Dirk Koolwijk
Owner
Dirk moved from the Netherlands to Sweden in 2016 and is the founder and driving force behind Luleå Travel. Before migrating to Swedish Lapland, he had a successful company in the maritime industry. His valid sailing competence brought him often to Norway and Svalbard, working with tourists and discovering his passion for the cold Arctic. His eagerness to develop products and eye for detail is the base for many products you find on the website from Luleå Travel. With being an authorized guide for the UNESCO site Gammelstad he has deep local knowledge and many good stories to tell you.
Cecilia Sandström
Owner / guide
Cecilia is born in Sweden and traveled the world with her parents as a child. Because of her childhood adventures, she has continued to explore the planet: climbing mountains in Africa and Nepal, crossing the Amazonas by boat, traveling through Siberia by train, and kayaking in the waters of Svalbard. During her worldwide travels, she discovered that her true passion aligned with snow, ice, and cold waters. With many years of guiding she is never happier than being outdoors in nature and giving the guest the experience that will give them a memory for life.
Rick Boyd
Guide
Rick is an experienced wilderness guide from the Netherlands, graduated from the International Wilderness Guide School of Finland and educated in wilderness skills, nature & tourism. With years of working experience abroad for a big tour operator, he is happy to welcome visitors the whole year round in a variety of activities. Rick has worked in both Swedish and Finnish Lapland, with latest at Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi. With Luleå as his homebase, he loves to tell with passion about the towns history and culture on his tours and is happy to call Luleå home.
Ruby Lui
Office
Ruby is graduated from a bachelor degree in tourism management in Hong Kong. She has been working in the tourism industry over more then 15 years. With her professional background and speaking fluently Cantonese and Mandarin she is our contact for the Asian market. She loves the Northern Lights and picking blueberries and mushrooms in the Swedish forest. With a wide experience, affection and dedication for her work, she will ensure that you will get a piece of the magic Swedish Lapland has to offer too.
Ari Hultqvist
Guide
After years of living in Reykjavik and guiding global adventurers to the spectacular sights of Iceland, tour guide and outdoor instructor Ari relocated to Northern Sweden. Living in close harmony with nature is important to him and he is interested in refining tourism in a way that encourages conservation and sustainability. He is educated in wilderness first aid and lifesaving protocols. Always eager to learn more, he is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Eco Tourism. Ari frequently leads outings, survival courses and educates new leaders within the Swedish Outdoor Association. He is driven by a love for nature and adventure and is passionate about sharing it with you, whether you are a seasoned mountaineer or setting out on your first ever hike.
Sofia Hagsand
Guide
Sofia is born and raised in the northern part of Sweden and is an experienced conservation biologist. Both preserving and teaching about nature is her passion. Being outdoors is where she is at ease, and she gladly shows you the beautiful diversity of the Swedish old growth forest in the Luleå region.
Craig Phillips
Guide
Craig enjoys showing visitors around his adopted homeland of Northern Sweden. It never ceases to amaze him how each season (surprisingly there are more than 4!) has its own special characteristics and range of activities. From island-hopping and wild swimming excursions under the Midnight Sun, to the exhilarating sensation of skiing, hiking, snowmobiling, ice-skating through the Arctic Winter Wonderland. Local history, nature, wildlife, Northern Lights, industry and the unique regional culture are all subjects that Craig is thrilled to discuss with you.
Claes-Jörgen Pohl
Guide
Classe grew up in the middle of Swedish Lapland and learned from his grandparents how to live close to the nature and Sámi culture. He has a passion to share his knowledge and heritage and with more than fifty years of experience he has a great respect for wildlife and the Sámi culture. Classe is an experienced mountain guide and has been guiding many international guests through our landscape. He is positive minded, loves people and is more than happy to share his knowledge and stories about people and places.
Johan Fjellström
Guide
Johan is born and raised in Norrbotten, the northernmost county of Sweden. Over the years he has learnt to respect the forests and he loves the beauty of the local nature and wildlife. He has been fishing since he was a small boy and fishing has become a part of his life. He feels happy to go out with quests and let them understand what’s so peaceful about fishing and suddenly feel the rush when you rod feels heavy and you got a fish on the line. With his experience in working with people for many years he will make sure you have the best outdoor experience possible.
Monica Schots
Office
Monica grew up in the Netherlands and studied animal husbandry. An internship on a Husky kennel in Sweden during 2014, opened her eyes to the beauty of Scandinavia and the remote living. This experience, working with dogs and taking care for guests changed her life. After some years of seasonal guiding at the Husky kennel she decided to make the step and move to Swedish Lapland with her family. Working previously as a guide for Luleå Travel she got the chance to develop more as a guide and learn more about the destination. She loves being outdoors and is eager to continue making guests happy and helping them experience their own individual and unforgettable moments.
Johanna Utula
Guide
Johanna is a graduated on the Outdoor and Adventure Management school in Åre. Here she studied to become a Swedish mountain guide, tourism management and environmental science. She is an experienced outdoor and wilderness guide and have guided many hikers, skiers and adventurers in the mountains of Sweden, the fjords of Norway and on horseback in Iceland. Johanna loves all kinds of outdoor activities and is eager to inspire people to go outdoors, learn more and fall in love with the beauty of Northern Sweden like she did many years ago.
Henrik Pernsteiner
Guide
Henrik grew up in southern Sweden where he got in contact with nature during his early years as a scout. Having spent years of traveling to northern Sweden for fishing adventures he discovered his love for the outdoors. Besides being an environmental specialist, he has a wide knowledge ranging from white-water rafting, hiking and winter camping, which he more than loves to share with you. As a kayak instructor and a leader in the Swedish Outdoor Association you can rely on that Henrik always has something exciting up his sleeve.
Lien Strubbe
Office
Lien is originally from Belgium and holds a degree in Business Management with a specialization in marketing. She prefers to spend her free time traveling in nature. During the first time she visited Swedish Lapland she fell in love with the region right away. She believes that magical memories and experiences are the most beautiful gift that life can offer, and she wants to share that gift with others.
Piotr Sitarz
Guide
Piotr has been hiking since he was 8 years old. Besides that he has a background as professional chef, he loves the outdoors. Covering more than 4000km a year on ski’s and roller ski’s, competing in ski races is where he is getting stoked about. During winter you will often see him in the frozen Luleå Archipelago, testing out new gear, cooking outdoors while winter camping. He has a strong interest in everything what has to do with ice, weather, climate change and is eager to share his passion with you.
Lotte Molenaar
Guide
Lotte grew up in a very small town in the Netherlands and fell in love with Swedish Lapland during an intern at a husky kennel. Here she would return a year later to work for almost a whole year and realised that Sweden will be her new home. She loves the outdoors and is eager of learning more about this wonderful destination and to be a super-duper amazing guide.
Parinaz Naji
Guide
Parinaz is from Iran and came to Sweden to study tourism and sustainability. Before coming to Sweden, she was a mountain guide in Iran and has worked as a guide in Finnish Lapland. She likes hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing, camping and is a certified eco tour guide. Parinaz is now studying for her master’s degree and combines this with what she loves the most – being outdoors and she loves to share her passion with you.
Guest reviews
Nature’s Best
