NaPali Kayak Tours
Kayaking the Na Pali Coast has been called the "Mount Everest" of ocean kayaking. This 17 mile paddle that begins in Hanalei and ends at Polihale Beach is a truly astounding adventure that has been featured on the cover of National Geographic Adventure Magazine. Kayak Kauai is the company featured in that article and the most experienced company in outfitting this tour. Marvel at sea caves, plunging waterfalls, hanging valleys, and secluded beaches.
This will be a long and impressive day of warm coastal paddling and caving. You'll meet your guide at Kayak Kauai's Hanalei shop at 6am and begin your journey in two-person sit-on-top kayaks with self-bailing scuppers and comfortable backrests. Your kayak is equipped with a rudder, which improves steering and greatly improves forward paddling efficiency. This is a one-way paddle that is done downwind (when the consistent trade winds are blowing in the normal direction).
You will paddle beyond the verdant valley of Kalalau, past the famous arch of Honopu, and into the azure blue waters of a volcanic sea cave. Along the way it is common to encounter dolphins, sea turtles, and on special occasions you'll catch a glimpse of the elusive Hawaiian monk seal. Imagine kayaking THROUGH a waterfall to get into a sea cave, or paddling into a cave and discovering that the roof is now gone and a giant skylight appears overhead!
A little over halfway through the day you'll spend a few hours at the quiet beach of Mololii where you'll have lunch and rest up for the second part of the journey. At Milolii you can swim, beach comb, and visit an ancient Hawaiian fishing shrine.
Polihale Beach Park is the final destination, where the cliffs meet the sand dunes. A van awaits your arrival, and after a refreshing shower you'll be transported back to Hanalei with an arrival around 7:30pm.
The Na Pali Kayak is offered 7 days a week May through September. The cost is $206.22 per person plus a $9.78 State Parks landing fee. This tour is limited to 12 paddlers per day, and the tour is very popular. For this reason, more stringent cancellation policies apply than other tours. Cancellations must be made at least one week prior to your date or full charge will apply.
The minimum age for this tour is 16; exceptions may be made for younger teens who have kayaking experience.
For those who are capable of handling this strenuous trip it is a rewarding experience that you will remember for the rest of your life. For those who are not capable of handling this trip, if you attempt to do it and you aren't up to the demands, it will be a day that you will try to forget for the rest of your life. It is our job to aptly prepare you and help you decide if this trip is for you. If you know you are prone to motion sickness, don't even consider doing this tour. Previous kayaking experience is not a requirement, but you must be in good health and physically fit to do this tour. For more details see our full site page for Na Pali kayak tours.