Manhattan Circumnavigation

Kayak Around Manhattan: NYC’s Ultimate Circumnavigation Tour

30 miles | 21 bridges | 5 boroughs

This is the classic NYC paddle and one of the most unforgettable ways to experience the city — a full circumnavigation of Manhattan by kayak or paddleboard. Along this 30-mile route, you’ll pass every major skyline landmark and 21 bridges connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and New Jersey. From the Battery to Inwood Hill Park, the scenery shifts from skyscrapers to hidden beaches, waterfalls, and salt marshes that still echo the island’s original shoreline.

This tour was featured in BBC Travel by journalist Elliot Stein, who trained with us and paddled the full loop.

“Maybe this is something the island’s original residents might recognize,” he wrote, after drifting past Inwood’s forested bluffs and watching a heron land beside glacial boulders and reeds.

After completing this tour, you qualify to store your own kayak or board at the boathouse.

Important

• This is an Expert tour. Before booking, complete 3 Advanced tours this season or get pre-screened. Each season, start with shorter tours and work up to longer tours.

What To Bring

• At least 4 liters of water
• Shoes to wear on land during the break
• Spray jacket and headlamp for after sunset
• Dry bag with a packed meal and supplements
• Quick dry clothes suitable for the day and extras for after

We Provide

• Sea kayak or paddle board, life jacket, paddle, and guide
• Restroom, lockers, outdoor shower, and changing room