Meet the members - Let Loose With Adventure

12th August 2011

Back again with another introduction to one of our muchbetter members; Let Loose With Adventure!

Who are you and your team?

My name is Kevin Albin. I am 54 years old, originally from London and now living in France. I run a trekking and expedition company, Let Loose with Adventure. I guide on all my own trips, and do use trusted and professional freelance staff and doctors when the trip requires it.

What inspired you to start, and how long have you been doing it?

I was a police officer with Thames Valley Police for 25 years, and although I loved my career, I wanted to do something afterwards. As I'd always been involved in activities such as walking, climbing and travelling, getting into the outdoor industry was an obvious choice. I retrained as an International Mountain Leader and set up my own company. The name Let Loose with Adventure came from being 'let loose' for a second career. I also work freelance for a number of companies, some youth development and some charity based.

Why did you choose your various destinations?

On leaving the police I went to work on some conservation projects in Borneo. I loved it. We had a great opportunity of working in Danum Valley for the Royal Society and then Maliau Basin on a mapping project for scientists. S.E. Asia became quite a magnet for me. The more I worked there freelance the more I wanted to run my own trips there. There is a lot going on in Borneo and people are trying to hold back the logging and retain the forests for wildlife. I also work in the Pyrenees, and this appealed to me as not only is the area stunning in beauty, it's full of wildlife and so a great place to see animals but also to track them. It's not the honey pot that the European Alps have become and it has kept a lot of its natural feel.

What makes you muchbetter?

I would say that everything I do genuinely comes from the heart. I have recently been short listed in the Wanderlust Magazine World Guide Awards, something I am absolutely thrilled about and on reading some of the things my previous clients have written, I am pleased to learn that my feelings for people and the things we do have been what my clients appreciate.

Insider tip for your area

The jungle is a beautiful place; it really is alive with amazing animals, plants, and the people that life there are very special. It is, of course, hot and humid, and you have to make the effort to spend time there. Some people can initially find this difficult. My top tip is not to fight this. Do all the right things for acclimatization but allow your body to adjust and relax into your new environment, it has a lot to offer.

What is the view from your office?

My office is in my home on the ground floor. As I look out there now, there's wigwam that my 6 year-old son has built to sleep out in. He has already travelled to many places and been in the forest a few times. Last year, he and I took off on a three week trip to Canada to do some canoeing and fishing. I'm pleased he has a taste for the outdoors.

Let Loose With Adventure run a range of trips in Europe, Asia and Africa, you can see their range of trips here, and their profile here.

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