Lars Wikander and Mike McDowell, the cofounders of Quark Expeditions, took the first group of commercial travellers 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. Quark have spent the last three decades taking travellers on polar expeditions to remote parts of the Arctic and Antarctic where no one else has set foot. Polar expeditions have evolved since Quark Expeditions’ 1991 journey aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker Sovetskiy Soyuz. Since then, Quark Expeditions have expanded their fleet considerably; 2019 saw the luxury vessel the World Explorer, and their first purpose-built polar vessel the Ultramarine embarked on its maiden voyage in 2021.
Quark’s Expedition Team is comprised of seasoned veterans with rich backgrounds in marine biology, history, glaciology, geology and more. With the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the industry, our Expedition Teams safely deliver your trip-of-a-lifetime to maximize your polar adventure every step of the way.
Quark Expeditions are the perfect choice for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers who want an immersive expedition experience with multiple polar landings
The dining room is a comfortable space where delicious meals are guaranteed. Guests can enjoy a quiet dinner with a loved one or join a larger table of new friends.
The Ultramarine offers an additional dining venue at the Bistro, where guests can enjoy an indoor/outdoor dining experience with impressive views of the polar landscape.
Various lounges offer views of the polar landscapes while guests engage in conversation, play board games, enjoy a tea or coffee, or indulge in an alcoholic beverage from the bar.
Ultramarine
World Explorer
Onboard wellness facilities include a spa, sauna, and fitness centre.
Onboard spas feature L’Occitane spa treatments including massages, facials, and hand and foot treatments.
The World Explorer also offers a large heated outdoor pool flanked by two hot tubs.
An overnight camping experience on the Antarctic Peninsula is one of the most exciting excursions on offer with Quark Expeditions.
State-of-the-art auditorium for presentations from the Expedition Team.
Quark Expeditions’ open bridge policy enables guests to observe how the Captain and officers sail and navigate the ship.
A small library is another facility on board the World Explorer.
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 the guests and for the protection of the polar regions visited.
Quark Expeditions is profoundly committed to environmentally responsible tourism. Protecting the places they visit is necessary to ensure that travellers can continue to be introduced to the spectacular beauty of the polar wilderness. Through a comprehensive sustainability strategy framework, Polar Promise, Quark have incorporated existing sustainability initiatives into a cohesive plan for the future, including: