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THE Club® at Diamond Resorts™ Exclusive Member Escorted Journey

What makes your perfect trip?

Classic Group Tour

Small Group Adventure

Cruise

Cultural / Historic

Group Safari

Nature & Wildlife

Team

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team intro
Sohrab Jahromi
Sam Smyth
Tasmin Hurst
Andy Dell
Steve Smith
Michael Kay
Karen Morris
Mark Bates
Samantha Oram
Jackie Muller
Adam
Jago
Kathryn Hodgson
Fran Vitti

At The Big Journey Company you are welcomed by friendly and highly experienced people who are ready to make every moment of your journey unforgettable.

Two groups of people create our fantastic global team. The first is our team of escorting staff and the office staff that support them. They ensure your journey is perfectly planned from start to finish and that you have all the information and advice you require prior to the first step of your amazing journey. Whilst travelling, your journey escort will take care of all the small things, answering any questions you may have, so that all you need do is sit back and enjoy the view.

Our amazing ground agents form the second part of our global team who will be ready to meet you at your destination. These local guides provide our guests with extensive, detailed local knowledge that ensures you enjoy everything your destination has to offer.

One day we hope to introduce you to our team across the world, but for now meet our UK based journey escorts...

Sohrab Jahromi

MD & Tour Director

A founder member of The Big Journey Company, Sohrab (So) spent most of his early career travelling the world as a Business IT and Telecoms Instructor. An epiphany (or mid life crisis as we like to call it) and a bit of luck led him to put his travel knowledge to better use. With a very hands on approach, when he is not in the office, he’s often found leading groups on many of our tours. Although he will confess safari’s are a particular favourite.

On a day off what can you be found doing?
Given the chance up a fell or in a canoe enjoying my beautiful English Lake District.

Sam Smyth

Operations Director

Sam has been part of The Big Journey family for a number of years now, and finds the best part of her job is hearing back from guests who have been on a journey and had a wonderful time. Sam's special place is Ranakpur's Jain Temple in India - in fact she loves everything about India and its rich colours and culture. When not making sure that our guest's journeys are organised to the very last detail, Sam enjoys the English Lake District with her husband and two girls.

Top travel tip?

It is a good idea to pack a change of clothes in your hand luggage in case your luggage doesn't arrive on the same flight as you.

Tasmin Hurst

Tour Director

Tasmin is an outdoor-loving and positive idealist who is always full of energy! She finds the best thing about escorting a tour is meeting a wonderful variety of different people, and experiencing some truly spectacular places. Peru is one of Tasmin's favourite places to visit, she loves the culture, history and stunning scenery. She advises guests to enjoy being in the moment and take less photos - memories really do stay with you for a lifetime.

On a day off what can you be found doing?
I'll be hiking in the mountains with my dog or running through the forest to relax.

Andy Dell

Tour Director

Andy was part of the first ever Big Journey group to China with Sohrab in 2010, and since then he's been everywhere! He loves the Torres Del Paine in Patagonia, counting it as one of his favourite places to visit for it's beautiful mountains, glaciers, lakes, and rivers. Andy always advises guests to pack light and get a small rucksack as it makes travel easier. He enjoys sharing adventures with great people.

On a day off what can you be found doing?

Probably driving the tractor keeping the smallholding shipshape!

John Carr

Tour Director

John had spent 26 years in government service, working in such diverse environments as Russia, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. He developed the travel bug, easily caught but hard to treat, and has spent the last 7 years living and working in Ecuador and Mexico. His favourite places in all the world are Quito (in Ecuador) and his native London (home being where the family is). The best part of the job is meeting so many new people as everyone has a unique story to tell. In his spare time, you'll find John either watching rugby or fantasizing about playing rugby for England. He still sadly thinks he has a chance!

Top Travel Tip: Your toothbrush and passport. You'll survive most travels mishaps with these two trusty items.

Michael Kay

Tour Director

Michael raves about the beautiful Island of Bermuda, his favourite place ever to visit. Having been escorting our guests for the past few years he enjoys taking care of the travel details allowing guests to thoroughly embrace and enjoy their travel experience, as well as using his knowledge to make sure tours run smoothly. When he's home he enjoys eating good food with his family, cycling the hills of the Lake District and indulging in the occasional glass of red wine!

Top Travel tip?

Always keep space in your case for souvenirs. Collect a Christmas decoration from every destination so that each year you revisit your travel memories.

Karen Morris

B to B Manager

Karen thrives in making guest's dream holidays happen, she really gets to know our guests and loves socialising and meeting new people, of which many have become firm friends. Norway, and the fjords rank high on Karen's favourite places to visit and she finds them truly magical. Spectacular fjordland have the best views encompassing snow capped mountains, ancient glaciers and remote fishing villages. In her spare time Karen likes discovering historical parts of London with her husband or visiting fun places with her grandson.

Top travel tip?
Always pack a change of clothes in your hand luggage in case of delays/loss of luggage.

Mark Bates

Tour Director

Busy bee Mark has been escorting our guests for over 9 years, and while he finds it difficult to just pick one of his favourite destinations, his top three places to visit are Hong Kong, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Austrian Tyrol. Tours with Mark are always fun and easy going and he says the best thing about what he does is meeting all our lovely guests. On a day off Mark can usually be found organising the next tour.

Top travel tip?

Remember the travel plug

Samantha Oram

Tour Director

Sam’s favourite part of being with Big Journey is meeting all the new people on our travels. She can often be found on the Lancaster canal on her days off, doing maintenance cruises on her narrowboat, Bluebell. She describes herself as imaginative and decisive and says that her favourite place to be is right here in the Lake District.

Top travel tip?

Learn a few words of the language of the place you visit- a friendly hello to the people you meet or a quick Thank You in their own language will make their day and ensure you have a much better time too!

Jackie Muller

Tour Director

Having spent the last 30 years working in the public sector, Jackie loves to travel and to meet new people so what better way to combine the two than working with the Big Journey Company. In her spare time Jackie can be found running, cycling or walking in Scotland and loves nothing more than a new challenge, adventure or destination.

Top travel tip?

Always pack your swimsuit - you never know when a beach, river, pond or waterfall may present the opportunity for a dip!

Adam Simpson

Tour Director

Adam joined our team in 2016, leading our wonderful guests to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro - a thoroughly exhilarating journey for all. As adventurous as they come, Adam is a keen traveller, having just spent 3 weeks in Nepal, travelling through the Annapurna Range, over the Mardi Himal Right and even trekking solo to the beautiful Poon Hill!

On a day off what can you be found doing?

If the English weather allows, you’ll find me rock climbing, I’d chose hanging on a cliff face a few hundred metres up over anything.

Jago Miller

Supersonic Filmmaker

Our very own supersonic Filmmaker Jago has been creating stunning pieces of film for many years. His wealth of knowledge and pocket sized drone always with him, Jago has captured many stunning moments with us.

His personal highlights include filming at Everest base camp, on the Galapagos Islands & meeting his first Canadian Grizzly Bear whilst on our Canadian Wilderness tour.

When not filming, Jago is a keen fell walker and is often found in the Lake District fells, which is a good job as being a part of the mountain rescue team certainly demands a great level of fitness!

From trekking in Nepal to working in Iceland Jago has definitely got the travel bug.

Kathryn Hodgson

Tour Director

Kathryn is a fun-loving, impulsive and adventurous member of the Tour Director team.

It's hard to pin her down on an actual favourite place in the world as this changes on a daily basis depending where she is at that moment. Currently Kathryn is in Laguna Beach, where she has also lived, so that's top of the list (for now!).

One of things she loves most about her job is being able to see the world and experience so many different cultures and foods. When she does take a day off it is spent relaxing, ideally on a beach, doing yoga or sitting with a good cup of tea in a nice cafe.

Top Travel tip?

Never travel without insurance.

Fran Vitti

Operations Manager

Fran joined The Big Journey Company team in November, 2019. Fran studied French at university before working as a rep in Lourdes. She has been helping people make the most of their travel opportunities ever since.

On a day off what can you be found doing?

A perfect day away from The Big Journey Company offices would be spent lying on a beach with a good book and a cold beer in San Sebastián, in northern Spain - my favourite spot in the world!

talk toll free to our well travelled team of experts

Call us on:Toll Free US and Canada: 1.855.624.4386

Monday to Thursday 09:00am - 8:00pm. Friday 09:00am - 05:30pm. (London time)

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The Big Journey Company
Marron Bank, Branthwaite, Cumbria, UK, CA14 4SZ. Telephone: UK 0844 3350 197
USA/Canada 1-855-342-4127 Email: info@thebigjourneycompany.com

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Holiday tours are operated by The Big Journey Company Limited. Registered in England. Registered office: Marron Bank, Branthwaite, Cumbria, CA14 4SZ. Registered number: 6532140. The Big Journey Company Limited is a member of The Travel Trust Association member number U5675 and holds an Air Travel Organiser’s License number T7282.

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