Arctic Expeditions
2014 Arctic season is on sale!
Enjoy an early booking bonus of up to 25% off if you book by June 1, 2013 (some terms and conditions apply).
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Arctic Cruises: Your Call to Adventure
At certain times in life, you'll hear an unmistakable call. It's that small voice inside your heart, telling you it's time to do something big – something of substance.
For some people this call leads to a voyage of exploration and discovery. For a select few, it leads to a once-in-a-lifetime journey to the world's polar regions.
In the high Arctic, you'll find the magnificent polar bear, patiently stalking his prey as he has for thousands of years. You'll see colonies of rare seabirds, come to breed and raise their young on the food-rich summer tundra. You'll hear stories of Viking conquest and European discovery, and myths from ancient Northern cultures.
Quark Expeditions has been the world leader in personal polar adventures for over two decades. If this is your call, we can help. Read on to find out about planning your Arctic adventure.
When is the best time for Arctic travel?
Most Arctic cruise travel takes place during the northern summer, between June and September.
If you visit in early summer, before the ice has melted, you’ll see polar bears and walrus finishing their winter hunt. If you come in high summer, you’ll see a riot of Arctic wildflowers, thousands of nesting birds, land-dwelling musk ox and caribou, and perhaps the great whales of the north – the smiling white beluga, or the mysterious one-horned narwhal.
How much time will you need for your polar expedition?
The Arctic is a big place. Depending how much time you have and where you’d like to go, you can spend as little as 11 days (Spitsbergen Explorer) or as long as 15 days exploring the Three Arctic Islands. You’ll find detailed itineraries listed under each expedition.
But baby, it's cold outside?
Actually, temperatures range from about -10 to +10° C (14 to 50 °F) during an Arctic summer – comparable to a mild winter’s day in North America. The 24-hour sunlight warms the air in sheltered areas, so you can also find yourself stripping down to shirtsleeves. Either way, don’t worry. Our Expedition Leaders will make sure you’re perfectly comfortable, plus you’ll get your very own Quark Parka to keep.
Arctic Travel: Safe, Comfortable and Environmentally Sustainable
Exploring the Arctic is much safer and more comfortable than it was even 50 years ago, thanks to new technology and modern safety standards. Every Quark trip takes place on specially equipped ships with the highest polar ratings, piloted and crewed by Captains and shipmates of the first order.
All Quark travel also operates under the guidelines of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), designed to minimise the impact of visits to the Far North. We are 100% committed to ensuring this region remains protected for future generations.
Heed the call: Find out more about Planning your Polar Adventure
While others are traipsing the well-worn steps of Machu Picchu or hunting iguanas in the Galapagos, you can be on the adventure of a lifetime: kayaking through ice-bound fjords, camping beneath the midnight sun, tracking the legendary polar bear, or standing at the very top of the world.
Want to know more? Call us at 1-888-892-0334 or 416-645-5243, email us or chat live with our Polar Travel Advisors. No one knows the Arctic better than Quark!
By the way
When traveling in extremely remote regions, your Expedition Team most allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide route and itinerary details. This is a tentative outline of what you'll experience on this cruise - please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed.
North Pole Cruise: The Ultimate Arctic Adventurefrom $23,995
Your icebreaker ship, 50 Years of Victory, will take you to a part of the world more commonly associated with fairy tales and folklore – the North Pole! Crushing through multi-year pack ice, the journey can take as long as a week, which only helps to heighten the level of excitement. Celebrate with champagne upon your arrival and soar high above the entire Earth on an optional hot air balloon ride.
Join us on this amazing voyage to 90°N aboard 50 Years of Victory.
Spitsbergen Explorerfrom $5,495
If there is such a thing as a “classic Arctic” expedition cruise, this is it. You’ll get all the best of Spitsbergen, by exploring the western edge of the island and venturing to some northern outlying areas home to Polar Bears and Walrus. You’ll come across colonies of seabirds numbering into the thousands and watch for whales in the water. Packed with options for snowshoeing and sea-kayaking, this is the perfect expedition for exploring the “wildlife capital of the Arctic.”
Spitsbergen Circumnavigationfrom $6,495
Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago, lies entirely within the Arctic Circle. It is rugged, wild, unspoiled - utterly unforgettable. When it comes to viewing Arctic wildlife, Spitsbergen is known as one of the most prolific destinations.
Offering the world’s best opportunity to view Polar Bears, you’ll be able to see the world’s largest carnivores in their natural habitat. Walrus populations love Spitsbergen as well, feeding in the food-rich icy waters around the island.
Three Arctic Islandsfrom $6,995
A Quark Expeditions exclusive, this award-winning expedition cruise takes you to the northeast coast of Greenland, across Iceland and high above the Arctic Circle in Spitsbergen, Norway. Iconic Arctic animals such as the Polar Bear, Musk Ox, Reindeer and Walrus are commonly seen. No other Arctic adventure takes in such varied destinations ranging from active volcanoes to massive glaciers. If you want to experience the Arctic in all of its beauty, then you must venture to these three Arctic islands.
Greenland Explorerfrom $6,495
Picture yourself in Greenland, home to the world’s great fjords and some of the most active glaciers outside of Antarctica. You’ll be dwarfed by the sheer size and scale of nature in Greenland, where the forces of nature still reign supreme. Join this expedition and brush up on Viking history and immerse yourself in present day Greenlandic Inuit culture. Tundra hiking for all levels is available throughout the voyage. For thrill seekers, try an optional glacier helicopter excursion over Ilulissat icefjord, the fastest moving glacier in the world.
East Greenland: Northern Lightsfrom $6,495
Scoresbysund, the world’s longest fjord system, beckons you to explore Greenland. Enticing you with some of the world’s best displays of the Northern Lights, the Inuit settlement of Ittoqqortoormiit also offers you a rare connection to the past, as they still live off the land as their ancestors did hundreds of years ago.
Arctic Quest: Greenland to Churchill 2014from $7,995
Our most diverse Arctic expedition aboard our new ship, the Sea Explorer. In addition to wildlife excursions by Zodiac and tundra hikes, you’ll spend time visiting fishing villages and Inuit settlements, taking time to learn about their heritage and culture. A wonderful expedition to a part of the world where polar bears, whales, seals and humans have all learned to co-exist for thousands of years.
In the Footsteps of Franklin: Greenland & Canada’s High Arctic 2014from $5,995
Explore the best of Greenland’s west coast on this 13 day voyage, including one of the fastest and most active glaciers in the world.
Spitsbergen Circumnavigation: Big Islands, Big Adventure 2014from $7,295
This extensive circuit of Spitsbergen, is our most in-depth expedition to the Svalbard archipelago, where polar bear sightings are virtually guaranteed! You’ll explore Spitsbergen and other islands, always on the lookout for the ice bear and the tusked pinnipeds of the north – the walrus.
Spitsbergen Explorer: Wildlife Capital of the Arctic 2014from $5,795
If polar bears top your list of must-see Arctic wildlife, choose an expedition to Spitsbergen. This remarkable island hosts an astonishing array of Arctic wildlife, protected within six national parks. The island itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Our Spitsbergen Explorer tour is perfect if you prefer short sea voyages with frequent shore landings and Zodiac cruises. Here you'll find enough polar bears, reindeer, walrus and whales to keep your camera constantly clicking.
North Pole: The Ultimate Arctic Adventure 2014from $24,995
To reach the North Pole is the pinnacle of Arctic expedition endeavors. Few people can say they stood at the one earthly spot where every direction is south. Crushing through the ice, admiring soaring seabirds and visiting Franz Josef Land, your voyage will be one that you won’t soon forget. The added excitement of helicopter excursions and an optional hot air balloon ride at the top of the world make this Quark Expeditions adventure a true once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Expedition in Brief:
Epic High Arctic: Baffin Island Explorer via Fury and Hecla 2014from $5,495
An exploration of historic Canadian sites in the Arctic, combined with abundant wildlife equals one special Arctic expedition.
Three Arctic Islands 2014from $6,995
A journey across the Arctic to the land of Vikings, fjords and spectacular landscapes. Quark’s award-winning expedition packs more wildlife and dramatic Arctic coastlines into 14 days than you can imagine. Visiting Iceland, Greenland and Spitsbergen, you'll have great chances to see bearded seals as well as walrus, whales, seabirds and, of course, polar bears.
Expedition in Brief:
East Greenland: Northern Lights 2014from $6,995
If your “bucket list” includes seeing the sky dance of the Northern Lights - this is the tour for you. The autumn and winter skies above Greenland’s eastern coast are renowned for putting on some of the best Aurora displays in the world and you’ll also explore the magnificent Scorsbysund fjord.
Introduction to Spitsbergen: Polar Bear Safari from $4,295
This voyage provides the opportunity to experience everything Spitsbergen has to offer, from polar bears and walrus to spectacular scenery. Aboard the luxurious Sea Spirit, you’ll be treated to daily presentations by your Expedition Team onboard the ship and daily wildlife sightings on land. Hike, explore and enjoy the beauty of the Arctic on your visit to Spitsbergen.
