Each of our specialists covers a few areas of our programme and all have been recruited for their passion and detailed knowledge of the region. They have all travelled extensively in this area so whoever plans your trip you can be sure that you will experience the very best of the country. Click on their profiles to read more about their background and travel experience.
Ben Colbridge
North & Central Asia Specialist
01993 838 217
Expertise:
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Classic China, The Silk Route, Southwest China, Central Asia, China, Japan
After graduating from university with a degree in Molecular Biology & Genetics, it was time for a change, and Ben headed to a small rice-farming village in rural southern Japan to teach English. In the following 4 years, he travelled extensively around Asia before returning to the UK to work & continue his love of both travel and Asia. After two years working in the travel industry Ben joined Audley as a specialist allowing him to remain involved in this most diverse of continents full time and to return regularly to the areas he loves. Ben now covers Central Asia, China and Japan for Audley, and indulges his passion for travel photography whenever he can.
Chris's passion for China stems from his first introduction to the country twelve years ago, his first trip out of Europe. Since then he has returned several times to different regions of China, and is always amazed by the speed at which the country is changing. He studied for a year in Taiwan and remains captivated by this understated island. After graduating in Chinese he put his travel experience and knowledge of Asia to good use by joining Audley Travel. While at Audley Chris has visited Tibet, where he travelled across the plateau to Nepal in summer 2007. Staying at a monastery guesthouse at the foot of Everest was the highlight of his Audley travel experience so far. He also travelled to Russia, The Baltics and The Ukraine in 2008 with Audley as well as making a fascinating journey to Central Asia and the Silk Route.
Jo developed an interest for all things Russian whilst she was at school, when she decided to take up the language. She went on to study it at Birmingham which included the best year of her life to date, living and studying in St Petersburg whilst working for a children's charity. During this time she travelled extensively around Russia and also to the Baltic States. Apart from the warmth of the people she encountered, she became particularly interested in the architecture of the churches and the revival of religion in Russia. On joining Audley she returned to Russia to see what our clients do out there, and fell in love with Mongolia and the small part of China that she visited. She has since returned to explore more of both China and Mongolia, which whetted her appetite for more travel in the region.
Ben Colbridge
01993 838 217
Chris Moore
01993 838 213
Joanne Hoban
01993 838 206