share our passion for travel with like-minded people.
We don’t subscribe to the normal concept of escorted travel. Our tours are not for those who want to be herded around in large groups, seeing sights merely from the inside of buses. We treat each of our travellers as an individual, appreciating that each has individual interests. Wherever possible we try to accommodate these in our tours, in addition to the wonderful programmes we provide.
Rather than cocoon you within the countries we visit, we will expose you to the true cultures and realities of travel within these marvellous and unique destinations. Where possible we avoid areas dominated by mass-tourism, instead seeking out hidden treasures rarely visited and experienced.
We hope you find our tours attractive, exciting and enticing. And we hope that someday soon you will join us for the adventure of a lifetime!
Testimonials
Here are just a few of the hundreds of testimonials we have received from satisfied clients. Please note that we are always more than happy to put prospective travellers in touch with those who have ventured with us, for an honest and unbiased appraisal.
"I have travelled with many companies but your tours are the ‘crème de la crème'. Everything is handled with the utmost professionalism and care. My advice is don't hesitate - just go with this great company!”
- H EKAMPER, NORTH PERTH, WA
"The adventure of a lifetime. The icing on the cake being the care, friendship and professionalism shown by Travel Directors. I’m so glad I took the plunge!"
- M Koop, Port Parham, SA
"I have been on a number of conducted tours but yours was easily the best as it was a true ‘human’ experience.”
- J JENKYN, SHELLEY, WA
"The tour was absolutely fantastic. Our tour leader was wonderful, involving us in adventures not even on the itinerary. Thank you."
- J Giblett, Perth, WA
"This is a trip you should truly be proud of. A great credit to your company."
- P Arch, Toronto, Canada
“I would not have missed it for anything. It really was one of the greatest experiences of my life."
- R KEYNES, BUSSELTON, WA
“The whole trip was superbly planned and executed. The many and varied surprises were a delight. All in all an unforgettable experience.”
- B JAMES, SEACLIFF PARK, SA
Our Philosophy
We avoid many of the areas normally visited by tourists and endeavour to immerse our clients in the rich culture of the countries we visit. We seek to provide a balance between conventional sightseeing and genuine contact with local people and families.
We are constantly seeking to improve our tours, in order to stay ahead of our competitors. To help us achieve this we have, over the years, developed a superb network of local contacts and guides in the many countries we visit. They are in constant touch, informing us of any changes which may affect our itinerary.
Our maximum group size for all tours is 26 and for groups of 18 or more we normally take two tour leaders, in addition to the local guides we use. This gives us an extra safety cushion in the unlikely event of an emergency. Moreover, our tour leaders are experienced and St John's Ambulance trained.
In short we believe we possess the most up-to-date knowledge for travel through these marvellous and exciting parts of the world. Our support infrastructure, ground operators, tour leaders, contacts and, indeed our philosophy on travel itself, make our tours superb value for money and put the Travel Directors at the leading edge of escorted adventure travel.
Take time to explore our website, where you will find up to date information, travel itineraries, photos and much more. Discover a whole new world of adventure through the eyes of The Travel Directors.
Who goes on our tours?
Travel is a basic human urge; a chance to discover something new about ourselves and others. Our tours appeal to people who want more from their holiday than merely to soak up the sun.
Our tours attract a special kind of person, one who is open to new experiences and can cope with the sometimes frustrating circumstances in which we may find ourselves.
While we include numerous excursions and sightseeing on our tours, we also include some free time. We urge our travellers to take full advantage of this and take the opportunity to mix with people you have travelled so far to meet.
Our trips have no place for rigid attitudes, cultural prejudices or false expectations. Most importantly, our tours are for adventurous, flexible and fun-loving people who appreciate real travel.
Tour Leaders
Tony Evans
Tony is General Manager of The Travel Directors and is one of the most experienced tour guides in Australia. He first travelled on the Trans-Siberian Railway in the 1980s and has now completed the journey more than 30 times. "I never tire of this wonderful trip", he says "I just love showing people this fantastic part of the world."
With more than 25 years in the travel industry, working in the U.K., South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, Tony's experience is second to none.
Email: tony@traveldirectors.com.au
Jim Gill
As well as being one of our most experienced tour guides Jim is also The Travel Directors' marketing and sales director.
Before becoming a partner in the company Jim was a popular broadcaster and journalist and for three years co-presented ABC Radio's breakfast programme in Perth. He has travelled to more than 60 countries and in addition to numerous Trans-Siberian tours, has also escorted Travel Directors' groups to Antarctica, Cuba and Mexico, Canada and Alaska and South America.
Email: jim@traveldirectors.com.au
Hans Koning
Hans is the newest member of our team and is a great traveller. As a client he has been on our Christmas Trans-Siberian and Essential South America tours.
We are now delighted to have recruited him as a tour leader because of his undoubted people and leadership skills. Welcome on board Hans!
Email: garykon@bigpond.com
Tony Coulson
Tony is our marketing manager. He brings to the Travel Directors a wealth of experience in the industry. Previously he was the General Manager WA, of Thomas Cook travel and later, Harvey World travel. He is one of the most well known figures in the industry. His dream has always been to travel to remote destinations and escorting Travel Directors tours to these ‘far horizons’ is Tony’s long held passion. Tony Coulson is a consummate travel professional.
Email: acou4116@bigpond.net.au
Carmel Smith
Carmel has had the travel bug since her school years. For many years she worked as a tour leader in central and eastern Europe, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Scandinavia, Russia and Australia. She has also worked on cruise ships and travelled by double decker bus from London to Kathmandu.
Carmel is a popular leader on our Trans-Siberian and Cuba/Mexico.
Email: csmith@craftpress.com.au
Karina Tempone
Karina is our South America-based leader and our senior Buenos Aires tour guide. A linguistics graduate, she has lived in Spain, back-packed throughout Europe and the Americas, and has escorted tour groups to all parts of South and central America over the past 10 years. Karina is also now a regular leader on our Trans-Siberian tours, when time permits. Her beautiful nature and famous sense of humour make her one of our most popular leaders.
Roger Goring
Roger has been travelling overseas since the age of 14 and shows no sign of slowing down! He is another former client-turned tour leader and is now a regular fixture on our tours. Superbly organised, he is also an experienced bus and truck driver and mechanic. Thankfully he hasn't yet needed to demonstrate these latter skills on any of our tours!
Olga Mescheryakova
Olga is our delightful St Petersburg based leader. Her infectious laugh and sense of humour have made her one of our most popular leaders. She regularly leads our Silk Road tour through China, Uzbekistan and Russia as well as the Cossack Capers tour from Vladivostok to Helsinki. Outside of these journeys she also regularly leads our trips into the Himalayas and South America.
When Olga is in St Petersburg she guides as the Travel Directors local expert in her city. Indeed with her consummate language skills, she is among the very best guides in Russia.
Juan Carlos Yanez
Juan Carlos was born in the Inca capital city of Cusco. He first worked with the Travel Directors in 2001 and continues to lead our tours throughout South America.
Acknowledged as a foremost Inca authority in the world, Juan Carlos was invited to Yale University to conduct lectures there in 2007. In September of the same year he escorted our Trans Siberian tour across Russia. He is an integral part of our South American operations and is a hugely popular member of the Travel Directors family.
Manny Yanez
Manny is the older brother of Juan Carlos. He is also born in Cusco and his knowledge of the Inca and Tiwanaku civilizations is simply phenomenal! Manny’s larrikin sense of humour and his gentle and caring nature make him a real hit with all our South American travellers.
Roxanne Garner
Roxanne has been leading tours for more than 20 years and is without doubt one of our most experienced leaders. She has led our tours across the Himalayas, Trans-Siberian and Africa. She is always fun, yet possesses an abundance of common sense. Roxanne in short, is one of the most valuable guides working with the Travel Directors.
Chris Downey
Chris came to the Travel Directors from an aviation background. He first travelled the Trans-Siberian route as a passenger of the company. We quickly realised his potential and since that time, he has been very busy! Since his training trips he has escorted our tours to Africa, Trans-Siberian, Canada/Alaska and Egypt and Jordan. Chris is now a very successful and popular member of the Travel Directors team.
Helen Power
Rather surprisingly, Helen comes from a media and political background. She first travelled the Trans Siberian, with her sister in 2000. Since then she has escorted this great adventure many times, as well as the Himalayas. She brings to the Travel Directors great experience in the area of adventure travel and her sense of humour and caring nature, makes her a hit among our tour leaders and travellers alike.
Sylvia Tomasi
Another travel professional, Sylvia has worked for 20 years in the travel industry in Australia. Starting from a retail perspective with Flight Centre she quickly moved on to the wholesale and group department of Adventure World. Since then she has escorted our Cuba/Mexico and Himalayan tours. Her extraordinary eye for detail and her massive travel knowledge make her a valuable member of our team.
Karen Brooks
Karen has worked many years in Adventure Travel. Although new to The Travel Directors she has been an instant success as she escorted our Himalaya tour in 2007. Karen is now firmly hooked on escorting for The Travel Directors and we welcome Karen’s vast experience to the company.
