Quark Expeditions

A Polar-Only Expedition Operator

Quark Expeditions runs its own small-ship expedition voyages, and only to the polar regions. Its company information page says it "specializes exclusively in small-ship expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic," was founded in 1991, is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and is a subsidiary of Travelopia, a UK-based travel group. The About page puts it plainly: "we only go to the polar regions."

The destination menu splits into two halves. In the south: the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, Snow Hill Island and Patagonia, with the site giving the Antarctic travel season as November to March. In the north: Svalbard (Spitsbergen), Greenland, Iceland and the Canadian High Arctic, with a season of May to September. The site notes that Patagonia trips are standalone programs in the Chilean fjords and do not cross the Drake Passage, and that Iceland was added to the Arctic portfolio in October 2024.

Regions, Ships and What Each Voyage Offers

The company page describes each region in a line or two. The Antarctic Peninsula is "the primary destination for classic Antarctic itineraries," with "huge icebergs, penguin rookeries, and daily Zodiac landings (weather permitting)." South Georgia anchors the wildlife itineraries, and the page cites 150,000 breeding king penguins there. Snow Hill Island trips focus on reaching emperor penguin colonies in the Weddell Sea by ship-based helicopter. In the Arctic, Svalbard trips look for polar bears and walk historical whaling sites, Greenland voyages run from Disko Bay in the west to the fjords of East Greenland with Inuit community visits, and the Canadian High Arctic covers the Northwest Passage, with muskoxen, walrus and narwhal on the wildlife list.

The 2026 fleet table lists three ships. Ultramarine carries 199 passengers with 140 staff and crew, has 102 suites and two twin-engine helicopters, and sails in both the Antarctic and the Arctic. Ocean Explorer, described as the smallest ship "with just 138 guests," has 105 staff and crew and 72 suites. World Voyager carries 172 passengers and 125 staff and crew, with 86 suites that all face outward, and is listed for the Antarctic. Each ship has a medical clinic the page says provides 24-hour care, a gym and a lecture room with seats for every guest.

Life on Board and Off the Ship

The company page separates included activities from paid add-ons. Included in the fare: hiking and walking on shore landings "led by our expedition team," Zodiac cruising, a polar plunge "offered on every ship and every voyage," photography tips from an on-board photographer, daily lectures on wildlife, glaciology and polar history, and, on select Ultramarine voyages, helicopter flightseeing and a walk on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Paid add-ons include a sea kayaking program, one-off paddling excursions, Antarctic camping on the ice, heli-landings, stand-up paddleboarding, mountain biking in Greenland, a Greenland camp night and the Tundra to Table culinary experience.

The site says all outdoor activities depend on weather and ice, participation is voluntary, and add-ons have limited places that often sell out months ahead. If weather or ice cancels a paid add-on, the page says "a full refund or credit will be provided." It also warns that "A trip here isn't for those who like a fixed itinerary."

The expedition team page gives a 1:6 expedition team member-to-guest ratio, which the company calls the highest in the industry. It describes guides with backgrounds in marine biology, history, glaciology and geology, and says some team members have more than 200 expeditions over a 20-plus-year career. The site says guides train through Quark Academy, its in-house program built around the rules of AECO and IAATO, the Arctic and Antarctic operator associations.

Booking and Terms

The site banner states that "25% down will reserve your expedition," and that American Express is accepted for payments made in US dollars. The navigation links Dates & Rates, an Early Booking Bonus, Solo Travel Deals, Cabin Upgrades, Travel Protection Plans, Packing Lists, a Know Before You Go FAQ and Manage My Booking. Arctic 2028 and Antarctic 2028/2029 seasons are open for booking, according to the homepage. Polar Travel Advisors can recommend an itinerary, travel agents have a partner portal, and whole ships can be chartered.

Flights and hotels come as optional packages that vary by trip. Examples on the About page include a pre-expedition hotel night in Buenos Aires with group flights to Ushuaia, and on the Northwest Passage a Reykjavik hotel night, a charter flight to Nuuk and a post-expedition airport hotel night in Calgary, packaged at $1,995 USD. The page notes that guests booked in a suite on board are placed in standard hotel rooms because of limited availability.

What the Site Leaves Open and Who It Suits

Fares are listed on the About page. Each voyage there carries a "Starting from (per person)" price in USD next to a higher figure: $12,236 USD for the 11-day Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent, $17,591 USD for the 8-day Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake, $10,403 USD for the 12-day Iceland Circumnavigation, $21,541 USD for the 17-day Northwest Passage: The Legendary Arctic Sea Route and $29,031 USD for the 14-day Emperor Penguin Quest to Snow Hill. Charter flight and hotel packages are priced separately, for example $1,295 USD for the Buenos Aires hotel night and the group flights to and from Ushuaia. What the site does not set out on these pages is the cancellation schedule after the 25% deposit, or a minimum age or fitness requirement for the activities.

The company page lists third-party ratings as of January 2026: Trustpilot 4.9/5 from 293 reviews, Tripadvisor 4.7/5 from 486 reviews and Google 4.8/5 from 528 reviews. Its timeline runs from taking the first group of travelers to the North Pole aboard the icebreaker Sovetskiy Soyuz in August 1991 to a Virtuoso Travel Award in August 2024.

Quark suits travelers who want Antarctica or the high Arctic on a ship of under 200 passengers, with a large expedition team and plenty of time off the ship. Helicopter access on Ultramarine and the long list of add-on activities set it apart for active guests. It does not suit anyone who needs a fixed day-by-day plan, a destination outside the polar regions or a budget trip.