We are committed to providing our customers with excellent personal service and our professional staff are key to this. Our local knowledge brings insider knowledge to our trips and we always aim to visit new destinations on the spot before adding them to our offer.

Meet our tour guides:

Nuppu Nykyri
HuK, major in Iran and Central Asian Studies

Nuppu was the tour leader for the Iran tour in spring 2017. Nuppu first moved to the Far East in 2004 and has since lived for study and work in Iran, Turkey, Georgia, Russia, China and Japan, twice in some countries. In addition to the above-mentioned regions, Nuppu has also travelled independently to the Balkans and Colombia. The desire to experience and understand other cultures has captured Nupu’s imagination and taken him to the depths of language studies. Fluent in Persian, Turkish, Russian and Chinese, Nupu also has excellent skills in Japanese, Spanish and English.

Anne Salmela
Restonomi (AMK, tourism)

Before graduating, Anne completed her internship at Traveller and worked for the first time as a tour leader on a Balkan tour in autumn 2015. Working in the travel industry for a company offering tours to Russia, Anne’s interest in travel is strongly oriented from Finland to the East – and especially to Asia. An exchange student year in Japan and trips elsewhere in Asia have built up her knowledge of tourism in the continent. Language skills include fluency in English and Japanese, as well as the basics of Russian.
Sami Lindroos
Tour leader, travel planner and Traveller.

Sami is a long-time explorer of different corners of the world. He is particularly interested in Asia and the more challenging and unique destinations in general. The search for cultural, lifestyle and nature experiences in different countries often drives him to those more remote corners of the world. Sami has been travelling since childhood, living for years in many different countries, including the UK and Indonesia. As a diving instructor for Traveller, Sami takes travellers to explore the stunning world of clear waters and also organises diving courses in the destinations if required.

Markku Lindroos
Pensioner, Traveller

Markku is a long-term Traveller. He has been planning and leading trips for several years. Markku has been particularly fascinated by the lifestyles and cultures of Southeast Asian countries. Several train journeys through Russia and Mongolia to China have broadened his horizons, as have trips to India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. Markku is our reliable and knowledgeable tour guide.
Kaisa Vainio
Cultural Anthropologist (YO, Candidate of Hum.)

Kaisa is a cultural expert on Russia, Eastern Europe and Asia, an experience guide and a journalist. She specialises in the Caucasus, the northern regions of Russia and Central Asia. Kaisa has been a tour leader on a tour of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in spring 2016. She has lived in Arkhangelsk, Russia and Georgia during her studies. She is fluent in English and Russian and has some basic knowledge of German and Georgian. She is particularly interested in people’s lifestyles and nature. Her interest drives her to adventure and exploration trips to remote corners of the world.

Emilia Tuuliaho
Wine expert and tour leader

A passionate winemaker and traveller. In the 8 years I have lived in Spain, I have become very familiar with the culture, lifestyle and language of the country. Wine is not only a passion but also a profession for which I am trained. Years of working in the restaurant industry have made gastronomy a very important part of my life and the best moments are often spent at the table with good food, drink and warm people, wherever they are. During my travels around the world, I have visited numerous wineries and I am burning with desire to share my experiences and knowledge with others. Classic wines will always have their place in the world, but I am interested in exploring and highlighting regions that, despite their potential, have been overshadowed by the more famous ones.
Nadja and Thomas
Owners

Traveller has always been owned by a family business. Nadja joined the company in 2003. In 2014 she bought part of the company. The current owners are Nadja Ripatti and her husband Thomas Hildonen. We are a family-owned company based in the capital region of Finland, offering comprehensive travel services.

Our success is based on quality and service. Our aim is not to be the biggest, but the most reliable! We have built up a long-term network of partners both abroad and at home. That’s why we can offer the best destinations and experiences. With this in mind, it’s good to keep moving forward at an ever-increasing pace towards new adventures!