Biography
ENLARGE
After completing a BSC at Bournemouth University, focusing on Sustainable Eco-Tourism, Nik followed his love of nature and passion for travel and became a wildlife guide on a French campsite in the Cevennes.
After two seasons Nik decided he needed more adventure so moved on to South America, where he travelled extensively and found a wildlife and anthropological guiding role living in a tent in the Peruvian Amazon.
With the travel bug fully caught Nik became an overland driver. This involved driving large self-sufficient 4X4 trucks with fridges, tents and cooking equipment all over the world from Istanbul to Cape Town, or the southern most tip of India back to England! During this time, Nik spent one year leading tours in North Africa, where his love of Morocco and Egypt developed.
He has recently returned to these countries on a comprehensive trip so that he can advise Audley clients on the most recent developments. Other interests include music, sport and photography.
My Most Memorable Experience
This was climbing into the Pyramid at Dashur. Once I'd been given my torch and told my guide wouldn't be coming down with me since it was too much like hard work, I descended the many steps into the darkness with the Indiana Jones theme tune in my head. Reaching the bottom, I scrambled around to find the two chambers inside, feeling like I was the first person to have ever been there. Although there is no ornate decoration inside, it's hot and there is the acrid ammonia of bat guano, which might not sound too attractive to everybody. But it is just the atmosphere and the feeling of being an intrepid explorer of old that really gets the imagination ready for the rest of your Egyptian experience.
My Favourite Destination
This has to be Essaouira. Only a couple of hours West of Marrakesh, it's an easy drive through the desert and then a string of olive and argan fields. Although Essaouira is on the coast it is not a beach resort unless you want to go kite surfing or windsurfing.
Essaouira is all about the mixture of people and cultures, whether that be the Gnaoua musicians from the South, the Berber tradesman from the East or the Western influence, from old Spanish and Portuguese explorers to the modern, chic culture brought by the French.
This melange has created a very bohemian feel. Jimi Hendrix and other musicians spent time here in the sixties, while Orson Welles spent plenty of time here in the previous decade filming Othello. He is now immortalised in Orson Welles Square, just outside the medina. Because of all this crossover it is easily the best place in Morocco to get your arts and crafts, so leave some space in your bags!
So you have arrived, taken a promenade along the front for sunset, watched the fisherman in their blue boats arrive back in with their catch, had a cocktail overlooking the Atlantic waves crashing against the ramparts and you're now ready to sample the fantastic seafood available from the stalls in the harbour - what could be better?
My Favourite Accommodation
For accomodation Audley use so many great places in Egypt and Morocco, but my favourite is La Maison Arabe in Marrakesh, a haven of quiet near the busy centre. Although not quite the traditional riad it is still decorated in a sophisticated Moroccan style, with extra touches such as a jazz bar, a fantastic pool and three different restaurants. The spa and hammam are very nice and there's even a top class cooking school in house. You wont want to leave.