Quark Expeditions The Leader in Polar Adventures

Destinations
Expeditions
Ships
Offers
About Us

Polar Regions
Arctic
Antarctic

Destinations
Canadian High Arctic
Greenland
North Pole
Russian High Arctic
Svalbard
Explore the Arctic

Destinations
Antarctic Peninsula
Falkland Islands
Patagonia
South Georgia
Snow Hill Island
Explore the Antarctic

Canadian High Arctic

Navigating the icy channels of the High Arctic, follow in the footsteps of legendary explorers who braved the unknown to seek the fabled sea route to Asia. Revel at vast, untouched nature stunning in its minimalist splendor along the way.

Explore Canadian High Arctic

Greenland

The world's largest island teems with life, welcoming you with its breathtaking scenery. East Greenland is vast, sparsely inhabited, and stunning in its austere beauty, while West Greenland has more Indigenous communities and varied wildlife.

Explore Greenland

North Pole

For the handful of individuals who experience it, reaching the North Pole aboard nuclear icebreaker 50 Years of Victory is the absolute zenith of polar exploration and the most exclusive voyage in the world, today.

Explore The North Pole

Russian High Arctic

Steeped in polar history, the Russian High Arctic offers the rare opportunity to travel to remote archipelagos, including Severnaya Zemlya. Be among the first to explore the last Arctic islands to be discovered on Earth.

Explore the Russian High Arctic

Svalbard

Spitsbergen, the Realm of the Polar Bear, is the largest island in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago. Experience some of the Arctic’s best adventure, learn about a rich history and culture and witness 24-hour daylight under the midnight sun.

Explore Svalbard

Antarctic Peninsula

The Antarctic Peninsula is an environment of exquisite isolation, rich wildlife, stimulating history and majestic landscapes. Your journey to the 7th Continent will take you to the end of the world, where adventure begins.

Explore The Antarctic Peninsula

The Falkland Islands

En route to Antarctica, take the opportunity to encounter iconic wildlife and immerse yourself in early Antarctic exploration on these sub-Antarctic islands of the South Atlantic Ocean.

Explore the Falkland Islands

Patagonia

Patagonia is a sparsely-populated, wildlife-rich region in the southern part South America. The Andes Mountains form the natural divide between Argentine Patagonia and Chilean Patagonia, where Quark Expeditions focuses its explorations.

Explore Patagonia

South Georgia

En route to Antarctica, take the opportunity to encounter iconic wildlife and immerse yourself in early Antarctic exploration on these sub-Antarctic islands of the South Atlantic Ocean.

Explore South Georgia

Snow Hill Island

Ice-choked and impassible for most of the year, Snow Hill Island is only accessible for a few weeks of the season. Guests fly in via helicopter, then walk across the sea ice to commune with thousands of Emperor penguins and their chicks.

Explore Snow Hill Island

Polar Regions
Arctic
Antarctic

Destinations
Canadian High Arctic
Greenland
Spitsbergen
North Pole
Russian High Arctic
View All Arctic Expeditions
View All Arctic Departures

Destinations
Antarctic Peninsula
Falkland Islands & South Georgia
Patagonia
View All Antarctic Expeditions
View All Antarctic Departures

Canadian High Arctic Expeditions
Arctic Express Canada: The Heart of the Northwest Passage
Best of the Western Arctic: Canada and Greenland
Canada’s Remote Arctic: Northwest Passage to Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg Islands
Northwest Passage: Epic High Arctic
Northwest Passage: In the Footsteps of Franklin

Greenland Expeditions
Best of the Western Arctic: Canada and Greenland
Essential Greenland: Southern Coasts and Disko Bay
Greenland Adventure: Explore by Sea, Land and Air
Three Arctic Islands: Iceland, Greenland, Spitsbergen
Under the Northern Lights: Exploring Iceland & East Greenland

Spitsbergen Expeditions
Arctic Saga: Exploring Spitsbergen via the Faroes and Jan Mayen
Intro to Spitsbergen: Fjords, Glaciers and Wildlife of Svalbard
Spitsbergen Explorer: Wildlife Capital of the Arctic
Spitsbergen Highlights: Expedition in Brief
Spitsbergen In Depth: Big Islands, Big Adventure
Spitsbergen Photography: In Search of Polar Bears
Three Arctic Islands: Iceland, Greenland, Spitsbergen

North Pole Expeditions
North Pole: The Ultimate Arctic Adventure

Russian High Arctic Expeditions
High Arctic Odyssey: Remote Russian Archipelagos
Jewels of the Russian Arctic: Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya

Antarctic Peninsula Expeditions
Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent
Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent plus Cape Horn & Diego Ramirez
Antarctic Express: Crossing the Circle
Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake
Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition

Falkland Islands & South Georgia Expeditions
Epic Antarctica: Crossing the Circle via Falklands and South Georgia
Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica: Explorers and Kings
South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula: Penguin Safari
Celebrating Shackleton: Journey from Antarctica to South Georgia

Patagonia Expeditions
Essential Patagonia: Chilean Fjords and Torres del Paine

Our Fleet
Expedition Ships
Icebreakers

Expedition Ships
Ocean Adventurer
Ocean Diamond
Ultramarine
World Explorer
Why Expedition Ships?
View All Ships

Icebreakers
50 Years of Victory
Kapitan Khlebnikov
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Ocean Adventurer

A multi-million-dollar renovation means that the 128 guests aboard Ocean Adventurer travel to the most remote regions of the world in the utmost comfort.

Explore Ocean Adventurer

Ocean Diamond

With a guest capacity of 189, Ocean Diamond is one of the largest vessels in our small expedition ship fleet. Two stabilizers and an ice-strengthened hull make this vessel ideal for polar expedition.

Explore Ocean Diamond

Ultramarine

The newest addition to our fleet, the 199-guest Ultramarine will be equipped with two twin-engine helicopters, 20 quick-launching Zodiacs, spacious suites, wellness amenities and numerous outdoor wildlife viewing spaces.

Explore Ultramarine

World Explorer

Distinct and comfortable, refined and roomy, the 172-guest World Explorer is an all-balcony, all-suites expedition ship perfect for polar exploration. It’s one of the finest ships in our fleet and offers six tiers of deluxe accommodation.

Explore World Explorer

50 Years of Victory

50 Years of Victory, which has a guest capacity of 160, is one of the world’s most powerful nuclear icebreakers. As an Arktika-class icebreaker, this vessel is capable of crushing through ice up to 9.2 feet thick.

Explore 50 Years of Victory

Kapitan Khlebnikov

The 110-passenger Kapitan Khlebnikov is a polar-class icebreaker that combines power and technology with comfort. Boasting a 24,000-horsepower engine, KLB has transited the Northwest Passage more times than any other vessel.

Explore Kapitan Khlebnikov

Polar Regions
Arctic
Antarctic

Offers
2022 Voyages
2023 Voyages

Offers
2021.22 Voyages
2022.23 Voyages

Arctic 2022 Season

Our comprehensive Arctic 2022 season line-up of voyages that are designed to immerse travelers in the splendid isolation of the remote Arctic. Arctic 2022 features our new polar ship, Ultramarine, innovative helicopter-supported adventure options, a unique Greenland Adventure Program, plus special itineraries that include the much anticipated return of the popular Northern Lights experience, and a voyage dedicated to photography in Spitsbergen.

View All Arctic 2022 Offers

Arctic 2023 Season

Imagine spotting a polar bear as it hunts for food along the ice edge, or cruising along deep Arctic fjords in a Zodiac, or viewing the massive Greenland Ice Sheet through the window of a helicopter. All of these experiences and more are available with our Arctic 2023 season, which is designed to truly immerse guests in the polar landscapes.

View All Arctic 2023 Offers

Antarctic 2021.22 Season

Take advantage of our limited-time offer to explore the ruggedly beautiful Antarctic as the game-changing polar vessel Ultramarine makes its debut season in the southern hemisphere. Choose from exciting new itineraries and innovative off-ship adventure options.

View All Antarctic 2021.22 Offers

Antarctic 2022.23 Season

There’s never been a better time to visit the stunningly beautiful Antarctic. Choose where you’d like to explore: the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia or Patagonia. This season marks the debut of the technologically-advanced polar vessel Ultramarine, which is a game-changer in polar adventure. Guests can choose from innovative itineraries.

View All Antarctic 2022.23 Offers

Ship cruising through Sam Ford Fjord, Baffin Island in the Canadian High Arctic - Photo by Acacia Johnson

A guest takes photos of the ship Ultramarine while helicopter flightseeing.

Gentoo penguin and its chick sit on top of their rocky nest during a sunny day at Neko Harbour.

About Quark Expeditions
Our History
Our Team
Polar Adventures
Sustainability

Our History
Our Expedition History

Our Team
Expedition Leaders
Expedition Team
Quark Academy
Special Guests

Polar Adventure Options
Alpine Heli-Trekking
Flightseeing
Hot Air Ballooning
Ice Sheet Experience
Polar Camping
Sea Kayaking
Stand-up Paddleboarding
Zodiac Cruising
View All Adventure Options

Polar Exploration and Sustainability
Our Polar Promise

Our Expedition History

Lars Wikander and Mike McDowell, the cofounders of Quark Expeditions, took the first group of commercial travelers to the North Pole In 1991. That inaugural, game-changing expedition—the first-ever tourism transit of the Northeast Passage—set Quark Expeditions on a course that would put us at the forefront of polar exploration.

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Expedition Leaders

We have the most professional and passionate team of Expedition Leaders in the world, who bring a wide range of experience to every adventure. Some have degrees in marine biology, political science, others have trained as medics, biologists, park rangers, outdoor educators and lawyers.

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Expedition Team

The perfect polar expedition doesn't just happen. It takes a team of talented, knowledgeable and experienced professionals to bring it all together. Our Expedition Team is comprised of seasoned veterans with rich backgrounds in marine biology, history, glaciology, geology and more.

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Quark Academy

With the launch of Quark Academy in 2017, Quark Expeditions became the first polar expedition company to institute its own proprietary polar training program. The underlying goal was to establish standard levels of training and safety that surpassed anything else offered in the industry—for the ultimate benefit of our guests and for the protection of the polar regions we visit.

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Special Guests

Embarking on a polar expedition with Quark is as much fun as any other vacation. And, it can also be a fascinating, enriching learning experience. Because the world is still learning about the Earth’s Polar Regions, it’s important for us to be able to provide an accurate picture of these areas, and its wildlife, to our guests.

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Alpine Heli-Trekking

Let us take you on an active adventure high up in the Antarctic Peninsula. You’ll be part of an intimate group of adventurers to board one of Ultramarine’s two twin–engine helicopters for a trekking excursion in an area only safely accessed by air.

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Flightseeing

Imagine soaring over the polar regions from the comfort of a helicopter and enjoying the most astounding aerial views imaginable of the frozen Antarctic Ocean, of snow-capped ice ridges, massive crevices, and of melt pools ranging from cerulean to deep, spectacular turquoise.

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Hot Air Ballooning

Hot air ballooning is an accessible activity in one of the most inaccessible parts of the world. No experience is required. Quark Expeditions staff will make every effort to make sure you´re not only safe and comfortable but most of all, that you have a wonderful ride.

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Ice Sheet Experience

Ascend high above the cascading coastal glaciers onto the immense polar plateau of the Greenland Ice Sheet (the second-largest ice mass in the world) and take in the immensity of this overwhelming landscape.

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Polar Camping

Camping with Quark Expeditions is an unforgettable experience. After dinner onboard, you'll be escorted ashore by Zodiac to camp out on the snow for the night in your ready-to-roll bivy sack (tents can be used upon request). Once you decide on your spot, you set up camp and enjoy the peace as the night unfolds

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Sea Kayaking

Sea kayaking is offered on all of our departures and you require no previous experience to enjoy this activity. Our sea kayaks are the ideal means by which to get some good exercise and explore the cliffs and shores of the various visitor sites.

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Standup Paddleboarding

Because of their wide base and tail fins, Standup Paddleboarding boards are quite stable, enabling participants – after a bit of practice – to stop staring at their feet and admire the surrounding scenery. Imagine seeing Gentoo penguins gliding below you, or making eye contact with a Weddell seal lying on a piece of ice as you paddle by.

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Zodiac Cruising

Zodiacs take you places that ships can’t access, allowing you to reach remote shorelines, explore shallow inlets and search for unique wildlife.

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Our Polar Promise

Quark Expeditions is profoundly committed to environmentally responsible tourism. Protecting the places we visit is necessary to ensure we can continue to introduce travelers to the spectacular beauty of the polar wilderness.

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