Frida first set foot on Svalbard in 2016 and something about the Arctic never stopped calling her back. The winter of 2026 marks her 10th winter season on the island, and fittingly, her 10th year with the same company where she first began guiding. Some places simply stay with you.
She describes Svalbard as a place that continually pulls her toward becoming “a better guide, a better adventurer, better at reading nature.” There is always a valley she hasn’t explored yet, a glacier waiting in a different light, or a weather shift that turns the familiar into something entirely new. The unknown is part of the attraction, a magnetic pull she still struggles to put fully into words.
When Frida looks back on her years in the Arctic, it’s the ever-changing nature that stands out most. The joy of rediscovering Svalbard each year. Watching the glaciers, snowfields and mountains shift in subtle ways that make the landscape feel alive. It’s this constant transformation that ensures she never grows tired of the Arctic and why she continues to guide with curiosity, humility and a deep respect for the wilderness.
With nearly a decade of Arctic experience, Frida brings guests into the heart of Svalbard the same way she experiences it herself: with wonder, attentiveness, and a readiness for whatever the Arctic reveals next.
Boo is our dedicated Expedition & Operations Supervisor. She grew up in Warwickshire, England, but the Arctic has been her home since 2016. Today Boo has her home base in Evenes in Northern Norway, where she shares her life with the sea and proudly claims to have the world’s second-best view, second only to the sweeping landscape of Adventdalen in Svalbard.
Boo first arrived in Svalbard in August 2016 and lived on the archipelago until 2018. Since then she has returned every summer, working as a guide and guide trainer on expedition ships in the Arctic. Over the years she has developed a deep connection to the landscape, history and the ever-changing conditions that define life in the High Arctic.
What draws Boo back to Svalbard time and again is the challenge. In the Arctic, nature is always in charge. Weather, ice and wildlife constantly shape the day’s plans, demanding flexibility, knowledge and respect for the environment. For Boo, this dynamic and unpredictable setting is exactly what makes the Arctic so fascinating.
When asked about her favourite things in Svalbard, the answer comes quickly: snow, long ski seasons and the extraordinary Arctic light. The colourful twilight that fills the sky during winter is unlike anything found further south. And few things compare to walking outside in the middle of the day during the polar night while the northern lights dance silently above.
The more time Boo spends in Svalbard, the clearer one thing becomes: the deeper you explore the High Arctic, the easier it is to fall in love with it.
Runar is one of those guides who instantly makes you feel at ease. Smiling, positive, and never short on energy, he approaches every day with enthusiasm and calm confidence. No request is too demanding, no challenge too great.
Spot a distant mountain peak and casually mention it? Be careful what you wish for, chances are Runar is already figuring out how to get you there.
Originally from sunny Sandane on Norway’s west coast, Runar grew up surrounded by mountains and fjords. Much of his childhood was spent outdoors, skiing, hiking, hunting, climbing and kayaking, a foundation that shaped both his skills and his deep respect for nature.
In 2019, Runar came to Svalbard to study for what was meant to be one year. That year has since turned into six. The dramatic landscapes, powerful nature and ever-present wildlife proved far too compelling to leave behind.
Today, Runar is one of Basecamp Explorer’s trusted snowmobile and boat guides, known for his technical skills, local knowledge and contagious enthusiasm.
Rafael is our cool and steady guide, with extensive experience and knowledge on the Arctic. He handles most expeditions, and has, among other things, led countless dog sled trips from Barneo Camp to the North Pole with his two dog teams. In addition, he guides snowmobile expeditions in the winter, and takes guests on sea safaris in the summer.
Rafael has been with us in Basecamp Explorer Spitsbergen for an “eternity”, and many of us are happy that he divides his time between Svalbard and his native Poland. When he is not at work, we often find him in, under or around his favorite car: the Land Rover. He has several of those! And no one who has been with Rafael for more than a few minutes has avoided seeing him with a pipe in the corner of his mouth. It is always there, in both storm and calm.
In Basecamp Explorer Spitsbergen, we have a Rafael quote that is brought up when we face challenges: We keep go!
According to the story, Rafael said this to a group that had a bit of bad weather on a snowmobile trip to the Isfjord Radio Adventure Hotel. At the wilderness hotel, the head chef was waiting with ready dinner, the trip had been long and Rafael was confident that the weather would not be an obstacle. Rafael is not a man of many words, and why make a command complicated?
We keep go!
Johanne grew up in Kjøllefjord on the coast of Finnmark, a small fishing village with only 1,000 inhabitants and the rough Barents Sea as her nearest neighbour. Nature reigns supreme there, and Johanne has been active in the wilderness all her life. She drives boats and snowmobiles, fishes at sea and in mountain lakes and hunts grouse on Finnmarksvidda. She is also a former biathlete.
If you’ve been with Johanne out in the nature with us, you know that she is a steady guide, who takes the Arctic challenges with great composure. Johanne guides in both summer and winter, and is also a host at Nordenskiöld Lodge. Right now she is training as an arctic nature guide (ANG) in Longyearbyen.
– I had worked a bit in tourism before I moved to Svalbard. Among other things, I showed visitors how we cut cod tongues and block fish. It’s really fun to experience the guests’ excitement and interest in something that is completely everyday for us in Kjøllefjord, smiles Johanne.
– I am very patriotic, and love Kjøllefjord and the surrounding nature. Svalbard is even more extreme, with even harsher nature, greater distances, polar bears and glaciers. It attracts me. You don’t get further north on mainland Norway than Kjøllefjord and Nordkynhalvøya, but I wanted even further towards the Arctic! That is why I am here in Svalbard. It is a great pleasure to take guests out for a walk, and show them the unique and magnificent nature up here.
Marta is born in a small town in the North of Italy where she studied nursing and after receiving her degree she moved to the UK where she has been working as a trauma and emergency nurse in London for eight years. When she is not guiding in the Arctic.
Marta has worked as a sled dog guide for three winter seasons in the north of Norway, and last year she joined the course Arctic Nature Guide on Svalbard.
She has now been on Svalbard for more or less two years, also working as a guide for us during the summer, taking our guests out with dogs on wheels. This winter season she will join us for our sledge adventures.
– When Covid spread I was ‘stuck’ in a small valley in Norway for a couple of months and in that occasion, with my mind full of thoughts and doubts, I found out about the Arctic Nature Guide course on Svalbard and I thought that it would open new doors for my future. At the same time, I thought that using my nursing skills could be a fundamental resource in a remote environment, Marta explains.
– I love music and playing instruments, I love cooking and to be creative with food, and most of all I just love to be outdoors surrounded by non-civilized places. My favorite season is the late winter and early spring, with the snow and endless light.
Elise first came to Svalbard as part of her bachelor’s degree in Arctic Outdoor Life, a mandatory component of her studies. Set to graduate in the spring of 2025, the Kristiansand native has now spent a year in the High Arctic—and has quickly become a devoted fan of life at 78 degrees north.
“Svalbard offers nature experiences unlike anywhere else, and I already have a lifetime’s worth of unforgettable memories.”
Elise’s expertise extends beyond her degree—she has also completed the Arctic Nature Guide (ANG) program, recently earned her activity leader certification, and is now specializing in kayaking.
Naturally, the outdoors plays a huge role in her life—not just at work, but in her free time as well. Whether on long hikes, ski expeditions, or summiting Svalbard’s peaks in winter, Elise embraces every adventure the Arctic has to offer.
When asked to recommend a must-try experience near Longyearbyen, her answer is clear: ice cave exploration. “Especially during the polar night, descending into the thousand-year-old beauty of the ice is a truly otherworldly experience.”
Meet Heine – our 24-year-old adventurer from Bergen, Norway. He first discovered Svalbard during his studies and is now in his final year of a bachelor’s degree in Arctic Outdoor Guide. In August 2023, Heine made the bold move to Svalbard, immersing himself in the Arctic wilderness for a year before exploring Alaska. In February 2025, he returned to Spitsbergen and now works as a guide with us, while also serving as an activity leader in kayaking—planning to spend his free time paddling through the summer waters.
“The unique and majestic nature here—with deep valleys, towering mountains, and an almost endless coastline—is utterly fascinating. It’s easy to catch the Svalbard bug that bites hard and leave you with a long lasting love for the habitat, culture and history at 78 degrees North. And the Arctic silence? That’s something you absolutely must experience,” Heine says with passion.
Thea first arrived on Svalbard during the Arctic Nature Guide (studies) in the season of 2021–2022, and has returned again and again, because some places simply stay with you. For her, Svalbard is more than a workplace. It’s one of her homes, a place where she feels a deep sense of belonging.
Drawn to landscapes that change with every shift of light, Thea never tires of Svalbard’s natural theatre: the transition from dark season to polar night, from the first returning sun to the endless glow of midnight light. Each phase feels like a new world.
What she appreciates most about living here is the community. Svalbard is a society where people look out for one another and for the nature that sustains them. Locals wear reflectors in the dark season to keep everyone safe. They respect the fragile environment, wildlife, and shared spaces. It’s a place where care is visible in everyday actions.
With a calm presence and genuine passion for the Arctic, Thea guides guests through a landscape she continues to explore herself, one season at a time.
Pavel is 47 years old, though he insists he still feels like he’s 10, and honestly, with his energy level, we believe him.
He has worked with sled dogs for five years and began guiding when he moved to Finnish Lapland. After half a decade in the forests of Finland, he was ready for something wilder. In the summer of 2025, he packed his bags and his three Alaskan huskies, Faarao, Faso and Flame, and travelled north to join us at Trapper’s Station on Svalbard.
A seasoned traveller long before he became a guide, Pavel has always sought out cold, rugged landscapes. It’s no surprise that he fell in love with Griegfjellet, the majestic mountain range that forms the dramatic backdrop of Isfjord Radio.
Pavel loves taking guests out on dog-sledding adventures, sharing both the silence and the thrill of the Arctic wilderness. After work, you might find him paddling on the fjord in summer, but winter is his true season. That’s when he can harness his dogs, point the sled toward the horizon and disappear into the snowy wonderland he now calls home.