Kayaking &amp; Canoeing United States Tours &amp; Trips

preferred

4.4/5 Great

Small Group Tour

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Wheelchair Accessible

Trip pace

Full schedule

Visits

California, Channel Islands, Santa Cruz Island

Highlights

Join naturalists for a walk around two of the Channel Islands, Anacapa Island and Santa Cruz, and learn the history of one of the few Native American tribes that took to the seas
Snorkel with experts and get up-close to a stunning variety of underwater life
Learn from expert instructors how to kayak and stand up paddleboard in calm harbor waters

Themes

50 plus, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing

What travelers are saying

"Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, there are no Road Scholar employees involved in the trip. Two of us have taken bicycle trips all over the world and the bicycling component of this trip was disorganized, haphazard and almost unsafe. We all filled out forms giving details regarding our bicycle fitting months before the trip. On the first day, the leader Stephen, went around the room and asked the same questions and said everyone would get fitted in the morning before we began the first ride. The morning brought a rack of bikes, all different types in various levels of readiness. There were road bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. The rides were all on paved surfaces and the mountain bikes were heavy and the additional suspension added weight. The bike I received had rust on the chain and rear sprocket. When I asked about it, was told they were waiting for another van to show up with tools and equipment. Once it arrived, they gave me the lubricant to spray on the rust. My wife’s bike would not shift into the high gear on the front sprocket. Instead of adjusting the derailleur, they suggested spraying it with lubricant. Our one son is over six feet and needed a larger frame bike, even though he detailed it in the bike form months ago, there was no bike to fit him. One of the guides, then went home and brought a larger bike that was a full suspension mountain bike for him. The bike was very heavy, hard to control on the road and he felt unsafe. After two days, one of the guides convinced Stephen that they could adjust a hybrid bike to fit him. Clearly there was no work done to prepare the bikes for the trip. Many of the bikes needed adjusting and all needed lubricant to function easily. For every day, there was a tray of snacks placed out for us to take along the ride. None of the bikes had any baskets or attached bags, so if you didn’t bring a small day pack, there was no way to carry the snacks. For lunch on the rides, they brought exactly one sandwich for each rider. Since most of us get hungry while doing a day of exercise, it would have been helpful to have a few extras. On one day, they ran out of sandwiches and one of the leaders that were riding with us did not get lunch. Do NOT take this trip if you are expecting it to be a bicycling trip. We have used VBT and Discovery Bicycle Tours many times over the past 25 years and they are excellent bike tour companies. Lastly, after sharing these details with Road Scholar after the trip, their response was weak at best. After doing the full reviews and having to call them, their response was to give us $200 credit after spending $8000 on this trip. Not only was that insulting, they assumed that I would take another trip with their organization."

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6 days From$1,499

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Canoeing Wisconsin's Northwoods

preferred

4.4/5 Great

Group Tour

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Highlights

Paddle The Manitowish River, a locally famous area often described by renowned phenologist, John Bates
Investigate a northern quaking bog by walking out on the mat of floating vegetation and examining the unique plant life there
Learn canoe strokes such as backward, forward, draw, pry, rudder, sweep and J-stroke as you explore a low-traffic, six-mile stretch of the Upper Wisconsin River

Themes

50 plus, Education / Learning, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing

What travelers are saying

"Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, there are no Road Scholar employees involved in the trip. Two of us have taken bicycle trips all over the world and the bicycling component of this trip was disorganized, haphazard and almost unsafe. We all filled out forms giving details regarding our bicycle fitting months before the trip. On the first day, the leader Stephen, went around the room and asked the same questions and said everyone would get fitted in the morning before we began the first ride. The morning brought a rack of bikes, all different types in various levels of readiness. There were road bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. The rides were all on paved surfaces and the mountain bikes were heavy and the additional suspension added weight. The bike I received had rust on the chain and rear sprocket. When I asked about it, was told they were waiting for another van to show up with tools and equipment. Once it arrived, they gave me the lubricant to spray on the rust. My wife’s bike would not shift into the high gear on the front sprocket. Instead of adjusting the derailleur, they suggested spraying it with lubricant. Our one son is over six feet and needed a larger frame bike, even though he detailed it in the bike form months ago, there was no bike to fit him. One of the guides, then went home and brought a larger bike that was a full suspension mountain bike for him. The bike was very heavy, hard to control on the road and he felt unsafe. After two days, one of the guides convinced Stephen that they could adjust a hybrid bike to fit him. Clearly there was no work done to prepare the bikes for the trip. Many of the bikes needed adjusting and all needed lubricant to function easily. For every day, there was a tray of snacks placed out for us to take along the ride. None of the bikes had any baskets or attached bags, so if you didn’t bring a small day pack, there was no way to carry the snacks. For lunch on the rides, they brought exactly one sandwich for each rider. Since most of us get hungry while doing a day of exercise, it would have been helpful to have a few extras. On one day, they ran out of sandwiches and one of the leaders that were riding with us did not get lunch. Do NOT take this trip if you are expecting it to be a bicycling trip. We have used VBT and Discovery Bicycle Tours many times over the past 25 years and they are excellent bike tour companies. Lastly, after sharing these details with Road Scholar after the trip, their response was weak at best. After doing the full reviews and having to call them, their response was to give us $200 credit after spending $8000 on this trip. Not only was that insulting, they assumed that I would take another trip with their organization."

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7 days From$699

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Kayaking the Adirondacks

preferred

4.4/5 Great

Small Group Tour

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Very Easy

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Visits

New York

Highlights

Kayak Sagamore Lake and larger waters nearby, paddling the same waters the Vanderbilts and other Gilded Age elites did before you
Learn techniques for maneuvering your craft on flat water and tips for paddling in flowing rivers
An evening of traditional Adirondack entertainment or education caps your adventure

Themes

50 plus, Education / Learning, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing

What travelers are saying

"Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, there are no Road Scholar employees involved in the trip. Two of us have taken bicycle trips all over the world and the bicycling component of this trip was disorganized, haphazard and almost unsafe. We all filled out forms giving details regarding our bicycle fitting months before the trip. On the first day, the leader Stephen, went around the room and asked the same questions and said everyone would get fitted in the morning before we began the first ride. The morning brought a rack of bikes, all different types in various levels of readiness. There were road bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. The rides were all on paved surfaces and the mountain bikes were heavy and the additional suspension added weight. The bike I received had rust on the chain and rear sprocket. When I asked about it, was told they were waiting for another van to show up with tools and equipment. Once it arrived, they gave me the lubricant to spray on the rust. My wife’s bike would not shift into the high gear on the front sprocket. Instead of adjusting the derailleur, they suggested spraying it with lubricant. Our one son is over six feet and needed a larger frame bike, even though he detailed it in the bike form months ago, there was no bike to fit him. One of the guides, then went home and brought a larger bike that was a full suspension mountain bike for him. The bike was very heavy, hard to control on the road and he felt unsafe. After two days, one of the guides convinced Stephen that they could adjust a hybrid bike to fit him. Clearly there was no work done to prepare the bikes for the trip. Many of the bikes needed adjusting and all needed lubricant to function easily. For every day, there was a tray of snacks placed out for us to take along the ride. None of the bikes had any baskets or attached bags, so if you didn’t bring a small day pack, there was no way to carry the snacks. For lunch on the rides, they brought exactly one sandwich for each rider. Since most of us get hungry while doing a day of exercise, it would have been helpful to have a few extras. On one day, they ran out of sandwiches and one of the leaders that were riding with us did not get lunch. Do NOT take this trip if you are expecting it to be a bicycling trip. We have used VBT and Discovery Bicycle Tours many times over the past 25 years and they are excellent bike tour companies. Lastly, after sharing these details with Road Scholar after the trip, their response was weak at best. After doing the full reviews and having to call them, their response was to give us $200 credit after spending $8000 on this trip. Not only was that insulting, they assumed that I would take another trip with their organization."

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5 days From$1,049

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Canoeing, Horses, Outdoor Exploration and Summer Fun with Your Grandchild

preferred

4.4/5 Great

Small Group Tour

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Moderate

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Highlights

Enjoy a half-day Ozark style canoe trip down the scenic Courtois River
Challenge yourself on one of the YMCA's Adventure Activities and get a taste of what flying feels like! Spend time at our Triangle Y Ranch meeting and learning about the horses

Themes

Family Friendly, High Adventure, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing

What travelers are saying

"Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, there are no Road Scholar employees involved in the trip. Two of us have taken bicycle trips all over the world and the bicycling component of this trip was disorganized, haphazard and almost unsafe. We all filled out forms giving details regarding our bicycle fitting months before the trip. On the first day, the leader Stephen, went around the room and asked the same questions and said everyone would get fitted in the morning before we began the first ride. The morning brought a rack of bikes, all different types in various levels of readiness. There were road bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. The rides were all on paved surfaces and the mountain bikes were heavy and the additional suspension added weight. The bike I received had rust on the chain and rear sprocket. When I asked about it, was told they were waiting for another van to show up with tools and equipment. Once it arrived, they gave me the lubricant to spray on the rust. My wife’s bike would not shift into the high gear on the front sprocket. Instead of adjusting the derailleur, they suggested spraying it with lubricant. Our one son is over six feet and needed a larger frame bike, even though he detailed it in the bike form months ago, there was no bike to fit him. One of the guides, then went home and brought a larger bike that was a full suspension mountain bike for him. The bike was very heavy, hard to control on the road and he felt unsafe. After two days, one of the guides convinced Stephen that they could adjust a hybrid bike to fit him. Clearly there was no work done to prepare the bikes for the trip. Many of the bikes needed adjusting and all needed lubricant to function easily. For every day, there was a tray of snacks placed out for us to take along the ride. None of the bikes had any baskets or attached bags, so if you didn’t bring a small day pack, there was no way to carry the snacks. For lunch on the rides, they brought exactly one sandwich for each rider. Since most of us get hungry while doing a day of exercise, it would have been helpful to have a few extras. On one day, they ran out of sandwiches and one of the leaders that were riding with us did not get lunch. Do NOT take this trip if you are expecting it to be a bicycling trip. We have used VBT and Discovery Bicycle Tours many times over the past 25 years and they are excellent bike tour companies. Lastly, after sharing these details with Road Scholar after the trip, their response was weak at best. After doing the full reviews and having to call them, their response was to give us $200 credit after spending $8000 on this trip. Not only was that insulting, they assumed that I would take another trip with their organization."

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6 days From$649

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Kayaking on the Holston River and Biking the Virginia Creeper Trail

preferred

4.4/5 Great

Group Tour

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Very Easy

Trip pace

Full schedule

Visits

Virginia

Highlights

Bike the Virginia Creeper trail, with interpretive stops along the way
Paddle sit-on-top kayaks down the North Fork of the Holston River with an experienced outfitter and stop along the river’s banks to learn about Appalachian Valley history and ecology
Attend a performance at the world-famous Barter Theater, the State Theater of Virginia

Themes

50 plus, Education / Learning, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing

What travelers are saying

"Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, there are no Road Scholar employees involved in the trip. Two of us have taken bicycle trips all over the world and the bicycling component of this trip was disorganized, haphazard and almost unsafe. We all filled out forms giving details regarding our bicycle fitting months before the trip. On the first day, the leader Stephen, went around the room and asked the same questions and said everyone would get fitted in the morning before we began the first ride. The morning brought a rack of bikes, all different types in various levels of readiness. There were road bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. The rides were all on paved surfaces and the mountain bikes were heavy and the additional suspension added weight. The bike I received had rust on the chain and rear sprocket. When I asked about it, was told they were waiting for another van to show up with tools and equipment. Once it arrived, they gave me the lubricant to spray on the rust. My wife’s bike would not shift into the high gear on the front sprocket. Instead of adjusting the derailleur, they suggested spraying it with lubricant. Our one son is over six feet and needed a larger frame bike, even though he detailed it in the bike form months ago, there was no bike to fit him. One of the guides, then went home and brought a larger bike that was a full suspension mountain bike for him. The bike was very heavy, hard to control on the road and he felt unsafe. After two days, one of the guides convinced Stephen that they could adjust a hybrid bike to fit him. Clearly there was no work done to prepare the bikes for the trip. Many of the bikes needed adjusting and all needed lubricant to function easily. For every day, there was a tray of snacks placed out for us to take along the ride. None of the bikes had any baskets or attached bags, so if you didn’t bring a small day pack, there was no way to carry the snacks. For lunch on the rides, they brought exactly one sandwich for each rider. Since most of us get hungry while doing a day of exercise, it would have been helpful to have a few extras. On one day, they ran out of sandwiches and one of the leaders that were riding with us did not get lunch. Do NOT take this trip if you are expecting it to be a bicycling trip. We have used VBT and Discovery Bicycle Tours many times over the past 25 years and they are excellent bike tour companies. Lastly, after sharing these details with Road Scholar after the trip, their response was weak at best. After doing the full reviews and having to call them, their response was to give us $200 credit after spending $8000 on this trip. Not only was that insulting, they assumed that I would take another trip with their organization."

By National Geographic Expeditions

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6 days From$779

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Alaska's Inside Passage Photo Expedition

preferred

3.5/5 Great

30 reviews

Group Tour

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Strenuous

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Visits

Alaska, Glacier National Park, Juneau, Sitka

Highlights

Sail aboard the comfortable 62-passenger expedition ships National Geographic Sea Bird or National Geographic Sea Lion-equipped with motorized landing crafts and sea kayaks.
The expedition will feature sessions for both photographers and videographers.
Hike through lush forest trails to cascading waterfalls, and take a motorized landing craft into sheltered coves where brown bears feed.
Watch for calving ice in the iceberg-laden waters of Glacier Bay National Park.

Themes

High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Photography

What travelers are saying

"We booked a National Geographic expedition Holland and Belgium by River. The promotional literature promised a 14-day deposit refund window. The “invoice” was marked “non-refundable” deposit. We completed the National Geographic Traveler Information. About 8 days later we received the “Travel Agreement” to be signed. We both approved and signed the National Geographic documents. A Cruise Line Travel agreement was enclosed but had no signature line. This document contained language which was unacceptable. We submitted the signed NatGeo documents. The following day we canceled the trip due to the unacceptable Cruise Line language. Cancellation was made 12 days after booking and no deposit was returned. We were told on the phone that the refund deadline was triggered by the 14 day window OR signatures on the Travel Agreement which ever came first. This was NEW information. To date, we have received NO refund of our $1000. We cancelled our trip within the advertised 14 day window."

By National Geographic Expeditions

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8 days From$3,150

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Whales & Wildness: Spring in the Sea of Cortez

preferred

3.5/5 Great

30 reviews

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Moderate

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Mexico City

Highlights

Spring in the Sea of Cortez is the best time to see large pods of dolphins and various species of whales—blue, sperm, pilot, fin, humpback and Bryde’s—all in the same week.
Explore water-level caves by kayak, hike uninhabited beaches, snorkel among fish and acrobatic sea lions, and see colorful cactus blossoms.
Visit the old mining town of Santa Rosalia, with its wooden homes and historic steel church, designed by Gustave Eiffel.
Experience a voyage of pure discovery in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a flexible itinerary and sites chosen by the region’s most knowledgeable staff, based on conditions and to maximize wildlife sightings.

Themes

Education / Learning, High Adventure, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Small Ship Cruise, Scuba Diving

What travelers are saying

"We booked a National Geographic expedition Holland and Belgium by River. The promotional literature promised a 14-day deposit refund window. The “invoice” was marked “non-refundable” deposit. We completed the National Geographic Traveler Information. About 8 days later we received the “Travel Agreement” to be signed. We both approved and signed the National Geographic documents. A Cruise Line Travel agreement was enclosed but had no signature line. This document contained language which was unacceptable. We submitted the signed NatGeo documents. The following day we canceled the trip due to the unacceptable Cruise Line language. Cancellation was made 12 days after booking and no deposit was returned. We were told on the phone that the refund deadline was triggered by the 14 day window OR signatures on the Travel Agreement which ever came first. This was NEW information. To date, we have received NO refund of our $1000. We cancelled our trip within the advertised 14 day window."

By Western River Expeditions

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8 days From$5,990

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Grand Canyon River Rafting

none

5/5 Excellent

Group Tour

Lodging level

Basic - 2 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Balanced schedule

Visits

Grand Canyon

Highlights

Grand Canyon river rafting adventure,
Rig rafts enter awesome Lower Granite Gorge with a series of moderate rapids including Granite Spring, Diamond Creek and Travertine
Time to hike, explore and play at Travertine Grotto
Savor your final morning in Grand Canyon as you head down river and across Lake Mead to where a shuttle will return you to Las Vegas.

Themes

High Adventure, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing

What travelers are saying

"Hot & Unforgettable It's really hard to quantify the experience in a few short sentences. As one who has lived most of my life in urban environments, I was utterly shocked by the adjustment to 100% outdoor life, there were a lot of moments where I was convinced my domestic instincts weren't equipped for such an intense experience. Despite feeling unprepared and a little shocked by a myriad of intensities, (110 Degree Weather, 40 Degree Water, Hours of Uninterrupted Sun Exposure, Chugging Gallons of water to just stay hydrated enough to not get horribly ill) I have literally nothing but glowing remarks for both the trip as a whole and for the unbelievably accomodating and talented guides who transformed the experience from a journey of basic survival to an exciting and enjoyable adventure! Our Capitan (Ludkey, or Lucky) was amazing, charismatic and sincere, he found humor in awkward and scary moments, broke tension without removing the seriousness of our safety and health, and genuinely seemed to enjoy the unique experience with us, taking time to share his own secret spots and stories to make the experience richer! Hank, our second in command on our boat, was new to the trip but took incredible efforts to point out countless points of interest, you would see him each morning and day on the raft diligently studying guide books and following directions from Lucky, he used this knowledge and skill he was gaining each day to teach us many fun facts and on several occasions, keep us safe and healthy. The Tag team between Hank and Lucky made me feel like we were really being taken care of the entire time and that they were going above and beyond to make the trip not just bearable for us city folks, but special and unique! Scotty and Paco piloted the second boat (which we never traveled on) but even from limited interactions at Camp or during Frolicks I found them warm and helpful. Scotty took time to share his passion for music and songwriting with us, a few tunes are still stuck in my head ("Just a Caged Chicken!") and Paco, on multiple occasions, provided caring attention to even the most minor ailment (my partner got really sick the second day and her and Hanks efforts are what brought him back to 100% so he could enjoy the rest of the trip!) not to mention she literally dragged my big butt out of a hole I fell in and took time to give me Advil for the minor bangs I got in the process. I will genuinely never forget the experience, it absolutely had its ups and downs and if your not the outdoorsy wilderness type prepare for a transition period as your body acclimates, BUT, do not write this off because it's a little bit difficult or might push you a little. You will never experience the grand canyon with the same intimacy, you will never see stars so bright, you will never grow so close to a group of complete strangers this fast. It's absolutely not your "Reading a book on a beach" type of vacation, you will likely return home and feel you need another vacation, but if you're on the edge, if you're wondering if you should do it, my answer is, without hesitation, DO IT!"