No Experience? Enjoy Beginner-Friendly Kayak Tours
The best way to experience NYC is from the water. Paddle on the scenic Hudson River with expert guides. Unlike rentals in NYC, which stay in coves, our tours take you to where you’ll glide past city landmarks and expansive views. Come solo or with friends–no experience needed.
✔ Breathtaking views – It’s stunning on the water. We’ll capture your skyline photo.
✔ Stable kayaks & expert guides – Feel safe with a mini-lesson and all gear provided.
✔ No swimming skills needed – Our kayaks won’t tip over. Life jackets keep you secure.
🟢 Beginner: Any activity with a green circle requires no experience.
Ambitious And Athletic? Definitely Take Our Classes
If you decide that beginner tours aren’t enough, take classes to unlock bigger adventures. Choose from group classes or private lessons—or mix them! You can take three group classes (Kayak 1–2–3 or SUP 1–2–3), or substitute any with privates. After completing three, you’ll be ready for intermediate tours.
Our Three-Class Pack offers savings on group classes. If you plan to paddle often, membership gives the most savings—50% off classes, tours, and rentals, and 20% off private lessons and trips.
Take Your Skills Training To The Next Level
If you decide to continue deepening your skills after Kayak or SUP Class 3, go to our Skills Trainings. Our instructors tailor each session to your level, and big ambitions are welcome. These are great opportunities for both experienced paddlers and enthusiastic graduates of Class 3.
🟦 Intermediate: Any activity with a blue square requires classes or screening.
Ready To Go Beyond the Basics? Explore NYC Like a Pro
If you decide you’re ready for bigger adventures after Kayak or SUP Class 3 (or passing screening), choose from 19 sensational voyages that take you to hidden beaches, iconic landmarks, and excellent food. Each tour builds skills and confidence, leading you toward even greater challenges from Intermediate 🟦 to Advanced ♦ to Expert ♦♦.
Intermediate Tours 🟦
- You finished Kayak or SUP Class 3.
- Variable wind and waves with difficult areas.
- Little Island, Secret Beach, Surf City and more!
Advanced Tours ♦
- You completed 4+ Intermediate tours this year.
- Stretches of challenging conditions.
- George Washington Bridge, Statue of Liberty and more!
Expert Tours ♦♦
- You completed 3+ Advanced tours this year.
- Our longest, toughest, most unpredictable journeys.
- Red Hook, Coney Island, Yonkers and more!
Come Explore With Us
With 30 years of experience and ranked as the #1 Kayak Tour in America by USA Today, we offer classes, tours, and rentals for everyone, from beginners to pros. Come join us for an unforgettable paddling experience in the heart of NYC.
Paddling Manhattan combines adventure, challenge, and escape—an antidote to urban stress.
—New York Magazine
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What Our Paddlers Are Saying★★★★★
The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and they want you to have a great experience on the water. Whether you're a total newbie or an expert paddler, they support you at the right level. (More...)
They have something for everyone—practice sessions in the protected cove, short jaunts up and down the river, longer trips across the river to Jersey, and more. And there is nothing like being on the Hudson, open skies above you as the light reflects off the Manhattan skyline. It's an amazing adventure (and a pretty good workout to boot!)
First of all, I don't know how to swim. So the whole experience being on the water in a small kayak was terrifying for me. But I gave it a try. Now I feel confident and having so much fun! It’s truly a life-changing experience! The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable (More...)
and they want you to have a great experience on the water. Whether you're a total newbie or an expert paddler, they support you at the right level. The team is very knowledgeable and patient. They help you to build this skill step by step. Very supportive and atmosphere! You are the best!
I’ve taken Classes 1 and 2 there so far and am really impressed. The teachers absolutely know what they’re doing and make sure that students learn techniques correctly. They’re attentive, yet foster independence in students. (More...)
Going out on open water in a small boat is something that should be taken very seriously and that’s exactly how they approach it. Kayaking is pretty challenging but learning from dedicated educated instructors makes it that much easier.
My wife and I greatly enjoyed our rentals at Manhattan Kayak. Making an online reservation was quick, easy, and super affordable. The staff was knowledgeable, friendly, and very kind to our two dogs. The equipment was top level and the cove was amazing. (More...)
We cannot wait to go back and make this a regular family summer activity. They are very dog friendly which is always a plus!
MKC is an outstanding company and I would give them 10 stars if I could. They went out of their way to accommodate me on short notice and I am so grateful for the experience. Paddle boarding is my favorite hobby, so when it turned out that I would have a free afternoon (More...)
while on a work trip to NYC, I naturally looked at possibility of paddle boarding. Most places are closed for the season or were too far to be reasonable for me to get to via public transit so it didn’t look like it would work out. But I reached out and they made it happen! They set me up with a private guide Robyn who made me feel comfortable and safe. The location is spectacular, right on the Hudson with unbeatable views of Manhattan. Without a doubt, this paddle boarding excursion was the biggest highlight of my trip!
I taught myself stand up paddle boarding by doing it on vacations. But I decided I love stand SUP enough that I wanted to learn good form. Now realize how much I've just been muscling through it. I took the classes and it's been enlightening.(More...)
The instructors are awesome. A special shout out to Judy whose great at breaking down the mechanics and videotaped me to showed me what I needed help with.
Definitely worth it! This was my first time kayaking and I had the time of my life. It was well organized and we had guides that helped us throughout the trip. They explained everything to us and even took pictures of us. (More...)
My experience was amazing and I'm definitely going kayaking with them again.
I’m usually pretty scared of going outside and on the water, but the friendly staff at Manhattan Kayak made me my experience great! The cove between the Intrepid and Manhattan Kayak is a great place to get out on the water while feeling safe and secure!
– Gus M.
My first beginner class was yesterday and it was a wonderful experience. Instructor Jay was patient, detailed, experienced and absolutely not pushy or hurried. Every personnel involved was friendly and relaxed. The boathouse is comfortable and clean. (More...)
A mini New England feel in the middle of NYC. Would absolutely recommend a try.
I love this place! It is so well run and inviting that you can focus on the pleasure or adventure of your experience on the water and know that you are in good hands. You can be a recreational kayaker / SUPer in protected waters or go for more adventurous tours after classes. (More...)
I decided to do the classes this past summer after being an on-and-off recreational kayaker here for a few years. After the kayak / SUP class series, I went on guided group paddles in the Hudson with their encouraging and helpful staffers and have recently learned how to cold-water kayak safely and go on longer, more physically challenging group trips. Just an amazing activity with a great group. Highly recommend!