Rocky Mountains
Caroline Wood, Sterling Brownell, Bozeman, Montana
Having grown up in Yellowstone National Park with a dad who is still a seasonal ranger for the Park Service, Wood has incomparable knowledge of the driving routes, the lodges and ranches (and their views, beds, and meals), and the best locales and outfitters for horseback riding, white-water rafting, ballooning, or whatever other activity you've got in mind in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming (406-624-6976; carolinewood@brownelltravel.com).

The Southwest
Bruce B. Sawyer, Touch the Southwest Tours, Flagstaff, Arizona
How much does Sawyer love the Colorado Plateau—that swath of land that covers parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah? So much so that after stumbling upon it on a vacation in 1989, he quit his job, sold his possessions, and spent the next five months camping and exploring the region. Sawyer's backcountry guides have, between them, advanced degrees in subjects as diverse as geology, archaeology, and Native American cultures (Sawyer himself speaks Navajo). Itineraries can be adventure-heavy (rafting, canyoneering, mountain biking) but culture-rich too, and can even include a trip to the Hopi Reservation in the Painted Desert—Sawyer's Hopi guide has a rare "all Hopi sites" permit issued by the tribal government (928-213-9085; bruce@touchthesouthwest.com).

Josh Taitelbaum, Off the Beaten Path, Bozeman, Montana
Taitelbaum, who lived in Santa Fe until he moved to Bozeman two years ago, has visited nearly every city, park, and monument in the Southwest, including many that, he says, "have no names." He likes to bring luxury to the middle of nowhere: His camping guides, for instance, create plush accommodations (canvas-walled tents with queen beds and private bathrooms) at the base of 1,000-foot sandstone walls (800-445-2995, ext. 103; josht@offthebeatenpath.com).

CRUISES

Antarctica and the Arctic
Chuck and Lynn Cross, Polar Cruises, Bend, Oregon
Former Antarctic-expedition leaders with 87 polar trips between them, this couple know the right ship for you, be it a Russian research vessel or a luxe cruiser. Arctic trips include visits to colorful villages and, in Antarctica, stops at colonies of friendly penguins (888-484-2244; chuck@polar cruises.com).

Asia and the Baltic Sea
Paul Niskanen, Cruise Masters, Portland, Oregon
Thanks to his strong Nordic connections (he's been consul for Finland in Oregon for 28 years) and 20-plus trips to the Baltic, Niskanen arranges insider shore excursions that dig deeper into the local culture than the cruise lines do. He provides similar special access in China and Southeast Asia, such as meeting with CNN's Beijing bureau chief (800-848-7120; pauln@finevoyages.com).