SAVE UP TO 25% ON SELECT ANTARCTIC & ARCTIC VOYAGES
Close

Sea Kayaking Vacations

One of the most exhilarating ways to experience Antarctica, the Arctic and beyond.

Sea kayaking holidays in the humbling wilderness of Antarctica, the Arctic, and some of the world’s most biodiverse regions, are guaranteed to stir your soul. Paddle around brash ice and near icebergs of all shapes and sizes, absorbing the majestic scenery as it unfolds before you.

This Kayaking Program was created by kayakers for kayakers! Our program style offers the chance to develop and enhance your skills and to connect with our expert guides and your fellow Expeditioners. Participating with the small group through your voyage will minimise wasted time with briefings and equipment tryouts and maximise time on the water.

All of our Expert Guides are professional kayak guides, who have led trips around the world, specialise in the Polar Regions and have been chosen for their passion for the sport.

Kayaking is one of the best ways to access and intimately explore the beautiful coastlines we visit and make the most of your time in the wild and remote destinations we visit.

You have the option to discuss with the guides what you want out of your trip and they will help with recommendations on when to paddle, when to go ashore and when it’s possible to do both in one outing.

Our purpose-built ships have been designed with the activities in mind, each equipped with dedicated space for our high-end equipment, including Kokatat dry suits, Seals sprayskirts, PFD’s from Astral and paddles from Werner and Aqua Bound.

Please note:

  • Kayakers must be 14 years or over. A Parent or Guardian’s signature is required for participants between 14 and 18 years old.
  • There is upper size limit in the drysuits we provide onboard. If you cannot find a suitable size within our range and you would like to bring your own, please contact our Activity Specialist to discuss in more detail.
  • Travel Insurance is mandatory on all Aurora Expeditions voyages. An additional policy or premium may be required to ensure you have adequate coverage for including this activity.

Sea kayaking holidays in the humbling wilderness of Antarctica, the Arctic, and some of the world’s most biodiverse regions, are guaranteed to stir your soul. Paddle around brash ice and near icebergs of all shapes and sizes, absorbing the majestic scenery as it unfolds before you.

This Kayaking Program was created by kayakers for kayakers! Our program style offers the chance to develop and enhance your skills and to connect with our expert guides and your fellow Expeditioners. Participating with the small group through your voyage will minimise wasted time with briefings and equipment tryouts and maximise time on the water.

Kayaking is one of the best ways to access and intimately explore the beautiful coastlines we visit and make the most of your time in the wild and remote destinations we visitYou have the option to discuss with the guides what you want out of your trip and they will help with recommendations on when to paddle, when to go ashore and when it’s possible to do both in one outing.

Our purpose-built ships have been designed with the activities in mind, each equipr with dedicated space for our high-end equipment, including Kokatat dry suits, Seals sprayskirts, PFD’s from Astral and paddles from Werner and Aqua Bound.

Top reasons to choose Sea Kayaking

See wildlife unobtrusively

Kayaking is one of the best ways to spot rare wildlife, from penguins to puffins.

Better access


Access intimate bays and coves that bigger crafts can't reach.​

Knowledgeable guides


Our experienced sea kayak guides will help bring your chosen destination to life.

Become an expert


Hone your kayaking skills and gain a hobby for life!

Make friends


Become lifelong friends with your small group of like-minded adventurers.

Stay fit on your holiday

Being active every day on your holiday means you don't have to feel guilty about being spoilt by our expert chefs!

Enhance your experience

Add another layer to your once-in-a-lifetime holiday and make the most out of your time in some of the most remote places on earth.

It's fun!


Have the time of your life exploring some of the wildest places on earth from the water.

Sea Kayaking FAQs

There are 20 paces available and our guide to paddler ratio is 1:10 and we provide an accompanying safety Zodiac.

Kayakers must be 14 or over. Parent or Guardian’s signature is required for participants between 14 and 18 years old.

Sea kayaking is offered in place of regular shore excursions. We aim to paddle as often as possible. Depending on the voyage, we generally aim to paddle twice per day.

We will give you a drybag for extra clothing, binoculars and anything that needs to be kept dry. You should also carry a water bottle. We recommend bringing a waterproof camera or phone, or ensuring you have a good quality waterproof case.

If the weather changes during our outing we will head back to the ship and perhaps join a shore excursion. The ship’s captain, expedition leader and kayak guide always maintain close contact to ensure a safe paddling experience. We do not attempt to paddle too far away from the ship. The emphasis is on experiencing the destination rather than travelling long distances.

The kayaks are made with a hard plastic and are easily paddled in swell and conducting shore landings, and through small patches of brash ice. We manoeuvre around the larger ice chunks and floes.

Polar regions

Kayaking in the poles offers a unique wildlife viewing experience. In Antarctica, we have many opportunities to encounter penguins, seals and whales, and occasionally we may even spot leopard seals or orcas. In the Arctic, we’ll paddle under nesting bird colonies, past massive glaciers and around large icebergs, however we maintain a safe distance from polar bears and walruses. Our guides carry rifles and flare guns in the Arctic to ensure your safety against polar bears.

Temperate regions

Kayakers in wild temperate regions will have a unique wildlife experience, with possible encounters with seals and basking sharks. You will have the opportunity to view some of the largest sea bird colonies in the northern hemisphere.

Tropical regions

The superb wildlife-viewing opportunities are endless in the astonishingly biodiverse nature reserves we visit. Kayaks offer a unique opportunity to view marine and land mammals, coral reefs, tropical fish, sea birds and an astonishing range of rainforest birds. We will bring our snorkelling gear with us during our paddles and take advantage of any opportunities to view marine life up close.

In the unlikely event of a capsize, your experienced guide will assist by righting the kayak, stabilising it then pumping it out. Paddlers will re-enter with the guide’s help, or with a support Zodiac. With drysuits and warm clothing underneath you will be comfortable in cold water for up to half an hour. Note that the kayaks have separate compartments with bulkheads, which means they will float after a capsize.

No. Each kayaking place is for one person only. We value a program style that maintains participants through trip to maximise skill progression, group bonding and dynamics, and minimise wasted time with briefings and equipment tryouts.

Contact Us


Expert Guides

Alex Chavanne

Sea Kayaking Specialist

Read more >

Daniel Stavert

Expedition Leader

Read more >

Eamon Larkin

Kayak Guide

Read more >

Peter Wainwright

Kayak Guide & Ski Guide

Read more >

Liz MacNeil

Kayak Guide

Read more >

Ivan Klochkov

Kayak Guide

Read more >

Gabby Bruce

Kayak Guide

Read more >

Call Now | Find an Expedition