Cannon Expeditions
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Specialty · Expeditions

The far ends of the map.

Polar water, high altitude, one-flight-a-week places. Measured in months of planning and a lifetime of retelling.

Expeditions are where planning stops being a convenience and becomes the difference between going and not going. Antarctic berths sell out 12–18 months ahead. High-altitude schedules live or die on acclimatization math. The good outfitters in the empty places have two departures a year and a waiting list. This is the lane where having someone on your side of the table — comparing ships, reading the fine print on "expedition grade" — earns its keep most obviously.

Where we go far

Three kinds of far.

Polar

The Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, Svalbard, East Greenland. Small ships only — under 200 guests, because landing rules mean big ships mostly wave at the continent. November–March south, May–September north.

High

Kilimanjaro on the longer routes that actually summit, Everest Base Camp, the high circuits of the Andes. The itinerary is an acclimatization schedule wearing a trip costume — we build it that way from day one.

Remote

Namibia's empty quarter, Bhutan's regulated valleys, Papua's reefs and ridges, the Yukon's blank spots. Places where the logistics are the adventure and a missed connection means Thursday's flight.

How expedition planning differs

The long game, played properly.

  • — Lead times are real: 12–18 months for polar berths and kayak spots, 9–12 for permits in regulated places like Bhutan, 6+ for the good remote outfitters.
  • — We compare ships, not brochures: cabin position for the seasick, zodiac-to-guest ratios, ice class, whether "expedition team" means 8 scientists or 2 tired lecturers.
  • — Weather owns the itinerary: polar landings are intentions, not promises. We tell you that before you book, and build the trip so a blown day bends instead of breaking.
  • — Insurance gets specific: evacuation coverage is mandatory, and we check that your policy actually covers your maximum altitude and your distance from help.

Straight answers

For you / not for you.

This is for you if there's a place you've promised yourself for years — the seventh continent, the summit certificate, the aurora from a silent valley — and you're ready to plan on its timeline instead of yours.

It's not for you if you need certainty. Expeditions trade certainty for magnitude; if a rescheduled landing or a weather day would ruin the trip for you, we'll steer you somewhere the weather keeps its promises.

Sample expedition

A starting point with real numbers.

Antarctic Peninsula, small ship

12 days · from $10,500 pp + air · Effort ●●○○○ · Nov–Mar · Book 12–18 months out

Two days across the Drake, then five days of twice-daily zodiac landings among gentoos, glaciers, and ice the size of buildings — with honest notes on the crossing, the cabins, and which month gets you whales versus pristine snow.

See the full sample itinerary →

We also regularly build: Svalbard polar-bear voyages (May–Sep), South Georgia's king penguin colonies, Kilimanjaro via the 8-day Lemosho route, and northern-lights basecamps far from town glow. Name the promise you made yourself.

Which end of the map is yours?

Start the conversation a year out and the far ends get surprisingly reachable.

Plan your expedition →