Colourful Sri Lanka is famous for its varied, beautiful nature, including lush mountain slopes, tea plantations, deep blue seas with vast beaches and national parks that provide exciting wildlife. Below can you read a short blog post written by our tour guide Adrian from the trip 11th to 23rd of November.
Today we experienced a very nice meeting with the leopard Kleopatra, and in addition we have seen lots of birds, giant squirrels, buffalo, mongoose, elephant, sambar-, barking- and spotted deer, lizards, snakes and even more! One of our two jeeps saw sloth bear. I found it sleeping in a few bushes next to the road. When we stopped the car it climbed up and passed us within just a few meters.
During the evenings and nights in Wilpattu National Park, it is absolutely amazing to hear all the jungle sounds outside the tent cloth. They can come from frogs or birds.
So far we have had very nice weather! Next we turn to Sigiriya and its impressing "lion cliff".
2024 and 2025 are Peak Years for Experiencing the Northern Lights
Do you dream of experiencing the spectacular Northern Lights? Now is the time to plan your adventure. Thanks to a peak in the sun's 11-year cycle of solar activity, 2024 is expected to be one of the best years in a long time to witness the Northern Lights. This period, extending into 2025, is predicted to offer some of the most intense and spectacular auroras seen in years.
We are approaching solar maximum, a period when the Sun’s activity reaches its peak. This phase, which occurs every eleven years, is characterized by an increase in the number of sunspots, solar flares, and other solar activities. During solar maximum, the Sun’s magnetic field also reverses, amplifying the processes that produce spectacular auroras. Therefore, we can expect more frequent and impressive Northern Lights displays during 2024 and 2025.
The Northern Lights' colourful display in the sky is created when electrically charged particles from the Sun, moving at high speed, interact with Earth's magnetic field. These particles are directed towards the poles, where they accelerate and collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms. These collisions create flashes of light in various colours, which we experience as the aurora. Oxygen atoms primarily emit green light, and occasionally red, while nitrogen produces shades of violet, purple, and blue.
Few places on Earth are as well-suited for witnessing the vibrant display of the Northern Lights as Northern Norway. From our base in Alta, located directly beneath the auroral oval and with minimal light pollution, we offer whales and Northern Lights expeditions to some of the world's premier spots for viewing this phenomenon. On board our small expedition ship M/S Stockholm, we are far from the lights of civilisation, where no distracting light sources obstruct the view. This further increases the chances of having magical Northern Lights experiences.
Did you know that the world's first permanent Northern Lights observatory was built just outside of Alta at the end of the 19th century?
Want the chance to experience the Northern Lights this year?
Join us on an exciting journey in true expedition style on board the small 12-passenger ship M/S Stockholm, a vessel rich in history and character. We’ll explore the deep fjords of Northern Norway outside Alta, taking in enchanting views. As darkness falls, we’ll keep our eyes on the sky, hoping it fills with brushstrokes of majestic Northern Lights. We also hope for unforgettable encounters with orcas and humpback whales, which in recent years have gathered in the area in search of herring.
A successful season in Svalbard has come to an end, leaving so many incredible moments to cherish! Here are just a few highlights, with so much more to share. Huge thanks to our amazing guides and fantastic travellers for making this season unforgettable.
Since 1999, we have taken travellers on once-in-a-lifetime trips to Svalbard. From May to September our three small expedition ships, carrying only 12 and 50 passengers, explore this magnificent Arctic archipelago. Unpredictability and flexibility are the main keywords when you travel with PolarQuest as the exact route depends on weather, ice conditions and wildlife encounters. Sometimes you might be woken up in the middle of the night if a polar bear has been spotted on the ice.
Travellers Blog: West Greenland and Disko Bay
Our bucket-list visit to Greenland was five years in the making, due to the pandemic and the bankruptcy of the original company we booked with. However, we finally made the journey in June 2024. After spending a few days visiting friends in Denmark, we spent one night in Ilulissat and then boarded the 12-passenger ship for a nine-night cruise around the fjords of west Greenland with PolarQuest. We were brilliantly looked after by Captain Maween and guides Dorothee, Karin, and Mia, as well as the excellent catering and engineering crew.
Greenland is enormous, almost twice as large as South Africa but, with a population of only about 57,000, it is the least densely populated country on the planet. More than 80% of the land area is covered with a massive ice sheet which reaches a thickness of 3km in some places. To put the scale of the ice sheet into perspective, it is estimated that it contains enough fresh water to raise global sea levels by 7 meters. Given the vastness of the country, it’s only possible to see a small part of it on a trip like this, and our visit focused on the fjords and small settlements around Ilulissat inside the Arctic Circle on the west coast.
Disko Bay is a classic Greenland destination, but nothing really prepares you for the scale of it. The Ilulissat Icefjord, the most productive in the Northern Hemisphere, releases 35 cubic kilometers of ice into the bay annually, resulting in an incredible array of icebergs, surrounded by massive flocks of sea birds and frolicking whales.
In Qeqertasuaq, we met Danny and Naja with their wonderful Greenland sled dogs, as well as visiting their home for a kaffemik (a traditional open house for coffee and cake). The Greenland dog is considered one of the oldest and 'purest' dog breeds and is related to the wolf. It's likely an important factor in the Thule people's successful migration to this area, and it’s thought that these dogs have been loyal companions for at least 1,000 years. They are incredibly well-adapted, sleeping outside no matter the weather and able to live entirely on a diet of protein and fat. Dog sledding is still the main form of transport over the winter, although sadly, dog numbers are in decline as the sea ice season gets shorter. Only Greenland dogs are permitted inside the Arctic Circle in order to protect their genetic lineage.
Hiking in Greenland is spectacular, and we had a number of opportunities to do short (3-4 km) hikes in remote places, mostly with no marked trails in areas our guides were exploring for the first time. Guide Karin, an expert in Arctic plants, added an extra dimension to the experience, and we even managed some bird-watching.
Glaciers! There is nothing quite like the sights and sounds of a glacier up close – relatively speaking, as you don’t want to get swamped by a wave from a calving iceberg. It’s a special experience to enjoy this from the ship’s deck.
Experience Greenland’s untamed wilderness with the elegant 12-passenger ship M/S Balto, designed to explore the most remote fjord systems, visit isolated Inuit settlements and take you to secret anchorages. Greenland’s spectacular coastline offers some of the most remarkable nature experiences. The Arctic landscape is dominated by ice-filled fjords, majestic peaks and vast tundra.
PolarQuest's Maria Nordvall in the Realm of Icebergs
Finally, the propellers started to rotate, and we ascended through the thick cloud cover over Iceland. As we rose into the air, I was filled with both excitement and anticipation. What would we experience? Unexpectedly, the sun broke through the cloud bank, which suddenly dispersed, revealing our first iceberg, drifting alone in the blue sea. Colourful houses appeared as we caught our first glimpse of Kulusuk. We descended, the plane touched down, and the excitement grew for the amazing Arctic adventure that awaited us in East Greenland.
Icebergs – the raw power of nature. There's something about them that makes it impossible to look away. It's like staring into an open fire, filled with wonder. Each iceberg is unique, both in size and appearance. Sermilik Fjord, where we've been cruising for the past two days, is filled with icebergs the size of houses, which have drifted down from the Helheim Glacier at the far end of the fjord. They vary in shape: large, small, pointed, tabular – each with its own distinct character.
To be classified as an iceberg, it must be at least 15 meters high, and the larger ones can reach over 75 meters. During the winter, the entire fjord is covered by a 4-5 meter thick layer of ice, which cracks open, allowing the ice to drift out with the current.
September is truly a great time to be here; we are privileged to be able to venture deep into the beautiful fjord with our stable ship. We stand on deck, gazing out, letting our thoughts drift in wonder. Smiles adorn everyone's faces. The ship weaves its way between the icebergs, and there's nothing to do but enjoy the spectacle. No one wants to go inside. Is that iceberg really the biggest we've seen? Perhaps. But what’s that over there? We scan from one side to the other, not wanting to miss anything happening on either side of our ice-strengthened ship. I feel so small among these enormous icebergs! The sun beams down, making the sea and ice sparkle. ‘Surreal,’ someone says, and I can’t help but agree – it’s truly a ‘pinch me’ moment.
On the first day of the journey, we were asked what being on an expedition really means. 'Expecting the unexpected,' someone said, and another mentioned 'flexibility.' When we woke up this morning, we truly understood the meaning of expedition. During the night, there had been an 'iceberg factory explosion,' as our Canadian captain put it. The glacier we had anchored at, at a safe distance, had calved, completely transforming the landscape compared to how it looked when we went to bed. Icebergs bobbed in the water, more and more ice forming around us during breakfast, drifting away from the glacier with the current. According to the adventurous plans of our guides, today we were supposed to make a landing, climbing along a glacier to enjoy the view from there. Most likely, we are among the few to have ever set foot here. We were ready – adventure was calling.
The cold hit us as we stood facing the glacier, and in the other direction, a breathtaking view opened up with scattered glaciers and enormous mountain ranges. Is this the grandeur of Greenland and Sermilik? To be in a place where few others have been – a true privilege. Silence, stillness, and the magical wilderness surround us. Thunderous rumbles echo through the fjord; something is happening with the glacier across the bay. We stand by what is called a 'dead' glacier, no longer reaching the sea. We can touch it and feel the cold through our skin. A quiet moment settles in, sitting with the glacier's cold caress on our necks and the warmth of the sun on our faces. The view is dazzling. We are truly in the heart of our grand experience.
In these waters, we are adventurers! We explore uncharted areas and make landings that few have experienced. I feel overwhelmed by the greatness and power of nature; here in Greenland, it’s more palpable than ever. As the old saying goes: 'When you have travelled everywhere, there is always Greenland..'
Experience Greenland’s untamed wilderness with the elegant 12-passenger ship M/S Balto, designed to explore the most remote fjord systems, visit isolated Inuit settlements and take you to secret anchorages. Greenland’s spectacular coastline offers some of the most remarkable nature experiences. The Arctic landscape is dominated by ice-filled fjords, majestic peaks and vast tundra.
Interview with PolarQuest's Managing Director Marie Lannborn
For 25 years, PolarQuest has had the privilege of taking adventurous travellers to the world's most spectacular places. Our Managing Director, Marie Lannborn, has been part of the company's journey for 17 years. Read about her career path, from her internship to where she is today, what drives her, and how she sees the future.
17 years at PolarQuest – what has kept you engaged all these years?
– PolarQuest is an extraordinary company – our trips, the great nature experiences, and the opportunity to offer people something truly memorable. Constantly striving to deliver a little more than expected is also an important driving force. It's hard to beat the feeling of receiving fantastic feedback after a trip –it's then we know we have succeeded! Moreover, every expedition is unique, just like every traveller. Everyone brings their own experiences home.
Working with a knowledgeable and dedicated team is also very rewarding to me. It’s a few of us who have worked together for a long time, and our team is fenomenal! Both the on shore and off shore staff.The industry we work in, the polar travel industry, is small globally, and here PolarQuest is helping to drive the development forward. It's something I'm proud to be a part of.
From internship to Managing Director – tell us about your journey within the company
– Yes, I started at PolarQuest as an intern in 2007, as part of my education to become a travel producer. When M/S Quest joined the fleet, there was a need for more staff, and I was lucky enough to become part of the team. I have worked extensively with destinations such as Svalbard, Antarctica, and the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand, and participated in several PolarQuest trips. When the company changed ownership, we moved it into a new era. I was part of the management team and during the same period I started to represented PolarQuest on the Executive Committee of Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO). There have been many years of work within AECO and many journeys - not only our expeditions, and travels of a lifetime, but also the company's journey through challenges like COVID and everything in between.
Originally focusing primarily on the Swedish and British markets, today we welcome travellers from all over the world on our expedition cruises. When it comes to delivering experiences, our products are of premium quality. We are all proud of the brand we have nurtured and developed over the years, and which we continue to advance.
Is there any particular memory you would like to highlight?
- The first time I had the opportunity to experience Svalbard and really understood what an expedition cruise meant. I travelled with a group of PolarQuest guests and an experienced guide with extensive knowledge of the area and history of Svalbard.
Being introduced to the real ‘here and now’ that the Svalbard wilderness still offers was something very special. So was being woken up in the middle of the night to come up on deck and enjoy viewing wildlife.
When you travel in a small group, on a small ship, you almost become like a family. At the very least, it feels like a little world you get to visit, with the ship as your home. I remember at the end of the trip trying to figure out where I could hide to stay on board. I really didn’t want it to end, and several of us felt the same way.
– PolarQuest is celebrating 25 memorable years this year, and I am incredibly grateful for everything we have achieved. I am truly looking forward to continuing to prove that PolarQuest is a reliable tour operator into the future. Conservation of our wilderness will be key also in the future – to coexist on nature’s terms. Of course, we are looking forward to new technology and the opportunity to reduce our CO2 emissions. We are working hard to refine our processes and do everything we can to contribute to a more sustainable future.
I also look forward to continuing our trips to fantastic destinations like Greenland, Svalbard, Northern Norway, and Antarctica. New travel arrangements will certainly emerge in the future, but our focus will always be on offering the best nature experiences in the colder regions of our planet.
Last but not least, I am really looking forward to all the feedback from our travellers – for me, that's the best part!