Working Towards More
Inclusive & Beneficial Tourism

Jigme is from the Humla district of high Himalayan North West Nepal. Jigme has worked in tourism and rural development from an early age running early expeditions to the sacred Mt Kailash in Tibet. After studying buddhism and rural development, he became invoved in working in tourism development across the Himalaya of Nepal. Jigme is an expert on Buddhism and the Tibetan influenced cultures of NW Nepal.

Yobu is an experienced guide who lives on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi. he has intimate knowledge of local cultures and the hidden treasures of his home area in Southwestern Uganda. Yobu collaborated with Nomadic Skies' founder Gavin Anderson on developing and pioneering our stunning trek across the volcanic mountains, forests, crater lakes and hills of the Gorilla Highlands. They discovered new locations and experiences together and Yobu will be our lead local guide for our Journeys in Uganda.

Dawa Gyalpo comes from and lives in the stunning Bon village of Pungmo high in the Himalaya. Gyalpo chose to return to Pungmo from Kathmandu when his father died tragically in an avalanche. He now lives permanently in Dolpo, making his livelihood as a seasonal guide and as a Yak herder and farmer. Gyalpo has become an integral part of our journeys in Dolpo, providing unique insights into the culture, spirituality and lives of the Dolpo-pa people and to the environment and wildlife of the area. He also acts as an interpreter for our journeys. Local guides are often sidelined by Kathmandu based and international companies, but local insight, knowledge and wisdom from local guides and the ability to speak the local Dolpo language are in our view essential to gaining an understanding of this amazing area and people.

William is from the Batwa people who were the indigenous people of the equatorial forests of Central Africa. He was born in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest but his people and family were evicted from living in the forest in the early nineties. The Batwa are often described as 'conservation refugees' and they have struggled to adjust to live outside the forest. Nomadic Skies is working with Batwa guides who were originally living in Echuya, Mgahinga, and Bwindi forests aiming to support them with developing an income from forest guiding, maintaining their forest wisdom and breaking down negative stereotypes about the Batwa that persist in Uganda. William will join our journey not only as a Bwindi forest guide but we hope as a trainee guide for the whole journey - potentially a first in Uganda.

Nacho and how wife Gladys are an integral part of the Guna community of Eastern Panama. They are almost local celebrities, known and respected by everyone and incredibly knowledgeable on the culture, landscapes and paths of this remote part of Panama. While they do not speak English, we tap into Naco's and Gladys's knowledge and wisdom through our interpreter and Nacho will be our main local guide on our exploratio of the indigenous kingdom of the Guna Yala.