Sometimes, a windblown-prone tent and munching on dehydrated food can really take away the pictorial grandeur of the wilderness when camping. Take the road less traveled with these luxury travel businesses that offer 5-star accommodations so you can experience the natural beauty without all the sweat and blisters. Think spacious tents, gourmet meals and exclusive access to the some of the most breathtaking natural wonders.
Photo: Uncharted Outposts
Utah and Beyond: O.A.R.S.
Experience Class II-III rapids on a classic Utah river rafting trip–the Green River through Split Mountain. After, look forward to multi-course dinners served on white linen tablecloths from acclaimed chefs. No packing required: Send along your sizes and O.A.R.S. assembles all the gear you’ll need.
From $1,466 per person; oars.com.
The Southwest: Off the Beaten Path
Off the Beaten Path offers personalized journeys through Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. Choose from Journey Style (e.g. guided group journeys or private custom journeys), then trip motif (e.g. family adventure or culture & history). After a ten-mile hike into Arizona’s Havasu Canyon, travelers relax at the deluxe camp with Aerobeds and gourmet meals before joining Havasupai elders who share their stories of the Grand Canyon corridors.
Custom trips start at $1,500 per person; offthebeatenpath.com.
New Mexico: Uncharted Outposts
Chip and Sandy Cunningham specialized in international tourism for decades, and now they offer excursions in northern New Mexico, land of big sky, epic tequila sunsets and a mecca for geological masterpieces and ancient cultures. Hike, mountain bike, horseback ride, ski, raft or llama trek your way through the Hopi villages of Walpi and Old Oraibi in Arizona and the village of Ancoma in New Mexico.
From $2,995 per person; unchartedoutposts.com.
Idaho: Far & Away Adventures
Wilderness luxury may sound like a contradiction, but the family-owned business will prove you wrong. Experience luxury along Idaho’s Middle Fork of the Salmon River, one of the most pristine U.S. waterways, as well as the Owyhee and Bruneau / Jarbidge rivers. Personalize your river experience and plan your trip with an easy multiple choice questionnaire by things like trip type (e.g. charter, fitness, family, etc.) and a personal description, like if you’re an “accomplished adventurer.” At camp, guests enjoy chef-prepared organic feasts with wine and Pacific Northwest microbrews before retiring to tents lit by solar lanterns.
From $1,840 per person; far-away.com.
Source: Departures Magazine.
