Kayak & canoe · PRIVATE DRIVERS
Good private car days run small and the great ones close out early. Below: the 12 to book ahead, what each includes and how they differ once you are afloat.
Spend 6 to 7 hours on Halong Bay aboard a modern cruise with a sky deck, pool, buffet lunch, kayaking, Surprise Cave, and Titop Island. English-speaking guides such as Mr Bean and Harry keep the day moving. Hanoi pickup is available, with a limousine upgrade for $10 each way.
“Luxurious boat, great activities, Mr Bean a great MC!”
Take a 10 to 12-hour Halong Bay day cruise from Hanoi with pickup, an English-speaking guide, buffet seafood lunch, Sung Sot Cave, kayaking or bamboo boat time, Titop Island, and a sunset party with fruit and red wine. The group is limited to 25 people.
“Views of halong was superb and the people is friendly great experience clean boat and good speaking English tour guides.. the food was average though could improve there.”
Spend about 12 hours traveling from Hanoi’s Old Quarter to Ha Long Bay, with a seafood lunch, Sung Sot Cave, Hang Luon kayaking or a bamboo boat, and swimming or hiking on Ti Top Island. Guides such as Viet, Duc, Huy, and Mr. Tiger keep the large group moving.
“Lleven tenis !!! Muchas escalera, está hermoso ! La comida bufette a mi gusto regular, pero todo lo demás est tan bueno, que lo del buffet queda atras.”
Choose a 4-star or 5-star overnight cruise from Hanoi, with a private cabin, meals, kayaking, swimming, and famous Halong Bay sights. The 5-star option adds a balcony, bathtub, cooking class, and morning Tai Chi. Transfers can also continue to Ninh Binh.
“This is definitely not a five star cruise. I can give them a three star. I saw other cruises around and can compare with the others that looks much better .”
Spend one night on a Lotus cruise through Halong and quieter Lan Ha Bay. You’ll kayak, visit Dark and Light Cave, join a cooking class, try squid fishing, and enjoy full meals. Guides such as Cody are noted for keeping activities lively and explaining local life.
“Wonderful trip to Ha Long Bay. Great cruise. Cody was a great guide and tour leader in the cruise. Food was great and there were a lot of activities. Thank you!”
Spend one night aboard a small Halong Bay cruise with an air-conditioned cabin, meals, an English-speaking guide, kayaking, cave visits, and island time. Your route may follow Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, or Lan Ha Bay, so confirm the chosen option before booking.
“Wonderful tour with such a great team. Welcoming, friendly, clear and helpful. Food was great and weather just made it ideal! Not a party boat so it is a great tour for solo travellers, couples and families (in my experience there was a bit of everything).”
Paddle about 10 kilometers through the Zrmanja gorge, small rapids, clear swimming holes, and waterfall drops. Guides such as Adam, Sarah, Becky, and Matej help with technique and safety. The trip lasts about five hours, with optional pickup from Zadar and equipment included.
“We had such a great time on this tour. The guides were amazing and the scenery was breathtaking. The water was so clear. We got a lovely sunny day for our trip which made the difference. When you arrive you’re greeted by the most welcoming team, you should arrive half an hour before your excursion time as stated in the instructions. This gives you time to get changed, use the bathroom, collect your equipment etc. you are provided with a life jacket, a helmet and some water shorts. I think they had water shoes too if you needed them but we took our own. Take your spare clothes in a…”
Paddle transparent kayaks through a calm Antigua mangrove bay, then take a clear boat to snorkel a reef. Guides explain local sea life, with pickup, showers, snacks, and rum punch included under the current transfer offer.
“Excellent and unique experience including glass bottom kayak, boat trip and snorkel in a part of Antigua few get to see. Recommend!”
Kayak through Ko Lanta’s Tung Yee Peng mangroves with guide Sing, spotting monkeys, birds, mudfish, and monitor lizards. Hotel pickup, equipment, water, lunch or dinner, fruit, and return transport are included. Choose a morning or afternoon departure.
“Great tour guide - Sing was really funny and showed us all the best spots down the Mangrove, including feeding the monkeys!! He made sure that people who were less confident at Kayaking were all doing ok The transport was smooth and picked us up on time. Would definitely recommend this tour, it was our highlight of Ko Lanta”
You’ll kayak through Klong Nam Sai lagoon from Klongroot Viewpoint Pier, with an English-speaking host, forest views, a short swim, fruit, water, and shared pickup from Ao Nang. The outing lasts 150 minutes, making it an easy half-day nature break.
“Small group which was perfect! Lovely staff and so friendly!”
From Foz do Iguaçu, your guide leads a 1.4 km Atlantic Forest hike to the Iguaçu River, where you kayak or paddle board for about an hour before a waterfall swim. Guides speak Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Confirm the SUP option before booking.
“There was no SUP option. I was disappointed. My husband enjoyed the activity but I thought it was boring. Far too many logistics to overcome and not enough time doing the activity, which was underwhelming - 20 mins hike, 20 -30 mins kayak, 30-40 mins at a waterfall, 20-30 mins kayak, 20 mins hike.”
You’ll travel from your Desaru Coast hotel to Sungai Lebam, ride a local boat upstream, then paddle for about 90 minutes through mangroves with an English or Malay-speaking guide. Expect birds, possible otters, calm water, and a fruit-farm stop afterward.
Pick the water, the hull or the hour.
