Guided Tours
The best way to experience the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, in Monterey Bay or Elkhorn Slough. Our guides are trained naturalists, and the group sizes are small to provide personal attention. The paddling pace is leisurely, with plenty of time to watch and enjoy the wildlife.
- Kayaking and Yoga
- Monterey Bay 2 Hour Family Adventure Tour
- Elkhorn Slough 2 Hour Family Adventure Tour
- Monterey Bay 3 Hour Natural History Guided Tour
- Elkhorn Slough 3 Hour Natural History Guided Tour
- Monterey Bay Sunday Sunrise Paddle
- Summer Sunset Tours
- Birdwatching Tours
- Ride the Tide Tours
- Ride the Tide - Reserve Hike and Paddle Tours
- Monthly Full Moon Tours
- Coastal Expeditions - 5 Hours
- Coastal Expeditions - 5 Hours
- Kids Paddling Club
Choose a Location
Kayak Monterey Bay along the sheltered waters of Monterey Harbor, Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row
Kayak Elkhorn Slough at Moss Landing harbor and paddle inland into the coastal wetland wildlife reserve
Elkhorn Slough Tours
Peaceful coastal wetland and wildlife habitat
Enjoy the Elkhorn Slough experience.
Kayaking and Yoga
Monterey
Need some balance in your boat or in your life? Looking to develop more strength and flexibility? Our kayaking and yoga class will do just that! In this class you will develop strength, stability, and stamina by doing yoga on beach and working up a sweat paddling on the beautiful Monterey Bay. But this experience is not just about fitness—it is also a great opportunity to view wildlife on the bay along with your instructor, who is also a trained naturalist! Join us for two hours of paddling and an hour of yoga.
| Price: | $60.00 |
| Group Rates: | 10% discount for 12 or more people |
| Times: | First Sunday of every month in Monterey: 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
2 Hours - Family Adventure Tours
Monterey or Elkhorn Slough (with open deck kayaks, recommended for families with children 3-12 years of age)
This shorter tour is a perfect, quick getaway to discover the wonders of the bay! Both locations provide wonderful wildlife and paddling adventures.
We use open deck doubles for their ease of paddling and stability. You might get a little splashed. Your choice of wetsuits, paddling jackets and pants and all kayak gear are included.
Bring bathing suits, lightweight, quick drying tops and bottoms to adjust for weather, shoes that can get wet, towel, and dry clothes for when you return.
| Price: | $50.00 for adults $30.00 for children ages 3-12 |
| Group Rates: | 10% discount for 12 or more people |
| Times: |
10:00am-12:00pm Daily 2:00pm-4:00pm Daily Other times may be arranged. Please call! |
3 Hours - Natural History Tour
Monterey or Elkhorn Slough (with closed deck kayaks)
You'll enjoy spending more time on the water exploring our unique habitats, renowned for their beauty and abundant marine life. Closed deck kayaks are longer boats that provide a drier, stable ride, allowing us to go further and faster! A true sea kayak experience! Recommended for beginners ages 12 and up.
You might get a little splashed, so paddling jackets, pants, life jackets and all kayak gear are included.
Wear lightweight, quick drying tops and bottoms to adjust for weather, shoes that can get wet, towel, and dry clothes for when you return (just in case).
Reservations recommended. Click for more info, directions, hours, weather and other useful visitor links!
| Price: | $60.00 |
| Group Rates: | 10% discount for 12 or more people. |
| Times: | 9:30am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-4:30pm daily |
Monterey Bay Sunday Sunrise Paddle
Gain a new early morning perspective on the Monterey Bay by single kayak. Recommended for ages 13 and older.
Every Sunday morning, 7:00am - 9:00am.
Summer Sunset Tours
Monterey or Elkhorn Slough (with closed deck kayaks)
Summer is the time to enjoy the Bay or the Slough during sunset. The sky and water are bathed in a beautiful light—a great time to join the marine life and enjoy this peaceful part of the day!
You might get a little splashed, so paddling jackets, pants, life jackets and all kayak gear are included.
Wear lightweight, quick drying tops and bottoms to adjust for weather, shoes that can get wet, towel, and dry clothes for when you return (just in case).
| Price: | $50.00 per person |
| Dates and Times: | The Sunset tours will resume in May 2010. |
Birdwatching Tours
monthly at Elkhorn Slough
With over three hundred species of birds living in or migrating to the Elkhorn Slough year round, our kayaking tours provide an excellent opportunity to view this amazing wildlife firsthand. Each season throughout the year yields different bird varieties and behaviors. From giant Great Blue Herons to tiny Plovers, an astounding variety of birds can be viewed during these exciting and informative three-hour tours. Our knowledgeable staff will help identify and discuss the fascinating behaviors of the many bird species you will encounter on this unique paddling experience.
You might get a little splashed, so paddling jackets, pants, life jackets and all kayak gear are included.
Wear lightweight, quick drying tops and bottoms to adjust for weather, shoes that can get wet, towel, and dry clothes for when you return (just in case).
| Price: | $50.00 per person, includes boats and gear |
| Dates/Times: |
Sat, Feb 13, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sun, Feb 14, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sat, Mar 13, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sun, Mar 14, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sat, Apr 10, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sun, Apr 11, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sat, May 8, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sun, May 9, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sat, Jun 12, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sun, Jun 13, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sat, Jul 10, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sun, Jul 11, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sat, Aug 14, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sun, Aug 15, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sat, Sep 11, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sun, Sep 12, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sat, Oct 9, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sun, Oct 10, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sat, Nov 13, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sun, Nov 14, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sat, Dec 11, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Sun, Dec 12, 2010, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM |
Ride the Tide Tours
Elkhorn Slough
Winter at the Elkhorn Slough is a very special time. Not only are the marine mammals here year-round, but many of the 340 recorded species of birds spend their Winter at this unique ecological treasure.
Trips are scheduled during the days of the year with the biggest tidal differences of more than 6 feet. It's a wonderful opportunity to view winter bird activity during the low tides, as well as paddle more of the slough with less effort. We launch from Kirby Park after high tide, and glide our kayaks with the increasing current towards Moss Landing's North Harbor. As the tide gets lower, shorebirds swoop in to take advantage of the exposed mudflats, making it a great time to bird watch. Toward the end of the trip, seals and sea otters meet us, as we get closer to the ocean and North Harbor. This trip is available to anyone in good physical condition.
It is usually colder this time of year, so your choice of wetsuit, paddling jackets, pants, life jackets and all kayak gear are included.
Wear bathing suits, lightweight, quick drying tops and bottoms to adjust for weather, shoes that can get wet, towel, and dry clothes for when you return (just in case).
| Price: | $65.00 per person, includes shuttle, boats, gear |
| Dates/Times: |
Tue, Jan 12, 2010, 9:30 AM-1:00PM Wed, Jan 13, 2010, 10:00 AM-1:30 PM Thu, Jan 14, 2010, 10:30 AM-2:00 PM Fri, Jan 15, 2010, 11:00 AM-2:30 PM Sat, Jan 16, 2010, 11:30 AM-3:00 PM Sun, Jan 17, 2010, 12:00 PM-3:30 PM Tue, Jan 26, 2010, 9:00 AM-12:30 PM Wed, Jan 27, 2010, 9:30 AM-1:00 PM Thu, Jan 28, 2010, 10:30 AM-1:30 PM Fri, Jan 29, 2010, 10:30 AM-2:00 PM Sat, Jan 30, 2010, 11:00 AM-2:30 PM Sun, Jan 31, 2010, 11:30 AM-3:00 PM Mon, Feb 1, 2010, 12:00 PM-3:30 PM Mon, Feb 8, 2010, 9:00 AM-12:30 PM Tue, Feb 9, 2010, 9:30 AM-1:00 PM Wed, Feb 10, 2010, 10:00 AM-1:30 PM Thu, Feb 11, 2010, 10:30 AM-2:00 PM Fri, Feb 12, 2010, 11:00 AM-2:30 PM Sat, Feb 13, 2010, 11:30 AM-3:00 PM Thu, Feb 25, 2010, 9:00 AM-12:30 PM Fri, Feb 26, 2010, 9:30 AM-1:00 PM Sat, Feb 27, 2010, 10:00 AM-1:30 PM Sun, Feb 28, 2010, 11:00 AM-2:30 PM Mon, March 1, 2010, 11:30 AM-3:00 PM Fri, March 26, 2010, 9:00 AM-12:30 PM Sat, March 27, 2010, 9:30 AM-1:00 PM Sun, March 28, 2010, 10:00 AM-1:30 PM |
Ride the Tide - Reserve Hike and Paddle Tours
Elkhorn Slough
This is a special opportunity to see two different sides of the Slough. Start off with a hiking tour of the Elkhorn Slough Visitors Center then paddle your kayaks back to the shop on a falling winter tide. After the hike we will head to launch our boats from Kirby Park after the high tide, and glide our kayaks with the increasing current towards Moss Landing's North Harbor. This combination of hiking and kayaking will give you a unique opportunity to explore both the inland trails of the Slough as well as the tidal flats throughout the Slough. This trip is available to anyone in good physical condition.
It is usually colder this time of year, so your choice of wetsuit, paddling jackets, pants, life jackets and all kayak gear are included.
Wear bathing suits, lightweight, quick drying tops and bottoms to adjust for weather, shoes that can get wet, towel, and dry clothes for when you return (just in case).
| Price: | $75.00 per person, includes shuttle, boats, gear |
| Dates/Times: |
Sun, Jan 17, 2010, 11:00 AM-3:30 PM Sun, Jan 31, 2010, 10:30 AM-3:00 PM Sun, Feb 28, 2010, 10:00 AM-2:30 PM Sun, March 28, 2010, 9:00 AM-1:30 PM |
Monthly Full Moon Tours
Magic on Elkhorn Slough (2-½ hours)
Come join us each month for a magical blend of moonlight, water and kayaking on the Elkhorn Slough. We'll head out as the sun begins to set and then explore the area under a silver sky. A special and memorable experience.
You might get a little splashed, so paddling jackets, pants, life jackets and all kayak gear are included.
Wear lightweight, quick drying tops and bottoms to adjust for weather, shoes that can get wet, towel, and dry clothes for when you return (just in case).
| Price: | $50.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Group Rates: | 10% discount for 12 or more people. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dates/Times: |
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Coastal Expeditions
Point Pinos, Point Lobos, Moss Landing, or Elkhorn Slough (5 hours)
Explore more of the Monterey Peninsula's beautiful coastal areas. Paddling these places requires more experience and skill but the rewards are worth it! Stretch your muscles and challenge yourself with these exciting tours led by our instructor/guides.
Each month's expedition will be determined by weather forecast for that week and seasonal factors. Sign up and be prepared for an adventure to any of these destinations:
- Point Pinos - Start at Monterey Beach and paddle to the tip of the Monterey Peninsula and get a view of the southern coast. This is also in the migratory path of the California Grey whale.
- Point Lobos - Launch from Whaler's cove, explore cliffs, rock gardens, sea caves and enjoy the exceptionally beautiful scenery from the water.
- Moss Landing Oceanside - Paddle west 2 to 3 miles out of Moss Landing harbor and you might be paddling with the Blue and Humpback whales feeding over the enormous Monterey Bay Canyon.
- Entire Elkhorn Slough - 10 miles with or without the help of the tides. Tidal creeks, birds, marine mammals - all in one day!
Wetsuits, paddling jackets, life jackets and all kayak gear are included.
Wear lightweight, quick drying tops and bottoms to adjust for weather, shoes that can get wet, towel, and dry clothes for when you return (just in case).
| Price: | $120.00 (includes open-deck or closed-deck singles or doubles) |
| Requirements: | Previous sea kayaking experience and ability to paddle approximately 8 miles in open ocean conditions. Self-rescues a must if paddling closed deck kayaks. |
| Dates and Times: |
All trips start at 9:00am
Sat, Jan 16, 2010 Sun, Jan 17, 2010 Sat, Feb 20, 2010 Sun, Feb 21, 2010 Sat, March 20, 2010 Sun, March 21, 2010 Sat, April 17, 2010 Sun, April 18, 2010 Sat, May 15, 2010 Sun, May 16, 2010 Sat, June 19, 2010 Sun, June 20, 2010 Sat, July 17, 2010 Sun, July 18, 2010 Sat, Aug 21, 2010 Sun, Aug 22, 2010 Sat, Sept 18, 2010 Sun, Sept 19, 2010 Sat, Oct 16, 2010 Sun, Oct 17, 2010 Sat, Nov 20, 2010 Sun, Nov 21, 2010 Sat, Dec 18, 2010 Sun, Dec 19, 2010 |
Kids Paddling Club
Kids Paddling Club is an excellent opportunity for all our Kids Camp graduates to get out on the water at a new paddling destination. Each week we will have a new activity for the Club members that will test their paddling knowledge while teaching them about the unique ecosystem that is the Elkhorn Slough Natural Reserve. Some of the Club topics will be:
Birding Bingo Bonanza
This activity will teach kids about the great diversity of bird life that calls the Elkhorn Slough home. We will focus on the differences and similarities between the resident and migratory bird populations all in a fun "Bingo" game format.
Hidden Treasures of the Elkhorn Slough
This activity will introduce the participants to parts of the Slough that they may not normally encounter. Kids will take mud samples from different parts of the Slough to investigate the creatures that live within the mud flats.
Reading & Riding Tides
In this activity the kids will learn about how the tides can affect both the slough and kayakers. The shape of Elkhorn Slough allows for a significant tidal flow during certain times of the year. We will learn how the animals adapt to tidal changes, and how kayakers can cope with and harness the tidal swings.
| Price: | $30.00 per person |
| Dates and Times: |
Sun, Jan 17, 2010, 2:00pm Sun, Jan 24, 2010, 2:00pm Sun, Jan 31, 2010, 2:00pm Sun, Feb 7, 2010, 2:00pm Sun, Feb 14, 2010, 2:00pm Sun, Feb 21, 2010, 2:00pm Sun, Feb 28, 2010, 2:00pm |
Frequent Paddler Packages
All rates are per person:
Package #1
$100 for 2 months of unlimited rentals/demos of our kayaks at both locations, and Stand Up Paddleboards in Monterey. A great way to try out all the different models that we have available. The $100 can then be applied to any new boat purchase within 60 days.
Package #2
$250 for 2 months of unlimited rentals, and select classes and tours at both locations. Classes include Intro to Sea Kayaking, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Re-entry and Rescue Techniques, Surf Zone, Surfing in Kayaks, and any pool session (does not include rolling or private classes). Guided tours include any 2- or 3-hour Natural History, Sunset, Full Moon, and Bird Watching tour. Your $250 can then be applied to any touring kayak purchase within 60 days.
