Our staff

Since his first vacation to Norway in 1996, Christian Engelke has suffered from “Scandinavia fever.” Since then he has been exploring Norway, Sweden, and Greenland by foot, skis, and kayak.

After finishing an undergrad degree in engineering, Christian moved to Svalbard in 2008. Three unforgettable years later, he moved “down south” to Tromsø in Northern Norway, where he finished a master’s degree.

Since 2009 Christian has worked as a freelance guide and expedition leader. His initial voyages were in Svalbard and Greenland.

As of 2014, he has also worked in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia. He loves the wildlife, stark landscape, and heroic history of these areas. 

Christian is a sea kayak instructor with a specialty in Tromsø whale-watching trips. When he’s not in the high latitudes, you’ll probably find him in his kayak off the Norwegian coast.

Ali was born in Germany, where he studied geography but eventually decided to turn his passion for sailing into a profession.

He pursued nautical studies in the Netherlands, specializing in traditional sailing ships as well as tall ships.

Ali has been professionally sailing tall ships since 2008, mostly around Europe (the North Sea, Baltic, and Mediterranean) but also across the Atlantic and in the Caribbean.

In recent years, much of his sailing has taken place in the Arctic, specifically in the beautiful, remote, and sometimes challenging waters of Greenland and Svalbard.