Hossam Moussa, who leads small group tours in Egypt for Intrepid Travel, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Wanderlust World Guide Awards 2013.

A graduate of the Department of Guiding at Helwan University, Hossam worked in a number of Cairo's five star hotels before becoming a tour leader in 2009 so that he could share his passion for Ancient Egypt with travellers from all over the world. He leads a number of itineraries for Intrepid including Pyramids to Petra, Jordan & Egypt Express, Egypt Experience, Discover Egypt, and Explore Egypt tours.

Nine guides will now compete for the accolade of world's best tour leader, and if Hossam is named as one of the top three guides later this year, he plans to use the bursary that is awarded to educate and care for street kids in Egypt.

"I was so happy to learn that I had been nominated for this award and the reason relates to a little girl I met while I was guiding around the Pyramids," said Hossam. "She was tired and when I asked her why she was chasing tourists to sell souvenirs, she told me that she was doing it to take care of her family. The way she said it made me feel that I was not in front of a little girl, but that I was talking with a woman who had seen too many things.

"Since then, I have been thinking about what I can do to improve the life of street kids. If I win this award, I will use the bursary to give these kids a better education and a place to stay, with people to look after them. That is my dream." 

Wanderlust is calling on people who have travelled with any of the shortlisted guides to supply a short testimonial highlighting their knowledge, communication skills and empathy, to help inform the judges' decision. Testimonials should be sent to topguide@wanderlust.co.uk or posted online at www.worldguideawards.co.uk by 30 May 2013.

This is the sixth year that Intrepid's tour leaders have been recognised by the Wanderlust World Guide Awards. Bruno Dawsan (Sri Lanka) and Esam Abd El Salam (Egypt) won the gold awards in 2011 and 2008 respectively, and several other Intrepid tour leaders have reached the shortlist.

ENDS

For more information please contact Nicola Frame, UK & Ireland PR Manager on nicola.frame@intrepidtravel.com or +44 (0)7725 261232

About Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company with 24 years' experience of taking people off the beaten track to discover the world's most amazing places. It offers more than 1,000 trips - including small group adventures, short break adventures and Urban Adventure day tours - in more than 100 countries and on every continent. Intrepid's trips are carbon neutral and are designed to truly experience local culture - to meet local people, try local food, take local transport and stay in local accommodation. Award-winning tour leaders, small group sizes and included activities mean they offer travellers great value for money.