Greenland Tops Lonely Planet & National Geographic List Of Places To Travel In 2016
Quark Expeditions® Destination Ranks Tops for Adventure Travelers
[Seattle, WA] – November 26, 2015 – Greenland, one of the most popular destinations for passengers traveling with polar tour provider Quark Expeditions®, has been recognized as one of the top tourism destinations on the planet for 2016 by two leading travel authorities. Both Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2016 list and National Geographic’s Best Trips 2016 highlight this European Arctic island.
The honor comes as Greenland prepares to host the largest event in its history, the Arctic Winter Games in March, 2016. In its feature, Lonely Planet lists Greenland’s stunning midnight sun, the spectacle of breaching whales, rich cultural influence and lingering historical practices as reasons to visit Greenland this year.
Tom Hall, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2016 contributor, explained, “Greenland is a gem in the crown of northern Europe. It offers life-changing experiences in spades and, given it’s now easier to access than ever, if you’ve ever dreamed of visiting Greenland, this is the time to go.”
The destinations featured in the Best in Travel series are selected based on their adherence to specific criteria. A special event may be taking place in the year ahead, or there may be a lot of “buzz” about a destination.
“We’re pleased, but not at all surprised, to see Greenland showcased in Lonely Planet’s and National Geographic Traveler’s features as one of the world’s best travel destinations for 2016,” said Andrew White, President of Quark Expeditions®. “In fact, we are offering three new Northern Lights-focused fly/cruise voyages for our Greenland travelers this season, to meet the increasing demand for access to this ultimate adventure destination for modern-day arctic travelers.”
Other attractions and activities highlighted in the Best in Travel 2016 Greenland feature include:
- The incredible aurora borealis (Northern Lights), viewed better here than anywhere else on Earth and particularly spectacular between September and April.
- The draw of escape and rejuvenation in pristine arctic wilderness.
- The prevalence of fresh, authentic locavore fare, thanks to a generation of new chefs taking on the challenge of sustainability on an island with little agriculture or ground transportation.
- The Arctic Winter Games, with competitions ranging from snowshoeing to native games like pole pushing, as well as dance, music and cultural celebrations.
- The Ilulissat Icefjord, home to the northern hemisphere’s most productive glacier and a great number of iceberg-watching adventures.
National Geographic Traveler’s in-house digital nomad Andrew Evans, also a respected TV host and travel writer, wrote the Greenland feature for that publication. In it, he shares the perspective of native Greenlander Jane Petersen, who says, “We know we can't control nature; we can only be close to it."
Greenland, “a vast, stone-faced giant capped by an ice sheet more than twice the size of Texas,” Evans notes, is one of best places in the world to see polar bears. Other attractions he highlights include the country’s aquamarine rivers, close sightings of spouting whales, and thundering waterfalls feeding into enormous fjords.
Quark Expeditions® offers a wide selection of Greenland expeditions to suit every schedule, interest and type of traveler.
How to Book:
Polar travelers can take advantage of Quark's Arctic 2016 savings of up to 25% per person on select Arctic 2016 voyages - including fly/cruise voyages and icebreaker adventures to Greenland - when booked by Jan. 15, 2016. Some conditions apply. Contact a Quark Expeditions® Polar Travel Adviser toll free 1.888.892.0073 or +1.203.803.2666. Bookings can also be made online at QuarkExpeditions.com.
About Quark Expeditions®:
Specializing in expeditions to the Arctic, Antarctic and sub-polar regions, Quark Expeditions® has been the leading provider of polar adventure travel for 25 years. With a diverse fleet of specially-equipped small expedition vessels, icebreakers, and unique land-based adventures, it offers travelers unparalleled access to the most remote places on earth. Led by passionate and seasoned expedition teams, including scientists, naturalists and researchers, the on-board program focuses on guest interaction to educate and enrich the passenger experience. The company is known for its unwavering commitment to safety and sustainability, and was the first to offer passengers — free of charge — carbon-neutral voyages in Antarctica aboard the Ocean Diamond.
About the TUI Adventure Division:
The TUI Adventure Division offers premium, experience-based adventure holidays and expeditions worldwide for active travelers. The division includes expedition specialists International Expeditions (www.IEtravel.com), Quark Expeditions (www.QuarkExpeditions.com) and Zegrahm Expeditions (www.Zegrahm.com); leading European adventure and activity specialists Exodus (www.ExodusTravels.com), Headwater (www.Headwater.com), World Challenge (www.World-Challenge.co.uk), Sawadee (www.Sawadeee.nl), TrekAmerica (www.TrekAmerica.co.uk), and Grand American Adventures (www.GrandAmericanAdventures.com); and US-based destination management company AmeriCan Adventures (www.AmericanAdventures.com). From reaching the top of Kilimanjaro and canoeing on the Zambezi, to catching tiger cub sightings and breaking ice en route to the North Pole, the TUI Adventure Division offers inspirational experiences that create lifelong memories.