featured – 7 min read
How to choose between the Arctic and Antarctic for your Polar Voyage
Antarctic
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5 mins read
Flying vs Sailing the Drake Passage: Your Antarctic Expedition Crossing Guide
There are few journeys on Earth that feel as legendary as crossing the Drake Passage. Whether you choose to fly across this iconic waterway or sail through it, this stretch between South America and Antarctica represents more than logistics—it defines your entire Antarctic expedition narrative. I recently experienced both routes during a single voyage. The contrast was striking. Here’s what I learned about these two fundamentally different approaches to reaching the White Continent, and how to choose the one that fits your adventure philosophy. Key Takeaways Flying: 2 hours, minimal motion sickness risk, high-energy arrival Sailing: 18–48 hours depending on conditions, immersive oceanic experience, wildlife viewing opportunities Best choice depends on: your time, sea tolerance, and travel philosophy Why not both: Quark expeditions offer fly-one-way, sail-return options. Explore our Antarctic Express voyages to experience both perspectives. The Swift Ascent: Flying Across the Drake Passage Imagine this: you’re standing at the southern tip of South America with coffee in hand. Within hours, you’ll be stepping onto Antarctic ice. Flying the Drake Passage is undeniably the fastest route to the Antarctic continent. A commercial aircraft carrying your expedition group completes the journey in approximately two hours—a transition so rapid it feels almost unreal. You leave Patagonian landscapes behind and arrive at King George Island facing towering ice cliffs and penguin colonies. The aerial perspective is extraordinary. As your plane climbs, you witness the Beagle Channel receding, the Drake Passage sprawling below in shades of grey and white, and eventually the Antarctic Peninsula emerging from cloud cover. This bird’s-eye approach to arrival creates an indelible first memory. What strikes most travelers is the simplicity of the experience. No extended sea preparation. No medication routines. […]
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9 mins read
Eight Days in Antarctica: A Team Member's First Encounter
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5 mins read
The Science of Snow Hill: Why Sea Ice Holds the Key to Discovery
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Explore South Georgia, the Galápagos of the Southern Ocean
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Torres del Paine: A Trekker’s Paradise in the Heart of Patagonia
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Arctic
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9 mins read
Chasing The Eclipse: Behind the Scenes of an Epic Greenlandic Voyage
Two minutes and seventeen seconds. That’s how long a group of explorers stood under an ominous light of darkness. This paradoxical and temporary moment where a Greenlandic sky revealed shades I’d never witnessed before. Two minutes and seventeen seconds. That’s also how long I had to document a moment that I had no experience with. It was something I’d spent weeks preparing for, but if I’m being honest, I still wasn’t sure how the final visual story’d play out. Here I was, in the deepest fjords of East Greenland, on the top deck of a small ship with two tripods, two cameras, and two minutes and seventeen seconds. I needed a specific image. An image that could convey the gravity, wonderment, and contradictory nature of what I was about to experience. In the summer of 2026, I got to experience first-hand just how special a total solar eclipse is, and in this story, I’m going to share my journey in bringing this image to life. An Opportunity At Wonderment A few weeks after returning from an assignment in Svalbard, I received a call about returning to the Arctic Circle. Only this time, it’d be aboard another vessel that was travelling to East Greenland in an effort to witness a total solar eclipse. I’m not an astrophotographer. I’ve never witnessed an eclipse of any kind. And truthfully, I never had a desire to seek one out. That being said, 2026 was a big year for space and sci-fi. Experiencing the double-feature of _Project Hail Mary_ in […]
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5 mins read
The Lilliehöök Glacier: A Frozen Giant Shaped by Millennia of Arctic Ice
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Isbukta: Glaciers, Icebergs and Kayaking Adventures in Southern Spitsbergen
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Iceland’s National Parks by Sea: Vatnajökull to Snæfellsnes Peninsula
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Cultural Encounters in the Faroes: Local Traditions, Food, and Island Communities
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Experiences
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Kayaking Among Icebergs: A Bucket List Experience in Greenland
There’s a moment, somewhere between a paddle stroke and a heartbeat, when the world falls silent and all you hear is the gentle creak of shifting ice. That’s what it feels like to embark on an iceberg kayaking experience in Greenland. The air is crisp, the sea glassy and cold, and the icebergs around you tower like floating cathedrals. For those who crave authentic exploration, this is Arctic travel at its finest — a rare opportunity to experience this stunning part of the world from water level, where every ripple tells a story. We’ve guided travelers through Greenland’s labyrinth of fjords and coastal villages for decades, and each voyage reminds us that this land is alive in ways you can’t fully understand until you paddle through it yourself. If this calls to your sense of adventure, explore our Greenland to Newfoundland: Mountains, Wildlife and Viking History expedition or see our range of Arctic expeditions designed for explorers who prefer to travel beyond the familiar. The Rhythm of the Arctic Kayaking along Greenland’s coast is both peaceful and thrilling. The rhythm of paddling becomes almost meditative, broken only by the sound of ice cracking in the distance. Around you, monumental icebergs drift in shades of blue and white, sculpted by time and temperature. Some are the size of city blocks, others no larger than a cabin. As you glide closer, you notice the texture of the ice — intricate patterns that shimmer like glass in the polar sun. Every iceberg carries its own personality. Some tilt and roll, others hum quietly as trapped air escapes in soft hisses. These waters are where Arctic adventure […]
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4 mins read
Polar Trips Filled with Active Off-ship Adventures
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4 mins read
Empower Your Inner Explorer: Why a Solo Polar Trip is the Ultimate Self-Discovery Journey
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First Timer's Guide to Choosing Your Perfect Polar Adventure Activity
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9 mins read
Arctic Communities: Understanding Their Connection to The Remote North
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Know Before You Go
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4 mins read
Raise a Glass and Stay Connected: Free Wi-Fi and Alcohol on Our Expedition Cruise Ships
Free Wi-Fi and alcohol on Quark Expeditions’ voyages includes beer, wine and cocktails, as well as basic Internet service while exploring the Arctic and Antarctic.
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8 mins read
Grytviken, South Georgia Travel Guide
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Best Time to Visit Longyearbyen
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11 mins read
25 Best Things to Do in Reykjavik
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How to Dress in the Polar Regions
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News
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Learn About Ultramarine’s industry-leading helicopter adventure program
Business Development Manager Chris Hanna, Expedition Guide and Glaciologist Colin Souness, and Director of Helicopter Operations Felix Christians share highlights of Ultramarine’s industry-leading helicopter adventure program. Join the webinar to learn about Quark Expeditions’ heli-adventure program: • Unbeatable Polar Helicopter Experiences: Learn how our two twin-engine helicopters can take you further over the polar landscape than any other helicopter in its class, offering the largest portfolio of adventure options in the industry—including flightseeing, heli-hiking, alpine kayaking and exclusive heli-landing. • Most Experienced Crew: Learn what makes our helicopter crew the best in the Polar Regions. • Adventure Meets Luxury: Discover why these helicopters ensure guests will have a superbly comfortable flight—and are great for viewing the polar landscapes. • Industry-leading Polar Safety: Find out what makes our H145 helicopters the industry leaders in helicopter safety. • Advanced Sustainability: Learn about the sustainability features of the H145 helicopters.
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4 mins read
Raise a Glass and Stay Connected: Free Wi-Fi and Alcohol on Our Expedition Cruise Ships
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1 min read
Introducing the New Quark Parka
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6 mins read
Penguins on Ice: How a Hobbyist Captured an Award Winning Photograph
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Polar Learning Channel
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1 min read
Arctic vs. Antarctic: Identifying the Differences
Do you want to head to the northern Polar Region to see polar bears and reindeer and visit Indigenous communities—or do you have a yearning to see thousands of penguins or perhaps venture beyond the Antarctic Circle in the southern pole? Presenter and expedition guide Nick Engelmann will help you choose between the Arctic or Antarctic for your first polar voyage.
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The Curious Behavior of Marine Mammals
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Conservation of Whales, Penguins and Petrels
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Botanist Samantha McBeth gets to the root of polar flowers
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4 mins read
10 Best Books about Early Polar Explorers
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Webinars
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World Photography Day: Shooting in the Polar Regions
Michelle shares her expertise in the field of photography, taking you through tips to help you identify the ideal photo opportunity, how to capture the best pictures on your phone, how to take the best wildlife photos, composition techniques, and how to choose the right camera. All to help prepare you to take the best possible shots during your adventure in the polar regions. Host: Michelle Sole, Photography Guide Michelle’s photographic work has been published in Africa Geographic and The Guardian. In her free time Michelle can be found somewhere in the wilderness with her camera in tow.
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Fly the Drake
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Get To Know Our New Ship: World Voyager
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Introducing Our New Ship Ocean Explorer
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What’s So Cool About Early Season Antarctica
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Wildlife
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4 mins read
Bird Migration Stories: Barnacle Geese in Svalbard
Each spring, the skies above Svalbard come alive with a remarkable spectacle: the migration of barnacle geese. These elegant birds undertake one of the most extraordinary journeys in the natural world, flying thousands of kilometers from their wintering grounds in Scotland and the Netherlands to the remote Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard. For bird enthusiasts and wildlife photographers alike, witnessing this migration is an unforgettable experience. Svalbard’s high Arctic environment offers a unique combination of accessibility and pristine wilderness, making it a prime destination for observing Arctic birds in their natural habitat. Travelers from the USA, Canada, and Australia are increasingly drawn to birdwatching trips that coincide with the geese’s arrival. On Arctic expeditions, participants can witness the flocks navigating rugged fjords, nesting in cliffside colonies, and interacting with other elements of Arctic wildlife. The Journey of Barnacle Geese Barnacle geese are remarkable for their endurance and precision. Each year, they leave temperate regions in early spring, traveling non-stop across the North Sea and over the Greenland icecap. Their migration is guided by an incredible internal compass and visual cues, enabling them to arrive in Svalbard just in time to breed and raise their young in the short Arctic summer. Observing these birds in flight is not only awe-inspiring but also offers an opportunity to study natural behavior. For wildlife photography, capturing barnacle geese in formation, gliding over icy fjords, or landing near nesting grounds can result in striking images that tell a story of resilience and adaptation. The Spitsbergen Circumnavigation: Rite of Passage is one […]
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Wildlife Guide: Macaroni Penguin Facts
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Wildlife Guide: Sperm Whale Facts
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Meet the Puffins: Iconic Seabirds a Passenger Favorite
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Wildlife Guide: Emperor Penguin Facts
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