7 Epic Places to Kayak Around the World
Kayaking in the stillness of nature—whether surrounded by the sheer cliffs of Norway’s dramatic fjords or the tropical coral-fringed islands of Indonesia's Raja Ampat—allows full immersion in the beauty of the extraordinary places we travel. Paddle past penguins in Antarctica, glide among curious sea lions in Galápagos or gaze at the mountainous coast of Kefalonia, Greece as you navigate azure waters.
Kayaks are one of the state-of-the-art tools on our expedition ships that help you experience the excitement and wonder of genuine exploration. Choose from single or tandem kayaks that are easy and fast to deploy in a range of landscapes. Avid kayakers will be eager to venture unaided, but if you’ve never kayaked before, our naturalists will provide paddling advice to make sure you are comfortable and confident on the water. While we have opportunities to kayak all around the world in myriad remote and remarkable places, these are some that truly stand out.
Greenland's East Coast
The world’s largest ice sheet covers 80 percent of Greenland, and paddling into the epic fjords along its eastern ice edge is an experience like no other. Thousands of icebergs float in the sea when the ice opens in summer, allowing access to pristine fjords with dramatic mountain views. In Scoresbysund, the planet’s largest fjord, we may encounter Atlantic walrus and beluga whales; and on the remote shores of this Arctic paradise, perhaps spy musk oxen or arctic fox. Another noteworthy paddling spot is Romerfjord, a freshwater fjord known for the distinctively shaped Elephant Foot Glacier. Our sharp-eyed naturalists have identified a thermal hot spring along the fjord so there might even be an opportunity to soak in this stunning spot after paddling.
Kayak Greenland's East Coast on:
Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland's East Coast
Arctic Edges: Iceland Westfjords to East Greenland
Photo: Ralph Lee Hopkins
Misty Fjords, Southeast Alaska
The largest wilderness area in Alaska’s national forests, Misty Fjords stretches across more than 2 million acres and protects snowcapped peaks, sea cliffs, pristine blue glacial lakes, and its namesake dramatic mist-shrouded fjords. Paddle along the forested banks underneath the branches of cedar, spruce, and hemlock trees that extend over the water. Cliffs rise thousands of feet straight from the deep blue water, and waterfalls burst from rocks millions of years old. Surrounded by this stunning landscape, keep a lookout for black and brown bears in meadows, harbor seals hauled out on rocky shores, and bald eagles in the thick forest canopy.
Kayak Misty Fjords on:
Alaska Escape: LeConte Bay, Wrangell and Misty Fjords
Photo: Andrew Peacock
Norway's Fjords
Norway’s legendary fjord-carved coast offers infinite possibilities to discover secluded inlets and coves by kayak, surrounded by jaw-droppingly beautiful sheer cliffs. Thread through the ice-carved narrows of Trollfjord, a channel filled with glacier-topped mountains and only accessible by small ship. Explore the picturesque Lofoten archipelago where villages are ringed by jagged peaks that rise straight from the sea. Or launch a kayak off Senja Island, the second largest in Norway, where you’ll paddle past white sandy beaches through waters so clear that the region was nicknamed the “Caribbean of the North.” In Tysfjorden, marvel at how a few small villages cling to rocky shores beneath near-vertical mountain walls.
Kayak Norway's Fjords on:
Norway's Fjords and Arctic Svalbard
Norwegian Discovery: Svalbard and the Northern Fjords
Coastal Norwegian Voyage: Between Tromsø and Edinburgh
Photo: Michael Melford
Antarctica
The world’s last great wilderness, Antarctica is an extraordinary place for kayaking when the conditions are right. Our experienced captains and expedition leaders monitor sea ice and weather and offer opportunities as much as possible to kayak in channels and coves framed by towering peaks. Penguin colonies are often close to the beach, so it might be possible to pause and observe these charismatic birds. You also might return with a photo of an exquisite arched iceberg or a leopard seal relaxing on an ice floe.
Gene Sloan, writing for The Points Guy, described his experience kayaking in Antarctica with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions: “I marveled at the glistening, water-carved ice pieces all around me. Holding as still as I could, I listened for the sounds of Antarctica, including the whoosh of passing sea birds [and] the splashing of the waterfalls in the distance.”
Kayak on our Antarctica voyages >
Photo: Ralph Lee Hopkins
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
One of the world’s richest marine areas, Raja Ampat is in the center of the Coral Triangle, a spectacular underwater ecosystem shared by six countries. While you definitely want to snorkel and dive here, kayaking offers another inspiring perspective on this remarkable region. There are more than 1,500 islands in Raja Ampat, many uninhabited. Experienced staff know the perfect locations to drop kayaks and explore calm inlets, sandy bays, and fringing reefs. Seventy-six percent of the world’s coral species can be found in these turquoise waters, drawing marine life that includes five of the world’s seven sea turtle species, manta rays, a variety of sharks, and 1,500 species of coral reef fish.
Kayak Raja Ampat on:
Indonesia’s Spice Islands and Raja Ampat Aboard Aqua Blu >
Bahia Borrero, Galápagos Islands
The magical islands of the Galápagos are full of wonders, from giant tortoises in the forested highlands to tiny penguins and blue-footed boobies along uninhabited shores. One of many habitats is a mangrove inlet called Bahia Borrero on Santa Cruz Island. The tranquil water here is clear, allowing unimpeded views of the marine life it attracts like golden cownose rays and white-tipped reef sharks, as well as abundant sea turtles during nesting season. As you paddle past the beautiful white coralline beach that lines this protected bay, keep an eye out for nesting brown pelicans, great blue herons, and other fascinating birdlife.
Kayak on our Galápagos Voyages >
Karimunjawa Archipelago
Jewels in the Java Sea between Java and Borneo, Indonesia’s Karimunjawa Archipelago is a sparsely inhabited and largely undiscovered paradise. Designated a Natural Reserve, a marine park protects the extraordinary biodiversity in marine ecosystems including extensive coral reefs and lush mangrove forests. Kayak along the sea grass of breathtaking coral-fringed islands and peer into the translucent water to perhaps spot hawksbill or green turtles, colorful coral, and some of the islands’ more than 400 species of fish. Look up into the trees for a glimpse of red-breasted parakeets or black-tailed monkeys, and as you paddle in serene surroundings, endeavor to find the point on the horizon where the sky ends and the blue water begins.
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