Quark Expeditions Focus on Journeys to the Top…

Quark Expeditions Focus on Journeys to the Top of the World

In 1991, two seasoned adventurers set out to reach the one place on the planet they had never sailed to. Chartering a powerful icebreaker, they led a group of like-minded travelers on an unprecedented journey to the North Pole. Their remarkable experience at the top of the world inspired Lars Wikander and his business partner, Mike McDowell, to create a new kind of travel company specializing in polar voyages.

From its launch that same year, Quark Expeditions combined the sprit of adventure with a deep sense of environmental responsibility and a strong desire to educate others about the wonders at the ends of the Earth. Today, under the leadership of Wikander and CEO Patrick Shaw, Quark Expeditions takes more intrepid travelers to the Polar Regions than any other company, making the Arctic and Antarctic accessible to those who previously could only dream of setting foot there.

Solely focused on polar travel, Quark Expeditions operates the largest fleet of passenger vessels in these remote regions. Three former scientific research vessels offer flexible access to shores that larger cruise ships cannot reach. In addition, two ice-strengthened expedition ships combine small-group access with the amenities of larger vessels, providing the perfect balance of adventure and comfort.

A unique part of the Quark experience is the Expedition Team, a group of highly experienced specialists in everything from exploration history to bird and marine life. Members of team provide the interpretive context and hands-on leadership that ensures the richest possible travel experience. Whether sighting whales from Zodiacs, walking remote coasts where few may have ventured before, or watching from a helicopter as the icebreaker plows through frozen seas, Quark travelers are accompanied by seasoned professionals who are happy to share their passion for these remote and breathtakingly beautiful corners of the globe.

From the snow-covered tundra of Wrangel Island in Russia’s northeast to the massive Antarctic glaciers spilling into the Ross Sea, each day promises spectacular new vistas and unexpected wildlife encounters. And if the itinerary must be reshaped en route to meet changing ice and weather conditions - as often happens - that too is part of the legacy and appeal of the distinctive polar adventures pioneered by Quark Expeditions.

Quark Expeditions operates two purpose-built icebreakers that are renowned in polar navigation. With their double-thickness armored hulls and advanced icebreaking and propulsion systems, the 108-passenger Kapitan Khlebnikov and the 100-passenger Yamal are among a select group of vessels that have the power and strength to maneuver through packed ice. Three smaller ships, the Professor Multanovskiy, the Professor Molchanov and the Akademik Shokalskiy were built for polar and oceanographic research.

Carrying up to 48 travelers each in comfortable outside cabins, these ice-strengthened vessels easily navigate scenic areas that larger ships cannot reach. The 110-passenger Lyubov Orlova is an ice-strengthened expedition ship, recently refurbished to provide an ideal balance of adventure ashore and comfort on board. These ships house Russian and Danish officers with decades of experience navigating polar waters and sailing under challenging conditions, from the rough seas of Antarctica’s Drake Passage to the ice covered Arctic Ocean.

All ships in the Quark Expeditions fleet use Zodiac inflatable craft, famously quick, nimble and safe to make regular small-group landings on isolated shores as often as conditions allow. Zodiacs are also used for excursions along the coasts to view wildlife or natural phenomena from the closest vantage point. The Quark icebreakers also carry reconnaissance helicopters that are available for spectacular aerial tours above the polar expanses and to whisk travelers to otherwise inaccessible sites for exploratory hikes.

On returning to the ship from their explorations ashore, travelers can count on a delicious meal, expertly prepared. In the evenings, travelers gather in the lounge to compare notes on wildlife sightings and other highlights of the day’s activities. On all ships, cabins are comfortable and well appointed, with ample room to relax and read up on the journey ahead, and each has a magnificent view from every window.

The Arctic voyages presented by Quark Expeditions showcase the northern regions at their best; endless expanses of ice-covered ocean, landscapes of jagged mountains and immense glaciers, windswept tundra covered in snow or dotted with surprising wildflowers, polar bears and seals feeding among the ice floes, arctic seabirds diving from high, craggy cliffs. The way of life in these remote native communities stretch back across several centuries; and the groan of heaving ice beneath the bow as Quark’s giant icebreaker pushes a ribbon of dark water across a frozen sea.

For more information, visit www.quarkexpeditions.com