Quark Expeditions

Quark Expeditions stands apart as the field's most experienced polar explorer, a company built on a lineage of firsts, daring journeys and a relentless focus on safety, expertise and authentic encounter. Since founders Lars Wikander and Mike McDowell guided the first commercial travelers to the North Pole in 1991, Quark has led guests to the world's most remote frontiers—Antarctica's Far Side in 1992, a circumnavigation of Antarctica in 1996, a total solar eclipse in 2003, and the Snow Hill Emperor penguin colony in 2004—while continually innovating with new ship designs, Zodiacs and support systems. Today, Ultramarine and the rest of a diverse, ice-hardened fleet unlock places larger ships can't reach, from Arctic fjords to Antarctic ice shelves, and every itinerary is underpinned by Quark Academy's rigorous polar training, which compounds the thrill with safety and respect for wildlife and communities. Guests enjoy an unparalleled array of off-ship adventures and immersive experiences—kayaking, camping, heli-trekking, SUP boarding, hot-air ballooning and community visits with Greenlandic and Inuit partners—delivered by a world-class expedition team, enriched by regional experts who share deep marine biology, glaciology, history and culture. This is polar exploration with a purpose: a commitment to sustainable travel through Polar Promise, AECO/IAATO-aligned operations, and a portfolio of transformative itineraries that combine discovery, responsibility and unforgettable moments onboard and ashore.