Kayak & canoe · ITALY KAYAKING TOURS
Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 italy kayaking tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to packing a dry bag.
You’ll kayak from Spiaggia dei Baracconi with guides such as Marco, Emmanuel, Maria, or Vincent, following the safest route for the day. Expect calm instruction, dolphin watching near a sea fish farm, snorkeling at Cala Moresca or Figarolo, and Sardinian snacks with drinks. Dolphin sightings are possible, never promised.
“Great activity, I recommend to book earliest in the morning. It'll be worth it :)”
Paddle from Marina Piccola into Capri’s sea caves and along quiet stretches of coast with an English or Italian guide. You’ll receive a safety lesson, kayak gear, life jacket, dry bag, and GoPro photos. Guides such as Daniele, Francesco, Pasquale, and Christopher help beginners, point out Roman waterworks, and stop for swimming in clear blue water.
“Brilliant activity. All the staff were friendly and attentive. Our guide was fantastic- really engaging! The tour was the perfect amount of time and the experience was great. Thank you for having us!”
Escape Rome for a three-hour kayak tour on volcanic Lake Albano. Guides such as Simone, Enrico, Andrea, and Matteo help beginners paddle past Castel Gandolfo, Domitian’s Roman port, and the Pope’s Trampoline. Swim from a secluded shore, enjoy pizza, then return by van to Anagnina.
“amzing. refreshing activity in an otherwise hot week. Andrea, Andrea and Enrico took their time showing, explaining and getting everyone on board. all with a smile. nice explanation, beautifull views. overall, highly recomended!”
Spend about three hours kayaking around Lake Albano with guides such as Alex, Michael, or Carlotta. After a short lesson, paddle past Le Macine, the Pope’s diving board, and old hermits’ houses, then stop for a swim, water, and pizza. Pickup is available from Anagnina Metro station.
“This was a great experience away from the busy city of Rome. Laura picked us up at the train station and provided a great time from start to finish.”
Set out from Pescallo near Bellagio in an open-deck kayak with a local guide such as Michele, Mich, or Daniele. After a safety briefing and paddling lesson, circle the Bellagio peninsula, passing Villa Serbelloni, Punta Spartivento, Villa Fanny, and the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni. Expect beautiful views, light exercise, and a good chance of getting wet.
“Great way to start the morning! We learned a lot from the guide and it was well organized. The views from the water were beautiful!”
Join RVK Real Venetian Kayak for a guided paddle through Venice’s smaller canals and possibly the lagoon. You receive a kayak, paddle, life vest, and safety instruction. Guides such as Nev, Darryl, Lorenzo, Toph, and Boris lead small groups of up to six, with evening departures available and no previous kayaking required.
“Highly recommend. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. A truly unique way to experience the canals of Venice at night.”
Paddle from Baracconi Beach near Golfo Aranci to Cala Moresca and Figarolo Island with an English-speaking guide. You’ll learn basic kayak skills, snorkel among fish and starfish, enjoy Sardinian snacks and drinks, and look for bottlenose dolphins near the fish farm. Guides including Maria, Emmanuel, Marco, and Francesco have been praised for patient instruction.
“It was a perfect tour and we can totally recommend the trip. We even had luck and spotted dolphins after we had some aperitif. We booked the afternoon tour, which was a great choice as seeing the sun go down while we're in the Kayak :) The guides were really helpful, nice and funny. So all in all a wonderful experience!”
Paddle through Cannaregio, Venice’s canals, and part of the lagoon with an English or Italian guide. Groups are capped at six, making this a friendly choice for beginners, families, and couples. Guides such as Darryl, Lorenzo, Thomas, and the Irish Pirate add history, humor, and patient kayak instruction.
“One in a life time experience to see Venice from a new perspective”
Set out from Lungomare Luigi Rizzo at 10 a.m. for a seven-hour boat trip around Lampedusa. Expect swimming stops, SUP, snorkeling, a seafood lunch, and views of La Tabaccara. Pietro, Marino, or Giuseppe may be among the crew, though staffing can vary.
Paddle from Marina Grande with guides such as Valentina and Christian, stopping at Bagni della Regina Giovanna for a 30-minute swim and photo break. The two-hour trip suits first-time paddlers and includes single or double kayaks, safety gear, dry bags, water, showers, changing facilities, and free guide-taken photos.
“The tour was everything we hoped it would be. Valentina was very competent and patient guide. If I were to make one suggestion. I would say it would have been good to know there was a place to change and store personal belongings. I would have brought extra clothes and not had to walk home with we clothes. A minor detail. I would do the tour over again tomorrow”
Paddle east from Maiori with guides including Danilo, Salvatore, Danny, and Nicola, passing the Norman Tower, Acquachiara beach, and Grotta di Pandora. You’ll get kayak instruction, safety gear, snorkeling equipment, fresh fruit, water, and photos sent by email. Expect a friendly half-day outing with some real paddling.
“Incredible experience. Well worth the money, it was my favorite part of my trip. The guides are incredibly kind and friendly, and everything is run very well. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to go on a little adventure and see one of the most beautiful places in the world in a really exciting way.”
Join Carnassa Cinque Terre Kayak Tour in Monterosso for two hours on a sit-on-top kayak, with local guides such as Chiara sharing stories about the coast, villages, and sea. You’ll paddle past caves and waterfalls, stop to snorkel, and return to showers and changing rooms at the meeting point.
“This was a wonderful excursion for our family of 4 (including 2 teenagers). Chiara kept us going at a good pace, and we had plenty of time to swim & snorkel. Our kids even got to jump off some high (not too high) rocks. She shared information about what we were seeing and had great recommendations during our visit. I highly recommend!”
Meet at Spiaggia delle Acque Calde for a two-hour paddle along Vulcano’s east coast. Your guide supplies the kayak, paddle, life jacket, helmet, dry bag, and wet shoes, then leads you through caves, arches, thermal water, and clear snorkeling stops. Open or closed kayaks depend on weather and season.
“Très bon guide ! Avec une excellente réactivité.”
Paddle from Marina Piccola past Via Krupp, Grotta dell’Acqua, a Green Grotto, Arco della Stella, and the Faraglioni. Guides including Daniele, Francesco, and Christopher teach beginners, lead an optional swim, and take GoPro photos. The 90-minute tour costs $52.99, requires swimming ability, and depends on sea conditions.
“It was fantastic. Would definitely do it again. Highly recommended. Sun was shining and the water was so clear”
Join Philipp for a three-hour kayak trip from Spiaggia dei Baracconi to Cala Moresca, Figarolo, and Golfo Aranci’s fish farm. You’ll paddle in a group of no more than nine, swim and snorkel, enjoy Sardinian food and drinks, and watch for dolphins. Tours run in English, German, or Italian, with morning and sunset snack options.
“This was like one of the most satisfying experiences ever here. The tour guide was this super enthusiastic polyglot who could effortlessly switch between three languages like it's NBD. He was lowkey the most attentive guide ever, making sure every single traveler was vibing with the experience the whole time. Even I’m alone for the trip, he also made my day. Every single beach we hit up was straight fire! They hooked us up with all the snorkeling gear, plus snacks and drinks - the whole nine yards. I was like, beyond stoked with everything! Highly recommended!!”
Pick a coast, a cave or a river.
