MEET THE TEAM

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.

Cristina Peñaranda

Office

Cristina is originally from the Basque Country and studied tourism in college. She has spent many years traveling the world as a backpacker, cycle tourist, and van-lifer, exploring diverse cultures and landscapes. With a background in social media and a passion for communication, she thrives on connecting with people online and helping guests plan unforgettable holidays. A lover of animals and nature, she found her heart in Sweden, falling deeply in love with the country’s stunning landscapes and peaceful lifestyle. She’s excited to share that same sense of wonder with Luleå Travel’s guests, offering them the same magic she felt when she first stepped onto Swedish soil.

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.

Sasha Burdka

Office

Sasha is originally from central France. For several years, she traveled regularly to Sweden and ultimately fell in love with Luleå and its beautiful surroundings. This deep connection inspired her to settle here with her family. Passionate about hiking, she loves spending time outdoors and immersing herself in Sweden’s peaceful and relaxing nature. Since moving to Luleå, Sasha hasn’t missed a single opportunity to venture out in the evenings in search of the Northern Lights. She is excited to share her knowledge, experiences, and love for Luleå and its stunning region with you.

Sabrina Kerth

Office

Originally from Germany, Sabrina moved to the North in 2017 as part of her studies in Tourism Management. Her passion for Arctic destinations has taken her to Svalbard, Canada, and across Northern Scandinavia, where she has worked in tourism and hospitality. Loving winter, snow, and the outdoors, Sabrina is happiest when surrounded by nature. At Luleå Travel, she is excited to share her knowledge and insights to help guests create their perfect holiday in Swedish Lapland. Whether it’s recommending authentic local experiences or tailoring details to make each trip unique, she ensures visitors leave with unforgettable memories.

Daniel Módenes

Guide

Dani is originally from the Basque Country. He has traveled through Southeast Asia as a backpacker and explored Argentina as a bikepacker. More recently, he crossed Europe in a van from Spain to Nordkapp in Norway. These journeys have allowed him to experience different cultures, ways of life, and connect more deeply with nature. He is passionate about outdoor activities, sports, and observing animals in their natural habitat. Living in Lapland is an exciting adventure, and he is thrilled to contribute his experience at Luleå Travel.

Jurian Wols

Guide

Jurian was born in the Netherlands in 1995. From an early age, he felt a deep connection with nature and animals. After working in various outdoor professions in the Netherlands – from gardener to poultry butcher – he increasingly felt a calling from within to move north. Once he arrived in Swedish Lapland, everything fell into place. His strong bond with nature, spirituality, and the openness of the people here bring him peace and inspiration every day. For Jurian, living in Lapland is more than just a lifestyle – it’s a way of being. With enthusiasm, honesty, and an eye for detail, he hopes to share his genuine connection to Swedish Lapland with visitors, allowing them to truly feel and experience the purity, freedom, and authenticity of life in the North.

Britta

Guide

Britta is originally from Germany and moved to Luleå to study Applied AI. She quickly fell in love with the amazing nature and calm lifestyle up here, especially loving the winters. Her passion for the outdoors has taken her abroad as a ski instructor in both Canada and Japan, as well as on backpacking, van-life, and multi-day hiking adventures around the world. Britta enjoys to spent time outdoors with her two dogs. Up here she also discovered a new passion: cross-country skiing with her dogs. She is excited to share the beauty and simplicity of life in the North with visitors.

Kristoffer

Guide

Kristoffer was born and raised in the north of Sweden – in the small town of Lycksele. After many years living a busy life and chasing dreams around the world, he finally chose to follow his heart and return back home – to the calm, the quiet, and the breathtaking nature up here.
As a nature guide, he gets to combine two of his greatest passions — the outdoors and meeting people from all over the world — and he is excited to create magical moments together with you in the fantastic wilderness in Norrbotten.

Linda

Guide

Linda was born and raised in the north of Sweden. With her roots in the northern countryside, she has a deep love for the mountains, the forest and the fifth season. Whether it’s hiking, fishing or just sitting by a fire and enjoying a starry sky and sparkling northern lights, nature is the place where she finds strength and recovery. Join her on an adventure where you discover the beauty of nature together.

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.

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.

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.

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.