Kate Burnell
Country Director
I have worked in the travel industry for over 10 years, my passion for travel started quite close to home in Europe where I spent 7 years living and working in both France and Spain. Since then I have been fortunate to travel independently to a variety of destinations, and since joining Steppes Travel have also discovered a passion for the Middle East and for North Africa.
Countries you sell?
Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, China, and Spain.
What has been your favourite travel experience?
Breaking the fast during Ramadan with freshly picked dates (from the trees above us) and Berber tea, whilst watching the sunset over the salt lakes and great sea of sand in the Western Desert, Egypt.
The best hotel/lodge that you have stayed in?
Bamurru Plains on the edge of Kakadu National Park in Australia.
What has been your most remote travel experience?
Probably the Okavango Delta where we made our own toilet with a shovel and a few bits of wood and we woke up in the morning to find hippo dung in the middle of our camp!
Most embarrassing travel experience?
Round the camp fire in the Okavango Delta with the local villagers. They were treating us to a repetoire of their local songs and dances then indicated that they wanted us to perform something for them! We were a mix of English, Irish, American, Dutch, and Spanish and no-one could think of anything so we did a stilted performance of the British national anthem. None of us could really remember the words so out of complete desperation we sang Wonderwall by Oasis! They were most impressed!
Essential item that you always take with you on your travels?
Hair scarf - when hair washing is not an option.
Your one luxury when you travel?
Tea Bags or marmite!
What’s your best piece of travel advice?
Travel with an open mind.
Where you would like to visit next and why?
Mmmmm difficult to choose but I will say Mongolia because it sounds amazing. I love wild open spaces & would like to try my hand a riding a Mongolian horse across the open steppe (would need to polish up the old horse riding skills first though!)