Robert has worked in adventure travel ever since graduating university with an archaeology degree. He has been a Mountain Guide in the Himalayas and Karakorum mountain ranges, leading a wide selection of holidays including walking, biking, rafting and cultural trips. He has also run trips in a number of African countries, including Ethiopia and Lesotho.

Robert has detailed knowledge of running successful tour operations in both the UK and overseas. His experience includes a three-year period as Operations Manager of Exodus, one of the largest of the UK's adventure tour operators, where he was in charge of its walking programmes.

In 1992 he co-founded Karakoram Explorers, a Pakistani Tour Operator offering trekking, rafting and cultural itineraries. In addition, this company successfully supported climbers onto summits of several 8000 m. peaks, including K2. In 1996 he founded Real World Travel Ltd., specializing in walking and biking holidays in France and Italy, which were sold on a subcontract basis. In 1998, enthused by the possibilities of the Internet to market and sell quality holidays, he founded realworld-travel.com, which was launched on the 3rd July 2000 at the Royal Geographical Society in London.

Ruth left university with a degree in Law (with European Studies and French), and then took a Masters in Tourism Management. Her work in travel commenced with Hyatt Hotels and later included a two year management training course with Saga Holidays.

Ruth joined realworld-travel.com in June 2000 from Simply Travel, where she was Programme Manager, in charge of sales, reservations and operations for their Cities and Short Breaks programme. With her extensive and varied tourism background, and her fluency in French and Spanish, Ruth works with our partners to ensure realworld-travel.com offers a wide range of quality itineraries at a keen price.

Paul started his career in travel over 15 years ago working for Peltours, one of the leading UK specialists to Israel.

In 1991 he joined SARtravel Ltd., where he was responsible for arranging tailor-made itineraries to southern Africa. During his time at SARtravel Ltd., he travelled extensively within southern Africa, visiting Cape Town, The Garden Route, and Mpumalanga in South Africa. In Zimbabwe he travelled to Harare, Victoria Falls, Bulawayo and Lake Kariba (which is his favourite destination!) Within Botswana he stayed at the Okavango Delta, and at the Selinda Private Reserve, where he undertook a two day walking safari.