A Dutch citizen, Michel Behar studied Russian and Arabic in the Netherlands and completed advanced Arabic studies at the University of Khartoum in Sudan. He speaks 12 languages, including Farsi, English, Turkish, and French, and has an understanding of seven more.

Since 1987, Michel has worked as a tour manager, leading groups for companies in the United States, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. He has also designed and led custom tours as a guide, photographer, and lecturer for prestigious museums, universities, and other institutions.

Over the course of his career, he has traveled to more than 120 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, lecturing on 20th-century history, current affairs, and the diverse cultures of these regions.

Photography has been his second career for the past 30 years, with his work exhibited in museums, universities, hospitals, and other public spaces in the Netherlands and New York. He has also written for anglophone media on topics ranging from technology to economics, occasionally contributing travel blogs, and has contributed to travel guidebooks.

A lifelong enthusiast of world music and gourmet food, his passions have shaped both his personal and professional journey since childhood.