- Polar travel company, Quark has launched its Arctic 2028 and Antarctic 2028/2029 seasons, the earliest season launch in the company’s 35-year history.
- The season introduces a Guided Photography Program, first-ever Expedition Extensions, a new Canadian Arctic voyage, and the return of Tundra to Table across more than 70 polar departures.
- Quark’s Antarctic 2028/2029 season explores five regions; the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, Patagonia and Snow Hill Island.
- Past guests received exclusive early access on 16 June 2026, before public bookings opened on 23 June 2026.
Thirty-five years after Quark Expeditions launched its maiden voyage to the Antarctic, the polar travel company is continuing to break new ground for adventure-seekers. The company has officially kicked off its Arctic 2028 and Antarctic 2028/2029 seasons, marking the earliest season launch in Quark’s illustrious history. However, it isn’t a case of business as usual.
According to Connor Ofield, head of branding and planning at Quark Expeditions, the upcoming season will be the company’s most expansive yet, introducing a raft of new opportunities for exploration. Among them are a Guided Photography Program, Quark’s first-ever Expedition Extensions, a new Canadian Arctic voyage through the Northwest Passage, and the return of Tundra to Table, a culinary experience developed and delivered in partnership with the Greenlandic chef collective Igapal.
”We strive to make our gateway cities not just a step towards getting to our ships, but giving guests an option to explore and immerse themselves in these truly stunning places,” Ofield told MADE Journal. ”Where we go is very remote, with guests travelling long distances to get there so we want to give them as many options to make the most of their travel.”
Quark Expeditions Arctic 2028 and Antarctic 2028/2029 Seasons
The Arctic 2028 and Antarctic 2028/2029 seasons mark a significant expansion for Quark Expeditions, with more than 70 departures spanning some of the world’s most remote and remarkable polar destinations. From the icy waterways of the Canadian Arctic to the wildlife-rich shores of Antarctica, the new seasons combine established itineraries with new experiences designed to take travellers deeper into the polar regions.
As Ofield explained, guest interest has grown dramatically in recent years, prompting the business to offer a longer window to book and arrange their travel logistics.
”People are constantly looking for a unique travel experience, particularly one off the beaten path,” Ofield said. ”There’s few places as remote as Antarctica. As travel as boomed the last decade or so, many people have a lot of travel experience and are looking to check off the seventh continent off their bucket list.”
Expedition Extensions
To accommodate the surge in interest, Quark has introduced a suite of new travel options, headlined by the company’s first-ever Expedition Extensions. Available before and after select voyages, the curated experiences are designed to showcase the landscapes, cultures, and communities that serve as gateways to the polar regions. Guests can participate in a guided exploration of Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, visit Iguazu Falls, enjoy wellness experiences in Finland, or journey through Iceland’s volcanic landscapes.
Crucially, research and conservation remain central to the approach. Expeditions feature a range of citizen science initiatives, with Ofield confirming local suppliers have been enlisted to ensure the commercial and ecological viability of each voyage.
”By working with local partners, who have been operating in these areas for decades it ensures the experience is authentic and supports that community,” he said.
Across both seasons, Quark will provide 470 cruise nights to research partners and scientists conducting fieldwork in the polar regions, supporting ongoing wildlife, conservation, and climate research initiatives. Confirmed partners include Seabird Watch, SmartICE, Penguin Watch, and Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds.
Guided Photography Program
Laying claim to some of the most incredible remote photographic landscapes in the world, both the Antarctic 2028/2029 and Arctic 2028 seasons will offer a revised Guided Photography Program. Developed with support from Quark’s experienced expedition team, each excursion is capped at 16 participants, led by a dedicated Lead Photo Guide and structured around four key elements:
- Priority Zodiac positioning for optimal field angles
- Slower-paced field time designed around shooting conditions
- Daily workshops and image reviews with the Lead Photo Guide
- A learn-shoot-share cadence throughout the expedition
Importantly, the photography sessions offer travellers the rare opportunity to snap images of the local wildlife. As part of Quark’s Antarctic 2028/2029 season, travellers will be able to visit the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, Patagonia, and the rarely visited Emperor Penguin colony at Snow Hill Island. Accessible by helicopter from Ultramarine and subject to ice conditions, Snow Hill Island remains one of the most exclusive wildlife experiences in Antarctica.
”What makes the polar regions so powerful is that no two experiences are ever the same,” Sam Seward, president of Quark Expeditions said. ”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.”
With interest in Arctic and Antarctic travel greater than ever before, it would appear more travellers are heeding Robert Frost’s sage advice and taking the road less travelled. As Quark continues to expand the ways guests can experience these remote frontiers, the appeal of going further off the beaten track is only likely to grow.
The upcoming Quark Expeditions seasons are available to book. Past guests received exclusive early access beginning on 16 June, with public bookings opening on 23 June. An Early Booking Bonus will be available for travellers who reserve while inventory lasts. For more information on Quark Expeditions’ Arctic 2028 and Antarctic 2028/2029 seasons, visit the polar travel company’s official website.
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Interested in reading more travel news, reviews and guides? MADE Journal has you covered. In addition to our hotel and experience features, we publish regular content focused on sustainable and mindful travel, encouraging tourists to lighten their footprint and work with local communities. Check out some of our other travel coverage:
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