KE Leaders are really important to us and are crucial to the success of each trip. Each year we like to recognise our leaders for their efforts as we simply could not run 5 star holidays without them. We ask you to vote for your favourite leader when you submit your holiday feedback and from the 1000s of votes which we received in 2016, we have created a shortlist and selected our winner who is ...

Winner – Kantu Valer (Peru)

Kantu comes from Cusco, Peru and leads our best-selling Choquequirao to Machu Picchu Trek. Kantu’s father also led KE groups in Peru, and Kantu is now following in her father's footsteps. Kantu studied tourism at university and started working with KE groups in 2015. She has quickly become one of our most popular leaders with consistently amazing feedback from our clients. We're sure that any client who has travelled with Kantu will agree that she deserves the 2016 KE Leader of the Year award. We’ll let the feedback do the talking:

“Kantu looked after our every need. She has a great personality & her enthusiasm for her work & her country is infectious. Her knowledge of flora & fauna was second to none. She made everyone in the group feel welcome & set a pace for the trek that matched our capabilities. There was never smile off her face from the first minute to the last.” David Cossey, UK

“She displayed a totally passionate dedication to the history of the trek and was a delight throughout. She was full of information which made the trek as good as it was. She is an absolute natural! She deserves to be 'Leader of the Year' because that is precisely what she is!!” John Lawrence, UK

“I've done so many trips with guides and leaders that I can't remember exactly how many. Probably around 25. Kantu has been the best by far for her enthusiasm, sensitivity and knowledge. Top class leader of the best trip I've ever done.” Laurence Brown, UK

“Kantu firstly was superb at organising us and the crew, briefing us, her knowledge of the local history, flora and fauna was exemplary. Every question we gave her she was able to answer. Not once did we not think we weren't being looked after or that we weren't safe or that we would miss a connection etc. But more than her professional role, we really felt like she liked us and became a member of the group rather than just a guide. Her smile and laugh was infectious and she was a joy to be with. I've been back a month and a half and I still miss her! A wonderful woman with a heart of gold! Please, please give her the prize!” Alastair Harding, UK

As a thank you to Kantu, she will be receiving a gift of £150 to spend at Cotswold Outdoors (our recommended outdoor retailer) on any outdoor item she wishes.

The 2016 Shortlist

Jose Molina Lopez (Spain)

Jose is based in the Costa Blanca region of Spain and organises and leads our Secret Sierras of the Costa Blanca walking holiday and our biking adventure Cheeky Cols of Costa Blanca. Prior to settling back in Spain, Jose spent most of his life travelling the world living in countries such as Mexico, the UK and Morocco and holding a variety of jobs such as working with street children, running a bar and leading biking, trekking and climbing trips throughout the world. Jose’s love for his native Spain and the Costa Blanca region is infectious and he is a close runner up for our leader of the year award.

“Brilliant! He really made the trip for us. You have uncovered a gem of a leader in Jose. His big smile, sense of humour and constant enthusiasm were truly motivating. His local knowledge is second to none. The best leader we've had on any walking holiday and we've been on a few!” Paul Edmondson, UK

“He was passionate about his country, and so knowledgeable about the country socially, politically, environmentally. He was also great company, he helped us all gel instantly, and fed us till we almost burst!!! An all round top guy, and perfect ambassador for KE.” Helen Hand, UK

“Jose is obviously an experienced and talented tour group leader. he was excellent. I am British and have been to Spain many times but really enjoyed his little guided walks and diversions to important sites. You take this as read when visiting 'exotic' destinations (say India, Peru, China) but it's refreshing to learn little pearls of wisdom in countries closer to home.” Dawn Allis, UK

Sophie de Barberin (Alpine trekking)

Sophie is one of KE’s most popular Alpine trekking leaders. She has led all variations of our Tour de Mont Blanc and the Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn treks. Sophie was born on a boat in the Reunion Islands and has led a nomadic lifestyle. She qualified as a mountain leader in 1989 and works every summer season in the European Alps as a trekking leader. When not leading treks she is an expert free diver, participating in the Free Diving World Cup, and also teaches free diving. Our clients love Sophie and she has received a lot of the votes for the leader of the year.

“Sophie is a very dedicated leader. Very well informed and always eager to tell us about local history, fauna and flora. Her attention to detail , thorough briefings, and especially the very quiet and non obtrusive way that she handled all aspects of our safety was impressive. ( I am an MIC holder as well as a previous ML assessor and the way that she conducted herself was outstanding) . Not only is she so competent in the mountains but her wider knowledge was so impressive and interesting, it includes yoga, art and a wonderful sense of humour.”  Tony Duncan, UK

“Sophie is absolutely FANTASTIC. She is so enthusiastic. She loves what she does and she shares her life experiences with the group that really added to everything. She was really careful and mindful of the safety of the group without ever making us feel like she was hovering. I can't say enough good things about Sophie. She made it an A+ experience. Just bubbling enthusiasm and ability to show the best side of everything.....even after a summer snow storm in the Alps. She made what could have been a negative couple of days very positive and memorable.” Edward Lundgren, USA

“Sophie knows the Alps very well - she was also very friendly, patient and flexible in her approach to leading. She lives an unconventional life compared with a lot of people - far removed from the 9 to 5 routine many of us are used to and this meant she had a different way of looking at things and I think some of this rubbed off on the group as a whole. Little known to us during the evenings Sophie painted a few small watercolours of things we had seen during the trip and, after some encouragement, offered them to us (for a very small charge for something quite unique). The two I bought will remind me of some great memories.” Mark Bayliss, UK

David Babic (Slovenia)

David is based in Slovenia and leads all of our itineraries there from our Family Adventure Slovenia to the Julian Alps Lakes and Mountains trip and also Across the Julian Alps to Triglav. He’s a qualified Slovenian trekking guide as well as being vegan and tee total! When David is not leading KE groups in the summer, he instructs skiing, snowboarding and cross country skiing in the winter. David gets absolutely amazing feedback from his groups and is another close contender for this years leader of the year award.

“He was simply phenomenal in every way, supportive and patient and enthusiastic and fabulous fun. The kids adored him (and so did I). He was an integral part of the holiday and we will be writing to him to tell him so!” Rachel Riley, UK

“If you can guide someone through an activity they really are scared of and make them feel like they achieved it themselves, that's leadership. David did that twice on this trip for my wife, Jill.” Graham Melhuish, UK

“Very safe and professional but with a keen sense of humour. At 33 years old he was dealing with a group of over 65s and we laughed all week even in the tough bits. He really went out of his way to encourage and help weaker members of the group to get through the day. They finished the holiday with a great sense of achievement.” John Sands, UK

Rigzin Skalzang (India)

Rigzin is from Ladakh in northern India and has led treks for KE for around 10 years including Beyond Kulu Trek, In the Shadow of Nanda Devi, Singilila Ridge, Sikkim – Beneath Kangchenjunga Trek, Shivling and the Source of the Ganges, and Stok Kangri and the Markha Valley. Hugely experienced and popular, as well as guiding KE clients in the mountains of India, Rigzin also worked as an outdoor instructor at Bryanston School in the UK. Rigzin is a well deserved runner up in this years leader of the year award.

“The best trek leader we have ever had , anywhere. Efficient, in control, very hands on, he did not expect to be pandered to! He was always ready to muck in where necessary. He carried a huge sack with all his gear and there must have been at least two spare Sherpas in there! I could not lift it from the ground. The group loved him and the crew would have done anything for him. A real gentleman.” Pat Pudsey, UK

“Rigzin is one of the best trip leaders I have had. His organisation, care and attention, sense of humour....an all round great guy. Excellent with all group members and all crew. Worked incredibly hard. Always went the extra mile for everyone!! Just a superb leader who always had a smile on his face. It has been a real pleasure to get to know him and be led by him.” Sarah Jones, UK

“Rigzin is an excellent trek leader, very experienced, considerate and patient. He sets a good pace, taking account of group capabilities, is very knowledgeable (and when he doesn't know the answer to a question, says so and then goes out of his way to find out). His English is excellent and he has a great sense of humour. I have trekked with him before and would go out of my way to do so again.” Christine Stewart, UK