Quark Expeditions

Glacier Calving

Corina Hitchcock — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:03:26 +0000

A dramatic moment captured as a glacier calves during a Three Arctic Islands expedition in September 2012. Photo courtesy of Frede Hansen.

Glacier or ice calving is the breaking off of chunks of ice at the edge of a glacier and is often preceded by a loud cracking sound similar to thunder!

You can read one passenger’s firsthand experience on this voyage right here.

Got an ice photo of your own to share? Post it to twitter and tag with #IcePhoto! Follow Quark Expeditions on twitter @quarkexpedition where we share photos and videos and chat about all things polar!

To the Arctic with Quark Expeditions

Corina Hitchcock — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:17:41 +0000

We sat down with Quark’s Polar Travel Manager Terri Chalmers and asked her to tell us a little bit about her Three Arctic Islands voyage with us last fall. She also shared a few of her favourite photos from the voyage – thanks Terri! Thinking of taking this expedition? Read all about it from the eyes of a Quark passenger below!

Name: Terri Chalmers

Job title: Polar Travel Manager

Trip Name: Three Arctic Islands

Pre-post night city: Oslo/Reykjavik

Date of Travel: Sept 4-17, 2012

1. How would you describe your personal travel style & why?

I’m always looking for excitement and something new. I like to visit remote places.

2. What were the weather conditions like during your trip?

It was a mix but was mostly sunny and mild temperatures. Not as cold as you’d think!

3. Best memory on the ship or your overall impression of the ship and/or staff:

I know I might sound biased but we really do have fantastic expedition staff – always striving to provide the best, most memorable experience possible.

4. Top 3 things you did or experienced on your Polar expedition:

- Snuck up on a group of musk ox on the side of a hill in Greenland

- Saw a polar bear on an ice floe, with her fresh kill

- The Northern lights!

5. Describe a wow moment or particularly special memory from your trip:

- Cruising in the zodiacs along the beach, watching a mother polar bear and her cub.

- The water was so cold during our Polar plunge, that they had to use a Zodiac to break the thin layer of iced that had formed at the surface before we could run in! But don’t let that stop you from trying it – the warm ship and hot beverages are not far away!

6. Sum up your trip in 3 words:

Breathtaking

Exhilarating

Emotional

7. What would you say to anyone who is considering travelling to the Polar Regions:

Don’t let the thought of going to a cold environment dissuade you from visiting. The stunning landscapes and the immersion in nature and its wildlife are more than worth it.

8. Are there any other experiences, restaurants, food, people, places or sites you would like to highlight?

Reykjavik is a great city in which to extend your trip. Easy to get around on foot, lots of interesting sights and culture, fantastic food. Ask your polar travel adviser for details on extending your trip!

Antarctica’s fiercest predator

Corina Hitchcock — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:41:55 +0000

A perfect portrait of an Antarctic ambassador, captured by a Quark passenger on our Antarctic Explorer voyage in Feb 2013.

Leopard seals (named as such for their characteristic spotted coats), are one of the primary predators in Antarctica. In the wild they can survive up to 15 years, and are considered the most fearsome of all seal species.

In this video from National Geographic Live, Photographer Paul Nicklen describes how he wanted to understand more about leopard seals. He headed to Antarctica and got right into the water to get up close and personal with these amazing creatures…and got a surprise!

Lunchtime in the Arctic

Corina Hitchcock — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:38:29 +0000

A polar bear looks up at a passing ship full of Quark passengers. This polar bear has just finished having himself what looks like quite the meal!

Photo by passenger Melissa on our September 4, 2012 “Three Arctic Islands” voyage, named one of National Geographic Traveler’s “Tours of a Lifetime” in 2011.

The Antarctic – you absolutely have to go!!!

Corina Hitchcock — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:09:30 +0000

Photographer Christine Bernasconi traveled to Antarctica with Quark this past season and has put together an incredible summary of her experience. She’s agreed to let us share it here – thanks Christine!

“The ship carried 114 passengers of which 49 of them were Australian. Being such a small group meant great friendships were formed early. We were all linked by the same thread – an adventurous nature and the desire to experience the Antarctic. I met people from all over the world. I know I will remain friends with some of them forever. We all shared something very special.

Our voyage left from Ushuaia (the bottom of Argentina) and it was a two day trip to the Antarctic Peninsula across the Drake Passage. I loved watching the mainland of Argentina disappear behind us. To me it felt like a true adventure. We explored many bays, islands and channels of the Antarctic Peninsula over the 14 days of our voyage.”

Click through to read more about Christine’s experience in the Antarctic!: The Antarctic – you absolutely have to go!!! | Bernasconiphotography’s Blog.

Baby gentoo penguin shows off a little sole

Corina Hitchcock — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:37:23 +0000

A juvenile gentoo penguin chick lays on he ground, cooling off. Looks like this guy has a lot of …sole!

(sorry for that terrible pun!)

Gentoo Penguins can grow up to 30 inches tall and weigh up to 13 pounds. They tend to gather in large colonies of breeding pairs, sometimes many thousands of pairs! They are clumsy on land but speedy and graceful once in the water and can swim up to 22 mph, faster than any other diving bird!

The best time to see gentoo chicks is late January- February. They are quite curious by nature and if you stand still, they will approach you to see what/who the big yellow-clad penguin is!

See them for yourself with Quark Expeditions on one of our Antarctic voyages.

Kayaking in Antarctica, gliding through the ice

Corina Hitchcock — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:38:18 +0000

A really great perspective photo on what it’s like kayaking through ice in Antarctica! You can almost imagine yourself there right now if you look really close…

Photo from the Quark Expeditions passenger slideshow on our Fly the Drake voyage, February 2013.

Camping in Antarctica

Corina Hitchcock — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:27:53 +0000

Camping with the incredible scenery of Antarctica as backdrop – one for everyone’s bucket list!

Stay cozy in camping equipment specially designed for cold temperatures, the soundtrack of seals and penguins lulling you to sleep (or perhaps keeping you awake!). Interested in this experience of a life time?
Contact one of our polar travel advisers for more details!

Photo by Phil Wickens, Nov 2012.

Welcome to the North Pole!

Corina Hitchcock — Wed, 01 May 2013 09:53:08 +0000

A polar bear appears to wave lazily at passing Quark Expeditions passengers: “Welcome to the North Pole!”

Photo from the passenger slideshow, “Voyage to the North Pole” 24 June to 6 July 2011.

Be one of only 250 people to stand at the top of the world in 2013! Join us on Russian icebreaker 50 Years of Victory as we head to 90 degrees north.

Future Sled Dog

Corina Hitchcock — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:38:48 +0000

A future sled dog ready for training, captured by a Quark passenger on one of our Greenland voyages!

Crazy for Greenland? Quark Expeditions offers a variety of Greenland voyages which you can read about right here! Don’t forget to follow our Quark Loves Greenland board on Pinterest, and enter for a chance to win a Greenland voyage for two in our Quark Loves Greenland contest!