Adventure holidays & unforgettable experiences

Phil Mansbridge

Director

Phil has been a trekking guide for three decades. He spent many years in Nepal and hiked in the ex-Soviet Central Asian countries in the early 1990s. Other treks took him to Pakistan, Iran, India, Bhutan and the Andes. He founded Salamander in 2007 whilst living in Chamonix with the aim of running point-to-point treks that become journeys of a lifetime. In his spare time he’s usually on the hunt for a mountain summit or a deserted beach.

Natalie Mirzoeff

Director

Natalie has travelled the world for 30 years and has vast knowledge of treks and adventurous destinations. She plans and develops new itineraries and manages all our Guides. She has worked with the UKs biggest adventure travel companies: Trailfinders, Exodus, Explore and HF Holidays. She has a customer-focused approach to all we do and is passionate about sustainable travel. She loves the outdoors and in her spare time she enjoys hiking and skiing. She recently gained a diploma in wine and shares her passion as a wine educator.

Pete Myers

Trekking Leader

Peter Myers has been drawn into the mountains by a love of nature. He has been working as a trekking guide for the best part of a decade, a role which has taken him from the Highlands of Scotland to Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and ultimately back to Europe where he has made his home. Aside from trekking Pete is a climbing instructor, a canoe guide and a kayak coach. He also works with young people in the outdoors. In his free time, Pete has canoed through northern Norway and Sweden, climbed on high altitude peaks in equatorial Africa and cycled across the southern United States.

Alfonso Gallego de Lerma

Trekking Leader

Alfonso says that he is spiritually and physically connected to nature; for him mountains are a source of wellbeing. For the past 10 years he has been a cycling and trekking guide in Spain, enabling him to share this passion of the outdoors with others. He spent two years exploring America by bike and has climbed several mountains in Mexico, Peru, India and Nepal.

Jasmin Widmann

Trekking Leader

I was born and I live in Val Badia, in the heart of the Dolomites. My passion for the mountains was born from an early age. Venturing on the hills and summits around my home made me appreciate the environment and helped me discover the true benefits of living in the great outdoors. Spending time in the mountains makes me feel good, gives me energy and a deep sense of freedom. I like hiking, climbing, via ferrata, cycling, skiing, ski touring, basically I like doing sports all year – I’m lucky because this is possible where I live in the Dolomites.

Andy Hodges

Trekking Leader

Andy has been walking the mountains of Britain and Europe since the age of 15 and worked as a trek leader in the UK before a career in teaching. Returning to trek leading, Andy loves the Dolomites, Amalfi and the French Alps where he spends much of the winter with his wife Sue and their retired police dog. When he isn’t out in the mountains he is usually found on his home ground of Dartmoor and the Devon coast. Andy has written three guidebooks for Cicerone Press and a range of articles for outdoor magazines.

Hristian Hristov

Trekking Leader

Hristian, aka “Chris”, is a mountain leader from Bulgaria. He has guided numerous trekking trips in the French, Italian and Swiss Alps and Turkey up to 5000m. He is a ski instructor and part of the Bulgarian Mountain Rescue Services. He has climbed many 4000m peaks including the Matterhorn and Dent du Geant. In his free time, he enjoys rock, ice and mixed climbing and is passionate about exploring new places and connecting with people from different cultures.”

Nigel Lewis

Trekking Leader

After a fun thirty years in the police, Nigel decided to change his hobby into a career and began guiding other people in the mountains. He has lead numerous expeditions in Central and South America, North and East Africa, Nepal and the Far East. Closer to home he has lead numerous walking trips in Italy, France and Switzerland. When he’s not working, he tries to fit in as much independent travel, walking and climbing as time will allow.

Denís Alvarez Bangueses

Trekking Leader

Denis has a love for all things outdoors; he has always been drawn to the forests, mountians and peaks. This led him into guiding 7 years ago and since then has guided trips and climbs all over Europe, from the forests of the Canary Islands to the northern lights of Lapland. Aside from guiding he is also a ski instructor, kayak guide and lifeguard.