2023 Canada's Remote Arctic

ARCTIC 2023

CANADA’S REMOTE ARCTIC

Northwest Passage to Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg Islands

DESIGNED TO

GO BEYOND

Contents

Overview Itinerary Arrival and Departure Details Your Ship Included Activities Adventure Options Dates and Rates Inclusions and Exclusions Your Expedition Team Meals on Board Possible Excursions Packing Checklist

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Overview

Canada’s Remote Arctic: Northwest Passage to Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg Islands

Here, at the top of the world, nature has created unique wonders in astonishing variety. On this exciting itinerary, we follow the natural guides of sea and ice to showcase the region’s cultural, historic and geographic treasures, aiming to approach the farthest stretches of this rugged, rarely visited landscape without a set itinerary. Our goals are Nunavut’s northernmost islands: Axel Heiberg, and Ellesmere. Our game-changing new expedition vessel Ultramarine’s unprecedented range of Adventure Options, including activities such as helicopter flightseeing, gives you an unrivaled polar experience. You’ll be able to view the magnificent wildlife that make their home in this forbidding region, including polar bears, whales, seals, walrus, caribou, and muskox. You’ll also learn about the rich Inuit culture that has long thrived here. From soaring cliffs to mummified forests, spectacular glacial formations to stunning alpine vistas, expansive waterways to sheltered shores, Canada’s Remote Arctic provides the definitive experience of a mysterious, magical region few ever get to see. Our newest ship, Ultramarine , equipped with two twin-engine helicopters and 20 quick-launching Zodiacs, enables you to explore this breathtaking environment from brand new perspectives. You’ll experience the same sense of wonder felt by early explorers as they navigated the region’s formidable bays, inlets and channels.

EXPEDITION IN BRIEF

Search for iconic Arctic wildlife, such as polar bears, walrus and muskoxen Learn about indigenous culture from Inuit guides onboard and ashore Enjoy unforgettable flightseeing aboard Ultramarine ’s two helicopters

Zodiac along the face of an active glacier

Channel your inner explorer as we set out to reach Canada’s most northerly islands: Axel Heiberg and Ellesmere Island

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

Itinerary

DAY 1 | ARRIVE IN CALGARY, CANADA

DAYS 3 – 10 | EXPLORING CANADA’S HIGH ARCTIC

Axel Heiberg Island

Ellesmere Island

Your Arctic expedition begins in Calgary. Explore this vibrant city on your own before you spend the night enjoying the comforts and amenities of your designated hotel. DAY 2 | FLY TO RESOLUTE & EMBARK This morning, board your charter flight to Resolute, Nunavut. Upon arrival, you may have a chance to check out this small hamlet on foot before being transferred to your ship via Zodiac or helicopter (depending on ship location and weather conditions).

Cruising around the remote islands of the Canadian High Arctic aboard Ultramarine , the newest ship in our fleet, you’ll navigate the same icy inlets, channels and bays that fascinated legendary explorers of long ago. Designed to give polar adventurers unprecedented access to the hardest- to-reach places on the planet—and equipped with two onboard twin- engine helicopters for unparalleled access to areas only Quark Expeditions can bring you—this one-of-a-kind ship will take you beyond the familiar in polar exploration. Throughout your journey,

Hell Gate

Grise Fjord

Coburg Island

Devon Island

Resolute

Croker Bay

Beechey Island

Ban Bay

Arctic Bay

Ba n Island

TO/FROM CALGARY

NUNAVUT (Canada)

Approximate limit of exploration area

CANADA’S REMOTE ARCTIC Nunavut featuring Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg Islands

Onboard the Ultramarine Flights between Calgary and Resolute

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

your Expedition Team will keep an eye toward immersing you in the best the Arctic has to offer, including reaching Canada’s most northerly islands: Axel Heiberg Island and the rarely visited Ellesmere Island, at the top of the world. Remember that no two polar voyages are alike, since each expedition presents new opportunities and different weather and ice conditions. While this voyage has no fixed itinerary, our objective is to visit as many of the incredible highlights the season has to offer, using our extensive expertise to give you the best experience. Each day, your highly skilled Expedition Team will read the conditions and choose the best course to set, but despite their knowledge of these areas, each visit brings something new to discover. That said, our expeditions will have some elements in common, including daily Zodiac cruising, land excursions, a robust education program, a community visit

and wildlife viewing opportunities. And thanks to our onboard helicopters, you’ll also discover the ultimate polar expedition experience: While polar landscapes are spectacular from the sea and on land, the view from the air is uniquely stunning. Conditions permitting, you’ll enjoy an ultra–immersive activity like flightseeing (short sightseeing flights around your ship and surrounding areas), a breathtaking option that is unique to Ultramarine and gives you an awe–inspiring polar experience like no other. While this waterway is known to European cultures as the Northwest Passage, this area has nurtured and sustained the Inuit and their predecessors who have called these shores home for almost 5,000 years. Moving through these remote landscapes you will be traveling through the ancestral homelands of this ancient culture, illuminated in person by Inuit guides onboard and ashore.

Nunavut is an Inuktitut word meaning “our land” and the Nunavummiut (the people of Nunavut) are renowned for their incredible resourcefulness, hospitality, good humor, and a deep knowledge of the land and animals that has allowed them to thrive in the far north for millennia. Ultimately, your Expedition Team will keep its eye northward, hoping to follow in the footsteps of the lucky few polar adventurers who have transited through the famous Hell Gate to reach the top of the world, the spectacular Ellesmere Island. If conditions are right, the soaring, ominous snow-capped peaks of this polar desert will come into focus as we approach. The northernmost island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Ellesmere is one of the most remote places on the planet, a land of deep fjords, jagged mountains and massive ice shelves. If we’re fortunate enough to

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

reach here, you will be among the few polar explorers to do so. One of this expedition’s objectives, weather and ice conditions allowing, is to visit the famous fossil forest on Axel Heiberg Island, Canada’s second most northerly island. Dating back more than 30 million years, the large mummified stumps were discovered in 1985 after erosion swept them clean. The original forest that was here flourished, with some trees reaching as high as 115 feet (35 meters) and growing for 500 to 1,000 years. Birders will want to have their binoculars and cameras at the ready, as the island also affords opportunities for sightings of snow buntings, ptarmigans, jaegers and arctic terns, among others. Wildlife sightings are almost guaranteed, as many of the areas we hope to explore are home to a surprising number of

birds and mammals that thrive in this challenging environment. You may see polar bears, muskoxen and several bird species, such as gyrfalcons and dovekies (little auks). If you’re lucky, you may even spot the elusive narwhal or arctic wolf, though sightings of these iconic creatures in the wild are rare, even in these areas where we have the highest chances of encountering them. Coburg Island, for instance, is a wildlife reserve for such birds as snowy owls and peregrine falcons, while the impressive vertical cliffs of Prince Leopold Island are dotted with nesting seabirds like northern fulmars and black guillemots. The sheltered shores and steep cliffs of Arctic Bay, a hamlet located off of Admiralty Inlet, provide an ideal nesting habitat for various High Arctic birds such as snow geese, thick-billed murres (Brünnich’s guillemots) and kittiwakes. The region has been occupied by Inuit

and Thule cultures for almost 5,000 years. This community is an ideal spot to go ashore and learn more about the Inuit culture, sampling the local cuisine and mingling with artists, perhaps picking up carvings or other handicrafts as a memento of your polar adventure. Devon Island is another possible locale for wildlife encounters, as walrus, polar bears and muskoxen inhabit the area, which is also the location of the remains of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police outpost, established at Dundas Harbour in 1924 to curb foreign whaling and other activities. Nearby is a small cemetery, one of Canada’s most northerly, still maintained by the RCMP to this day. Another exciting excursion your Expedition Team might offer, conditions permitting, is the opportunity to fly up to explore the Devon ice cap, one of the largest in the Canadian Arctic. History buffs will also be intrigued by the

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

chance to visit an abandoned Hudson’s Bay Company trading post at Fort Ross, at the southern end of Somerset Island, and pay their respects to the ill-fated Franklin expedition of 1845–46 at the gravesite of three crew members on Beechey Island, one of Canada’s most significant Arctic exploration sites. You may have the opportunity to cruise in a Zodiac along the face of an active glacier near Croker Bay and possibly even witness the wonders of calving ice, at a safe distance. Listen closely for the steady crackle and deep roars as slabs of ice break off and crash into the water below. You’ll also want to be on the lookout for the walrus that are often seen in the area. There is no shortage of natural beauty, wildlife and history in Canada’s High Arctic. Each day, you’ll discover

something new and inspiring, whether it is admiration of the tundra flora to survive the extremely rugged environment, a rare bird species soaring overhead, a polar bear on the hunt in its natural habitat, or the ancient remains of a Thule dwelling, predecessors of the Inuit who live here today. DAY 11 | DISEMBARK IN RESOLUTE, CANADA & FLY TO CALGARY, CANADA After disembarking in Resolute, you’ll be transferred to your charter flight to Calgary, where you’ll spend the night at your included hotel. DAY 12 | DEPART CALGARY Today, make your way to the airport to catch your homeward flights, or spend the day exploring this fascinating city.

EXPEDITION SPIRIT Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement— of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your Expedition Team must consider the sea, ice and weather to guide the route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you may experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed. By the same token, wildlife encounters as described are expected, but not guaranteed. Your Expedition Team will use their considerable experience to seek out wildlife in known habitats, but the presence of any particular species of bird or marine wildlife is not guaranteed.

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

Arrival and Departure Details

Arrival Day and Embarkation ARRIVING IN CALGARY You may arrive in Calgary at any time during Day 1 of the itinerary and make your own way to the included hotel, near the airport. On arrival at the hotel, you will receive a welcome letter outlining the departure information for the following day’s flight. An agent representing Quark Expeditions® will be available in the lobby of the hotel this evening to answer any questions about the charter flight(s) scheduled for the following morning. EMBARKATION IN RESOLUTE Your flight to the Arctic is expected to depart from Calgary to Resolute on Day 2 of the itinerary in the morning. The scheduled flight time will be communicated in your welcome letter, and you will be transferred from your hotel to check in at the airport. Upon arrival in Resolute, you will be transferred to the ship by Zodiac.

PLEASE NOTE There is a strict luggage limit of 44 lbs (20 kg) checked luggage and 11 lbs (5 kg) cabin baggage on the flights between Calgary and Resolute. Should you have additional luggage, it can be stored at the hotel in Calgary. There is NO option to pay for additional luggage.

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

Final Day and Departure

Included Hotel Accommodations

Arrival and Departure Transfers CALGARY AIRPORT TRANSFERS Arrival and departure transfers in Calgary are not included; however, if you like, your Polar Travel Adviser can arrange them for you. In order to facilitate your transfers, we request that you provide your flight details to Quark Expeditions® at least 30 days prior to traveling.

Your included accommodation begins on Day 1 of your itinerary, and the specific hotel(s) will be indicated in your final voyage confirmation. If you are arriving prior to Day 1 of your expedition or are staying after the disembarkation day and would like help booking a pre- or post- stay, please contact your Polar Travel Adviser or travel professional for hotel options. As accommodation space is limited, you are encouraged to request any extra nights as early as possible.

DISEMBARKATION IN RESOLUTE Your ship is scheduled to arrive in Resolute between 7am and 8am local time. After breakfast, and once the ship has anchored, you will have time to bid farewell to your Expedition Team and shipmates before taking one last Zodiac ride to shore. After disembarkation, you will be transferred to the airport for the return charter flight to Calgary. DEPARTING FROM CALGARY Upon arrival in Calgary, there will be a group transfer to your included post- expedition hotel. After breakfast the following morning, you may make your way to the airport to connect with your homeward flight, or stay longer if you have booked additional accommodation.

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

Your Ship: Ultramarine

NEW! ULTRAMARINE

The newest ship in our fleet, Ultramarine is designed to go beyond the familiar in polar exploration, to discover new places, and to immerse you in the best the region has to offer. Equipped with two twin-engine helicopters, Ultramarine offers the most robust portfolio of adventure activities in the industry, and features the category’s most spacious suites, breathtaking public spaces, and more outdoor wildlife viewing spaces than other expedition ships its size, complemented by an innovative mix of sustainability features that exceed all industry standards. With all this and more, Ultramarine is perfectly positioned to deliver the ultimate polar expedition experience. SHIP SPECIFICATIONS: Staff & Crew: 140 Guests: 199 Lifeboats: 4, fully enclosed Ice Class: PC6 Visit QuarkExpeditions.com to view deck plan details.

All images are artist's renderings.

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

Deluxe Balcony Suite

Sauna

Panorama Lounge

Fitness Center

Balena Restaurant

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

Included Activities

Ready for a little adventure beyond your ship? Each Quark Expeditions® voyage offers a variety of recreational activities to enhance your polar experience. FLIGHTSEEING While polar landscapes are spectacular from the sea, they’re even more stunning from the air, a view you can enjoy while seated in one of the two twin-engine helicopters stationed on Ultramarine . Typically in groups of fewer than 10, you will experience an unforgettable aerial tour of the Arctic during a 10- to 15-minute flightseeing excursion that’s included in the cost of the voyage. Additional helicopter activities may also be available for purchase on board. Please note: all helicopter operations are weather- and logistics-dependent.

ZODIAC CRUISING Zodiacs are the workhorses of polar expeditions, taking you to places the ships can’t access, allowing you to reach remote shorelines, explore shallow inlets and search for unique wildlife. Expedition staff make stepping in and out of them safe and comfortable, and your Zodiac drivers will provide active interpretation, making the landscape come even more alive.

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

HIKING Led by experienced staff, exploring on foot is one of the best ways to appreciate the polar landscapes. Our guides are able to accommodate a range of skill levels to suit every guest. PRESENTATIONS Enjoy daily chats with and presentations by our world-class onboard polar experts—expedition guides, specialists, photography guides and other special guests who will introduce you to the fascinating history, biology, ornithology, glaciology and geology of the region, and much, much more. POLAR PLUNGE This rite of passage, scheduled only once per expedition, gives you the chance to jump safely into the bracing Arctic waters under the watchful eye of our staff—and just about every single camera on board! PHOTOGRAPHY Documenting your voyage so you can take the memories home is a rewarding experience. Our photography guides will help you hone your skills to capture the beauty of the polar regions. Contact your Polar Travel Adviser or your Travel Professional for more information about your Included Activities and Adventure Options, including the necessary experience, physical requirements and cost.

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

Adventure Options

SEA KAYAKING Imagine gliding across the surface of a bay in the presence of icebergs and glaciers. Our Sea Kayaking program is a great way to intimately explore your surroundings. A small group of kayakers will plan to go out multiple times per voyage as an alternative to shore landings or Zodiac cruises. The number of opportunities to kayak is weather dependent, and will be conducted only during calm conditions. Prior kayaking experience is required, and you must be able to do a wet exit to participate. Beginners interested in kayaking should consider participating in the Paddling Excursion. TUNDRA TO TABLE: INUIT CULINARY EXPERIENCE This one-of-a-kind adventure into the culinary traditions of the Inuit in Greenland and Nunavut is hosted by Inuit chefs who are experts in Indigenous cuisine. Guests get to enjoy four courses of modern Inuit fusion-style cuisine while chefs talk about the origins of the food and elements of Inuit cooking. The dinner, featuring regional tableware, includes cultural storytelling.

PLEASE NOTE For all paid activities pre-booking is required. We recommend booking early as spaces fill quickly. Please see your pre-departure book for a list of provided gear for each Adventure Option.

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

Departure Dates Canada’s Remote Arctic: Northwest Passage to Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg Islands

Adventure Options

Transfer Package

Days

Start / End

Dates

ARCTIC 2023 AUG 19 – 30, 2023

Calgary

Included

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

Inclusions and Exclusions

Inclusions RATES INCLUDE: • Leadership throughout your voyage by our experienced Expedition Leaders, including shore landings and other activities • All Zodiac transfers and cruising as per the daily program • All shore landings as per the daily program • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping • All meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board throughout your voyage (Please inform us of any dietary requirements as far in advance as possible. Unfortunately, the ships’ galleys cannot prepare kosher meals.) • Select beer and wine during dinner; and coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock

Exclusions RATES SPECIFICALLY DO NOT INCLUDE: • Mandatory Transfer Package * • International airfare • Arrival and departure transfers in Calgary • Passport and visa expenses • Canadian eTA required for non-Canadian or U.S. visa-exempt passengers • Government arrival and departure taxes not mentioned above • Meals ashore unless otherwise specified • Baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical travel insurance—strongly recommended • Excess-baggage fees on international and domestic flights • Mandatory waterproof pants for Zodiac cruising, or any other gear not mentioned • Laundry, bar and other personal charges unless specified • Phone and Internet charges (connectivity may vary by location) • Voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and crew • Additional overnight accommodation • Adventure Options not listed in Included Activities

• Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled • A photographic journal documenting the expedition • A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for landings and Zodiac cruising excursions • An official Quark Expeditions® parka to keep • Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program • All luggage handling aboard the ship • Emergency Evacuation insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD $500,000 per person

*MANDATORY TRANSFER PACKAGE INCLUDES: • One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Calgary • Group transfer from the Calgary hotel to the airport on Day 2 • Charter flights between Calgary and Resolute • Group transfers between the Resolute airport and the ship • Group transfer from Calgary airport to hotel on disembarkation day • One night’s post-expedition hotel accommodation in Calgary

PACKAGE PRICE: $1,995 USD

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

Your Expedition Team

Our Expedition Leaders and their teams bring diverse expertise in subjects as varied as polar history, marine biology, glaciology, ornithology and photography. Their knowledge and enthusiasm will greatly enhance your immersion into the polar environment and further deepen your connection to the Arctic. With over 30 years of experience bringing passengers to remote polar regions and an industry-leading staff-to-guest ratio, we know how to safely handle the unexpected. Ensuring this hard- earned experience is passed on, all our expedition staff receive comprehensive training in Quark Academy, which provides hands-on polar expedition training prior to any staff member’s first voyage as well as ongoing training for experienced staff.

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

Meals on Board

If there is one constant on board, it is that you’ll enjoy delicious meals daily. While meal times may change due to landings and wildlife encounters, you’ll always be served three well-prepared meals per day. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated by letting us know prior to your expedition. Breakfasts and lunches are normally served buffet style, while dinners are served plated. À la carte meals are made at the time of your order, allowing our chefs to prepare each dish to your individual needs, ensuring you receive top-quality meals during the course of your expedition. Soft drinks and juices are available during meals and when the bar is open; beer and wine are served with dinner; and coffee, tea and water stations are available around the clock – all included in the cost of your package. Spirits, premium wines and champagne are available at extra cost which can be billed to your shipboard account. The well-stocked bars on the ship are open to enjoy with your fellow shipmates in late morning, afternoon and evening.

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

Possible Excursions

When traveling in extremely remote regions, your Expedition Team must consider the sea, ice and weather to guide the route and itinerary details. The following sites are a sample of what you may experience on your expedition, whether by ship, Zodiac cruise, or shore landing. Canada ADMIRALTY INLET Situated on Baffin Island’s most northerly shore is Admiralty Inlet, whose steep coastline soars 1,500 feet (460 meters) above sea level. Just off the inlet’s northeastern shore lies Arctic Bay, an Inuit community we partner with to coordinate authentic experiences that highlight the best this area has to offer. Narwhals and polar bears are known to frequent the fjord. ARCTIC BAY This picturesque and remote community maintains strong ties to the land and sea, as its Inuit inhabitants have lived as

nomadic hunters in this region for almost 5,000 years. The protective high hills and sheltered shores of this hamlet make for an ideal nesting habitat for various Arctic birds, including thick-billed murres, kittiwakes, ivory gulls and Ross’s gulls. Seals, narwhals and bowhead whales make their home in these waters. AXEL HEIBERG ISLAND Most famous for its mummified forest dating back over 30 million years, the island is home to several bird species, including arctic terns, geese, jaegers, snow buntings and ptarmigans. It’s named after Axel Heiberg, the sponsor of the 1897–1902 Norwegian expedition led by Otto Sverdrup to explore and name unchartered areas of the Arctic. Today, the island is the location of one of the longest-operating seasonal field research facilities (est. 1960) in the High Arctic. If we’re able to make landing here, we will take precautions to preserve this important geological site.

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

BEECHEY ISLAND Named after Frederick William Beechey, an explorer with the Royal Navy, this is one of Canada’s most important Arctic sites and has been deemed a Canadian National Historic Site. During the Franklin expedition of 1845–46, two of Franklin’s ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror , anchored here with perilous results. Three of Franklin’s crew died here and are buried at marked gravesites. COBURG ISLAND A well-known nesting ground, Coburg Island is a wildlife reserve with a diverse avian community. Greater snow geese, snowy owls, peregrine falcons and gyrfalcons thrive in the protected environment at certain times of the year. CROKER BAY On the south coast of Devon Island is Croker Bay. A glacier here actively calves off chunks of ice, creating a birthplace for icebergs. The bay was a popular stop

during the 1800s, when a path to the Pacific (the Northwest Passage) was at the forefront of Arctic exploration. DEVON ISLAND This is the largest uninhabited island in the world. Marking the northern side of Lancaster Sound, this desert island is so cold and dry that NASA and other organizations conduct research here for future missions to Mars. The Inuktitut name, Tallurutit means “tatoos on the chin” referring to the similarity of the geological features of the area to an Inuit woman’s traditional chin tattoos. DUNDAS HARBOUR Located on Devon Island, there are remains of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police post here, dating back to 1924. Historically, this area has been settled for more than 3,000 years by Inuit and pre-Inuit cultures. Be alert for wildlife, as walrus, polar bears and muskoxen inhabit the area.

ELLESMERE ISLAND The most northerly point of land in Canada, this island at the top of the world features dramatic glacier-capped peaks that soar over 8,200 feet (2,500 meters). It is the third-largest island in the country and the 10th largest in the world. Those fortunate to visit Ellesmere will have achieved one of the most elusive landmarks in all of polar exploration. FORT ROSS In 1937, the Hudson’s Bay Company established a trading post, named Fort Ross, on the southern coast of Somerset Island. Due to the harsh conditions and isolation of the post, it was closed in 1948. The store and manager’s house still stand. GRISE FIORD The Inuktitut name for this Ellesmere Island hamlet means “place that never thaws.” From April to August, the residents of Canada’s most northerly Inuit community experience continuous daylight.

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HELL GATE Known as the gateway to the mysterious Norwegian Bay, this narrow waterway runs alongside North Kent Island and sits between two of Canada’s most beautiful islands: Ellesmere Island and Devon Island. Transiting the channel is a rite of passage for any High Arctic explorer, as passing through it takes you to one of the most spectacular yet seldom-visited parts of our planet, Ellesmere Island. A natural convergence, channeling currents, drifting ice and marine life between its shores, Hell Gate supports a higher concentration of wildlife, including polar bears and northern fulmars, compared with the surrounding areas. PRINCE LEOPOLD ISLAND Impressive vertical cliffs surround part of this small island. This creates an ideal environment for nesting seabirds, and they nest here in vast numbers—more than 300,000 strong! Thick-billed murres, black guillemots and northern fulmars are most commonly seen here. RESOLUTE One of Canada’s most northern settlements, Resolute was formed by forceful relocation of Inuit from northern Quebec by the Canadian government in 1953, during the Cold War. Today, it’s also a jumping off point for high Arctic research. It has everything from a grocery store and cable TV to a school and a couple of hotels. About 200 people live in Resolute throughout the year, where hunting and logistical support to research, mining and tourism contribute to the community’s economy.

WINTER HARBOUR, MELVILLE ISLAND Winter Harbour is the overwintering site of legendary explorer Sir William Parry’s famous 1819–20 expedition to find the Northwest Passage. The first recorded voyage to this region, it predates the later exploration of Sir John Franklin and others by over 20 years! The site is home to a large sandstone rock known as Parry’s Rock. Designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1930, this natural monument bears an inscription by the ship’s surgeon of the expedition’s vessels and their captains, as well as a plaque marking when Canada took possession of the Arctic Archipelago.

EXPEDITION SPIRIT Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your Expedition Team must consider the sea, ice and weather to guide the route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you’ll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed. By the same token, wildlife encounters as described are expected, but not guaranteed. Your Expedition Team will use their considerable experience to seek out wildlife in known habitats, but the presence of any particular species of bird or marine wildlife is not guaranteed.

Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

What to pack on your polar expedition WHAT TO BRING! Packing for the Polar Regions doesn’t have to be daunting, and to make it easier for you, all Quark Expeditions voyages include a Quark parka to keep, and a loan of insulated waterproof boots. Additional suggested items include:

WEATHER CONDITIONS & TEMPERATURES Polar weather is extremely variable; temperatures may hover around the freezing mark and winds can be strong. The extended daylight warms sheltered areas so that you may sometimes find it warm enough for t-shirts. However, you may encounter rain, snow squalls, fog and white-outs during an expedition and should be ready for any conditions.

TO WEAR ON LANDINGS  Base-layer wool or synthetic top 

ADDITIONAL ITEMS 

Swimsuit (for the Polar Plunge! Some vessels may also have a pool, hot tub, sauna and/or steam room. See your ship book for details.)

Base-layer wool or synthetic bottom

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Mid-layer warm or fleece top

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Light warm jacket to wear during travel to the ship

Mid-layer warm or fleece bottom

Workout attire (for the fitness center!)

Warm wool or synthetic socks (keep a dry pair in your bag, and bring extras for layering)

Binoculars

Hand and feet warmers

Glove liners

Camera with charger and extra batteries

Waterproof gloves or mitts (bring an extra pair)

Extra memory or laptop with spare storage (for saving photos)

Scarf, buff, or other face protection

Warm hat that covers ears (bring an extra)

Waterproof cell phone case or rain sleeve for camera

Waterproof pants (mandatory for every Zodiac ride)

Lens cloth for camera

Waterproof, lightweight backpack or dry sack

Earplugs and eye masks for sleeping

Polarized sunglasses with UV protection (bring an extra pair)

Voltage converters and plug adapters (see ship book for details)

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Ski goggles (offers extra protection for adventure options or Zodiac cruising on snowy or windy days)

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Personal alarm such as mobile phone, watch, or alarm clock

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Sunscreen

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Moisturizer for face and hands (polar air can be dry)

Lip Balm

Extra pair of prescription glasses or contact lenses

Reusable waterproof bags or plastic bags with zippers (to keep small items organized and cameras dry)

TO WEAR ONBOARD  Complimentary Quark 3-in-1 Parka provided on board (wear the waterproof shell out on deck, and the removable liner indoors to stay comfortable)  Comfortable casual clothing like lighter shirts, pants or jeans, etc. (in case the ship gets warm)  Comfortable non-slip closed-toed unheeled shoes (flip flops, sandals or slip-on shoes should not be worn on board due to safety concerns)

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Seasickness, indigestion, headache, or other medications

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Hand sanitizer

Passport, visas, immunization and vaccination records, travel documents, etc. (as required)

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Small amount of local currency (see pre-departure book for more details)

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Water bottle (a collapsible reusable water bottle will be provided onboard)

Scan this QR code to watch our video on what to pack before you go!

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Bug spray

Call a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 or your Travel Professional | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details

TO BOOK YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE Contact your Travel Professional

or a Quark Expeditions® Polar Travel Adviser

TOLL FREE AND LOCAL NUMBERS:

QuarkExpeditions.com

PHOTO CREDITS: Acacia Johnson; David Merron; Nicky Souness; Sam Edmonds; Michelle Sole; Hugo Perrin; Grange Productions; Adobe Stock

February 2023 EXPEDITION BROCHURE

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