About The Journey Designed
Guided by Experience.
Built on Trust.
Built on Experience
15+ Years Designing &
Operating the Arctic.
With more than a decade of experience in the polar regions, we specialize in Arctic destinations and nature based journeys. Our journeys are guided by TJD experts with advanced certifications specific to the polar environment, not just planned from behind a screen, but led on the ground by those who know these landscapes firsthand.
Whether you choose a small group journey on selected dates or a private tailor made adventure, every experience is thoughtfully designed around your pace, interests, and travel style.
We work closely with trusted local partners and handpicked lodges to create authentic, immersive experiences away from mass tourism. From pre trip planning to on ground support, our team ensures your journey balances adventure, cultural discovery, and comfort every step of the way.
“If you actually live in these places, know the people, understand the seasons, you can design something no catalog ever could.”
Our Team
The Heart of
Everything We Do.
Our team is the heart of everything we do. It's thanks to their passion, expertise, and dedication that we can offer premium service to our guests. From our highly trained guides, who are experts in the polar regions, to our local partners who provide in-depth knowledge of the culture and wildlife, each member plays a vital role in delivering unforgettable experiences.
Our commitment to safety, comfort, and authenticity ensures that every journey we offer is exceptional. Whether you're seeking a private adventure or joining a small group, our team is here to make your Arctic journey truly extraordinary.
Credentials & Memberships
Michelle Shoucair
Managing Partner & Certified Arctic Guide
Journey Design300+ Private TripsClient Relationships
Michelle has designed and overseen hundreds of private luxury journeys across the Arctic, including Lapland, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, and Greenland. She personally reviews every TJD itinerary, planning down to the minute and managing the invisible details that keep everything running smoothly despite changing weather and remote logistics. Over 15 years, she's built trusted relationships with lodge owners, local guides, and expedition partners, opening doors to experiences not easily found online.
Dennis Stever
Partner & Certified Arctic Guide
Expedition LeadershipWildlife SpecialistPhotography
Dennis is TJD's expedition leader and wildlife specialist. He has guided in temperatures below −40°C, tracked polar bears in Svalbard, and photographed the Northern Lights from locations most people will never see. When he's not leading expeditions, he's tracking light forecasts, monitoring aurora activity, solving technical challenges behind the scenes, and finding ways to make the seemingly impossible happen.
Supporting Team
Brian Stever
Associate & Certified Arctic Guide
Arctic logistics, weather contingencies, emergency protocols. The invisible work that separates a good trip from a flawless one.
Kevin Stanley
Finance Manager
Kevin oversees operations and finance at TJD, managing vendor relationships and the behind the scenes details that keep journeys seamless. His work ensures the guides can focus entirely on you.
Our Philosophy
Meaningful Travel,
Across the Arctic.
The Arctic is not a place you understand from a map. It's shaped by changing weather, shifting light, and vast landscapes, with a raw beauty and power deeply embedded in our lives.
We believe meaningful travel goes beyond the ordinary. It's about authentic experiences away from mass tourism, shaped by local knowledge and time spent on the ground. From meeting locals to adapting to real conditions, every journey is designed with a deep understanding of how the Arctic truly works.
Together with our expert team on the ground, we share the Arctic we know and love. We design and guide journeys that become part of your story.
Because in the Arctic, experience matters and the difference is felt in every detail.
In the Field
This Is How We Travel
Not AI photos. Not stock photos. Not supplier images. Moments from our own journeys.
Inside an ice cave in Svalbard.
Svalbard, 78°N
Gorilla trekking through Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda 1°S
Kayaking through the Arctic waters of Svalbard.
Svalbard 78°N
Authentic stories with Sámi people.
Finnish Lapland 68°N
Searching for the northern lights under clear Arctic skies.
Finnish Lapland 68°N
Where to Begin
Start with what draws you to the Arctic.
We'll design the rest.
Tell us what you're dreaming about. We'll show you what's possible.