Leader of the Year Awards 2023

The winner will be given a prize of £2000, half of which will be given to the leader, and the other half will be given to a charity of their choice. Many choose to donate to our own Exodus Travels Foundation, as we are deeply involved in ongoing projects that give back to their local communities.

Our expert local leaders have been setting our adventures apart for the last 50 years. It’s no secret that we hand-pick the best guides in the business – ones who have explored every trail, have a deep understanding of the local legends and customs and have tasted the best dishes. On every adventure, they lead the way, keen to impart their expertise and outstanding local knowledge, so you get an incredible experience. And to celebrate their dedication and skill, we’ve asked you, our community of travellers, who you’d like to nominate to win our coveted Exodus Travels Leader of the Year 2023.

We’re thrilled to announce that after much deliberation from our panel of judges, the votes are in, so read on to find out who our Overall Winners, Runners Up and Highly Commended guides are, and which ones made it onto our Hall of Fame for 2023!

Overall Winner

Edwind Colque

Working as an expert local guide in Peru for 12 years, countless clients have praised Edwind Colque for his passion, attentiveness and extensive knowledge of his country’s history and customs. Born in the Peruvian port city of Iquitos in the Loreto Region, his family moved to Cusco, where a job opportunity opened up to become a porter. It only took one trek along the iconic Inca Trail back in 2004, to convince Edwind that all he wanted was to become a fully-qualified tour guide. His strong leadership skills, caring nature and incredible examples of courage in the face of adversity when trekking in the Andean mountains are the reasons why we’re honoured to name him our winner of the Exodus Travels Leader of the Year Award 2023.

Edwin leads selected departures on The Lost City of Choquequirao, Inca Trail, Titicaca & Nazca, Inca Trail and the Amazon Rainforest trips in Peru

Read our Interview with Edwind

“I have travelled extensively, so I had fairly minimal expectations of what a team leader would provide – but I was so wrong! Edwind’s warm, naturally sociable and has broad knowledge of his environment – ranging from history to the environment and local politics, which made our trip a real pleasure and one that we will never forget.”

Runner Up

Lucia Kivoi

Another strong contender for the award was Lucia Kivoi, the woman who helped to spearhead our Mountain Lioness scholarship programme on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Raised in Arusha, Tanzania’s northern safari circuit, Lucia began her career as a porter before swiftly climbing the ranks to become a highly respected Senior Guide. Seen as a male-dominated role for centuries, she effectively defied social stigmas and paved the way for other women to qualify as guides on the mountain. Lucia is continually commended by clients for her confidence, professionalism and ability to foster meaningful connections with every group she leads.

Lucia leads selected departures on Kilimanjaro Climb – Lemosho Route trip in Tanzania

Runner Up

Thanh Vu

Born and raised in a rural village on the outskirts of Hanoi, Thanh Vu shares an equal appreciation for the countryside and the fast-paced life of Vietnam’s busiest cities, which makes him an excellent tour guide in ‘the land of the ascending dragon’. With a degree in tourism and 12 years of experience under his belt, clients speak highly about Thanh’s approachable nature, organisational skills, witty sense of humour and the insight he imparts on his famous “walk and talks”. His operators said, “Thanh’s charming character, unwavering enthusiasm and desire to go beyond the duty of care makes him an Exodus role model through and through.”

Honorary Awards – Hall of Fame

Our Hall of Fame is reserved for special leaders who have consistently excellent feedback from clients and continue to receive a high volume of nominations year in and year out for our Leader of the Year Awards. View previous leaders who appeared in the Hall of Fame.