Quark Expeditions —

Since their first pioneering North Pole voyage in 1991, Quark has taken thousands of travelers on adventure tours to corners of the world that earlier generations could only dream of visiting. They have led the way in polar expeditions, making the Arctic and Antarctica accessible to travelers from 50 countries around the world.  The Arctic is still one of the last frontiers on earth, and offers up a rich collection of wildlife, including the polar bear, walrus, musk ox, arctic fox, and narwhal. Unlike Antarctica, the Arctic region is home to small communities of people who have developed some of the hardiest societies on the planet.

All of Quark’s voyages include great daily outdoor activities such as Zodiac cruises, hiking and snowshoeing on early season voyages. More athletic travelers can also choose from a range of optional adventure activities, with varying exertion levels, such as mountaineering and cross-country skiing.

Quark operates a diverse fleet of 8 small expedition-style ships (some more luxurious than others), carrying fewer than 200 passengers, and all equipped with Zodiacs (inflatable landing craft) for transfers from ship to shore.  The fleet includes 50 Years of Victory, the first Arktika-class icebreaker to have a spoon-shaped bow, capable of breaking through ice up to 2.5 meters (9.2 feet) thick. This is the world’s largest, most-powerful nuclear icebreaker, and even includes a helicopter for shore excursions.