Expedition Team in South America
Our experts are here to safeguard both explorers and the pristine environment. They serve as your invaluable hosts throughout your expedition cruise.
“Some of the most memorable moments come when we take some time to deeply experience local nature and culture – to really appreciate where we are”.
– Helga Kristiansen, Assistant Expedition Leader
Unmatched expertise
Expedition Teams at Hurtigruten represent the best of the best. The Expedition Team Leader and Assistant Expedition Leaders are experts on safety and sustainability, making sure your exploration of these remote destinations is done right.
Together with guest lecturers and scientists, they will enhance your voyage with first-hand knowledge and fascinating insights, ensure your complete safety during landings, and guarantee the lightest possible footprint in this fascinating environment.
Leading and teaching
During your discovery of South America, your Expedition Team will lead the way on short hikes, museum visits, food tastings, and onshore cultural performances.
Briefings occur before each activity, making you aware of any potential risks and of strict protocol regarding local wildlife. Both on and off the ship, lectures are held on a wide variety of specialist topics that cover:
- Latin American history and local culture
- biology and birds
- geology and land forms
- photography and storytelling
Expedition Team members in South America
Get to know some of the Expedition Team members you may encounter on a cruise to South America:
Helga Kristiansen
Assistant Expedition Leader and Biologist Norway
Helga took her master’s degree in biology on Svalbard, and today works as a guide for hiking groups, leading snowmobile tours, doing city guiding and serving as a manager for Camp Barentz.
Helga works as an environmental agent for Hurtigruten and is an environmental advocate at large.
John Chardine
Ornithologist Canada
John is a Canadian ornithologist. After undergraduate and post-graduate studies in Canada and the UK, he taught at university before joining Environment Canada as a Seabird Research Scientist.
He has worked as a lecturer aboard expedition cruises for the past 25 years on ornithology, climate change, oceanography, biogeography and ecology.
Thérése Horntrich
Lecturer and General Naturalist Switzerland
Thérése fell in love with polar regions when visiting Svalbard for the first time several years ago.
She has a master’s degree in media and communications from Switzerland, and spent a year living in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, while completing her Arctic nature guide education.
Linda Arsaeldottir
Biologist Iceland
Linda is from Svalbardseyri, Iceland. She studied biology at the University of Iceland and University Centre in Svalbard, focusing on plant ecology.
She is also a park ranger and has worked in Vatnajökull National Park and other nature reserves in Iceland. She is an Arctic nature guide and has also worked as a snowmobile guide during the winter season on Svalbard.
Joshua van der Groen
Biologist Malta
Josh was born and raised on Malta, where his deep fascination for the sea and nature developed. He pursued an undergraduate degree in biology focusing on marine biology in the Netherlands.
Since then he has worked on whale-watching boats, carrying out research in the Canary Islands, and guiding tourists to see the aurora borealis in Finland.
