Hello, I’m Thomas Wilken, a passionate South America enthusiast. I’d like to briefly introduce myself.

My fascination with Andean culture and landscapes inspired me to create our range of trekking and mountain tours in the Andes region. I also enjoy touring the Alps, the Pyrenees, and other mountain regions. The Egge Mountains, my home region, are naturally included.

I was born in 1974 and grew up in beautiful East Westphalia – in the region around Paderborn/Kassel. To be geographically precise: I lived in the picturesque town of Willebadessen, at the foot of the Egge Mountains.

I attended school in nearby Neuenheerse, which, after endless squabbles, eventually culminated in the inevitable Abitur (university entrance qualification). This fulfilled the requirements for university studies, which I then pursued.

Before that, however, I took a detour into the field of landscaping and horticulture, where I completed a six-month internship. Only then did I transfer to the University of Münster, where I began studying geography. My minor subjects were ethnology, sociology, and geology, which complemented my major and my strong interest in foreign cultures and countries. This interest in many different countries around the world was also the reason for choosing this rather impractical field of study. In 2002, I graduated with a diploma in geography.

I most enjoy exploring largely untouched landscapes that haven’t yet been mentioned in any travel guide.

In the summer of 2004, my work as a tour guide and mountain bike guide on Crete gave me excellent opportunities to explore the island on foot and by bike. Besides the South American Andes, the mountains of Graubünden are my favorite destination. Here, I wrote a mountain guidebook entitled “Secluded Summits in Graubünden,” which describes tours to previously little-known, but all the more interesting, summits. Furthermore, I have published the Rother hiking guides “Bolivia – The Most Beautiful Hikes and Trekking Routes” and, together with Ralf Ganzhorn, “Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.” And not to forget the e-book “Dream Mountains of the Andes,” featuring descriptions of the most beautiful Andean peaks in South America, complete with numerous photos and detailed ascent descriptions.

Mountaineering, along with travel—or rather, the combination of both—is my favorite hobby, one I’ve pursued intensively since the age of 15. I started relatively late, admittedly, but as someone from northern Germany, it wasn’t always easy to get to the mountains often enough. During my university studies, I seized every opportunity, within my abundant free time, to visit the Alps. If only those tiresome mandatory courses hadn’t always gotten in the way!

Through an internship with the Ecuadorian environmental organization Jatun Sacha, I discovered and fell in love with the captivating landscapes of the South American Andes, a passion that deepened during subsequent trips to Peru and Bolivia. The same applies to the Spanish language and the South American people.

Since 2005, I have lived and worked primarily in South America. My home base was La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. Nestled in the vast Andean highlands at an altitude of almost 4,000 meters, it was from here that I conducted my explorations. The sheer endless diversity of the South American Andes offered me the very best conditions for this. The many mountains and peaks, expansive landscapes, lagoons, and salt flats fascinated me from day one. Gradually, I developed many attractive mountaineering and trekking tours to the most beautiful destinations in South America, based on my passion for mountaineering. But it wasn’t just the mountains—the people also deeply impressed me. Over the years, a deep-rooted network of people who share my passion developed.

South America has become my second home. Here I met my wife. My two children were born and raised in La Paz. My time in the Andes is one of the most important periods of my life, and I still feel a deep connection to the land and its people.

I recognized the importance of environmentally sustainable travel early on—especially in alpine environments, and of course everywhere else as well—which is why environmental responsibility is a particular concern of mine when I travel. Today, I actively participate in the Alpine conservation organization Mountain Wilderness and am committed to preserving natural resources. My diploma thesis also examined the ecological and anthropogeographical impacts of ski resort development in the Alps.

In addition to extensive travels through Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, and, of course, Switzerland, I have also focused on…

I’ve explored Crete, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Austria, Turkey, and many other countries extensively, mostly in connection with mountaineering activities. Therefore, I can now offer guided tours in Crete’s Lefka Ori, the Sierra Nevada in Andalusia, Crete, and the African mountains.

In August 2017, my family and I moved back to Germany. From the Andean metropolis of La Paz to Bad Lippspringe in East Westphalia. Now I’m always available for you (when I’m not traveling – but even then, I regularly answer emails and your messages).

Let’s see what my program brings in the near future. Enjoy browsing my offerings!

Sincerely,
Thomas Wilken

For questions, suggestions, or detailed information about my trips, please feel free to call or write me. I look forward to hearing from you.