Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime expedition across the Svalbard Archipelago, located halfway between Norway and the North Pole. Over eight days of nearly continuous daylight, sail along the coast of the island of Spitsbergen, basking in the awe-inspiring beauty of the glittering expanse of ice and the incredible creatures that live there. Travel with Dr. Karisa Tang, Shedd’s Vice President of Animal Health, exploring the region's famously rich flora and fauna for polar bears, walruses, seals, whales and the millions of seabirds that flourish along the pack ice and approaching glaciers.
Limited Capacity
Space is limited to our specified group allotment, and this Shedd Adventure will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dates
July 12 – 22, 2024
Cost
Starting from $10,490 per person (limited single occupancy available)
Highlights
Witness
nesting birds on towering cliffs
Explore
icy waters by Zodiac, spotting seals and walruses
Spot
polar bears on the ice at Moffen Island
Enjoy
a welcome dinner and cocktail hour in Copenhagen before embarkment
Learn
from expert naturalists about the flora, fauna, geology, history, and
culture of visited sites
Experience the luxury of the environmentally responsible Vega ship
Dr. Karisa Tang is a member of Shedd’s senior leadership team and heads a team of talented, best-in-class animal health professionals that oversee the care of 32,000 animals at the aquarium, from mammals to fishes, in the A. Watson Armour III Center for Animal Health and Welfare. She advances Shedd Aquarium’s pioneering work in aquatic animal welfare with an emphasis on advancements in preventative care and treatment for patients, as well as care for animals beyond the aquarium’s walls and conservation science. Dr. Tang brings a passion for connecting community with the aquatic world and deepening their understanding of the natural history and biology of animals within and outside of Shedd’s care.
Arrive in Copenhagen and transfer to the Skt. Petri Hotel (or similar) for overnight. Gather with fellow travelers this evening for a welcome dinner. (D)
Sunday, July 14
COPENHAGEN/LONGYEARBYEN/EMBARK
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for a charter flight to Longyearbyen, the world’s most northerly town, where we embark on Vega and set sail on our Svalbard adventure. (B,D)
Monday, July 15 - Saturday, July 20
CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF SPITSBERGEN
Morning arrival in Ny-Ålesund, an international center of polar research, marks the beginning of our circumnavigation of Spitsbergen, the largest island in the Svalbard Archipelago. For the next seven days, our voyage becomes a true expedition — no strict schedule, just exploration — our exact activities determined by wind and weather and by opportunities to observe the wildlife of this frozen environment. As we make our way clockwise around Spitsbergen, we are deep inside the Arctic Circle, in the realm of polar bears and Arctic foxes, and the breeding ground of millions of seabirds. Aboard the ship’s Zodiacs, we will venture close to gargantuan glaciers that are rapidly retreating from the oceans they feed. And as we explore, we may encounter walruses, Svalbard reindeer and ringed seals, as well as many species of marine mammals. (B,L,D)
Sailing northward from Ny-Ålesund along the west coast, we expect to be in the neighborhood of Monacobreen Glacier (named in honor of the first Prince Albert of Monaco) in the morning of July 16, and at Moffen Island, where walruses are often seen lying on the beach, the next day. At 80° 1’ 40” north, this is the furthest inside the Artic Circle we are likely to venture. It is in this area, amid the ice floes, that we will have our best chance to spot a polar bear or two. (B,L,D)
Thursday, July 18 - Saturday, July 20
ALKEFJELLET/KAPP LEE/GÅSHAMNA
Leaving Moffen Island, we turn south into the Hinlopen Strait and find ourselves on the 18th of July sailing past Alkefjellet, one of the most famous bird cliffs in the northern hemisphere, the breeding ground for some 100,000 Brünnich’s Guillemots. Further south, we encounter Kapp Lee, another favorite haul-out site for walruses, and where we may be able to see the remains of a hunters’ hut from the early 20th century. Rounding Spitsbergen’s southern tip, we enter Gashamna Bay, where there are a number of sites of historical significance — Russian and Norwegian whaling and trapping sites as well as remains from one of the first great international research expeditions in the Arctic. (B,L,D)
Sunday, July 21
LONGYEARBYEN/DISEMBARK/COPENHAGEN
Arrive this morning in Longyearbyen and transfer to the airport for a flight to Copenhagen, where we overnight at a nearby airport hotel. (B,L)
Monday, July 22
COPENHAGEN/HOMEWARD
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the Copenhagen international airport for flights homeward. (B)
Fly into Copenhagen Airport in Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH) with arrival on July 13. All airport, hotel and pier transfers are accommodated once you arrive in Denmark. Fly home after breakfast on July 22 out of CPH.
Program Fees
A deposit of $1,500 per person is required to reserve your space on the tour. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Payment can be made by personal check or charged to a credit card.
Reservation and Cancellation Policies
All cancellations are subject to a $300 per person administrative fee. Cancellations received 71-90 days prior to departure will be assessed a penalty equal to 50% of the total program cost per person. Cancellations received within 70 days of departure are subject to 100% cancellation penalties. Requests for cancellations must be made in writing. No refunds will be made for any part of this program in which you choose not to participate.
Insurance
We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance, which is available for coverage of expenses in conjunction with cancellation due to illness or accident. Baggage insurance is also recommended. In the event that you must cancel your participation in a travel program, trip cancellation insurance may be the only source of reimbursement.
Nature Requires Flexibility
Your guides may alter the timing of activities to best suit the conditions and assure that you see the most wildlife. Due to the nature of wildlife programs, itineraries are subject to change. We cannot fully predict where wildlife will be, and our specific itinerary will depend largely on the weather conditions each day. The itinerary provides examples of the sorts of experiences that we’ll seek during the week, but please come with flexibility. Our guides adjust the itinerary accordingly to maximize your opportunities to enjoy Svalbard wildlife. Shedd Aquarium partners with responsible operators that follow rules and regulations in place to protect wildlife
