Christian Bruttel

Founder & CEO

Growing up in the charming town of Villingen in the Black Forest (southwestern Germany), Christian discovered his interest in foreign cultures and long distant travelling, before and during his teacher training.

After completing his second state examination, he followed a long-growing fascination for the Arctic to Svalbard. He completed his studies to become an Arctic Nature Guide in 2013. Since then, he has been living in Longyearbyen and working as a guide all over Svalbard.

He finds his greatest joy in making the Arctic nature and stunning landscapes accessible to people that would otherwise remain inaccessible to them. He brings them closer to the beauty and fragility of the ecosystem.

Fabienne Meier

Office manager & Guide

Fabienne was born and raised in Switzerland - near Zurich. From an early age she spent a lot of time in nature. Skiing and snowboarding or hiking and climbing in the Alps. The perfect balance to her everyday life with education, work and synchronized skating.

After ten years in the financial industry, she decided to quit her job and fulfill a long-awaited dream: Backpacking around the world. Fabienne visited 13 countries on this trip - and fell in love with the world even more. New countries, cultures and languages arouse her curiosity and fill her with joy. Following the call of the Nordic nature, Fabienne worked as a diving guide in Iceland for one year before she was drawn further and moved to Svalbard.

The indescribable peace and vastness of the Arctic still captivates her. Sharing this experience with others, being part of making people's dreams come true, is something very special for Fabienne and a unique experience every time.

Sylvia Groß

Guide-Manager & IT

Born and raised in Bonn, Sylvia traveled north for the first time in 2012 - and she planned to spend a lot more time there.

After her studies, she finally turned her back on Germany in 2017 to live and work permanently in the Arctic. So she already has two winters behind her as a dog sled guide in Finland, lived in remote East Greenland with the Inuit, sailed in the pack ice and wintered at 78°N in a tent.

In 2019 she finished her one-year study to become an Arctic Nature Guide (ANG) on Svalbard and when she is not on ships in the Arctic and Antarctic, she takes guests on journeys into the depths of Svalbard and likes to share her fascination for the vastness, silence and magic of the far north.

Chewbacca (Chewie)

Feel Good Manager

Growing up at one of the local dogyards Chewbacca decided quite early that the working dog life is not for him.

Knowing that his father had found a loving home after his retirement, he knew exactly what to do to win the heart of Kat. He now spends his days lounging in the sun at the Polar Bear Lodge, going on hikes through the beautiful arctic, and being the most valuable colleague at Spitzbergen Reisen.

By barking, he demands the mandatory cuddle times from anyone that can spare a minute.

Kat Beutner

Office & Ship Logistic

Already at a very young age, Katharina was able to travel the globe, experience new peoples, cultures and landscapes, all of which have formed her into a true jack of all trades.

Her born curiosity and unstoppable drive for new things first brought her to the German Baltic Sea and later for her studies to Scotland where the opportunity arose to spend a few semester on Svalbard. As soon as she set foot onto the island (literally at the airport) she was already in love with the landscape, wildlife and the people calling this unique place her home and decided that she wanted to stay here. During her research times, focussing on Sea Ice, she was able to join international projects such as the famous MOSAIK, but just as much she enjoys helping local companies either as an outdoor guide, translator or keeping logistics running.

In her free time she's always on the go and can hardly hold still, hence why she enjoys being outside with her dog Chewbacca either on foot, ski or dog sled. For her no weather is too cold, no polar night too dark, or mountain too high.

Katja Scholz

Ship Staffing & Guide

Although Katja is a native of southern Lower Saxony, she has always had a keen interest in getting to know and discovering other exciting places, people and cultures.

Professionally, she was first drawn to Great Britain, before a chance encounter during a business trip brought her to Spitsbergen. A holiday turned into weeks and later a move to Longyearbyen, where Katja felt truly at home for the first time.

Being outdoors and in nature is simply the greatest thing for her. Katja finds it especially great to go on long hikes or to observe animals from the ship and to let her eyes wander across the wide landscape.

She likes life reduced to the essentials, with a little comfort and a lot of nature - because what does it take to be really happy?

Alexia Spencer

Compliance and Development Advisor

Living in Svalbard permanently since 2020, Lexi has her roots all over the globe. She moved to the High Arctic from Lofoten, where she has the sharp mountains, white sand beaches and the turquoise oceans as her home. As someone who grew up around water, she loves all kinds of water-based activities like sailing, kayaking and open-sea swimming.

Having developed a natural interest for science and politics in the Arctic starting from childhood, she pursued her education in Economics and Data Engineering with special focus on the region, and has developed circular systems in collaboration with research and industry projects for Arctic and sub-Arctic environments throughout her career.

She joined the Spitzbergen Reisen team in 2024 to pursue her passion for Arctic policies and a more sustainable path for tourism in Svalbard, dedicating her time to the people living and visiting the archipelago and the innovation that inevitably comes in such a challenging place.

Emilie Meier

Marketing Manager

Emilie was born in Bern, Switzerland, but raised in Sweden. Throughout her life, she has also lived in the US, France, Switzerland and Ireland, but ultimately discovered that Svalbard is her true home. Since childhood, she has had a strong fascination for ice and dreamt of once being lucky to visit one of the polar regions. In 2017, she finally fulfilled that dream when she visited Svalbard for the first time — and immediately fell in love. It wasn't long before she made the move permanent.

In 2022, Emilie completed her Master's degree in Marketing. Since then, her daily work is all about finding other polar dreamers out there, and leading them to their ultimate Svalbard experience. She feels incredibly fortunate to now be part of realizing other people’s polar dreams.

When she’s not talking about Svalbard, she is out enjoying it. She prefers hiking and crosscountry skiing, but will never say no to a snowmobile tour.

Luise Schott

Guide

Growing up amidst the vibrant Berlin, Luise always sought out the next adventure beyond the bustling cityscape. Her quest for excitement led her to gather a wealth of captivating and exciting experiences during her global travels. From a young age, she developed a deep love and appreciation for nature through sailing, skiing, and hiking.

Choosing to study biology after completing her schooling was a natural decision for Luise, allowing her to merge her passion for the outdoors with science. When the opportunity to study on Svalbard presented itself, there were no questions asked. Instantly captivated, Luise dived into the diverse facets of Svalbard, immersing herself in activities such as hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, and fieldwork as she continued to pursue her fascination with wildlife.

Not finished with her nature-filled adventures, Luise decided to extend her stay, eagerly anticipating the chance to share her boundless joy and fascination for Arctic life with others.

Patrick Kunzet

Guide

Patrick grew up near Munich and thus had the Alps almost in his backyard. Accordingly, he was often drawn south to pursue various sporting activities - be it hiking or mountain biking. During his sports science studies in Munich, he already started working as a guide: in winter, he led his guests on snowshoes through snowy winter landscapes, and in summer he exchanged the snowshoes for (rafting) boats.

After some travels - among others through Canada and Iceland - Patrick slowly but surely turned his head towards the beauty of Nordic landscapes and the nature there. Therefore, he first completed a semester abroad in Oslo, where he studied "Friluftsliv" (outdoor life) and travelled through Norway. After studying sports science, he then went to the far north to study to become an "Arctic Nature Guide" on Svalbard.

Since then, he has been able to share his passion for the north and its unique nature with his guests, making these unique experiences in a unique environment possible. Patrick loves being out and about in the breathtaking beauty of the Arctic wilderness, whether on foot, kayak or ski. But it is also the moments of silence and tranquillity in the wonderful nature that he cherishes and enjoys.

Philipp Scheiner

Guide

Despite growing up in snow-poor Frankfurt, Philipp has always been enthusiastic about nature and snow.

He often spent his holidays in the mountains, on the water or on his bike. Then, in 2021, he was drawn to Svalbard for a semester abroad at the University Centre (UNIS) as part of his physics studies. Since then, the fascination in Svalbard has not let him go. He spent several semesters here and not only started travelling with friends, but is also absolutely thrilled to explore and experience the surroundings with guests.

His favourite thing to do is skiing of any kind - he especially enjoys tours with skis and pulka on snowy slopes or on frozen fjords. In summer, he enjoys tours on foot or by kayak, and in autumn he discovers the meltwater channels of the glaciers in the area.

Marie Sieberns

Guide

Marie grew up in Lübeck, Germany close to the Baltic Sea. In the summer she would spend her time there or at the North Sea. From an early age, she enjoyed being near the water and exploring the life in and around it. During her studies in Biology and later in Biological Oceanography, she expanded her knowledge about the amazing world around us, especially in the ocean. She started diving and soon became a scientific diver, opening a new perspective to the amazing underwater world.

Her first contact with northern latitudes was by visiting Iceland and Canada working and traveling for 9 months after finishing school. Based on that experience, she wanted to learn more about the Arctic and get involved with research. This brought her to Svalbard where she worked as an intern in the biology department at the University Centre in Svalbard, taking samples from a boat around the archipelago. Being so fascinated by the unique environment, she stayed and continued to work at UNIS. In her free time, she enjoys being outside with her camera, hiking, kayaking, skiing, or ice climbing. Svalbard changes from season to season and has such different facets that she want to share with her guests.

Josephine Hübner

Guide

Josephine is originally from northern Germany and is currently writing her master’s thesis in Marine Geology. Although she always thought she came from the "true North," her journey took her even farther north in 2023 – to Svalbard. There, she quickly fell in love not only with the stunning nature but also with the people. Whether ski touring, hiking, exploring ice caves, or riding a snowmobile – she loves discovering the island in the company of great people.

Having grown up on a ship, she’s always been a true “water child” – and by now, she’s found out that water in its frozen form isn’t all that bad either.

Jan Eilert

Guide

Jan originally comes from the area near Lübeck, Germany. His passion for nature started early — he spent ten years with the Scouts and took part in numerous camping trips and outdoor expeditions.

After completing his training as an interior decorator, his path led him further north. Drawn by his fascination for Arctic regions, he moved to Svalbard, where he began working at the northernmost carpentry workshop in the world.

When Jan isn’t in the workshop, you’ll find him out exploring the Arctic tundra — on foot, by dog sled, or snowmobile. With great enthusiasm, he shares the breathtaking nature and rich history of Svalbard with visitors from around the world.

Sibylle Krause

Guide

Sibylle grew up in the rural region of Sauerland, Germany, where she spent a lot of time in nature. Every year, she and her family would go on a two-week cycling trip through Germany. Later, during a student exchange year in Mexico, she discovered her love for the mountains—a passion she was able to share with her family as well.

After finishing school, she chose to study geophysics, which first brought her to Svalbard in 2023. The landscape immediately captivated her—and still does to this day. She’s always excited to explore new mountains and valleys on foot, with touring skis, or by snowmobile. What brings her the greatest joy is sharing this fascination with others and helping them discover the magic of Svalbard—especially in those moments when she sees their eyes start to sparkle.

Muriel Bühlhoff

Guide

Muriel is 27 years old and grew up in Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany. From an early age, she developed a strong passion for nature, remote places, and travel. She has always been especially drawn to northern landscapes. Even as a child, she was fascinated by the natural environment of Norway.

In January 2023, she had the opportunity to travel to Svalbard as part of her geology studies. Since then, she has been exploring the island—on skis, on foot, by boat, or by snowmobile. The vast, untouched landscape without infrastructure immediately captivated her. She is involved in geological research projects on site. She is particularly interested in how landscapes form, what they can reveal about the past, and how we can learn to "read" them. To share this fascination with others, she began working as a guide.

Currently, she spends about half the year in Svalbard and the other half in the Alps around Innsbruck. This allows her to combine her interests in guiding, geology, and mountaineering in an ideal way.

Ronja Fastner

Guide

Ronja grew up south of Munich, with the mountains right on her doorstep. Even as a child, she loved being outdoors—hiking, climbing, or skiing.

Her passion for nature and travel led her to study Leisure and Tourism Management. After completing her bachelor's degree, she moved to Sweden to work as a guide—her first step toward the North. There, she discovered her enthusiasm for Scandinavia. A year later, she continued on to Norway, where she studied Friluftsliv, the Norwegian philosophy of outdoor life.

Her journey north didn’t stop there: in 2024, she moved to Svalbard to study Arctic Nature Guiding. Since then, Ronja can be found out in the wide open landscapes of Spitsbergen—by kayak, on foot, or on touring skis. She loves sharing the peace, power, and beauty of this environment with others.