Overview
Iceland to Greenland: Total Solar Eclipse
EXPEDITION IN BRIEF
Creating one-of-a-kind experiences in the remote Polar Regions is our passion. It’s what our expedition team—globally recognized as the best in the industry— does so well. We innovate. We create. We deliver. It requires expertise, experience—and sometimes it demands patience—a lot of it. The genesis for our 13-day Iceland to Greenland: Total Solar Eclipse itinerary dates back to November 24, 2003, the day Quark Expeditions became the first and only operator to successfully lead a total solar eclipse voyage in remote Antarctica. On that day, we provided 100 people, from 17 different nations, the experience of becoming the first-ever humans to witness a total solar eclipse in Antarctica. Now we’ve decided to achieve a comparable feat in the Arctic. However, with innovation as our DNA, we set out to make it distinct from any other eclipse- viewing experience in the industry. The last time anyone witnessed a total solar eclipse north of the Arctic Circle was 2015. The next total eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026. So, of course, we want to get it right. A couple of years ago, after a decade of dreaming, we assembled a taskforce of eclipse experts, a meteorologist and members of our Expedition Team to research
Witness a total solar eclipse from a polar ship in the High Arctic
Gain insight into the cultural and scientific significance of solar eclipses with guest experts David Baron Michael Zeiler
Heli–flightsee over remote Greenland
Cross the Arctic Circle twice— southbound and northbound
Explore seldom-visited Westfjords, the hidden gem of west Iceland
Sail across the Denmark Strait
Witness the wildlife of Northeast Greenland National Park
Cruise the 110–kilometer King Oscar Fjord.
the geography, terrain, angles of the sun in the sky, and Arctic weather patterns to prepare for one of the most rare experiences on the planet—observing a total solar eclipse in the High Arctic. Not only do we want our guests to enjoy the best solar eclipse viewing imaginable—on Ultramarine , one of the most technologically-advanced ships in the Polar Regions—but we knew from the outset that our eclipse itinerary had to contain layers of immersive experiences and unrivalled off-ship adventures that no one else could offer. In addition to phenomenal eclipse viewing in the High Arctic of East Greenland, you’ll get to venture through the Westfjords—one of the unsung gems of Iceland. You’ll also discover the secrets of Northeast Greenland National Park—the largest national park in the world—where we will cruise the 110-kilometer King Oscar Fjord. You’ll sail across the Denmark Straight—not once but twice— and you’ll have the opportunity to explore parts of Greenland on one of Ultramarine’s twin-engine helicopters. We’ve enlisted the two globally–respected eclipse experts, author–science journalist Dave Baron and eclipse–cartographer Michael Zeiler (see page 20), to help deepen your understanding of celestial mechanics, observational astronomy and all things related to eclipse–viewing. You’ll also learn about Icelandic and Greenlandic traditions and culture, about ice formations, about seeing the Polar Regions from the viewpoint of an Arctic tern as you fly in a helicopter over the vast Arctic landscape. Ultimately, you’ll learn why we should never stop dreaming and tapping into the power of imagination. Most of all, you’ll learn the value of waiting for the perfect polar adventure that will change your life forever.
Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details
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