Europe Trip Leader

Julien Johnston

Languages Spoken: English & French

Julien has lived in southwest France since 1981 and in the Pyrenees since 1990, but his roots are in Northumberland in northeast England. He has been a hiker since his youth on the North Sea coast, did marine studies in the merchant fleet, then heeded the call of the mountains to become a qualified International Mountain Leader in Europe. His work has brought him through areas rich in history and heritage, from the Santiago trail in Aragon to the early Christian sites of the Spanish Pyrenees and especially the “Cathar Country” of France. He has led hiking groups from around the world, and it is an ongoing journey that he finds deeply satisfying. Julien lives at the foot of the Pyrenees with his partner Céline and sons Sébastien and Daniel. When not leading trips, he enjoys photography, “tending a wee garden,” off-road cycling, and hiking. Julien is fluent in French.

Our Team

Upcoming Trips with Julien

Hiking the French Pyrenees

Jun 27 - Jul 5, 2024

Sep 5 - 13, 2024

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Client Testimonials

Julien was very resourceful and flexible when he had to change the day's plans because of weather conditions, and always did what was best for the group, to everyone's satisfaction. He has a profound knowledge of the subject, the Cathars.

Ghislaine I.

New York, NY
Hiking in the Land of the Cathars

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