Family Expedition Holidays: How to Plan a Trip to the Arctic

Posted on 10th Dec 2024

What happened when our co-founder, Deborah, opted for a family expedition holiday with her eldest daughter? It turned out to be the adventure of a lifetime, teaching her valuable lessons on how to plan a trip to the Arctic as a family. Spoiler alert: it won’t be the last of their family expedition holidays!

A Dream Transformed: From Aspiration to Adventure

Incredible memories

“I always believed that polar expedition travel represented the pinnacle of my travel journey—something to aspire to at the height of my career or even in retirement. However, after completing the first of my family expedition holidays, I realise it is just the beginning. I loved it so much that I want to do more and more and more!”

Choosing the Right Expedition Partner

Our expedition ship in the background

The group hike

“I chose to travel with our partner, Quark, and brought along my eldest daughter, who had just finished her A-levels and was about to start her gap year. As a Geography student, she studied issues relevant to the Arctic, including climate change, Indigenous peoples, glaciers, and geology, making this an intriguing experience for her. Selfishly, I also wanted the opportunity for quality mother-daughter bonding and to share the adventure with her.”

Reykjavik: The Perfect Pre-Expedition Stopover

“We flew into Reykjavik a few days early to enjoy some sightseeing. We bathed in the thermal waters of the Sky Lagoon and took a full-day tour of the South, marvelling at waterfalls, black sand beaches, glaciers, and even a lava show.

The absolute highlight was our last-minute helicopter excursion over a freshly erupted volcano, where we got an up-close view of the crater and bubbling lava—an unforgettable experience! And one I would wholeheartedly recommend to our guests seeking unforgettable family expedition holidays.”

The Voyage: Exploring Greenland and Beyond

“Our Quark expedition vessel then set sail from Reykjavik for a 13-day voyage, starting with a crossing of the Denmark Strait and heading to East Greenland. We spent four days exploring the stunning Scoresby Sund before moving on to Spitsbergen in Norway, navigating from the northeast of the archipelago to the southwest, ending in Longyearbyen.”

Life Onboard: A Floating Community

“On sea days, there was no shortage of activities: engaging talks in the lounge, wildlife spotting on deck, plenty of books in the library, drinks at the bar, and even art classes. With two hundred guests on board, primarily from the US, Australia, Canada, and the UK, the atmosphere was friendly and sociable. It was heartwarming to see my usually shy daughter comfortably strike up conversations and learn the art of connecting with strangers.”

Flexible Itineraries: The Thrill of the Unexpected

Wow

Meeting with the local community

“However, the real magic happened during our excursions. One unexpected aspect of polar expedition itineraries is their flexibility. There are multiple plans in place because the expedition leader and captain cannot predict weather conditions. Each night, we were informed of what we ‘might’ do the next day, but we only received confirmation about 30 minutes before disembarking. This unpredictability adds to the thrill of family expedition holidays, in our opinion.”

A World of Discovery: Wildlife, Landscapes, and Culture

Making memories to last a lifetime

Spotted! A polar bear

“From kayaking and paddling in Arctic waters and cruising around icebergs in a zodiac to hiking on the tundra and visiting Inuit communities in Greenland, every moment was exhilarating. The colours, views, sounds, and smells were so intense. Nature is unpredictable, but we were fortunate enough to see polar bears on two occasions, along with whales, Arctic foxes, muskoxen, walruses, reindeer, seals, and an array of beautiful Arctic birds.”

Cherished Memories and Lasting Lessons

Braving the Arctic Ocean!

“I was thrilled to share this experience with my daughter, who, at just eighteen, surprised me with her enthusiasm for the adventure. It brought her classroom lessons to life and connected her with fascinating people. Inspired by the trip, she is now off to do marine conservation in Madagascar!”

Guides That Bring the Arctic to Life

“One standout feature of Quark is the calibre of their guides. Highly qualified and passionate about their work, they shared thrilling stories from their travels and studies, deepening my desire to learn more about the Arctic. Since returning home, we have been watching “Frozen Planet” on repeat! I cannot wait for my next polar expedition—Antarctica, here I come!”

Your Family Expedition Holidays Start Here

If that’s spurred your wanderlust for one of our family expedition holidays, we’re on hand to put together the perfect trip. Combining a voyage with tailor-made experiences on the ground before you set sail, we can curate an exceptional family expedition that will spark as much wonder in you as it will in your children.

Speak to us today to book.