Packrafting isn鈥檛 exactly聽new. Small, portable rubber rafts have been used in expeditions since the mid-1800s. But there鈥檚 been a spike of interest in the durable one-person crafts that can be carried in your backpack. The American Packrafting Association reports that 76 percent of its members picked up the hobby in the past five years, and outfitters from Alaska to Montenegro are tapping into the trend with guided trips that involve hiking to and rafting down some of the world鈥檚 most remote waterways. If you鈥檙e looking to really get away, sign up for a trip or get equipped with the knowledge and supplies you鈥檒l need to plan your own excursions. Here鈥檚 where to start.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Alaska
Being able to travel by water opens up Alaska鈥檚 vast stretches of untouched wilderness. offers two-day courses in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, an expanse of jagged peaks larger than Switzerland, that鈥檒l teach you skills such as trip planning, river-running strategies, and self-rescue. If you鈥檇 rather have a guide lead the way, book a half-day, full-day, or weeklong trip, and you鈥檒l hike to a glacial lake and run mellow Class II rapids while someone else takes care of the logistics (from $130).
Magpie River
Quebec, Canada
On this guided 12-day trip with , you鈥檒l fly by helicopter from Sept-脦les, Quebec, into a remote northern forest before spending three days backpacking, rappelling, and orienteering through trail-free wilderness to Lake Magpie, the source of the famed Magpie River. From there, you鈥檒l paddle your craft more than 100 miles down Class III and Class IV rapids to the Atlantic Ocean, catching brook trout for dinner along the way ($4,486).
Grand Canyon National Park
Arizona
Thanks to packrafts, you can combine a world-class Grand Canyon backpacking journey with a jaunt down the river. has a six-day rim-to-rim trip where you鈥檒l hike into the canyon via the North Bass Trail, paddle across the Colorado River, then ascend the South Bass Trail. The $1,775 price tag includes all your camping and paddling gear and meals, plus transportation to and from Flagstaff, Arizona.
Saattut
Greenland
Gabriel Gersch is a 31-year-old adventurer who guided in Alaska鈥檚 Brooks Range before launching , a wilderness travel company that hosts expeditions across Europe. He bought his first packraft in 2010 and has undertaken trips through some of the world鈥檚 wildest mountain ranges from Patagonia to Pakistan. Gersch offers custom-made trips and logistical support for planning your own outing, coordinating details like budgeting, permitting, and food supplies. But the coolest thing about Gersch is that, for a relatively affordable fee, he鈥檒l let you join him on his own adventures. This summer and early fall, he鈥檚 leading passages across Greenland (from $3,402).
Tara River Canyon
Montenegro
To truly experience the Montenegro鈥檚 Tara River Canyon, one of the longest and deepest gorges in Europe, you鈥檒l have to take to the water. On this weeklong expedition from , you鈥檒l explore the 74-mile canyon through the mountains of Durmitor National Park, as well as the Mora膷a River and Bosnia鈥檚 Neretva River. The $721 trip includes transportation and guides, but not food, lodging, or gear. You鈥檒l have to pitch a tent or stay in the hotels and bungalows along the river. Most camps have food available, or pack your own.
Snake and Hoback Rivers
Jackson, Wyoming
Want to go off the grid in the Tetons? will rent you pretty much everything you need, including tents, backpacks, crampons, ultralight cookware, and, yes, packrafts. This summer, the company has teamed up with Rendezvous River Sports and the American Packrafting Association to offer guided trips on the area鈥檚 Snake and Hoback rivers. It鈥檚 also teaching two-day clinics that cover essentials skills like swiftwater rescue, paddling techniques, and river navigation.
Fiordland National Park
New Zealand
is New Zealand鈥檚 only packrafting guide company, and it specializes in tours of the South Island鈥檚 Fiordland National Park. The company鈥檚 day trips will see you paddling the Waiau River and hiking the renowned Kepler Track (from $202). Longer trips will take you deeper, covering up to 93 miles of rugged wilderness, crossing alpine lakes and camping on sandy beaches and isolated islands. Or you can sign up for a safety and skills course and head out on your own for as long as your heart desires.