How did it start?
Maximum Adventure Ltd, registered in the UK No. 4440338, was founded at the beginning of 2002 because far too many people in the world want to do something adventurous but don't. For whatever reason. Not enough time, something good on the television, oh look it's raining! There are always plenty of excuses. Our aim is to get you into the outdoors and to make the most of the time we have here. The world is full of so many exciting places and you can, and should, enjoy them too!

I, Mike, the founder, mountain leader qualified, have been fortunate enough to travel and climb all over the world. The UK, The Alps, North America, South America, Africa, The Himalayas. The list is long but not exhaustive. People should be more willing to go travelling, climbing and visiting places that they haven't been to. That's why I set up this company. To encourage people to enjoy the outdoors and to say 'you can do it' when maybe you don't think you can.

Alois - fully qualified mountain guide, has years of experience both guiding and creating alpine tours for beginners and experts alike. His personal favourites are long tours through the Western Alps and off piste skiing in some of the more outlandish places. He is also an experience and qualified chef. Alois is responsible for devising many of our alpine itineraries and really knows the hills. Customer quote "Alois is an outstanding guide.  His enthusiasm is infectious and he always goes that extra mile - and makes you go the extra two!"
 

Jaz (Jason) - fully qualified International Mountain Leader, UK Winter Mountain Leader and Single Pitch Rock Climbing Instructor. A former Royal Marine of 12 years his mountaineering career started in the early 1980s followed by intensive mountain and arctic training in the Marines.  His love of the outdoors has taken him from the mountains of Peru to the high Himalaya with time spent in many European and African mountain regions. Jaz leads many of our UK trips and treks further afield. If not away leading or teaching all things mountaineering he can be found climbing and socialising at home in the Peak District or ski mountaineering in the Alps.
 

Neil -  qualified Mountain Instructor, Winter Mountain Leader and a member of the Association of Mountaineering instructors. "My introduction to climbing was at the age of seventeen. A friend and I took a bus, train and thumbed a ride to the Ecrin Massif in France. Armed with a how to climb book, some borrowed kit and a lot of enthusiasm. We managed two routes, one 'benightment', very sore feet and a promise to return! Since then my climbing and work has taken me all over the UK, much of Europe, North America, Canada, Peru, Chile and India. Neil laid back style will surely not stress you out!

Jörn - fully qualified international mountain guide (UIAGM). He has guided Mont Blanc about 50 times (he has lost count), the Matterhorn 20 times, climbed the North Face of the Eiger and been to the summit of Mt. McKinley 5 times. He is on hand at the chalet in the Alps during the summer to guide and for general advice/assistance.

Ric - fully qualified international mountain guide (UIAGM) and also an MIC holder (mountaineering instructors' certificate). Ric started climbing in 1980 and has climbed all over the world, including Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South America. His climbing experience ranges from climbing 1000 metre high big walls on El Capitan in Yosemite through alpine-style first ascents on 6000m peaks in the Himalayas to bouldering 1 metre off the ground in sunny Wales. Ric guides for us in the Alps, and teaches many of our UK courses.

Günter - fully qualified international mountain guide (UIAGM). Günter qualified as a guide in 1997 and  since then has spent his years guiding in the summer and ski instructing in the winter. He has ascents of many major alpine peaks to his credit (Mont Blanc, Matterhorn, Eiger to name but three) and will gladly bring his good humour to your course.

Hannes - at only 26 years of age (in 2004) Hannes is one of the younger guides we use, but brings with him a maturity beyond his years. He is a member of the Austrialpin Team and at the time of writing attempting a new route up the Shipton Spire in Pakistan. Good luck Hannes! An extremely talented climber and friendly climbing companion as well.

David is always climbing or so it seems. If he's not guiding in the Alps then he is to be found in the Himalayas on an expedition. As a member of the German Alpine Association Expedition Team it is fair to say he is probably one of Germany's best young climbers. Customer quote: "David was superb. Not only a mountain guide, but a Chamonix Valley and pub guide and photographer as well. He looked after us extremely well, extending his role far more than he needed to. We are both very grateful to David."

Jürgen has many years' experience completing the most different types of outdoor adventures. As a fully qualified alpine guide he has done everything from sea level bouldering to expeditions to Nepal and Alaska. Renowned for keeping his cool whether skiing down the steepest slopes of the Alps or having a coffee break, Jürgen has proved a very popular guide for us in recent years.

After qualifying as a teacher, Ragna decided to answer the call of the mountains. She now looks back on a huge number of difficult ascents and climbs in the Berner Oberland in the Alps and knows many of the important climbing areas intimately. On top of that Ragna always displays great enthusiasm and happiness in her job and has an extensive knowledge of the Alpine flora and fauna. Ragna completed her qualification as an alpine guide in recent years.
 

Tom is a fully qualified alpine guide and guides for us in the Alps. Tom is also an ex professional ice hockey player and a thoroughly nice person to work with and be guided by. Tom is a regular on our Mont Blanc courses and each year seems to guide about 6 groups to the summit. Customer quote "Tom was an excellent guide, friendly, informative and experienced - I'd definitely request him if we did another trip!"

The team in Nepal! Tulsi, the Managing Director, will take personal care of you whilst in Nepal and provides all the organisational skill that is necessary for the complex operation there. Tulsi has over 20 years experience in the Nepalese travel industry. Starting as a river guide, he provides a warm welcome to all visitors. He is ably assisted by Prashant, Sandeep, Jire, Nawang and many others ... All the local guides we use speak good English, and will provide a fascinating insight into local culture. A visit to Nepal will surely be a trip you will never forget!