Quark Expeditions

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 them at the forefront of polar exploration.

When you venture into the untouched wilds of the Arctic and Antarctic, you need a great team around you. And Quark have the greatest. You’ll join elite guides trained at Quark Academy—which surpasses every standard imaginable for safety and preparedness in the Polar Regions—and interact directly with world-class polar experts. Their philosophy? The team that explores together, discovers more together.

The Quark Expedition Team

Guests will travel with the most experienced team in the industry—some of whom have honed their polar expertise over more than 200 expeditions in their 20-plus-year career. The guest experience is enriched by paddle guides, photography guides, geologists, ornithologists and other experts who share their expertise as it relates to each specific polar destination.

Quark Take You Deeper

Quark Expeditions goes where others simply can’t. Or won’t. But their expert guides’ abilities to read unknown terrain means where there’s a will, there’s a way—and that way could be by kayak, Zodiac boat, helicopter, or even hot air balloon. In an environment so unpredictable, it pays to have a few backup plans. They don’t just expect the unexpected, they embrace it.

Small Ship Advantage

Quark’s small ships (128 to 199 passengers) will take you to places larger ships can’t navigate. Their fleet of smaller vessels can satisfy your inner explorer—that urge to explore deep fjords, hike across tundra where few humans have ever set foot, or kayak through an ice-laden waterway. Guests on large ships miss out on such authentic and immersive polar experiences! On ships like their newest polar vessel, the game-changing Ultramarine, you’ll be able to explore deeper on the two twin-engine helicopters and fleet of 20 quick-launching Zodiacs for off-ship experiences no one else can provide.