Alaska Rainbow Adventures distinguishes itself from similar float fishing trip operations through a combination of factors, focusing on providing a comfortable and high-quality wilderness experience a step above the ordinary fare. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences:
1. Accommodation and Camp Comfort:
- Spacious, Alaska-made tents: Unlike some operators that use smaller expedition-style tents, Alaska Rainbow Adventures utilizes large, robust tents made in Alaska, often 10×10 feet, providing ample space for two anglers and their gear. These tents are designed and manufactured to withstand harsh Alaska weather conditions.
- Comfortable cots and chairs: A significant upgrade from sleeping directly on the ground, their deluxe and standard trips include comfortable cots and chairs within the tents, offering a more restful and enjoyable camping experience. Some other “standard” operations might not even provide cots.
- Dining tent and screened area: Their “Alaska Lodge Style Float Trips” feature a custom-built dining tent and screened area (which can also be enclosed) and is large enough to accommodate the entire group. This provides a comfortable space for meals and socializing, especially during inclement weather or when insects are prevalent.
- Shower facilities: While still a wilderness experience, their deluxe trips offer limited shower facilities, a notable amenity not always found on other float trips.
2. Raft and Fishing Experience:
- Custom-built rafts with seating: Their rafts are custom-designed with front and rear seating. This setup enhances the fishing experience by providing comfortable and stable casting positions. Some other operations might have simpler rafts without dedicated seating.
- Gear boats on deluxe trips: The “Fisherman’s Deluxe” option includes a separate gear boat, allowing the fishing rafts to be lighter and more maneuverable, providing access to more fishing spots. This reduces clutter in the angler’s raft and maximizes fishing space. On those “Fisherman’s Deluxe” trips, the extra guide and gear boat precede the guests to the next campsite location and set up camp.
- Guide ratio: Alaska Rainbow Adventures features a 2:1 guest-to-guide ratio in the rafts on their standard and deluxe trips, ensuring personalized attention and enhanced fishing support. Some other operations might have a higher guest-to-guide ratio in each raft.
- Maneuverable rafts: Their emphasis on custom rafts, especially the lighter ones in the “Fisherman’s Deluxe” program, allows guides to navigate rivers more effectively and access fishing runs that might be unreachable with heavily loaded rafts.
3. Trip Styles and Flexibility:
- Multiple service levels: They offer different tiers of trips, including “Intimate Rivers,” “Standard,” and “Deluxe” (including “Fisherman’s Deluxe”), catering to various preferences and budgets.
- The “Intimate Rivers” option is often comparable to what other operators offer as “standard.” Utilizing mountaineering-style tents and sleeping pads on the ground.
- All other trips, be it called Standard, Deluxe, or Fisherman’s Deluxe, feature the same camp options with ten-by-ten guest tents for two guests and a large dining tent able to hold the entire group.
- Guide rotation: On some trips, anglers have the option to rotate guides daily, allowing them to benefit from the expertise of all the guides.
- Custom trips: They offer the possibility of custom-tailored trips based on target species, available time, and desired wilderness experience when booked far enough in advance.
4. Focus on Wilderness Experience and Comfort:
- Emphasis on safety and comfort: While providing a remote wilderness experience, Alaska Rainbow Adventures prioritizes guest safety and comfort with top-of-the-line equipment and experienced guides.
- Experienced, knowledgeable guides: Their guides possess extensive knowledge of the rivers, fishing techniques, and the Alaskan wilderness, enhancing the overall trip experience.
- Exclusivity: They operate on rivers with limited access, often requiring floatplanes and special use permits, providing a more secluded and less crowded fishing experience.
In summary, the difference in Alaska Rainbow Adventures’ float trip camps often lies in a greater emphasis on comfort through higher-quality camping equipment (spacious tents with cots and chairs, dining tents), enhanced fishing experiences (custom rafts with seating, gear boats on some trips, favorable guide ratios), and a range of service levels to suit different needs, exceeding the standard offerings of other similar operations. They aim to provide a “lodge-like” experience within a wilderness float trip setting.