Meet our team
Our team of adventurous and committed people are deeply invested in providing you with the most extraordinary experience possible, through the vehicle of adventure. Although we’re based in the Gold Coast hinterland in Australia, we get out a lot and, as you might expect, we’re a pretty international bunch. From expedition to expedition, you will always be surrounded by professionals that give detailed advice for important questions like ‘is it really going to get to -40c?’ to less important questions like ‘is there any other options for dinner other than reindeer stew?’
Below is our extensive ‘yellow pages’ of the entire team, from website development, to Himalayan guide to adventure designer himself (Me, Ben), you will not find a more streamlined group of individuals when it comes to building, planning and executing best life adventures.
Ben Southall
Exploring a new country or destination for the first time – the rawness of unexpected people, panoramas and problems, is my biggest adventure itch scratcher.
Ben Southall
Exploring a new country or destination for the first time – the rawness of unexpected people, panoramas and problems, is my biggest adventure itch scratcher.
Lakpa
Lakpa
I particularly love the thrill of meeting new people who are enthusiastic about adventure and assisting them in realising their dreams to conquering any peaks from 6000m – 8000m and trekking in any part of the Himalayas of Nepal safely and successfully.
Contributing to our nation’s economy by promoting tourism, preserving mountain culture, and generating employment to many people in all sectors brings me great joy. I thrive on the outdoor excitement of adventure, shaping the best version of myself in the process.
Rameshi Jogi
Rameshi Jogi
My passion for exploration is strong as I am drawn to new places and diverse cultures, relishing the exchange of ideas and experiences. Meeting people from all walks of life enriches my journey, furthering my curiosity and broadening my perspective.
However, it is the challenge of pushing my limits that truly drives me, propelling me towards personal growth and self-discovery with every step I take.
Gareth Ward
Gareth Ward
I like to define ‘Adventure’ as: “an unusual and exciting or daring experience “. If you give me a story thats unusual, exciting, or daring – you have my full attention. Even if its a crazy proposition, most of the time i’m going to say, I’M IN! I don’t mind what mode of transport it is, if it is human powered, I can get behind it.
If I had to narrow it down to one crazy trip to do, it would probably be Walk the length of PNG, or paddle the Sepik River, I can’t decide.
Joona Kivinen
Joona Kivinen
I have guided the Best Life Adventures Extreme Dreams: Arctic Challenge for a number of years and have loved the cultural mix that occurs naturally on these adventures.
I feel like I come into my own when civilization fades into the horizon and I face the open arctic tundra and the forces of nature and when I rely on my own expertise and equipment to get the team safely through to the end of another epic day. In those moments the rest of the world fades away allowing me to focus on the adventure.
Minttu
Minttu
I think my excitement comes from experiencing stuff that is still pure and somewhat untouched, as many of the natural areas across the globe are becoming tarnished.
In Lapland we have the purest air in the world to breathe, the purest water to drink and still unspoiled nature. And that’s why I have such a passion for sharing this unique landscape with others, so that they too can gain a greater appreciation for the beautiful world around us, before it’s too late.
Craig McSween
Craig McSween
For 20 years, I’ve paddled every crack and crevice of Queensland’s coast and journeyed through the Pacific and its many islands but I’m all about exploring new places, no matter how I get there.
I love the thrill of the unknown and testing my skills in the heat of battle.
Crossing the Bass Strait was a big achievement, but a Best Life Adventure kayaking through Papua New Guinea’s fjords? That scratches my adventure itch.
Atlas Southall
Chief snack officer and snorkel extraordinaire….
Atlas Southall
Chief snack officer and snorkel extraordinaire….
Ula Piller
Ula Piller
Hiking is my personal favourite mode of transport, as it gives me both physical challenge and moments with nature. It’s how I recharge and find inspiration in all aspects of like. Exploring new places keeps my spirit alive and fulfills my sense of adventure.
Among BLA expeditions, the Extreme Dreams: Arctic Challenge stands out as a dream come true, as it gives me the chance to witness the awe-inspiring aurora borealis, which I have been dreaming of for years.
Lachie Sowerby
Lachie Sowerby
One of my favourite pastime’s is scrolling through a mountain range and all most playing connect the dots with trails that are already pre existing, to get the best diversity of altitude, environment and challenge.
Putting these together gets me excited like nothing else could and the thrill of building a trip from the ground up and being able to walk or raft it myself is a truly unique feeling.
I also love to share this adventure with friends that are stupid enough to believe I have any clue what the outcome will be.
Jen
Jen
Hiking is my jam, no doubt about it. There’s a sense of freedom that comes with propelling myself forward on my own two feet, syncing my pace with the rhythm of my mood.
Those little trails branching off the main path always call me, promising hidden gems and unexpected adventures around every bend.
The idea of exploring the majestic Himalayas with BLA fills me with excitement; their awe-inspiring peaks have long been on my bucket list.
Ben Doss
Ben Doss
Solo cycling is my thing; there’s a certain thrill in covering long distances on serene roads, just me and the bike. Getting lost along the way and then rediscovering my path adds an element of adventure and self-discovery to the journey.
One BLA expedition that’s been calling out to me is the Manali to Leh Highway in India, the world’s highest road, on push bike of course. It’s a challenge I’m eager to take on, with its rugged terrain and breathtaking views that promise an unforgettable experience.
