Guide interview: Fredrik Aurell
Fredrik Aurell, expedition guide at PolarQuest, has a long CV filled with adventures, both professionally and personally. A passion for boats, the sea, and wild nature has always been a central part of his life, and it was with high expectations that he first landed in Svalbard in 2023. Expectations that were not only met but exceeded. Now, at the start of a new season, we took the opportunity to ask Fredrik some questions, as he has worked as a guide on all three of our ships and experienced the season variations of Svalbard.
2023 was your first year as a guide in Svalbard?
– That is correct. I have been an adventure guide for many years, focusing mainly on sailing and diving. I have also spent a lot of time skiing and climbing in the Alps. But 2023 was the first time I worked as a guide in the Arctic, which was really an amazing experience and a lot of fun.
How would you describe your first impression of Svalbard as a destination?
– An absolutely amazing place, with unique history and dramatic nature. I had very high expectations of the nature, but the reality exceeded them.
How did you prepare for your job as a guide in Svalbard?
– There is a lot of literature about Svalbard and so many exciting things to learn about animals, nature and history. So I read a lot beforehand and visited the Grenna Museum, for example. Then PolarQuest organised a guide meeting before the start of the season, where I got a lot of good information and got to meet my future guide colleagues. There is an incredible amount of expertise and experience within the guide teams, so you also learn a lot from each other.
You were on board all three of our ships last season?
– Yes, I was lucky enough to experience all the ships. All three have their unique character and charm, but the common denominator is that they are small compared to other cruise ships operating around Svalbard. This makes you feel very well taken care of on board. Both as a guide and a guest you get a close contact with the crew and are always welcome on the bridge to scout or have a word with the captain.
M/S Stockholm, which carries 12 passengers, I would describe as an elderly lady who has aged with dignity. She has fine wood and brass details that are completely intact - a real classic ship. The crew is Swedish and the atmosphere is very familiar. M/S Sjøveien, which also takes 12 passengers, has a slightly more modern touch with an elegant design and a hot tub on deck. M/S Quest is the slightly larger of the small ships and takes 50 passengers. There are large social areas where people come and go, and the panoramic lounge is perfect for spotting animals or just socialising.
How would you describe a typical expedition day?
– No two days are the same, but there is a routine that we follow.
The day starts with breakfast, and at the end of the meal the guides present the day's schedule. Then follows a morning activity, often a Zodiac tour where we sometimes also make a landing.
Lunch is a joyful and important part of the cruise, giving guests the chance to digest their impressions while enjoying good food. Often the ship will move during this time so that we can explore a new location in the afternoon. After lunch there is a chance for a few hours of rest or free time to look for wildlife or socialise with the other guests.
Before dinner, we organise another Zodiac cruise or other activity, depending on the weather and the location of the ship. Usually after dinner we have a re-cap, where we look at pictures and review the day's events. Sometimes one of the guides will also give a lecture on an interesting topic.
In the evening you are free to enjoy the views, have a drink in the bar or borrow a book from the ship's library.
So far there has been no connectivity or internet on board, how did you feel about that?
– I think it's quite noticeable that people feel very good about it. They are more open to socialising, reading books and discussing the day's adventures. When there is connectivity, the focus often tends to be on sharing experiences with those at home.
What happens "behind the scenes" in the guide team?
– Beyond the daily routine involving the guests, we guides spend a lot of time with the captain, discussing the itinerary for the coming days based on the weather forecast. A large part of our time is also spent looking for wildlife. Since it's daylight around the clock, except for the last few trips, it's a bit of a challenge to get enough sleep. It is so exciting that it is often difficult to go to bed.
You worked during all the seasons last year, would you like to describe that?
– I am so glad that I had the opportunity to experience the archipelago's transformation during the changing seasons. The earliest trips in May occur during what is called the spring winter. It is extremely bright, while all the snow and ice remain. Everything is white and there is no bare ground. You get a sense of this having been a dark ice desert all winter, but now the sun has finally come out and the archipelago is coming to life. You start to see migratory birds and whales returning.
– At the end of May, life explodes. Small patches of bare ground become visible, bird cliffs become more prominent and suddenly, from a few lonely gulls and grouse, there are now millions of birds and over 40 species. It's like spring on steroids. By June, more and more bare ground becomes visible and the fjords become ice-free, allowing us to explore new places.
The intense summer in July is a clear testament to the fruitfulness of the sea here. The sun has been shining for months, producing millions of tonnes of plankton, attracting birds and whales from the equator to the northern latitudes. The birds bring nutrients to the bird cliffs, creating greenery and colourful flowers in the middle of the barren landscape. The bird cliffs are also a cacophony of sound.
– At the end of August and in September, autumn arrives. Everything happens quickly - the flowers that have only been around for a month or so stop growing, nature changes to beautiful autumn colours and the darkness becomes more and more apparent. Many photographers choose to travel at this time of year for the soft, beautiful light as the sun begins to approach the horizon.
Some particularly memorable moments you take with you from the previous season?
– The first encounter with a polar bear is obviously very special, but there were many other experiences that were even stronger. The sound from the large bird cliffs, experiencing the large walrus colonies, and the opportunity to see blue whales, which are the world's largest animals, were powerful moments.
There is also a lot of exciting history in the area, more than most people might expect. For example, Virgohamna, the starting point for the Andrée expedition where they took off with their balloon. Everything comes alive when you are on the spot and can tell stories about what happened here.
What are your expectations for the 2024 season?
– I look forward to returning to my favorite places from last year, but also to visiting new exciting locations. That's the beauty of Svalbard, that in every new bay you come to, there is something new to discover. I am especially looking forward to encountering the fantastic wildlife again.
Destinations
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Since 1999, we have taken travellers on once-in-a-lifetime trips to Svalbard. From May to September our three small expedition ships, carrying only 12 and 50 passengers, explore this magnificent Arctic archipelago. Unpredictability and flexibility are the main keywords when you travel with PolarQuest as the exact route depends on weather, ice conditions and wildlife encounters. Sometimes you might be woken up in the middle of the night if a polar bear has been spotted on the ice.
