Quark Expeditions has launched its earliest season in 35 years, with more than 70 departures across Arctic 2028 and Antarctic 2028/29, headlined by a first-ever Guided Photography Program, brand-new Expedition Extensions, an expanded Indigenous culinary program, and a new Northwest Passage voyage. Here’s what your clients need to know before they book.
Quark Expeditions has been getting travellers further into the polar regions than almost anyone else since 1991, when it became the first operator to carry guests to the North Pole.
Thirty-five years on, that restless streak of firsts is what’s driving its newest season.
The Quark Expeditions Arctic 2028 and Antarctic 2028/29 seasons opened for booking in June, the earliest launch in the company’s history.
More than 70 departures span both poles, and four new experiences headline the release: a Guided Photography Program, the operator’s first-ever Expedition Extensions, a new Canadian Arctic voyage through the Northwest Passage, and an expanded Tundra to Table Indigenous culinary program.
“What makes the polar regions so powerful is that no two experiences are ever the same,” said Sam Seward, President of Quark Expeditions.
“This season gives travellers even more opportunities to engage with these destinations through exploration, learning, wildlife encounters, and cultural experiences, while staying true to the spirit of adventure that has defined Quark Expeditions for more than 35 years.”
The best of both poles
Antarctica 2028/29 covers five regions: the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, Patagonia, and the rarely visited Emperor Penguin colony at Snow Hill Island, reachable only by helicopter from Ultramarine.
Arctic 2028 spans Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, the Canadian Arctic and Atlantic Canada, five regions of dramatic landscapes, abundant wildlife and diverse cultures.
1. Expedition Extensions, a first for Quark Expeditions
Quark Expeditions has never packaged pre-or post-voyage add-ons, so this is a genuine first. The three- to five-day extensions bookend a polar expedition, with destinations on either side: Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park and Iguazú Falls, Finnish wellness experiences, and Iceland’s volcanic landscapes.
For clients who’ve already cleared the calendar and the budget for a polar trip, it’s an easy upsell, more of the same appetite for remote landscapes without the hassle of booking the bookends themselves.
2. A Guided Photography Program built for the world’s hardest light
Available on select Antarctic 2028/29 and Arctic 2028 departures, the new small-group program is capped at 16 guests and pairs them with a Lead Photo Guide for priority Zodiac positioning, slower-paced field time, daily workshops and image reviews.
It’s a strong pitch for clients travelling with serious camera gear, or anyone who’s ever come home from a polar voyage wishing they’d nailed the shot.
3. A new way into the Canadian Arctic: the Northwest Passage voyage
The new 20-day Canadian Arctic: Wildlife, Helicopters, and the Northwest Passage itinerary is Quark’s most immersive Northwest Passage voyage yet, taking in Arctic Bay and Lancaster Sound as part of the company’s ongoing push into remote destinations.
4. Tundra to Table, expanded
Four Arctic 2028 voyages aboard Ultramarine will feature Tundra to Table, Quark Expeditions’ Indigenous culinary program co-developed with longstanding partner Igapall, a Greenlandic chef collective. Guests get northern food traditions and storytelling alongside regional ingredients and local perspectives, the kind of cultural depth that’s hard to find outside the region.
Every voyage in the new season also carries weight beyond the deck chairs. Quark Expeditions is contributing close to 470 cruise nights to onboard science partners, including Seabird Watch, SmartICE, Penguin Watch, and Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds, citizen-science projects your clients can see in real time on their trip.
It’s part of a wider shift Quark Expeditions is leaning into. Travellers increasingly want more than the voyage itself: they want the experiences either side of it, the people who live there, and a reason to stay longer.
Ready to help your clients explore more?
Past Quark Expeditions guests had first access to the new season from 16 June, with general bookings opening 23 June and an Early Booking Bonus running while inventory lasts. For clients eyeing off 2028 for the Arctic, or the 2028/29 summer for Antarctica, now’s the window to get them booked before the strongest cabins and departures go.
Booking is faster than it used to be, too. Quark’s Quote & Hold booking tool lets advisors generate real-time quotes and secure cabin inventory straight from the Partner Portal, no waiting on head office.
Head to the Quark Expeditions Partner Portal for the full itinerary list, rates and marketing assets, or visit QuarkExpeditions.com for the consumer-facing details to share with clients.
This article is brought to you by Quark Expeditions.
