Founder of OTRO Elements, Raymond Landgraaf, economist and physician, works as a medical doctor and acupuncturist in Switzerland. He guides the expeditions with the same passion that runs through every part of his life. He’s inspired by Buddhist philosophy, indigenous wisdom, and nature.

Adventurer at heart, he dares to step off the beaten path and inspires others to do the same. In 2012, after traveling the world, Raymond and his wife Blanca, a relationship therapist, moved with their four children to Alagna in the Italian Alps – choosing balance and adventure over routine.

The first time he set foot in Val d’Otro, he thought: “I want to share this hidden gem.” What began as trips with friends soon grew into the first back-to-basics expeditions. In 2018, he opened the doors of the mountain retreat centre Alpe Selvaccia – the “healing mountain”, which nowadays forms the home base of OTRO Elements.

Alberto Zucchetti discovered the mountains at the age of 20 – and from that moment, they became the heart of his life. What began as curiosity soon grew into a lifelong passion: climbing, exploring, and seeking out the world’s most beautiful peaks.

Since then, his love of adventure has taken him across the globe: from the Andes of Peru and Bolivia to the cliffs of Madagascar, the peaks of Nepal and Pakistan, the deserts of Morocco, and the forests of Brazil and Venezuela. Wherever there are mountains, Alberto feels at home.

In 1999 he became an Alpine Guide, sharing his skills and enthusiasm with others. Today, he continues to embrace every activity the mountains offer, whether it’s free climbing, ski touring, mountaineering, or a simple hike. For Alberto, guiding is about more than reaching a summit – it’s about opening the door for others to experience the wonder he found years ago.

Maria Biginelli is the heart of Alpe Selvaccia’s kitchen – indoors and under the open sky. She is not a traditional cook, but an adventurous chef who brings food back to its elemental roots. On open fire she transforms simple ingredients into nourishing meals.

Together with the OTRO tribe, Maria creates fresh, organic dishes every day: loaves baked on glowing embers, wholesome breakfasts, and hearty meals infused with local flavours. Her back-to-basics style makes cooking itself part of the expedition experience – something shared, learned, and enjoyed together.

With endless creativity, loyal dedication, a radiant smile, and an energy that warms both body and spirit, Maria has become an invaluable part of OTRO Elements. Around her fire, food is more than sustenance – it is connection, joy, and a reminder that simplicity holds its own kind of magic.

Kristofer Twofeathers, sun dancer of the Lakota tradition, carries the teachings of medicine men and women from diverse Native American lineages. Yet he often says his greatest teachers are his two children, who remind him daily of life’s deepest lessons.

For more than 25 years, he has led ceremonies across Europe – among them the Inipi (sweat lodge), fasting ceremonies, and ceremonial dances. To him, each ritual is more than tradition: it is a living bridge back to our true nature, to Mother Earth, and to the universe itself.

Kristofer believes strongly that these ancient practices must not be forgotten. They offer profound healing and remind us of our place in the web of life. In ritual, he says, we touch magic: we remember that we are in relationship with all existence, and we return renewed – simple beings, filled with wonder at the beauty around us.

Myra Stals is the all-rounder behind OTRO Elements – managing back office, logistics, communication, and much more. She keeps things flowing smoothly while also creating content, editing videos, designing graphics, and updating the website. Whatever the need, Myra finds a way to make it happen.

Before joining OTRO, she worked as Content Manager for the European Association of the Via Francigena (EAVF). Outside the office, she embraces both physical and mental challenges – undertaking multiple solo cycling journeys across Europe. In 2019 she launched Cycle 2 Recycle, riding through Italy and Europe to raise awareness about plastic pollution.

Myra has lived in Italy for over 13 years – first in Florence and Turin, now in the Fidenza countryside with her partner Luca and their daughter Leia. At OTRO, she brings together resilience, creativity, and reliability – making her an indispensable presence in the tribe.

Tjeerd Wits, also known as Djerba, studied Earth Sciences and is a trained UIMLA International Mountain Leader (IML). From an early age, adventure pulled him outward. His happiest moments have always been found outside – in wild, unspoilt nature.

Mountains in Central Asia, rainforests in Borneo and the Amazon, cycling along the Silk Road – wherever magic hides in the world, Tjeerd has felt at home. That same feeling came over him when he first set foot at Alpe Selvaccia. Instantly, he knew: “This is the place I’ve been searching for.” Since then, his smile has never left his face.

Today, he shares his life between the Dutch dunes – together with his wife Sanne and their two children – and the mountains that continue to shape his journey.

Andrea Degasparis is a mountain guide from Alagna, deeply rooted in the landscape of Monte Rosa. With a father who worked both a sa mountain guide and as a park ranger, Andrea grew up surrounded by forests, glaciers, and snow-covered slopes. The mountains have been his teachers since childhood.

He prefers to guide in silence rather than with many words – inviting a steady pace, a calm breath, and the space to truly listen to nature. For Andrea, guiding is not about rushing to the summit, but about being present on the path itself.

His purpose is simple yet profound: not only to lead others through the high terrain he knows so well, but to help them feel at home in the mountains. In his presence, every step becomes an invitation to connect – with the land, with stillness, and with yourself.

A few years ago, Caspar Diederik chose to turn his dreams into reality. Leaving behind his desk job as a manager in the Netherlands, he set out to become a traveling videographer – a true story-traveller.

Passionate, human, and a deep lover of nature, Caspar is always in search of new stories to tell. Although he is based in Matera, Southern Italy, he spends much of his time on the move – capturing authentic moments and transforming them into visual narratives that inspire. His breathtaking work offers not only images, but windows into a unique vision of life.

For OTRO Elements, Caspar is both photographer and filmmaker. His lens has gifted us with powerful imagery and films that already travel the world – inviting others into the magic of OTRO. Among them is the very first, now-famous promovideo he created, still echoing the spirit of our beginnings.

Connecting to nature, moving slowly, and embracing joy – these three pillars shape Ben Palmer Fry’s way of life. Raised in central London, his love for the wild began with his father: watching eels in streams, spotting buzzards overhead, and finding glow worms in the English hills.

As an educator, singer, and biologist his work in conservation and development has taken him across the globe: from the Amazon rainforest to the East African plains and the high Himalayas. With decades of experience facilitating therapeutic journeys, Benny thrives in creating safe, open spaces – helping people step out of control and into silence.

Today, he lives happily in the mountains of Northern Spain with his dog Otto, filling his days with mountain air, quiet presence, and the occasional sea shanty.

Teodoro Bizzocchi’s life has always been intertwined with the mountains. Born on the southeastern side of Monte Rosa, he developed a deep bond with wild landscapes from an early age, learning to ski at four and to climb at eight. The spirit of early alpinism drew him in, and that passion has never left.

His journey has taken him from the highest peaks of the Alps to the remote deserts of Africa, always seeking challenge, silence, and connection. After completing his studies, Teodoro became a certified IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide, turning his lifelong passion into a vocation.

Beyond guiding, he collaborates with universities and delves into historical mountain literature, bridging past and present to design alpine experiences that are both unique and deeply immersive. For Teodoro, the mountains are not only a place to climb, but a living library of stories, wisdom, and wonder.

Student, explorer of life, and ambassador of OTRO Elements – Harm Koningen moves between the worlds of technology and wilderness with equal passion. As co-owner of Debo Software, he and his team are developing OTRO’s new website, bringing the spirit of the mountains into the digital realm.

He is also the initiator of the joint expeditions organised with Ayuna and OTRO – bridging communities, people, and places through shared adventure. Deeply connected to Alpe Selvaccia, its people, and its mission, Harm brings both vision and presence to the tribe.

What drives him is simple: using technology in a way that truly serves. For Harm, the goal is not more speed, but more space – space to connect with ourselves, and from there, with others. His work and his life reflect that balance: grounded in innovation, guided by purpose, and always inspired by nature.

The life-long learner, John van Giels’ curiosity reaches far beyond books. Alongside his academic studies, he continues to draw wisdom from the greatest teacher he knows: the mountains. Again and again, nature offers him insight – reminding him of what truly matters.

John combines his work as a strategy consultant with his role as an International Mountain Leader. Guiding groups through wild landscapes, he weaves together leadership, personal growth, and the lessons only nature can give.

For him, working with OTRO is both a privilege and a joy – sharing the path with colleagues who hold the same commitment to depth, presence, and transformation.

Raffaella Cinti, known to most as Raffa, is an Italian hiking and trekking guide based in Val d’Ayas, in the shadow of the Monte Rosa Massif and the Matterhorn. After years of travelling the world for major sporting events like the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup, she eventually felt the call to return to her roots.

Back in the Italian Alps, Raffa reconnected with the mountains that shaped her, rediscovering balance and joy in nature. By chance, she came across OTRO Elements and instantly fell in love with Alpe Selvaccia. The valley’s raw beauty and quiet presence touched her deeply.

Today, she feels grateful to call herself part of the OTRO family, guiding others along alpine trails and sharing the wonder of these landscapes. For Raffa, every hike is not just a walk, but a chance to slow down, listen, and come home to the mountains.

Gijs Groeneveld, Founder of Peak4, is dedicated to resilience and mental wellbeing. With expeditions such as the Ocean Fours behind him, he knows how adventure tests and strengthens the human spirit – and how those lessons translate into leadership.

Drawing on his entrepreneurial vision and broad leadership experience with organisations like OpenUp and iPractice, Gijs helps both individuals and teams to grow. His work empowers people to face challenges with clarity, adapt with strength, and thrive with purpose.

Founder of Peak4 and Better Place to Work, Quirine specialises in cultural transformation and psychological safety. She creates programs that are both impactful and grounded – often in nature or together with local communities – helping leaders foster real and lasting change.

She lives in Amsterdam with Roland and their daughters, Milou and Sem. Alongside her work, Quirine devotes 30% of her time to Movement on the Ground, guiding teams and serving as chair. In this role, she passionately advocates for refugees, bringing the same care, courage, and commitment that shapes all of her work.

Father of three and a general practitioner in bustling Amsterdam, Robert-Jan often finds his heart drawn back to the Italian mountains. His connection with Otro began in 2013 –participating in one of the very first expeditions.

Since 2019, this has grown into an annual “work week” on Alpe Selvaccia. For him, few things compare to being off the grid: clearing the mind while working with your hands, blisters included. On the Alpe, there’s always something to be done – and always a sense of joy in doing it together.

Elkana Waarsenburg embraces life with openness and joy. Authentic, honest, and deeply connected, she is a natural physician – born for her calling. With curiosity and energy, she explores innovative approaches in healthcare, weaving them into her practice. Her inspiration flows strongly from Tibetan Buddhism, which continues to guide her life and work.

Her husband, Rogier Hoenders, is a psychiatrist, professor, and content manager at the Centre for Integral Psychiatry (CIP) of Lentis. He teaches psychotherapy, chairs the Integral Health and Wellbeing Consort (CIZG), and serves as a council member of the International Network for Integrative Mental Health (INIMH). His mission is to optimise and renew healthcare systems by integrating new methodologies such as mindfulness, compassion practices, and lifestyle coaching. Personally, Rogier also finds guidance in Tibetan medicine and Buddhism – where meditation offers a source of clarity, presence, and compassion.

Blanca van den Brand is not only Raymond’s wife and loving mother of their four children, but also a passionate relationship therapist and author of the books Making Love and 69; The Art of Loving. On request, she offers love and life lessons during expeditions, opening space for honest dialogue about love, sexuality, relationships, and personal difficulties. Most of the time, however, she warmly welcomes her clients in their ‘second home’ in La Bella Italia for intensive therapy weekends, her Love and Cheat Retreats, for her company InSightorOut.

Movement, climbing, the good kind of exhaustion – these have always been Marjolein’s compass. Fresh air, a shimmering stream, the quiet company of animals, stillness, and a deep connection with Mother Earth.

From the age of four she was happiest in the mountains, discovering trails and chasing horizons. Each summit left her both small and vast at once – completely at home in adventure and wonder. That sense of curiosity has never left.

Graduating from the Theatre Academy in 2012 and working as a Zen Shiatsu Therapist, she later learned from Indigenous women in northern Australia about place, earth, and the power of women gathering on the land. Through Women’s Expeditions, Marjolein now seeks to remember, ignite, and celebrate that feminine strength.

Marit Kaemingk is a free spirit with a passion for adventure, creativity, and deep connection with life. Her journeys have taken her from the icy wonders of Antarctica to the sunlit islands of Polynesia. Working as a masseuse on expedition ships, including with National Geographic, she helped people relax and reconnect with themselves in some of the world’s most remote places.

Nature is her compass – the place where she feels most free, wandering off the beaten path. Marit blends bodywork with her love for play and exploration, inviting others into a journey of self-discovery and adventure. At OTRO, she also brings people together through food, turning cooking into a moment of connection and joy.

With her newest project, the women’s expedition, Marit creates a safe and inspiring space for women to explore, grow, and celebrate their essence.