What To Expect on Your Trip
Meals, Campsites, Amenities, and More
An Idaho Afloat Trip is a unique adventure. Time stops rushing by for the sweet space of your vacation, and nature reclaims her rightful place as the dominant element of your daily routine.About Our Campsites
Campsite Gear and Amenities
Sleeping Gear
If you haven't ever been camping, or it's been a long time since your boy scout or girl scout camp-outs, you are in for a real treat with an Idaho Afloat river camping vacation. We provide the tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads and our guides will set them up for you each day upon arrival to camp. You only have to pick the perfect spot you'd like! (The biggest decision will be do you do that before or after you've sampled the appetizers and beverage of choice for the early evening.)Tents are roomy 2 person Wenzel Hughes RIver Dome tents with rain fly and plenty of for gear. Our sleeping pads are "Paco Pads". These pads are the best for river trips: they are scrumptiously thick, fabulously large (not for backpackers! ) and easily carried on our gear rafts.
Guests ask us about how to handle recharging batteries, are there showers, what about bathrooms, etc. Please see our Rafting FAQs for more information on these.
About Meals:
Meals on our Idaho Afloat river trips are exceptional! Our guides love to share their outdoor cooking skills and offer up gourmet meals, lovely appetizers, refreshing beverages, and delicious desserts on all our trips. Here are some examples of what you can expect on your trip:Breakfast Examples: Choice of Continental Breakfast (fresh fruit, cereal, pastries/breads), Scromlets, and Walnut Pancakes, bottomless cups of robust, fair trade coffees, teas, and hot chocolate.
Lunch Examples: Hearty Deli Sandwiches with a variety of salads, Pasta Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad, Three Bean Salad, Taco Salad. Hot and cold beverages.
Appetizers: (Delightfully served upon arrival to camp each afternoon!) Fresh Vegetables and Dip, Shrimp Cocktail, Spinach Rolls, Cheese and Fruit assortments, wine, beer, and hot and cold non-alcoholic beverages.
Dinner Examples: Sizzling Fajitas and salad, Grilled Steak and Pork Chops, Roast Potatoes, fresh garden salads, Korean Ribs w/ spinach salad and Cornbread, Steak & Pasta with Romain Salad, Cranberry Chicken w/ Steamed Veggies and salad, Steak & Penne Pasta, Mahi Mahi w/ Mango Salsa and Salad.Dessert Examples: Dutch Oven Brownies, River Smash, Dutch Oven Spice Cake, Strawberry shortcake, Cheese cake, Dutch Oven Cobblers
River Trip Packing List:
What to bring, (and perhaps more importantly, what you do not need to bring!)
This list below is for 3 days in July and August. The same items are recommended for May and June, but since it can be a little cooler and a little wetter, be sure to also bring wool or fleece socks, pants, and jackets (quick dry materials) and poly-pro long underwear. For the 4-6 Day Trips, add maybe a couple more items, but remember that on the river you want to pack light and can wear the same thing several times. You can always rinse clothes in the river and quickly air-dry them, thanks to the dry, hot Idaho summer climate.What You Supply
- Sun Hat (essential!) can be a baseball cap, etc.
- Sunglasses with retainer straps (or you'll lose your glasses)
- Sunscreen & Lip Balm (15 spf min. This is really important, the western climate is hot and powerful.)
- Swimsuit and/or Nylon Shorts
- Shorts (2 pairs)
- T-shirts (2-3
- Long sleeve shirts (2)
- Light weight pants (1)
- Wool or fleece socks (May & June)
- Water shoes (sneakers you don’t mind getting wet, or sandals with heel strap)
- Camp Shoes (something good for walking in)
- Poly-propylene or Capilene Long Underwear for May, June
- Fleece Jacket/shirt, can get chilly at night.
- Rain Suit (2 piece or long poncho-type)
- Personal Toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush, towel, lotion, etc.)
- Prescription drugs or allergy medications that you might need.
- Flashlight or headlamp (and extra batteries)
- Camera (a must!) Bring extra batteries
- Lots of Film or extra memory cards
- Fishing Pole & Tackle if you want to fish (License required**, see below.)
- Binoculars (optional for wildlife viewing)
- Personal Water Bottle
- Pillow Case* (see below)
- Journal and extra pens for capturing your thoughts on the river
What We Supply
- Sleeping bag, small camp pillow, tents, paco pad and ground tarps are included unless customer specifies differently.
- *Bring along a pillow slip. The camp pillows are small and the pillow slip can be stuffed with additional clothes for more comfort.
- Quick dry material is recommended for the river. Cotton material is fine for camp, but not for the river. River sandals will certainly make you more comfortable but are not mandatory. Tevas with tread or look a likes are recommended. Flip Flops are not recommended. You should also have a pair of tennis shoes or light hiking shoes for around camp or on hikes to see the country side. You do need to make sure all your gear weighs 35 lbs. or less and will fit in an 18" X 34" waterproof duffel bag.
- We will stop for fishing license and lures on the way to the put in. Be sure you have your drivers' license with you.
Camping beside the river on your multi-day Idaho Afloat rafting vacation is simply exceptional.