6 Kayak Tours on Kauaʻi We Would Put on an Itinerary

1.Secret Falls Kayak and Hike

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,403 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $125Our pick

Join Alii Kayaks for a roughly five-hour group trip from Kapaʻa. You’ll paddle 4 miles on the Wailua River, hike about 1.5 to 2 miles through muddy rainforest, and reach Uluwehi Falls. Guides such as Cory, Kman, Kai, Mana, and Lono add local stories, plant knowledge, and plenty of encouragement.

“We started off with a kayak experience down the river followed by a hike. Be prepared to get wet! We walked through rivers and the best part was swimming at the falls at the end of the hike! My husband 29M and I 29F packed a lot of food per the notes on what to bring, but only needed a granola bar each. Could help to lighten the pack. In short, good shoes to get wet and slip resistant are a must!”

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2.Kauai Adventure: Kayak & Hike to Secret Falls with Expert Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,387 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $140

Paddle about two miles up the Wailua River, then hike roughly two miles over muddy, rocky ground to 100-foot Uluwehi Falls. Guides such as Zach, Brian, and Mikayla provide paddling help, safety support, and stories about Kauai’s plants, wildlife, culture, and legends. You return by kayak after time at the falls.

“This was a great trip be prepared to ade through rivers and have shoes that will cope with that. Beautiful trip but quite physical if you are not used to kayaking/hiling. Fun guide”

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3.Secret Falls Kayak & Hike Guided Adventure on the Wailua River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,212 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $145

Paddle two miles up Kauai’s Wailua River, then hike through rainforest, streams, and mud to Uluwehi Falls. Guides such as Levi, Jonathan, Nathaniel, and Tyler add local history, safety help, and sometimes ukulele music. Expect wet feet, slippery trails, a chilly waterfall pool, snacks, and a six-hour outing.

“We had a great time. Levi was our tour guide and did a great job helping us navigate the whole entire process with ease. He even sang us songs with his ukelele! Super fun, so bring your family especially the kiddos!”

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4.Wailua River & Waterfalls Kayak Tour: Expert-Guided Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 790 reviews · 5 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $145

Paddle two miles each way on Kauai’s sacred Wailua River, then hike 1.5 miles through rainforest to Secret Falls. Guides such as Thomas, Sierra, Ty, and Kiele share local plant, animal, and cultural knowledge. Expect wet shoes, mud, four river crossings, a swim, and lunch by the falls.

“The area hasn't had rain since April (it's now mid-September) and clearly everyone on the staff knows the waterfall is not flowing--and hasn't been flowing for several weeks. We weren't made aware until after the kayak trip and well into our hike up to where the waterfall "usually" flows (at this point our guide showed us photos of it from back in April to assuage our disappointment). This seems a bit underhanded and deceitful when the booking clearly highlights this as a high point of the tour. A better choice would have been to offer a pre-arrival notice (say, 48 hrs prior) to offer a shorter, kayak-only option for half…”

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5.Wailua River Kayak and Sacred Falls Guided Hike with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 783 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $155

Pair a gentle tandem kayak trip on Kauai’s Wailua River with a muddy, rocky rainforest hike to Sacred Falls. State-certified guides such as Annie, Harrison, Lindsey, Anya, and Jay lead the way, provide walking sticks and safety gear, and serve lunch beside the waterfall. Plan for wet shoes, uneven ground, and moderate exertion.

“A beautiful tandem kayak trip up the river so it wasn't too hard with 2 people paddling. The shoes you wear on the kayak get wet and also are your shoes for the hike. The hike took us through water half way up to your knee, over rocks, mud, and roots. The waterfalls are beautiful but not too full when we went. You could swim in the fresh water pool at the bottom of the waterfall. There were lots of rocks on the bottom so difficult to walk around. We hung by the waterfall and had lunch and got in the water. Then headed back repeating the hike and kayak…”

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6.Hanalei Bay Morning Kayak and Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 567 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $160

Paddle from a private dock down the Hanalei River and into Hanalei Bay, where you may spot green sea turtles before snorkeling for 45 minutes. Guides such as Gabe and Kolo share Hawaiian history, reef facts, photos, and island stories. Lunch, gear, dry bags, and water are included.

“This was SO amazing! A beautiful kayak in the stunning bay and then the best snorkeling we did the entire trip, we save 4 or 5 turtles all over and an octopus! Food was delicious and the guides were super fun. Would love this adventure with the option to paddle board vs kayak just personal preference! One of the best adventures we did!”

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