Leader of the Year Awards 2024

The Overall Winner of our Exodus Adventure Travels Leader of the Year Award 2024 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 Adventure Travels Foundation, as we are deeply involved in ongoing projects that give back to their local communities.

For over 50 years our expert local leaders have been setting our extraordinary adventures apart. And it’s no secret that we hand-pick the best guides in the business – who go above and beyond to impart their knowledge and expertise to enhance every adventure. And to celebrate their dedication and skill, we’ve asked you, our community of travellers, who you feel deserves to win our coveted Exodus Travels Leader of the Year 2024.

After careful deliberation by our panel of judges, the results are in! Read on to find out who is our Overall Winner, and which guides made it into our Runners-up and Hall of Fame 2024.

Overall Winner

João Colaço

Leading cycling and hiking tours across Portugal, João Colaço has earned glowing praise from countless travellers for his exceptional organisation, warmth, and dedication. Born in Marinha Grande, in central Portugal, João made a life-changing decision to leave a career in engineering to follow his passion for the outdoors and adventure travel. From guiding groups along the Atlantic Coast to wandering through traditional fishing villages and forest trails, João’s attention to detail and deep knowledge of Portugal’s culture shines through.

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. His professionalism, humour, and genuine care make him not only an extraordinary leader but also a true ambassador for Portugal, so we’re proud to name João Colaço our Exodus Adventure Travels Leader of the Year 2024.

João leads selected departures on Porto to Lisbon Atlantic Ride and Lisbon to Algarve Ride.

“João is the best group leader we’ve ever had—an ambassador for both Portugal and Exodus. He connected personally with every member of our group, and I would do Portugal again just to be part of his group.”

Runner Up

Biju Badri Kumar

With consistently glowing feedback, Biju Badri Kumar was a strong contender for our Leader of the Year award. Groups have praised him for his extensive knowledge of Indian culture and infectious enthusiasm. From his thoughtful attention to detail to his seamless organisation skills, Biju ensures every traveller in his group walks away with wonderful memories of their time in India. His genuine passion for sharing the beauty of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, along with his calm and inclusive leadership, makes him an exceptional guide worthy of notable mention.

Biju leads selected departures on our Tropical South trip in India.

Runner Up

Vanja Lovric

Vanja Lovric is another deserving runner-up for the 2024 Leader of the Year award, known for her boundless enthusiasm and unwavering dedication. Her depth of knowledge of Croatia’s history, culture, and natural beauty is one of the aspects of her trips you’ve loved the most. Vanja’s ability to make everyone feel included and valued is unmatched, and she’s always ready to go the extra mile—whether it’s answering questions, offering local insights, or managing every detail of the trip seamlessly. Her energy, professionalism, and genuine passion for guiding make Vanja a standout leader.

Vanja leads selected departures in Croatia.

Runner Up

Thanh Vu

Thanh Vu is no stranger to our Leader of the Year Award, with his trips continuing to score highly year after year. Customers have raved about his attention to detail, whether that’s offering personalised tips on local dining to managing logistics and transfers with flawless precision. Thanh also ensures he shows travellers a different side of Vietnam beyond the major cities, after growing up in a rural countryside village outside Hanoi. His witty sense of humour and famous “walk and talks” remain key highlights for groups on his trips.

Thanh leads selected departures of our Cultural trips in Vietnam.

Runner Up

Lam Nguyen

Growing up in a small village near Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, his passion for the outdoors took root and he has been guiding with Exodus since 2010. Known for his calm, reassuring presence and flawless organisation—he’s described by many as “the man with a plan.” Whether leading cycling tours through his beloved Mekong or sharing deep knowledge of Hoi An’s history, Lam’s energy and humour make every day extraordinary. Travellers praise him, particularly for his caring nature and ability to make every traveller feel like part of one big family.

Lam leads selected departures of our Cycling trips in Vietnam.

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.

Do you have an expert leader who has gone above and beyond to enhance your adventure? Give them the recognition they deserve by voting for them in our coveted Exodus Adventure Travels Leader of the Year Awards—to celebrate their passion, dedication, and incredible leadership. There’s no time like the present to make your vote count and choose your favourite leader in 2025!

Vote Now