Quark Expeditions Launches Its Legendary Snow Hill Voyage
The Leader in Polar Adventures® returns to Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea to offer passengers the most exclusive penguin adventure of 2018
07 September 2017 – Quark Expeditions® is proud to announce the highly anticipated Legendary Snow Hill: March to the Emperor Penguins voyage. Exclusive to Quark®, this remarkably rare opportunity to visit the Emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island is expedition travel in its truest form. Snow Hill is known for being one of the hardest destinations to reach on Earth as the area is capped in snow and ice almost all year round. The chance to get there is limited and there’s no telling when the trip can be offered again—if ever.
Quark® was able to conduct its first ground visit to this isolated realm of the Emperor penguin in 2004. The last expedition was successfully completed 8 years ago and has been brought into further spotlight during the filming of BBC’s documentary ‘Frozen Planet.’ When the BBC filmed the series in 2009, they turned to Quark Expeditions for support.
Due to extreme weather and ice conditions, this destination can only be accessed by completing an adventurous journey aboard the Kapitan Khlebnikov, one of the world’s most powerful icebreakers, an exclusive helicopter ride and a final trek on foot, which gives travellers a real taste of how the first polar explorers must have felt when they braved Snow Hill.
Emperor penguins live a life only few animals could manage, but being the largest and strongest of its species, they are up for the challenges the pilgrimage brings every year. Quark® visits the penguin colony early in the season, a perfect opportunity to see the chicks when they are still young and grouped together in communal daycares.
Thanks to the highly-anticipated relaunch of this iconic polar trip, travellers get to witness one of the most captivating wildlife events in Antarctica during only four exclusive voyages in 2018 – an experience that will bring adventurers closer to the action than any wildlife documentary could ever do.
“Emperor penguins are geographically inaccessible birds and the window of opportunity for successful sightings is extremely narrow. The extreme conditions in early season in the region makes it next to impossible to get there. This unique and exciting polar adventure is back on our roster with the legendary Kapitan Khlebnikov, one of the most powerful icebreakers in the world,” explains Malcolm Ellis, Sr. Vice President of Operations at Quark Expeditions®.
“As the leader in polar adventures, we are beyond proud to be the only polar providers which ventured to the ultimate remoteness that is Snow Hill for the first time years ago. Now, we’re able to bring the experience back to the polar market in 2018. Our goal is to offer the most authentic experiences, and we believe that this expedition allows travelers to really capture the spirit of polar exploration at its best,” says Quark Expeditions® President Andrew White.
Trip Highlights
- Cross the infamous Drake Passage, the legendary rite of passage on the journey to the Antarctic
- Take a helicopter from the ship to the edge of the colony
- Continue the final trek by foot along a marked route
- Witness thousands of Emperor penguins and their chicks
- Be guided by some of Quark’s® most seasoned and beloved expedition leaders including Solan Jensen, who was born and raised in coastal Alaska and calls the polar wilderness home, as well as Shane Evoy, who has been to Snow Hill more often than any other expedition leader and has led over 125 expeditions with Quark®
- Listen to inspiring lectures from Bob Headland (Historian), Fabrice Genevois (Ornithologist and Naturalist), Dr. Tom Hart (Penguinologist) and Sue Flood (Photographer)
- Experience the legendary Kapitan Khlebnikov, the only passenger ship to circumnavigate Antarctica—twice
About the Kapitan Khlebnikov
Purpose-built to withstand everything the pack ice can dish out, the ship was the first to successfully bring Quark® travelers to Snow Hill Island and is the only passenger ship to circumnavigate Antarctica—twice. Its 24,000-horsepower engine and advanced technology help take passengers places no other ship can, allowing it to crush through more than six feet of ice.
The Kapitan Khlebnikov is one the few vessels offering aerial sightseeing flights and landings by helicopter—an essential feature of icebreaker operations offering a unique perspective of the Antarctic.
Dates & Rates
Four exclusive 14-day departures in 2018
- October 6 to 19
- October 18 to 31
- October 30 to November 12
- November 11 to 24
Cost: From USD$19,995
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PLEASE NOTE NEW AGENCY CONTACT DETAILS
Quark Expeditions® Press Office: +44 20 3755 6599
Please reach out to Constanze Bauer (constanze.bauer@ketchum.com) or Dani Shingler (danielle.shingler@ketchum.com)
About Quark Expeditions®:
Specializing in expeditions to Antarctic and the Arctic, Quark Expeditions® has been the leading provider of polar adventure travel for over 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, including its partnership with The Nature Conservancy (USA).
About Travelopia:
Travelopia offers premium, experience-based adventure holidays and expeditions worldwide for active travelers. In addition to QuarkExpeditions.com, the division includes expedition specialists IEtravel.com and Zegrahm.com; leading European adventure and activity specialists ExodusTravels.com, Headwater.com, World-Challenge.co.uk, Sawadeee.nl, TrekAmerica.co.uk and GrandAmericanAdventures.com; as well as US-based destination management company 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, Travelopia offers inspirational experiences that create lifelong memories.