Meet the Vikings
Josh
Lead tour guide and Operations Manager at Viking Biking & Hiking, Josh, brings a wealth of expertise in outdoor life and tourism in Oslo. With a Master’s degree in International Outdoor Education from the Norwegian Sports College, Josh has dedicated significant time to guiding, teaching, and conducting research in the city’s forests, islands, and schools. Hailing from the United States, Josh’s extensive experience in education, traveling, and performing around the world infuses his tours with captivating storytelling and entertainment, making them an absolute”must” for visitors.
Niamh
The new Managing Director as of 2024, Niamh is a native of Scotland and in Oslo to be with her nearly 2-metre Viking man. She started as a guide with Viking Biking & Hiking in 2019 and brings nearly a decade of experience in the hospitality, restaurant and tourism industry. Together with Josh, Niamh (pronounced “Neeve”) will manage the day-to-day operations of the company.
Curtis
Founder and owner of the company, Curtis grew up in the USA but has lived in Europe for over 20 years and is a dual national of Norway and the USA. His passion for biking and hiking is decades old and includes numerous long-distance tours in North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Before starting this company in 2012, he worked with the International Red Cross for many years. More importantly, that is how he met a Norwegian girl who is now his wife and together they have three children.
Bekka
A local to the Oslo region, Bekka has extensive experience in outdoor guiding, both in Oslo and all around Scandinavia. While she holds a master’s degree in Comparative Outdoor Living from the Norwegian Sports College, Bekka also has a real passion for the arts and all things creative. Since summer 2020, Bekka has been a member of the Viking Biking & Hiking board of directors.
Patrick
Guiding with Viking Biking & Hiking since 2015, Patrick is a certified Oslo tour guide. Both a local and an ex-pat at the same time, Patrick was raised in Oslo but with an Irish and English family. Yet thanks to his passion for gaming, he speaks native English with a slight American accent. He recently completed his bachelor’s degree in IT, but can’t give up the guiding quite yet because who wouldn’t love taking customers on bike tours and nature walks in the summer!
Marta
Marta keeps things going smoothly at Viking Biking & Hiking as back-office support staff. Originally from sunny Spain, Marta has accumulated extensive experience in tourism throughout Norway, covering destinations from Oslo to the Arctic north. When she’s not sending bills or responding to emails at Viking headquarters, Marta can be found scaling the rock faces of the Oslo forest and climbing gyms.
Jon
Hailing from the U.K. Jon is a PhD archaeologist with experience on digs around the world including Pompei as well as the 12th century abbey on the island Hovedøya, a ten-minute ferry ride from downtwon Oslo. Jon brings a wealth of historic interpretation to any biking or hiking tour.
Kat
Being from the cycling nation of the Netherlands, Kat grew up riding bikes. So, after earning a master’s degree in Viking studies from the University of Oslo, becoming a biking viking was an obvious next step. Got a question about Vikings? Having trouble translating some Old Norse? Just ask Kat — our Norse mythology expert!
Matt
Matt is a language teacher, musician and multilingual tour guide from Wales in the UK. Considering his love for languages, Matt has lived in Spain and Italy before calling Oslo home. When not speaking with someone in English, Spanish or Italian, Matt can be found exploring the Oslo forest for the many edible plants that can be found there.
Neil
New to the Viking Biking team, Neil is a wearer of many hats: translator, actor, mushroom expert, orchid aficionado and now helmet-wearing enthusiastic guide! Thirty years in Oslo this year and a dual British/Norwegian citizen, Neil has the low-down (and high-up) on all those Oslo secrets that others often miss.
Isabelle
Originally from Germany, Isabelle completed her master’s degree in Adventure Education in Norway. A guide at heart, she has led tours all around the globe from New Zealand to the Alps to Iceland … and now in Oslo!
Martin
Martin might be from Oslo, but he’s a born globetrotter with 3 languages to show for it (German, English and Norwegian). With extensive experience as a hiking guide and travel consultant, Martin is your go-to guide for uncovering Oslo’s hidden treasures along your journey.
Josie
With a decade of experience in the education sector, Josie has dedicated significant time to teaching and guiding in various countries, but finds Norway’s landscapes unrivaled. In her spare time you will find her plunging into Oslo fjord, no matter the time of year or the temperature of the water.
Stine
Stine, a native of Southern Norway, has cultivated her expertise in Outdoor Education. With more than 15 years of teaching experience in outdoor kindergartens as well as guiding in Oslo’s forest and fjord , Stine takes great pleasure in sharing the wonders of nature in her hometown with people of all ages.
Mireia
Mireia may be from Spain but she has called Norway home for more than 7 years. Not only is Mireia a certified Oslo tour guide, but she studies anthropology and linguistics… so it’s not a surprise when you learn that she speaks 8 languages fluently!
Mikkel
As an Oslo local and Francophile, Mikkel possesses a profound enthusiasm for both the green and urban cultural aspects of the city. Whether it be local landscapes, the vibrant theater scene or Norwegian Politics, Mikkel is delighted to share with those who wish to delve into the past and future of Oslo’s distinctive cultural neighborhoods.
Romek
Love and studies brought Romek from his native country of England to the capital of Norway. Currently finishing up a master’s degree in environmental sustainability and development from the University of Oslo, Romek also has extensive experience working in the local restaurant and bar industry so he is always ready with a good suggestion on where to eat or drink in the city.
Matthew Lars
Half Norwegian and half English, Lars loves to share his Viking roots with all those on tour. When not riding a bike or entertaining customers, Lars is a semi-professional footballer in the Norwegian leagues, making him the fittest of the Vikings on staff!
Mikayla
Mikayla is an outdoor enthusiast and Canadian native who calls Oslo home. On most days, Mikayla can be found biking, drinking (too much) coffee, petting her cat, or trying to write her master’s thesis. Mikayla believes in cultivating a love of where you live through curiosity, exploration, and paying attention to local knowledge. She absolutely loves Oslo and wants to tell you why.
Larisa
Larisa came to Oslo to do health research for her PhD, but she had a guide’s heart in her all along! Having led trips with Quetzaltrekkers in Guatemala, and as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kyrgyzstan, Larisa has enjoyed exploring some of the world’s most beautiful forest and mountains, and is now happy to call the fjordland of Oslo home.
Bo-Nicolai
Bo grew up in Vesterålen in Northern Norway, but has lived several years in Oslo. He has also lived in Lithuania and Estonia, as well as leading tour groups in Slovenia and Croatia. Bo has a passion for the outdoors, and enjoys camping, trail running and winter swimming. Also being a yoga instructor, Bo likes taking his yoga practice outside.
Alicia
A Canadian native, Alicia moved to Oslo to study the Vikings! Having now completed her masters degree in Viking and Medieval Norse Studies, she plans to stay in Norway and grow within the cultural sector. Outside of work she can be found paddle boarding, reading, swimming in the fjord or trying to pet every dog that passes her on the street.
Tina
Always smiling and seemingly in a good mood, Tina is a happy Dane who loves to travel the world! After working as a tour guide in Spain and Greece many years ago, Tina settled in Norway where she has lived half of her life. The Norwegian concept of friluftsliv is near to Tina’s heart, so her love of hiking, biking and cross-country skiing comes as no surprise.
Chantelle
Originally from the UK, Chantelle fell in love with Norway after her first visit to the Fjords with her half Norwegian partner. After that first visit, settling back in the UK just wasn’t an option! Chantelle is part of our admin team and assists with the smooth running of the office. She is also a keen horse rider, loves the Norwegian nature and is also a qualified personal trainer.
Daniel
A dual national of Norway and England, Daniel has spent the last 7 years guiding throughout Norway, from Oslo to the western fjords. He has a genuine love of travel, and he brings that spirit to all of his tours when in his home country of Norway, sharing his passion for Viking and Norwegian history with customers from all around the world.
Shaf
Shaf is a British national passionate about the great outdoors. When he’s not hiking, biking, or swimming, he works as an academic writing teacher and science communicator. At home, Shaf’s companions are his two beloved cats, Coco and Peanut. He relishes opportunities to travel and immerse himself in new cultural experiences.