Our team

Christoffer Holmsteen

Owner and founder of Executrip, Christoffer Holmsteen, is a passionate traveler, with a keen interest in people, society, culture, and nature, who has been to over a quarter of the world’s nations. In fact, he takes his motto after the famed poet and fellow Dane Hans Christian Andersen: To travel is to live!

Christoffer has worked in customer service for three decades; in his native Denmark, and in New York City; in high-end hotels, and as personal chauffeur for the Danish Ambassador to the United Nations; as owner and operator of limousines, and of a small NYC destination management company prior to the industry crisis caused by 9/11.

In 2002, Christoffer and his longtime friend Soren Bjelke (see below) traveled on the Siberian Railroad, from Moscow to Vladivostok, visiting many fascinating locations along the way. What left the greatest impression was legendary Lake Baikal, the world’s oldest (25 mio years) and deepest (5 m/8 km) freshwater lake, which proved to be a very cold swim even in July. The lake is the focus of numerous programs aiming to protect the fauna and animal species unique to the region. Christoffer hopes to return to Lake Baikal with guests interested in exploring and supporting these preservation programs.

In addition, Christoffer possesses great passion for and an extensive knowledge of his native Denmark; his adopted home New York City; his favorite place to be Rio de Janeiro, Salvador do Bahia and the northern beaches of Brazil; and the paradisiacal Pacific island nation of Samoa.

Søren Bjelke

Soren Bjelke studied Russian and Japanese at Copenhagen University in his native Denmark, and has spent a significant time visiting and living in both Russia and Japan.

He guided his first group in Russia in 1998, and has since his studies been a sought after freelance tour leader for several Danish travel agencies, on trips to a long list of destinations he could not turn down.

Soren has worked in the offices of a number of travel agencies, and thus has great knowledge of all aspects of the travel industry.

In the structured preparations for numerous destinations and culturally geographical areas, Soren has extensive experience with project organization and possesses a truly extensive professional knowledge.

In addition to a profound understanding of cultural diversity, Soren demonstrates exquisite social
capabilities and is an excellent communicator, who expertly delivers his extensive knowledge of history, geography, religion, and languages, in many of the world’s most fascinating countries.

To much applause, Soren has functioned as a tour leader at the following destinations:
Japan, Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Istanbul (Turkey), Iran, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, New York City, New England, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Saint Martin, Bahamas, Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, and the Dominican Republic.

A previous guest of Soren said:
“The tour leader Soren Bjelke deserves 10 stars out of 10.”