Paddling Excursion
Overview
Glide through the pristine polar waters in a sit-on-top, two-person, inflatable kayak for an unforgettable experience in the Arctic and Antarctic wilderness. These stable, rugged and comfortable crafts are an ideal way to see the polar regions from a different perspective. Experienced guides will lead you safely throughout the paddling excursion. Your group will always be escorted by an additional safety driver who will stay close by to provide additional support.
Information at a Glance
Optional Add-On Adventure Activity
1 Guide and 1 Safety Driver Per 10 Guests
1-1.5 Hours
Moderate Fitness Level
No Past Experience Required
Expeditions With Paddling Excursions
Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent
Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition
Antarctic Express: Fly South, Sail North
Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake
Antarctic Express: Crossing the Circle
Antarctic Express: Sail South, Fly North
Emperor Penguin Quest: Expedition to Snow Hill
(Incl. Transfer package)
Mandatory Transfer Package
- One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Buenos Aires with breakfast (Note: The number of guests per room is the same as cabin occupancy on the ship. Due to limited availability, travelers who reserve a suite on board are accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel. Triple rooms may not be available.)
- Group flight departing from Buenos Aires’ domestic airport (Aeroparque/AEP) to Ushuaia, and returning to Buenos Aires’ international airport (Ezeiza/EZE)
- Group transfer from hotel to airport in Buenos Aires
- Group transfer from Ushuaia airport to the ship, and return (Note: Transfer on arrival in Buenos Aires from airport to hotel at the beginning of the journey is not included. Please make your way to the included hotel.)
- Combined airport transfer and express bus tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park after disembarkation in Ushuaia
Epic Antarctica: The Falklands, South Georgia and Crossing the Circle
Incl. Charter Flight & Hotel
Charter Flight and Hotel Package
- One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Buenos Aires with breakfast (Note: The number of guests per room is the same as cabin occupancy on the ship. Due to limited availability, travelers who reserve a suite on board are accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel. Triple rooms may not be available.)
- Group flight departing from Buenos Aires’ domestic airport (Aeroparque/AEP) to Ushuaia, and returning to Buenos Aires’ international airport (Ezeiza/EZE)
- Group transfer from hotel to airport in Buenos Aires
- Group transfer from Ushuaia airport to the ship, and return (Note: Transfer on arrival in Buenos Aires from airport to hotel at the beginning of the journey is not included. Please make your way to the included hotel.)
- Combined airport transfer and express bus tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park after disembarkation in Ushuaia
Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica: Explorers and Kings
South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula: Penguin Safari
Penguins of the Far South: Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica
Snow Hill to the Peninsula: Shackleton’s Emperors
Svalbard Explorer: Best of High Arctic Norway
Incl. Charter Flight & Hotel
Charter Flight and Hotel Package
- One night’s pre-expedition hotel night at Helsinki airport hotel, with breakfast
- Charter flight from Helsinki to Longyearbyen
- Arrival and departure transfers in Longyearbyen
- Charter flight from Longyearbyen to Helsinki
Arctic Saga: Exploring Spitsbergen via the Faroes and Jan Mayen
Incl. Charter Flight & Hotel
Mandatory Transfer Package
- One night’s pre-expedition hotel night in Aberdeen
- Group transfer from Aberdeen hotel to ship on embarkation day
- Departure transfer in Longyearbyen on disembarkation day
- Charter flight from Longyearbyen to Helsinki on disembarkation day
![[Hero] Spitsbergen Circumnavigation: A Rite of Passage](https://res.cloudinary.com/enchanting/q_70,f_auto,w_360,h_240,c_fill,g_face/quark-web/2024/09/SpitsbergenCircumnavigation_Exterior_4M9A8371_michellesole-copy_WEB_Cover-Image.jpg)
Spitsbergen Circumnavigation: A Rite of Passage
Incl. Charter Flight & Hotel
Charter Flight and Hotel Package
- One night’s pre-expedition hotel night at Helsinki airport hotel, with breakfast
- Charter flight from Helsinki to Longyearbyen
- Arrival and departure transfers in Longyearbyen
- Charter flight from Longyearbyen to Helsinki
Three Arctic Islands: Iceland, Greenland, Spitsbergen
Incl. Charter Flight & Hotel
Charter Flight and Hotel Package
- One night’s pre-expedition hotel night at Helsinki airport hotel, with breakfast
- Charter flight from Helsinki to Longyearbyen
- Arrival transfer in Longyearbyen
- Arrival transfer in Reykjavik to central downtown location
Greenland to Newfoundland: Mountains, Wildlife and Viking History
Incl. Charter Flight & Hotel
Charter Flight and Hotel Package
- One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Reykjavik
- Group transfer from the Reykjavik hotel to the airport on Day 2
- Charter flights between Reykjavik and Kangerlussuaq
Iceland to Greenland: Total Solar Eclipse, 13 Days
South Greenland Adventure: The Majestic Alpine Arctic
Three Arctic Islands: Iceland, Greenland, Spitsbergen
Incl. Charter Flight & Hotel
Charter Flight and Hotel Package
- One night’s pre-expedition hotel night at Helsinki airport hotel, with breakfast
- Charter flight from Helsinki to Longyearbyen
- Arrival transfer in Longyearbyen
- Arrival transfer in Reykjavik to central downtown location
Under the Northern Lights: Exploring Iceland & East Greenland
Northwest Passage: Epic High Arctic
(Incl. Transfer package)
Mandatory Transfer Package
- One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Reykjavik
- Group transfer from the Reykjavik hotel to the airport on Day 2
- Charter flight from Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq
- Group transfer from the Kangerlussuaq airport to the ship on embarkation day
- Group transfer from the ship to the Resolute airport on disembarkation day
- Charter flight from Resolute to Calgary
- Group transfer from Calgary airport to hotel
- One night’s post-expedition hotel accommodation in Calgary
Northwest Passage: The Legendary Arctic Sea Route
Incl. Charter Flight & Hotel
Charter Flight and Hotel Package
- One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Reykjavik
- Group transfer from the Reykjavik hotel to the airport on Day 2
- Charter flight from Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq
- Group transfer from the Kangerlussuaq airport to the ship on embarkation day
- Group transfer from the ship to the Resolute airport on disembarkation day
- Charter flight from Resolute to Calgary
- Group transfer from Calgary airport to hotel
- One night’s post-expedition hotel accommodation in Calgary
Northwest Passage: Epic High Arctic
(Incl. Transfer package)
Mandatory Transfer Package
- One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Reykjavik
- Group transfer from the Reykjavik hotel to the airport on Day 2
- Charter flight from Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq
- Group transfer from the Kangerlussuaq airport to the ship on embarkation day
- Group transfer from the ship to the Resolute airport on disembarkation day
- Charter flight from Resolute to Calgary
- Group transfer from Calgary airport to hotel
- One night’s post-expedition hotel accommodation in Calgary
Iceland Circumnavigation: Helicopters, Glaciers and Volcanoes
Iceland to Greenland: Total Solar Eclipse, 13 Days
Under the Northern Lights: Exploring Iceland & East Greenland
Three Arctic Islands: Iceland, Greenland, Spitsbergen
Incl. Charter Flight & Hotel
Charter Flight and Hotel Package
- One night’s pre-expedition hotel night at Helsinki airport hotel, with breakfast
- Charter flight from Helsinki to Longyearbyen
- Arrival transfer in Longyearbyen
- Arrival transfer in Reykjavik to central downtown location
Essential Patagonia: Chilean Fjords and Torres del Paine
Incl. Charter Flight & Hotel
Charter Flight and Hotel Package
- One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Buenos Aires with breakfast (Note: The number of guests per room is the same as cabin occupancy on the ship. Due to limited availability, travelers who reserve a suite on board are accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel. Triple rooms may not be available.)
- Group transfer from hotel to airport in Buenos Aires
- Group flight departing from Buenos Aires’ domestic airport (Aeroparque/AEP) to Ushuaia, and returning to Santiago International Airport (SCL)
- Group transfer from Ushuaia airport to the ship, and from ship to Punta Arenas airport (Note: Transfer on arrival in Buenos Aires from airport to hotel at the beginning of the journey is not included. Please make your way to the included hotel.)
What You’ll Need
Suggested Equipment
- Base and mid-layer clothing
- Wool or synthetic hiking socks
- Glove liners
- Hand warmers
- Brimmed hat or warm hat
- Scarf, buff, or neck warmer
- Sunglasses
- Waterproof & sweatproof sunscreen & lip balm (minimum SPF 30)
- Waterproof camera and accessories
Provided Equipment
- Inflatable kayak
- Muck boots
- Dry suit
- Paddle
- Gloves
- Life jacket
- Quark Expeditions parka
- Water bottle
Frequently Asked Questions
The Paddling Excursion was created for guests with little or no paddling experience, or for those who want a single paddle experience to add variety to their expedition. Participants must be fit enough to enter and exit the inflatable kayak from the Zodiac, and to maneuver with your paddle.
The Paddling Excursion is a one-time, guided outing using stable inflatable kayaks—perfect for beginners or those wanting a short, easy experience. The Sea Kayaking Program is a more in-depth, multi-day experience with traditional sea kayaks, offering experienced kayakers a more active and immersive adventure.
Paddling excursions are scheduled in either a morning or afternoon excursion slot, when weather and sea conditions are ideal. You’ll embark on your paddling excursion while others are exploring in a Zodiac, or conducting a shore landing. You may get to conduct a shore landing after the excursion, however if you don’t, no need to worry as you’ll still have other opportunities to go ashore during the voyage.
Your paddle guide will only take you out when the weather is favorable and the water is calm. Your safety is always our top priority. If conditions aren’t suitable on a given day, the excursion will be postponed and rescheduled for a day with better conditions. If we’re unable to run the paddling excursion at all during your voyage due to weather, you’ll receive a full refund for the activity.
If you’re booking with one of our Polar Travel Advisors, just let them know you’d like to join a Paddling Excursion and they’ll be happy to add it to your booking (pending availability). If you’re booking online, you’ll have the option to add a Paddling Excursion during checkout, provided it’s available for your chosen voyage.
Already booked your expedition? No problem, just reach out to our Client Experience Team by giving us a call. They’ll confirm availability and pricing, and help you add the experience to your booking.
