Sam Hoys, who is behind all of Mountains & Magic, has dedicated his life to traveling. When he first set off he had no idea how it was going to change his life, he embraced the new cultures, foods, people and places with arms wide open.  Sam's philosophy is you can't really understand yourself until you understand the context in which you fit into the world, it is a vast and diverse world and you learn to know yourself better the more you see of it. This is the gift that Sam always wanted to share with others. 

Sam's passion for travelling beyond the normal holidays started in 2000 when he began what was supposed to be a 3 month trip to South America that turned into more then seven years of exploring and discovering new places. He has never looked back since, nothing would ever be the same. This initiation into the world of travel lead him to later create Mountains & Magic, which is an outlet for him to share his passion with others. From his first step off the plane in 2000, Sam fell in love with the freedom of traveling and exploring our beautiful planet.

 
Sam ended up spending the better part of 5 years in South and Central America and started working as a white water rafting guide and then as a tour leader for one of the bigger adventure travel companies. Work lead him eventually back to Europe leading groups to Mont Blanc in the French Alps. In 2007 Sam was transferred to Asia where he has set up base since then. When not on the road leading a trip, exploring new sights or hiking new trails Sam makes Asia his home fully immersing himself in the daily life.

The places and countries that have resonated with Sam the most are Peru, Patagonia, Nepal and Tibet, and much of South East Asia, all for their mountains, unique culture, and inspiring people. Nepal and Tibet are also home to the some of the Himalayan ranges, Sam found a strong connection to these mountains and he continues to be inspired by them.

Sam is a keen traveller, having travelled through over 50 countries and has been lucky enough to combine work with something he truly loves. For some it may seem strange that Sam who seems so at home in the mountains is originally from Belgium, where the closest thing they have to a mountain is a mountain of chocolate. While still a chocoholic, he left Belgium behind to seek out some serious altitude. Sam has been drawn to mountain ranges all over the world; from his first love the Andes, to the Alps and now the Himalayas.

Just a few of the comments Sam received from previous clients

 * "Sam did an outstanding job. He made sure that everyone in the group felt cared for and comfortable. He was a role model for how to interact with the locals. I truly enjoyed having him as our guide".

 * "Sam shared his knowledge about the area generously and also his experiences. He is a real profesional".

 * "Sam has a heart of gold, in addition to the great guiding skills - which makes a really impressive combination. Just wanted to say how much I admire his performance and character".

 * "Sam was very knowledgeable about the area, geography, people and customs. He was extremely patient and was  always willing to participate in all activities with as if he was a long time friend. He should be commended for his ability to navigate in extremely difficult snowy conditions that to me wiped out all evidence of a track. I was never concerned for my or my wife's safety. He has a good sense of humor. He was very helpful and always willing to make suggestions to improve our comfort and make the trek a success, which it was".

 * "Sam epitomized the ethos of small group travel and the interaction with local culture. His humanity with the homeless children in Cusco was a highlight".

 * "Sam took special care to ensure that everybody was comfortable in any situation. His enthusiasm created a fun, adventurous experience that never waned. I will look for him on future trips".

 * "Sam Hoys is the quintessential people person - absolutely ideal for his job. He is knowledgeable about the area, yet did not encroach on local guides' domain.  Despite never having seen a rugby match, he located a bar running the main test match involving NZ for us 3 kiwis on the trip. Obviously quite highly intelligent (a chess champion no less) he had a wide range of conversation and knowledge about the world, not just his part in it".