Dorothee Hippel

Born in Germany, Dorothee holds a master's degree in History, Scandinavian Studies and Literature from the University of Cologne. From an early age, she was fascinated by the polar regions, particularly the North Atlantic and Arctic. That interest eventually led her to Iceland, where she settled after completing her studies.
While working in an office role for a travel agency in Reykjavík, Dorothee discovered that her part-time work guiding tours around Iceland was far more rewarding. Inspired to pursue guiding professionally, she enrolled in a one-year training program and became a fully certified nature and hiking guide in 2016. That same summer, she worked aboard an expedition ship in the Arctic for the first time. Shortly afterward, she left her office position to pursue a full-time career as a guide and lecturer both aboard expedition vessels and on land.

The profession proved to be a natural fit, combining her interests in travel, wildlife, nature, history and culture with opportunities to meet people from around the world and share her knowledge and enthusiasm. Since then, she has expanded her work from the Arctic to Antarctica, guiding travelers in some of the planet's most remote and remarkable environments.

When not traveling, Dorothee works as a freelance editor for a German publishing house. Still based in Iceland, she enjoys spending her free time outdoors, particularly hiking through the country's diverse and dramatic landscapes.