Quark Expeditions
Quark Expeditions
Quark Expeditions
About
We have always been pioneers in commercial polar expeditions. Our founders, Lars Wikander and Mike McDowell, led the very first group of commercial travelers to the North Pole in 1991. Journey through some of our most iconic milestones in the timeline below.
Discover a few of our historic highlights in the timeline below
1991: Quark Expeditions ushers in a new era by taking the first commercial passengers to the North Pole—an achievement unmatched by any other expedition company.
1992: Quark Expeditions sets sail from Cape Town on its inaugural passenger voyage to the Far Side of Antarctica, the continent’s most remote coastal frontier.
1993: For the first time ever, Quark Expeditions’ guests retrace the legendary voyage of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance.
1996: Quark Expeditions embarks on the first-ever commercial circumnavigation of Antarctica, a groundbreaking journey around the icy continent.
2003: Quark Expeditions passengers become the first humans to witness a Total Solar Eclipse in Antarctica.
2004: Quark Expeditions becomes the first operator to confirm the existence and location of the Snow Hill Emperor colony.
2006: Quark Expeditions breaks Roald Amundsen’s record set nearly 100 years ago, attaining the most southerly latitude of any vessel.
2012: Quark Expeditions becomes the first tour operator to successfully offer passenger hot-air ballooning at the North Pole.
2013: Quark Expeditions is named World’s Leading Polar Expedition Operator at the World Travel Awards in Lisbon.
2018: Quark Expeditions is again named World’s Leading Polar Expedition Operator at the World Travel Awards.
2019: Quark Expeditions unveils Polar Promise, the most holistic sustainability policy in the polar expedition industry.
2020: Quark Expeditions was honored as the World’s Leading Specialist Cruise Line at the prestigious World Travel Awards, a testament to its unparalleled expertise in expedition cruising.
2021: Quark Expeditions proudly took official ownership of Ultramarine following successful sea trials in Croatia, marking a monumental milestone in the realm of polar exploration.
Ships (4)
Plan Your Cruise
Speak with our cruise specialists for personalized advice.
(+886) 02-2721-7300Contact an AdvisorUpcoming Voyages (186)
Plan Your Cruise
Speak with our cruise specialists for personalized advice.
(+886) 02-2721-7300Contact an Advisor
