Best Kayaking Tour (2022)

Think downtown New York City isn’t the place to learn to kayak? Think again! Travel Expert Kyle McCarthy remarks, “It’s a great way to see the city!” Take the four-lesson Basics series Manhattan Kayak Company offers (with no cost for kayaks, paddles, and life jackets for beginners), then become a member and join the longer guided intermediate trips on the Hudson River. Paddle to hidden beaches or do laps in the cove, then relax on the waterfront patio with your new friends.
Photo courtesy of @manhattankayak

Certified local biologists lead every tour of Naples and Marco Island with Rising Tide Explorers. Paddle through mangrove tunnels and past mudflats in search of Southwest Florida wildlife, or glide through the waters of Rookery Bay Reserve for some spectacular birdwatching.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Young - Rising Tide Explorers

Cumberland Island, the Suwannee River, and the Okefenokee Swamp are a few places you can adventure off the beaten path in your kayak tours with Amelia Island Kayak Excursions. This company offers an exclusive experience exploring the ecosystems of the northern coastlines of Florida, with guided tours for every level of kayak expertise. Outdoor Travel Expert Lauren Gay tells us, “This is a great family-owned business. It’s not just a kayak tour, but they also give you a lot of history on tour about the area.” Two-, three-, and five-hour trips are available, and overnight excursions are also offered.
Photo courtesy of Amelia Island Kayak Excursions

Get Up And Go Kayaking uses clear kayaks that allow guests to soak up the scenery around them, as well as under them. Choose from tours in the Florida Keys, Winter Park, Tampa, Rainbow Springs, Crystal River, Vero Beach, Jupiter or Rock Springs.
Photo courtesy of Tony Catalano

Great Turtle Kayak Tours has been leading tours through the waterways of Mackinac Island for more than 20 years. Paddle at sunrise to Arch Rock and the Rock Maze, watch the sunset from Devil’s Kitchen near the Grand Hotel, circumnavigate the island or enjoy a challenging trip across the Straits of Mackinac to Round Island in Hiawatha National Forest.
Photo courtesy of Great Turtle Kayak Tours

Morgan's Canoe and Outdoor Adventure offers kayaking experiences in the eastern rivers of Ohio and Indiana in the US, as well as in other countries. Guests can experience the wonders of a Pacific rainforest at Morgan's newest location, a lodge near the ocean in Costa Rica.
Photo courtesy of maki_shmaki // Getty Images

Glass Bottom Rentals provide clear kayak rentals and tours at Boca Grande, Florida. Paddlers can view amazing marine wildlife through the glass-like bottoms of their kayaks. Many guided tour options are available for all levels of paddlers - eco-tours, shelling tours, sunset LED night tours, and more.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Starr

Located in British Columbia near the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Hello Nature Adventure Tours offers ocean kayaking for all levels of expertise – from beginner to experienced. Explore offshore islands and peaceful coves, low-impact wildlife watching tours, archaeological sites, and protected waters with highly experienced guides. Half-day, full-day, and multi-day trips are available for everything from watching whale migration to glamping to yoga retreats. Hello Nature is committed to protecting the coastal ecosystems through education and environmental stewardship.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Bradshaw

Maine State Sea Kayak seeks to introduce visitors to the “quiet side of Acadia” through guided kayaking tours. Keep an eye out for harbor seals, bald eagles, osprey, crabs, porpoises and sea stars as you paddle along the less-visited backside of Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park.
Photo courtesy of Brad Jordan

Sea Kayak Adventures, based in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, provides sea kayaking adventures across the globe. Their kayaking trips include familiar locations such as Baja, Mexico, and the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, but also less famous locations throughout the United States, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean.
Photo courtesy of Gary Luhm Photography