Guided Sunset Bat Kayak Tour in Austin
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Austin, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
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Overview
Many of the bat tours that set out on Lady Bird Lake in Austin are filled with so many people, it can be hard to see where your guide is leading you, but not with this Austin Bats Sunset Small-Group Kayak Tour. This tour sets out at sunset with just 12 for a more intimate experience. Take in views from your kayak of the Mexican free-tailed bats as they fly above Congress Avenue Bridge.
- See the bats fly above Congress Avenue Bridge Bat in Austin
- This kayak tour takes place at the best time to see the bats—at sunset
- A small-group experience limited to 12 makes for an intimate tour
- A kayak and paddle are provided for you for an easy day on the lake
What's Included
- Paddle
- Kayak
- Guide
- Water
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 74 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78701, USA
We are located at the Waller Creek Boathouse. We will meet downstairs near the kayak paddles.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Watching
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Lady Bird Lake Hike-and-Bike Trail (Pass By)
Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infants must sit on laps
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 227 reviews
Roger_L, Jun 2026
Equipment and guide we're great! The group was much larger than the 12 max advertised, which made the paddle slow and disjointed with a lot of floating time. We did see bats, but found out that this is a slower time of year as they are birthing and less active. Sounds like it's more active after the babies are born. Overall very well organized and a lot of fun.
Leigh_C, Jun 2026
It was an awesome tour and a fun experience! Our teenager enjoyed and we did as well. Remember to take off your sunglasses, though!
Christina_S, Jun 2026
Our guides Katie and Lauren were so calm and knowledgeable. It was easy, fun and such a grear way to see the skyline. The bats were fun to see as well.
David_S, Jun 2026
On this night the bats were not as prolific as I had hoped. Perhaps I was mislead by photos of swarms of bats flying against a dusky sky. That said, we saw many bats especially in the red lights tour guides used to illuminate them. The paddle on Lady bird lake was very nice. Guides did a nice job. I recommend this tour but caution paddlers not to expect swarms of bats emerging at one time. Their emergence occurs over about 30 minutes. Overall a very nice experience.
Alyssia_D, Jun 2026
The tour was a slow and steady pace which was perfect for an evening kayak tour. We were able to see some natural wildlife and got a lot of information from our tour guide. The bat viewing was a cherry on top to end the tour.
Yarrow_A, Jun 2026
Holden was amazing. He was full of knowledge and def a people person. Being out on the water at nighttime was an awesome experience. Do it!
Marta_L, May 2026
So the experience was wonderful. Holden was a phenomenal guide, very interesting story and both the baths & the skyline were breathtaking.
But the entire description about how the tour is small and intimate and max of 12 people is just plain wrong. Our group was 30! Someone asked the guide how many he normally has, and he said „15 to 25”. So please update the description to actually be truthful.
Kelly_G, May 2026
The Kayak tour was amazing and we had a great guide. The only negative is that the tour company has no bathroom so you have to use the public bathroom which was gross and unsanitary The company should provide its guests a better bathroom
Victoria_D, May 2026
Really good - you can get wet though and dirty from the ores. So wear something you’re not bothered about.
Stephanie_K, May 2026
We had a great tour to see the bats. Holden, our tour guide, was super nice and informative. The bats were so cool! We were originally due to go on the tour on a Thursday, but a storm came through. They had no problem allowing us to reschedule to the next night or cancelling. They are all so nice!
Gemma_H, May 2026
Lovely sunset tour on the lake! Had a very nice time watching the bats pour out from Congress bridge. Great guide and organized event.
Travis_W, May 2026
This was an excellent experience! Our tour guide was knowledgeable and interested in our questions. She helped this be a fun experience. The water was very calm, the weather was perfect and the bats put on an amazing “show”!
Justin_T, Apr 2026
Booked this because it said “good weather required.” It was raining steadily and they still ran the tour. When I asked about it, they said they only cancel for lightning… which is not what the listing says.
That’s misleading, plain and simple.
Even worse, they wouldn’t work with us at all after the fact. No flexibility, no effort to make it right.
Plenty of other kayak options in Austin… I’d go with one that’s actually upfront about their policies.
Sara_W, Apr 2026
This guided tour was phenomenal! We learned some history about the city and buildings and of course everything bars!! Highly recommend!!
Mary_R, Apr 2026
This was so much fun! We were able to see so many bats. They offer double or single kayaks. My kids had so much fun with such a beautiful view of the city. Highly recommend for anyone spending time in Austin!!
Deanna_H, Mar 2026
This was a great tour! Guides are informative and have great recommendations for places to eat after!
Kirsten_H, Mar 2026
It is an easy kayak tour; not strenuous at all; very relaxing cruising. Watching 1000s and more bats coming from underneath the bridge is amazing!
Aaron_D, Mar 2026
An amazing experience, the horses were well trained and beautiful scenery throughout the entire trail
Heather_H, Oct 2025
What a beautiful way to see the city at sunset and with the lights at night. Great view of the bats!
Alice_D, Oct 2025
We had a wonderful time with Ethan! Great experience! We appreciated his knowledge about the high rises! ❤️
Suzanne_S, Oct 2025
Beautiful evening to go kayaking and experience the bat flight. Ethan did a great job sharing information about the bats, Austin skyline, and Lady Bird Lake. Austin info was interesting since we were visiting from out of state and this was our only evening in town.
As for the bats, wow! We are at the end of season and were warned there may not be as many bats since they are starting to migrate. Afterwards we were told that it was a very large (almost full) group that flew out. Upwards to 1.5 million bats is hard to comprehend! It was spectacular and skin crawling at the same time! I was definitely happier to be on the water towards the back of our group rather than closer to being under the bridge or standing on the bridge where the bats fly past. The only negative was not being able to hear Ethan’s comments leading up to the fly out. I was able to listen to another tour guide closer to me.
Kayaking back afterwards beneath the skyline lights and a beautiful night sky was fantastic and not nearly long enough! Beautiful way to end the evening.
Beatriz_H, Oct 2025
Great trip beautiful ride on the water at sunset beautiful skyline super nice tour guide safe environment
Kim_N, Sep 2025
This tour was listed as approximately 2 hours, but it was not even an hour. It started late and felt very rushed. I don't feel that the person guiding us would have had any idea if anyone in the group had floated astray or fallen in the water. Not until you didn't claim your ID back at the starting point. I would rather have rented a kayak on my own and done this at my own pace.
Lori_D, Sep 2025
Dalton was great. His knowledge of Austin's history and bat culture was 2nd to none. We highly recommend the evening tour.
Wendy_R, Sep 2025
Before coming to Austin I heard seeing the bats was a must do. I’m so glad I went with the kayaking tour vs just standing on the bridge to watch them. Our guide Ethan was brilliant!! Learned lots of local info and of course all about the bats. Watching them fly out of the bridge was spectacular. My other favorite part of the trip was just getting to kayak in the dark, very cool!!
Go Ethan’s gang!!! 🦇
Richard_Z, Sep 2025
Tour guide was great and the experience was nice, although we were only on the water for an hour. Also, I was mainly there to see the bats and we missed the first 10 minutes of their flight. Maybe if we were on the water sooner, we could have been done with the Tour and been floating by Congress closer to Sunset. I understand you never know when the bats will exit, therefore maybe wait at congress closer to sunset.
Victoria_C, Sep 2025
Holden was super knowledgeable and fun! He timed the bats leaving perfectly! I’d highly recommend for family and friends.
Robyn_R, Sep 2025
It was truly a beautiful experience. Your legs will get wet and it will be quite the arm workout. Try to be there in the beginning for the explanation of how to paddle, it’s important! If you’re going with a partner, this is a great way to test how well yall work together lol. The sunset is nice but being in the kayak and seeing the lights when it gets dark is breath taking. The bats added a cute touch.
Anna_A, Sep 2025
Rooster was a great guide. Full of energy and lots of fun. He was prepared for all unexpected situations. Highly recommend taking his tour.
Bridget_A, Sep 2025
It was better than we expected and blew us away! Guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Perfect night!
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