Italian photojournalist Massimo Bassano teaches National Geographic photography workshops in Tuscany. His photos of Italy have been published widely, including National Geographic Traveler and National Geographic online. Based in Tuscany for nine years, Massimo looks forward to sharing his love for the region—its history, traditions, and people—with adults and children alike. Massimo will accompany the expedition shown below.

Sisse Brimberg and Cotton Coulson, based in Denmark, are two highly experienced photographers who have also been partners in marriage for 30 years. Collectively they have photographed over 50 stories for National Geographic magazine and National Geographic Traveler during the past 32 years. They have spent most of their careers working in Europe shooting stories from the Arctic and Scandinavia, to Italy and France. Both Sisse and Cotton have been awarded prizes by Pictures of the Year International, the National Press Photographers Association, White House Press Photographers Association, and Communication Arts.

Grace Fielder is an expert on the history, culture, and languages of the Dalmatian coast. She holds a Ph.D. from UCLA and is a professor of Balkan and South Slavic Linguistics at the University of Arizona. Her courses on Balkan history focus on the emergence of distinct national identities following a century of ethnic and political conflict. Grace has studied the local lore, music, and cuisine of this region, and has even moonlighted as a lavender harvester on the island of Hvar. Grace will accompany the expedition shown below.

A native of Athens, Stella Galani is a Greek scholar with extensive experience leading groups through her native country and revealing the rich history and culture of her homeland. Stella earned a master's degree in cultural anthropology from SUNY Albany and is completing her doctorate degree in anthropology at University College in London. Stella will accompany the expedition shown below.