Exodus Leader Awards – Hall of Fame

Since 2009, Exodus customers have voted for their favourite leaders in our annual Leader of the Year awards. However, some leaders provide so much happiness season after season that their unwavering excellence can’t go unnoticed. So, since 2013, we have started to build our Hall of Fame to recognise continuously outstanding leaders as voted for by you.

Joao Colaco

Year entered Hall of Fame: 2025

Joao was the Overall Winner of the Exodus Leader Awards 2024, and his continued recognition reflects the lasting impression he leaves on Exodus travellers. Leading cycling and hiking tours across Portugal, João Colaço has earned glowing praise from countless travellers for his exceptional organisation, warmth, and dedication. Renowned for his daily briefings and his ability to make every traveller feel supported and welcome, João consistently goes above and beyond—whether that’s running the day’s hiking route at sunrise to ensure the best conditions or inviting guests to meet his family over port and chocolate.

Vania De Paoli

Year entered Hall of Fame: 2020-22
Trips: Walking the Prosecco Hills, Walking the Amalfi Coast and Amalfi Coast Family Adventure

Winner of the 2019 Leader of the Year awards, Vania De Paoli has continued to impress her operators and travellers alike with her sunny disposition, fantastic organisational skills and local knowledge. She always goes above and beyond to give her group a true taste of la dolce vita.

What you say:
“She is truly a unique, special person. Vania likes to take care of every small detail. She is always sunny, smiling. This is the reason why everyone loves her. I ask you to please leave us Vania! A wonderful relationship has been established!”

Severio Serbino

Year entered Hall of Fame: 2020-22
Trips: Highlights of the Amalfi Coast, Walking the Amalfi Coast and Amalfi Coast Family Adventure

Veteran Italian expert Severio has been based in Agerola for many years. Making strong, lasting connections with local businesses and people in the community, his groups delve even further to uncover the cultures and delicious traditional cuisines this beautiful region has to offer – which helps to set his trips apart.

What you say:
“Our group leader was the best… He took photos which we were all sent. He ate with us every night which was lovely and answered all our questions. All in all we couldn’t have wished for a better guide. 10/10 !“

Johnny Villalobos

Year entered Hall of Fame: 2019
Trips: Costa Rica’s Coastal Secrets, Costa Rica Adventure Family Holiday, Natural Highlights of Costa Rica and Discover Costa Rica.

Studying to become a naturalist guide back in 1995, Johnny has plenty of experience exploring the lush rainforests of Costa Rica – with few able to match his local expertise and knowledge. Winner of our Leader of the Year Award 2017 and given a special mention in 2018, his outstanding knowledge of Costa Rican history and culture plus his love of the great outdoors, saw him take the spot on our 2019 Exodus Hall of Fame.

What you say:
“Johnny was an amazing guy. He was extremely knowledgeable about his country and was excellent at spotting both birds and animals. He was also very kind with a good sense of humour and was always willing to help each and every one of us to maximise our enjoyment of his fantastic country“

Liz Proctor

Year entered Hall of Fame: 2018
Trips: Chianti Walking & Wine and Walking in Tuscany

Liz has been one of Exodus’ most popular and hardworking leaders since joining the company 15 years ago. Whether leading walking holidays in Chianti, cross-country skiing in the Dolomites or cycling trips in Morocco, her enthusiasm, kindness and dedication shine through, making her a regular nominee in our annual Leader Awards.

What you say:
“Liz was amazing, looking after everyone checking people were ok on the walks bringing out treats along the way. She arranged for a cake and bottle of wine for my wife’s birthday which was a lovely thought”

Suresh Bandara

Year entered Hall of Fame: 2017
Trips: Cycle the Back Roads of Sri Lanka

Suresh is one of the most humble and thoughtful tour leaders. He is well informed, organised and a true people person. It’s a treat to see the positive reviews he gets after he completes a tour. We have come across so many clients appreciating his dedication and enthusiasm, calling him the best leader they have had.

What you say:
“Suresh was an amazing guide and exceptionally good at his job. His attention to detail, organisational and social skills and his ability to deal with and anticipate the needs of every group member were over and above anything I have experienced on other trips“

Danh Nguyen

Year entered Hall of Fame: 2017
Trips: After a highly successful time with Exodus, Danh is now pursuing other adventures!

Danh has an impressive background in leading, which started in 1994. He mostly led cycling trips, and his cycling skills and knowledge are without question. He has a real charismatic energy, which puts his groups at ease. He always has a calm and collected attitude, which allows the groups to really enjoy and appreciate the trip for what it is, taking the panic out of any situation.

What you say:
“Simply fabulous! Excellent with kids, good humoured, clearly passionate about his country”

Roshan Fernando

Year entered Hall of Fame: 2015
Trips: Discover Sri Lanka and Wild Sri Lanka

Roshan’s name comes up time and again in our leader awards. Travellers have been singing his praises for more than a decade and his experience is undoubtedly part of his consistent ability to transform a group of strangers into friends over the course of a trip. He’s a true credit to Sri Lanka and well-deserved of his place in the Hall of Fame.

What you say:
“Extremely enthusiastic, he obviously loves his country and managed to pass that love on to the group. He kept the group together for the whole fortnight (no mean feat) and was always available for all of us. In a nutshell he made a wonderful trip even better and I cannot imagine anyone could have done a better job”

Sara Bull

Year entered Hall of Fame: 2014
Trips: Walking in Tuscany

A true Exodus legend, Sara features prominently in our Leader Awards every year having won the coveted Leader of the Year title in 2009, Best Mountain Leader in 2011 and runner-up in 2010, 2012 and 2013. She works tirelessly to give her groups the best trips, even baking flapjacks for them! She is an inspiration to her groups and her knowledge, skill and experience is unbeatable.

What you say:
“A true professional. Sara was fun, kind, interesting and gave of her time endlessly. She delighted in showing us the sights from the peaks. Her whole attitude was amazing. What a gem!“

Valerie Parkinson

Year entered Hall of Fame: 2013
Trips: Search for Snow Leopards with Valerie Parkinson, Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Circuit and much more!

Valerie is in a class of her own and the first entrant in the Hall of Fame. She is the UK’s most experienced Himalayan tour leader, having trekked, climbed and led within the region since the early 1990s. Her knowledge and skills span the people and culture, local community support and mountaineering. Matched with her calm nature, personable style, strength and stamina – she is the perfect trek leader to show you the greatest mountain range on earth.

What you say:
“Valerie is rightfully a legend – she knows everyone and even read us local tales from a book. She lives and breathes the region and that in turn feeds into the group and how good the trip turned out to be. She is also widely respected by the local people and staff, case in point one evening a ranger had his own client with an eye problem – first port of call was Valerie to see what she thought”