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What Tour Guides Want You To Know About Choosing Kayaking Tours

By April Briggs


As people become more interested in the environment, so too does their interest in getting out and experiencing nature. One excellent way of doing this is by taking one of the many kayaking tours that are available. There are many variables to consider when looking at these tours. Here is what every tour guide wants you to know so that you can pick the right one for you.

The first thing to do is learn exactly what these boats are and what their advantages are. They are extremely buoyant and are designed so that they can navigate rapids as well as the calm waters of lakes and slow moving rivers. Paddlers use a special paddle that has a blade on each end of a central shaft. It can be used to propel the boat through the water and alter its course so it can be steered in the precise direction the paddler wants it to go.

A tour by kayak will usually entail paddling for a set distance per day. You may move from campsite to campsite. There are tours geared to different experience levels with more challenging conditions generally being left for more experienced paddlers. Beginning kayakers may want to look for shorter tours that take place over calm water.

Your fitness level is also going to be a factor in which tour is right for you. For example, someone who is not used to regular exercise may not want to have to battle rough water or carry a kayak over a long portage. It is important to work with your fitness level and not end up overestimating how in shape you are. You may end up getting injured which can be a problem if you are in the middle of the wilderness when your injury occurs.

If you are traveling somewhere on vacation, you may want to look and see if they have tours available. For example, many coastal areas will have sea tours that can be a great way to see marine mammals like whales or dolphins. Others may allow to you explore cave systems or other areas along waterways from a unique perspective.

Guides also want you to do your homework about the equipment that will be needed. Does the company running the tour have boats that you can use? Will you need to supply your own boat, paddle, life jacket and helmet? It can be very frustrating if someone arrives for a tour when they are unprepared and do not have the items they will need.

You may also be surprised to learn that the needed kit list may extend beyond the boat itself. For example, some will involve camping rather than staying in a hotel or cabin. A touring company may not have the equipment that you would need while you are participating in your tour. You may be able to rent some but you need to make arrangements for this before you show up for the tour itself. You may also want to make sure that this includes any food that you will eat while on the tour itself.

Tour guides love taking paddlers on these excursions. What can make the entire experience much more fun and enjoyable is to do your research, be honest with yourself about what you are capable of handling, and to make sure you are properly equipped for the conditions you will encounter.




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