In 2003, Nancy was named to Conde Nast Traveler's prestigious "Greatest Travel Pros on Earth," list by Wendy Perrin. Nancy easily met Ms. Perrin's requirement that those named to the list have extensive first-hand knowledge of the destination, as she lived in Kyoto for six years. While there, she studied various Japanese arts and became knowledgeable about the culture, history, arts, crafts, cuisine, and aesthetic influences of Japan. Today she puts this knowledge to use planning custom tour itineraries that allow travelers to experience Japan and Asia in deeply personal ways that match their interests. If her client is interested in textiles, she knows just the shops, workshops, flea markets, and galleries to plan into their custom tour itinerary. If they want to experience the traditional cuisines of Japan, she arranges for a cutting-edge sushi demonstration by a top chef, a visit to an out-of-the-way noodle shops that offers the best soba in Kyoto, and a sake tasting. If they want to explore contemporary Japanese art and perhaps add to their collections, she knows the galleries, workshops, and artists to visit. In fact, no matter what a group's particular interests may be, they are guaranteed an enlightening journey from Nancy and Esprit's travel planning staff.

Nancy has been designing custom tour itineraries and leading tours to Japan for the past eight years, and has designed many of Esprit's public walking tours of Japan and Nepal. She says, "I love showing people the wonderful art of Japan and Asia, the beautiful gardens, the quirky culture, and how the arts and culture interrelate."

She adds, "I initially went to Japan to live there for one year and study indigo dying, but ended up staying for six years, studying dyeing, weaving, papermaking, printmaking and more." Today, outside of her work creating custom tour plans, she continues to create and exhibit her artwork in Telluride, Colorado. Fortunately for Esprit's travelers, she brings an artist's sensibilities and creativity to every journey she creates. Nancy has a B.A. degree in Journalism from the University of Colorado. Aside from her interest in the arts, she is also an ardent environmentalist involved in projects like preserving open spaces.

Steve Beimel has been involved with Japan for over half of his life. A Japanophile for thirty years, he founded Esprit Travel & Tours in the early 1990’s, as a U.S. based tour company specializing in culturally focused tours to Japan and catering to enthusiasts of the arts. “I created Esprit to assist travelers to Japan to get beyond a ‘sightseeing experience’ and truly connect to the culture and people here. Japan has so much richness to offer visitors. It has been my job to match people up with the right experiences, at the right times, so they can partake of that richness in all of its fullness."

Over the years, Steve has worked with a wide range of masters of traditional culture including art, crafts, architecture, gardens, music, theater, cuisine and religion. "The most fulfilling part of my Japan-related life is working with so many amazing and talented men and women. It has been a great privilege for me to introduce our tour participants to these people, in a true spirit of cultural exchange.”

In addition to his work at Esprit, for ten years Steve published the The Kyoto Diary, a quarterly journal celebrating the arts of Japan and featuring interviews with many of the Japan’s renowned craftsmen and artists. "It is very moving to witness and experience the focus, care and integrity of those who create or practice the Japanese crafts and arts.”

Steve now lives with his wife Ritsuko in the northern hills of Kyoto.

Steve has a B.A. in Sociology, an M.A. in Applied Psychology, and is fluent in Japanese and Spanish.

From the moment he stepped off the plane in Delhi in 1986 as a young backpacker, Steve has been infatuated with India. He has been living, working and traveling there ever since. As a tour leader and travel planner for several European based travel companies, Steve has journeyed the length and breadth of this most fascinating of countries. Steve lived in Delhi for three years, in addition to leading many tours throughout India. He has also been involved in documentary filmmaking, most recently assisting as location manager for a film about the Amarnath Hindu Pilgrimage in remote and mountainous Kashmir.

Steve believes strongly in getting under the skin of the culture and going beyond the usual tourist sights. He achieves this with his innovative and original itineraries, visiting not only places of historical and cultural importance, but also destinations not always found in guidebooks and brochures. Stay on a houseboat on Kashmir's Dal Lake or experience the tribal markets of Cherrapunji; look for the Asiatic Lion in Gir Forest or explore the eerie abandoned temples of Orchha. Being an Indian food fanatic, Steve also enjoys adding in some of India's best eating experiences into his itineraries. Whatever your interest, Steve will ensure your time in India will be filled with experiences that will become treasured memories.

Any travel to India is an experience of many constituent parts, and Steve ensures that every traveler, no matter what their interests, time restrictions or budget, finds not only what they are seeking, but also enjoys the unexpected. India is the most fascinating destination for the open-minded traveler, and he is privileged to be able to share some of his favorite places and experiences.