Forget ordinary sightseeing.
Touch down by helicopter on the vast Greenland Ice Sheet. Paddle a kayak through Antarctica’s icy bays. Mountain bike the rugged terrain of South Greenland. Cruise by Zodiac alongside towering glaciers and vast penguin colonies in South Georgia. Heli-trek across the snowfields of the Antarctic Peninsula.
These are the kinds of experiences Quark Expeditions has been pioneering since 1991, when it became the first company to bring travellers to the North Pole. Thirty-five years later, the award-winning polar operator continues to expand how travellers experience the Arctic and Antarctica.
Chinstrap Penguins. Photo credit: Michele Sole
That spirit of innovation is front and centre in Quark Expeditions’ Arctic 2028 and Antarctica 2028/29 seasons, the earliest launch in the company’s 35-year history. With more than 70 departures across both polar regions, the new season introduces a Guided Photography Program, Quark’s first-ever Expedition Extensions, a new Canadian Arctic voyage through the Northwest Passage, and the expansion of its Tundra to Table Indigenous culinary program.
“What makes the polar regions so powerful is that no two experiences are ever the same,” said Sam Seward, President of Quark Expeditions. “This season gives travellers even more opportunities to engage with these destinations through exploration, learning, wildlife encounters, and cultural experiences, while staying true to the spirit of adventure that has defined Quark Expeditions for more than 35 years.”
More Ways to Explore
Quark Expeditions continues to expand the polar experience beyond the voyage itself with its first-ever Expedition Extensions. These optional journeys (three to five days) showcase the remarkable destinations that bookend a polar expedition, enabling guests to explore iconic landscapes and cultures—from Patagonia’s Torres del Paine and Iguazu Falls to Finnish wellness escapes and Iceland’s volcanic wonders.
Quark Expeditions’ new Guided Photography Program has been designed to help guests capture stronger images in one of the world’s most challenging photographic environments. Available on select Antarctic 2028/29 and Arctic 2028 departures, the small-group experience combines expert coaching, premium Zodiac access, extended shooting time and daily image reviews.
Zodiac Cruise, Paradise Harbour. Photo credit: Acacia Johnson
The Best of Both Poles
The Antarctica 2028/29 season features five remarkable regions: the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, Patagonia and the rarely visited Emperor Penguin colony at Snow Hill Island. Beyond the reach of traditional expedition ships, Snow Hill Island is accessible only by helicopter from Ultramarine, revealing one of Antarctica’s most exclusive wildlife experiences.
Arctic 2028 spans five regions—Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, the Canadian Arctic and Atlantic Canada—where dramatic landscapes, abundant wildlife and diverse cultures shape every journey. New this season is the 20-day Canadian Arctic: Wildlife, Helicopters, and the Northwest Passage itinerary, Quark’s most immersive Northwest Passage voyage yet. Continuing the company’s tradition of reaching remote destinations, the voyage includes Arctic Bay and Lancaster Sound.
Four Arctic 2028 voyages aboard Ultramarine will feature Tundra to Table, a one-of-a-kind Indigenous culinary experience that introduces guests to northern food traditions and storytelling. Co-developed with Quark Expeditions’ longstanding partners at Igapall, the program highlights regional ingredients, local perspectives and the cultural traditions of the North.
Quark Expeditions’ latest season launch reflects a changing definition of expedition travel. Increasingly, travellers are looking beyond the voyage itself for experiences that are more immersive, more personal, and more connected to the places they visit. In the polar regions, the journey is no longer just about where you go—it’s about how you experience it, what you learn, and how deeply you engage with the destination.
About Quark Expeditions:
Quark Expeditions has been dedicated exclusively to the polar regions since 1991. Combining deep expertise with a passion for exploration, Quark helps travellers experience the Arctic and Antarctica through one of the industry’s most experienced expedition teams and innovative opportunities to explore by ship, helicopter, Zodiac, mountain bike, kayak and on foot. By helping guests spend more time off ship and closer to the destination, Quark delivers immersive wildlife, cultural, educational, and adventure experiences in some of the world’s most remote and extraordinary places. For more information, please visit QuarkExpeditions.com.
Featured Image: Photo Credit David Merron
