Kayak

Sea Kayaking in the Arctic offers you the opportunity to experience the ice, wildlife and sea life up close and personal in an intimate setting. While previous experience and basic kayaking skills are required, typically everything needed for your kayaking adventure is provided. Kayaking is done in small groups, led by qualified kayak guides.  

Kayaking involves excursions at the same time as shore landings and/or zodiac cruises for the rest of the passengers, conditions permitting. For ships that offer full kayaking programs, the goal is to offer multiple kayak outings. The exact number of outings will depend on the sea, ice and weather conditions as safety is always number one priority. Outings may involve paddling through brash ice, near ice floes with wildlife, always keeping a safe distance. Paddles generally range from 1.5 – 3 hours depending on the location and conditions. The kayaking guide will brief the kayakers before each excursion to advise what the kayaking plan is for the outing and give the option of paddling or going on the excursion with the rest of the passengers. 

Joining the kayaking program is an additional cost on most ships and is the same price whether you kayak just once or every time it is offered. Kayaking is limited to a small group of paddlers (the number depends on the ship). Advanced reservations are required and subject to availability at the time requested. It is not possible for multiple people to share 1 kayaking spot. For safety reasons there is a minimum age requirement (actual age depends on the ship) and kayakers must speak English. 

Please note a few ships have kayaks and may allow passengers to kayak just once but do not offer full kayak programs with multiple outings. Our staff has a lot of experiencing kayaking in the Polar regions so please inquire for more information and to find out what kayaking opportunities may be available for the voyage you are considering. 

The Cost for kayaking depends on the ship.