Welcome to
Camp Lots o’ Luxe
High-end camping is luring travelers out of hotels and under the stars
IF YOUR IDEA OF roughing it is
a hotel without room service,
camping hasn’t been on your vacation
wish list. Until now. “Glamping”—
glamorous camping—combines the
splendor of the great outdoors with
the comfort of a top-tier hotel.
Intrigued? Here’s how luxe trips
compare with traditional outings.
Camping: Hot dogs
roasted over a fire
Glamping: Grilled rack
of lamb prepared by a
campside chef
Forget fiddling with your pocketknife
to pry open that can of beans. At aver-
age rates from $300 to $500 a day,
glamping trips include mouthwater-
ing meals prepared by professional
chefs. For instance, a four-night
hiking trip to Havasupai in the Grand
Canyon, run by Austin Lehman
Adventures ($1,698 per person;
800-575-1540; austinlehman.com),
gives you three nights at a fully pro-
visioned camp, where a chef sets up
near a 100-foot waterfall. And Far and
Away Adventures (800-232-8588;
far-away.com) offers Idaho trips that
feature five-star fare such as pork ten-
derloin with five-spice seasoning or
Kobe beef tenderloin salad. Dinners
are presented on white linen table-
cloths and paired with wines prese-
lected by the company’s sommelier,
which ups the elegance factor.
Camping: Unguided
forays through the
wilderness
Glamping: Escorted,
effortless journeys
You’ll have no worries about getting
lost, because glamping trips include
experienced local guides. For
instance, Far and Away Adventures
specializes in rafting trips (starting
at $1,680) along the Middle Fork
of Idaho’s Salmon River, leading
glampers through remote and
rugged territory. And Abercrombie &
Kent’s Cataract Canyon River Rafting
(six days from $2,415; 800-554-7094;
abercrombiekent.com) takes participants on routes that go deep into
Utah’s Canyonlands National Park, so
you can explore Pueblo ruins, learn
about ancient petroglyphs, and hike
secluded side canyons. At adventure’s
end, board a private plane for a scenic
flight to your starting point.
Camping: Struggles
to pitch your tent
Glamping: Preset shelter
complete with comfortable sleeping quarters
No need to fumble with the canvas;
you’ll find your tent already set up.
Boundless Journeys (800-941-8010;
boundlessjourneys.com) includes
roomy tents on its kayak trips off Vancouver Island (six days, $2,995) and
Baja and the Sea of Cortez (seven days,
$1,895). If you’d rather “glamp lite”—
that is, provide and cook your own
food and create your own escapades—
you can still find nighttime luxury at
Falling Waters Adventure Resort ($84
a night; 877-247-5535; fallingwaters
resort.com). Located 12 miles from
the southern edge of Great Smoky
Mountains National Park in western
North Carolina, eight yurts (circular,
domed structures) are spread across
the five-acre camp. Each yurt comes
with a queen bed and futon, small
refrigerator, coffeemaker, and CD
player. You’ll also find four shared
private bathrooms and picnic areas.
There may not be a sommelier, but
your champagne under the stars will
be just as sparkling. —Laura Daily
