Is your Group Ready for an Adventure
Charter & Custom trips
We arrange private Salmon River rafting trips for many different groups and organizations. It’s in our DNA and name! (A “confluence” is where two rivers come together, and we at “Confluences” specialize in bringing groups of people together for an incredible, transformative experience on the river). A charter trip ensures that only your group (with our guide team) is on this journey down the Salmon River, allowing your group to focus on its interests.
Special charter rates (including special group discounts) are available to help groups come together on the river. We can arrange charter trips on ANY of our available launch dates during the summer, or offer them in the Spring and Fall (see below). Our customer service team will help you develop the specific terms of your group’s charter trip. You can visit our Salmon River Rafting page for general information concerning itinerary, FAQs, and highlights you can expect on the classic Main Salmon trip, and speak with us about ways to customize the experience for your group. Those customizations can include variations to the transportation plan, themed evenings on the trip, guest entertainment (like yoga instructors or musicians), professional development opportunities, etc. Our team will help price out those add-ons to fit your group’s interests and budget.
Charter & Custom Trip Benefits, Policies and Eligibility:
Being able to charter a whole trip offers your group a special journey down the river, where everyone is there by your invitation! This is a great way for a family reunion, corporate retreat, or other focused group to have a powerful experience together. This often lets us coordinate smoother logistics for the group too. To be eligible to book a chartered trip, your group will designate a “Group Leader” who will be our primary contact. They’ll work to finalize the charter trip terms and keep in touch with us about updates and changes throughout the reservation process. In order to secure this by-invitation-only trip down the river, the group leader works to find sufficient guests to fill the trip to capacity and facilitate the group payment for the trip. They’ll also help make sure we get all the needed information for each guest (including a signed assumption of risk form from each guest, dietary preferences, etc). Our team will help the group leader know who has missing information. Because the group leader helps organize everything, the whole trip is able to receive the special pricing.
If Confluences River Expeditions does not receive full payment when due, we reserve the right to cancel, add additional guests to, or alter your charter trip or the initial agreement.
Photo Gallery
Your Muli-Day River Rafting Itinerary
Salmon River Map
FAQs
Below, find the answers to frequently asked questions about Salmon River raft trips with Confluences River Expeditions. We hope this page will help you plan for your raft trip and help you know what to expect on Idaho’s Main Salmon. Our team is ready to answer any of your questions too!
FAQs
Questions about Packing
We will provide you with two dry bags for the duration of the trip (one large bag for your clothing, the sleeping bag we provide, and the items you don’t need during the day and one small bag that you can access while on the water for things like cameras, snacks, sunscreen, or an extra layer). We recommend you use ziploc bags inside those bags to ensure items are waterproof.
Use soft duffels to pack your personal clothes in. Include several plastic bags to store wet items in your bag on the river. Black “contractor” bags are handy for this. Note that you will be allowed 1 checked bag weighing up to 35lbs on the backcountry flight.
Cotton does not keep you warm when wet! Do not plan to wear cotton on the river unless it is to keep you cool on a very hot day. Pack quick dry (non-cotton) shorts and shirts.
Sun hats, sunscreen and sunglasses are a must! Be sure to put your sunscreen in a ziplock so it doesn’t accidentally get on your other items.
Bug spray is recommended at a couple of camps on the river. Be sure to put your bug spray in a ziplock.
Yes, you can download it here.
Questions about Food
We serve three delicious meals per day, plus an appetizer before dinner. We specialize in Dutch oven cooking and are proud of the signature dishes we serve. Fresh fruit and veggies are included in every meal. Here are some examples of meals: Breakfast of stuffed French toast with bacon, lunch of taco salad, fruit and cookies, followed by a dinner of grilled salmon with salad.
With advance notice, we can support most dietary preferences. Make sure to indicate your preferences during the registration process, and check in with your trip leader during the pre-trip orientation meeting. In extreme cases, we may ask you to bring supplementary snacks.
Fresh water is always available. Juice, coffee, hot tea and hot chocolate are served at breakfast. Lemonade is always available at camp. Craft beer and wine are served with dinner. Two complimentary canned beverages per person, per day are provided. If you like something special, please bring it. We always have ice for cocktails.
You are welcome to bring additional canned beverages, wine, liquor or canned beer. We can store them in the dry boxes and coolers on the boats.
Questions about Camping
The Main Salmon River is famous for its beautiful beaches. The entire group arrives to camp together and works as a team to unload the gear from the boats. After learning how to do so, guests set up their tents. A common eating area is set up near the kitchen, where guides will prepare all meals.
We provide one tent for every two people from the same group. If you are traveling solo, or prefer to pay to have your own tent, we will provide an individual tent. Make sure to select that option in the registration process.
We will provide comfortable camp chairs, camp games (such as bocce ball), and a fire pan for evening campfires. Many camps have great trees for hammocks, if you’d like to bring a Eno-style camp hammock.
Questions about Hygiene
We recommend that you bring baby wipes for quick cleanup jobs. Sponge baths are easy and make you feel like a million bucks! The guides will show you how to use a bucket of water above the high water mark to wash and shampoo. You can also bring your own solar shower. Bandanas make great washcloths!
Bring items that don’t require a lot of space and are quick to use, packing them in ziplocks. For swimsuits, a sports type two-piece works well and is convenient. Female guides often use a sports bra coupled with quick dry shorts. The guide crew can offer simple tips for disposal of feminine hygiene products. Having a few extra ziplock bags is a great idea. As the environment can dry out skin, we recommend that you make sure you bring moisturizing lotion.
As part of our wilderness ethic, we “Pack it in, pack it out!” We pack out all solid waste. Toilets are portable, heavy duty metal containers fitted with a toilet seat when set up at camp. Toilets are only used for solid waste. Guests urinate in the river or above the high water mark. Our guides will show you the best spots. Toilets are set up in a secluded and scenic spot away from eating and sleeping areas. You can enjoy a beautiful view! A custom hand wash system with soap is set up on the trail to the toilet area. A paddle is placed near the hand wash area as a signal. The paddle is taken to the toilet so that others know when the toilet is occupied. The paddle is returned to the hand wash area afterwards to signal the toilet is available for use.
Additional Spring and Fall Custom Rafting Trips
Each summer season (which runs from 6/20 to 9/7), Confluences has 10 pre-determined launch dates. Any of those trips, if available, can be chartered. But outside the summer season, we can offer additional trips on demand! There are great reasons why you will want to schedule a custom raft trip in the Spring and Fall. First, we have the flexibility to launch any day we want to! So, the possibilities are extensive. Second, we can design a specialty trip specifically for your group. These off-season vacations allow us to take your group during a time when the canyon is unusually quiet. We can offer trips from 4-7+ days long to suit your schedule and give you the option to camp or stay in rustic lodges along the river. Finally, this time of year offers great wildlife viewing opportunities, as well as more time for fishing or hiking. Fares will vary based on party size, length of trip, and camping or lodging option chosen. Let us help you plan the trip of a lifetime in May, early June, September or October.
Whether it’s a birthday celebration, a vacation with extended family, or a professional development retreat your colleagues will never forget, please email or call or text us at: (208) 252-5683 to start designing your custom trip today!