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Small-Group Emerald Cave Kayak Tour on Colorado River

Recommended by 100% of travelers
Las Vegas, USA
  • 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0
·
· PamelaJ_B ·
Sep 2025
We spent a most amazing day kayaking the Colorado and visiting the Emerald Cave with VENTURE OUT VEGAS. Blair, our guide, was funny, shared much of the history of the area with us, and quickly became a part of our family. He made sure our experience was safe, fun, and left us with many great memories. Thank you for a wonderful day!
· Michelle_M ·
Jul 2025
This was the perfect introduction to kayaking for our family who had never kayaked. Blair was patient, informative and kind -- from the prompt pick-up and drop-off at our hotel to his expansive knowledge of the area and its hidden gems. We had a very small group (my family of four and a handful of others) and he knew at all times where everyone was on the water.

Overview

Swap the bright lights of Las Vegas for a peaceful paddle through striking desert scenery on this small-group kayak tour along the Colorado River to Emerald Cave. Led by a guide, cruise along glowing green waters, keep an eye out for bighorn sheep, and take in the natural beauty of the Black Canyon. With group sizes capped at 10, enjoy a relaxed feel you won't get on larger tours.
  • Take a break from the city to spend a day in the great outdoors
  • Small-group tour (maximum 10): Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere
  • Las Vegas hotel pickup available on request
  • Snacks and water included: No need to pack your own

What's Included

  • Guided Kayak Tour
  • Use of Kayaks, Paddles, and Life Jackets
  • Shuttle Pickup from Any Strip Hotel (if option selected)
  • Bottled water
  • Snacks
  • National Park Fee (included with transport; not included with self-drive/without transport option)
    $25.00 per booking
  • Gratuities (Optional)
  • Pick-Up (if option not selected)

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Pickup point

  • Excalibur Hotel & Casino
    3850 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA

    This pickup location is for guests confirmed on the 9:00 a.m. shuttle departure from our designated hotel pickup locations.

Pickup details

If you choose to book the 9:00 am Emerald Cave Kayak Tour option, please provide a specific hotel pick-up location.

or

Meeting point

  • Willow Beach, AZ 86445, USA

    The meetup location is the kayak beach boat launch at the Willow Beach Marina

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

1

Willow Beach Marina

2

Colorado River

3

Emerald Cove

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • Weight- over 290 pounds please call.
  • If you choose to book the 9:45 a.m. Emerald Cave tour with pick-up, the only pick-up location is the Excalibur Hotel. The meet-up point is in the Rotunda area on the southwest side of the Excalibur Hotel at the start time of your selected tour. Please use this Google map pin for directions to the exact location.
  • If you choose to book the 9:15am, kindly send us a message with your preferred hotel pickup.
  • Your guide will be wearing a bright green sun shirt or tank top featuring the logo 'Venture Out Vegas.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions (8)

Q:What will I see during the Emerald Cave Kayak Tour?

A:When paddling the Colorado River upstream into Black Canyon, you may see Desert Big Horn Sheep or possibly even Bald Eagles. Then upon arrival, you can enjoy the beautiful green waters of Emerald Cave before your group kayaks back!

Jan 2024

The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Dana_H
We had an absolutely fantastic time on our kayak trip with Venture Out Vegas! Our guide, Blair, was the perfect mix of fun and professional. He not only had incredibly knowledgeable about the area's history and wildlife, but also had a great sense of humor that made the whole experience even more enjoyable. We also felt completely safe the entire time. Blair was super safety-conscious, making sure everyone was comfortable with the gear and the water conditions.  Getting out on the water and the stunning scenery of the Colorado River was the perfect break from the noise and lights of the Strip. Highly recommend!

Reviews

5.0
based on 520 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Fun Day!!!

Susan_Q, Apr 2026
Viator was great by setting us up with a wonderful guide. Outdoor Las Vegas could not have better, our experience with them was awesome.

Disappointing

Gavin_B, Apr 2026
After taking payment in full the operator rescheduled our tour but we were not able to make the alternative date they offered us. We suggested another possible date that they said they should be able to do and they said they would confirm and send details the next day but they didn’t. When I chased them up they did respond but the time of the alternative tour on the day we discussed finished too late for us and were couldn’t fit it in. As the payment had been taken before informing us it needed to be rescheduled we felt under pressure to accommodate the changes but it wasn’t possible and now the operator is refusing to refund us

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Hi Gavin, We take feedback seriously, but this review does not reflect what actually occurred. Your original Friday tour was never canceled. Tours still operated that day as scheduled. We reached out on Wednesday purely as a courtesy — especially seeing you were traveling with children — to offer an alternative for Thursday, which had some of the best weather we had seen on radar in months, so your family could avoid potentially windy conditions. You were unable to do Thursday, and before we could even get a fully accurate read on Friday’s conditions, you made the decision not to proceed on Friday and instead requested to move to Saturday. Although Saturday was originally closed on our end due to prior obligations, we reopened our schedule specifically to accommodate your group. Once reopened, two additional guests booked, and we then closed the day again to intentionally keep it a small, high-quality experience for everyone — including your family. Your Saturday booking was: Requested by you. Confirmed by you. Scheduled and staffed accordingly. Less than 14 hours before the tour, after everything had been finalized, you raised a concern about timing that had already been clearly communicated and agreed upon — both at the time of your original booking and again during your requested reschedule. But we even accommodated that! For additional context: When you raised concerns about timing, we contacted the other guests booked that day to try to accommodate your request. They were happy to proceed with the scheduled plan. The tour remained fully operational and ready to go. At that point, we had already adjusted operations to create a more customized, small-group experience Additionally, there was no lapse in communication on our end. We remained responsive throughout and provided clear updates, confirmations, and options at each step. Communication from your side ceased after arrangements had been confirmed. Later that night, we were contacted by the booking platform regarding your request for a refund. We do wish communication had remained direct, as escalating externally can create unnecessary confusion — especially with parties who are not involved in day-to-day operations. Fortunately, we were able to provide them with the full message history, clearly documenting the timeline, confirmations, and communication throughout. Based on that documentation, the situation was reviewed accordingly. We moved mountains to accommodate your family, Viator agreed! It’s also important to note that we were not the party that processed or collected your payment, and we do not receive funds immediately. Had you reached out to us directly, we would have made every effort to find a fair and reasonable solution. Instead, escalating the situation in this manner misrepresents the circumstances and unnecessarily impacts a small business that had already gone out of its way to accommodate your request. To be clear: Your tour was never canceled by us. You chose to reschedule. We adjusted our operations and reopened a closed day to accommodate your family. Your requested reschedule was honored. Your booking was confirmed prior to your change in plans. We also adjusted the entire tour and the other party was willing to change their plans too. We stand by our policies and the level of service reflected in our 1,000+ five-star reviews — this being our first one-star review to date. We wish you the best moving forward. — Venture Out Vegas

Venture Out Vegas team rocks!

PamelaJ_B, Sep 2025
We spent a most amazing day kayaking the Colorado and visiting the Emerald Cave with VENTURE OUT VEGAS. Blair, our guide, was funny, shared much of the history of the area with us, and quickly became a part of our family. He made sure our experience was safe, fun, and left us with many great memories. Thank you for a wonderful day!

Blair was an excellent...

James_S, Aug 2025
Blair was an excellent tour guide. He was helpful from even before we arrived by sending out detailed information on where to meet him and what to do. He gave us a lots of information about the area, and helped out the novice kayakers.

Get away from the Vegas Strip!

Dana_H, Aug 2025
We had an absolutely fantastic time on our kayak trip with Venture Out Vegas! Our guide, Blair, was the perfect mix of fun and professional. He not only had incredibly knowledgeable about the area's history and wildlife, but also had a great sense of humor that made the whole experience even more enjoyable. We also felt completely safe the entire time. Blair was super safety-conscious, making sure everyone was comfortable with the gear and the water conditions.  Getting out on the water and the stunning scenery of the Colorado River was the perfect break from the noise and lights of the Strip. Highly recommend!

Everything was awesome....

Tammy_K, Jul 2025
Everything was awesome. Blair’s is a great guide. He’s professional,knowledgeable and the best. Highly recommend taking the kayak adventure. 5 stars for sure!

A must-do small-group kayaking tour

Michelle_M, Jul 2025
This was the perfect introduction to kayaking for our family who had never kayaked. Blair was patient, informative and kind -- from the prompt pick-up and drop-off at our hotel to his expansive knowledge of the area and its hidden gems. We had a very small group (my family of four and a handful of others) and he knew at all times where everyone was on the water.

Best Time!!

Ginger_B, May 2025
Blair and Christine are exceptional! We had a fantastic time! Both are very helpful and fun! If you are looking for a great time off the strip.. you found it! 😃

Our guide EJ was...

Rustin_R, May 2025
Our guide EJ was wonderful. He made the experience all about us. He clearly tailors the experience to his audience. We had a great time

We recently did the...

Evan_P, Apr 2025
We recently did the Emerald Cave Kayak Adventure with Blair as our guide. We had such an amazing time! Our 15 and 12 year old daughters were with us and they really loved it too. Blair was so friendly, knowledgeable and patient. He provided great information about the area and clear instructions. I really appreciated how engaged he was with our kids and how well he communicated the whole time. We highly recommend a tour with Blair!

Blair is the best tour guide!

Jill_G, Mar 2025
Blair is the best tour guide! Highly recommend. Had a great time in the emerald cave. Was not too strenuous for people of average fitness levels.

Highly recommend this tour.

Kerry_B, Mar 2025
Highly recommend doing this tour. Very small group - so was more personalized and felt very safe - our tour guide was fantastic - knowledgeable, sense of humor and made the tour interesting and enjoyable. Thank you so much for an amazing day.

Highly recommend!!

Inna_D, Dec 2024
We were a family with 6 and 10 YO kids. We all enjoyed this trip, the guide was professional and friendly and the river was amazing!

Much Needed Relaxation & Peace in Nature!

Stacie_H, Nov 2024
Blair was an amazing guide. This experience was so peaceful and tranquil surrounded by beautiful scenery.

Book with Blair for a fantastic day!

Wendy_M, Nov 2024
We had an absolutely fantastic trip with Blair down the Colorado River. He gave us lots of good information about the area and was a total pleasure to spend a day with. Be sure to book with Blair at Venture Out Vegas Tours as he only takes smaller groups (12 max I believe) as opposed to other LARGE groups on the river.

Awesome water adventure

William_C, Nov 2024
Blair was an awesome guy. Pick up was efficient. He explained everything thoroughly. He paid attention to the guests needs and gave good advice.

Kayaking on the Colorado River

Patrick_C, Oct 2024
Scenery awesome. Blair was an amazing guide/entertainer/educator. Very few other kayakers on the river.

Inspiring.

Robert_K, Oct 2024
Fabulous trip with Christine and Blair. Colorado river by Kayak was an incredible experience. Would recommend as a nice wee escape from the insanity of Las Vegas!

Breathtaking Views

Hannah_F, Oct 2024
My husband and I booked this last minute and we are so glad we did! It was organized and fun! The views on the river are breathtaking! It was so beautiful and peaceful. It was the best ending to our Vegas trip and Blair, our guide was absolutely fantastic. Will Definitely book with him again!

Great experience!

teresa_p, Aug 2024
Blair was our guide for the Emerald Cave Kayak tour. He was great! Picked us up at our hotel on the strip. Saw eagles, herons, big horn sheep! Hot day went swimming in the cool water. Cave was a beautiful spot! The landscape of the river/canyon was awesome! Blair had smaller groups than other tours and his experience made for a great/memorable trip. Will seek his tours to venture out for other Vegas outdoor activities!

Call this company! It’s the best—highly recommend.

Hayley_C, Aug 2024
Extremely good, personalized service. Call them directly. Small group makes all the difference. Will pick you up at your hotel. Terrific for families.

Our tour director was...

Gary_W, Aug 2024
Our tour director was very friendly and welcoming. The kayaking was good and the water beautiful. Be sure to bring the sun screen.

Excellent tour and tour guide

Sandy_B, Aug 2024
Excellent tour, I highly recommend it. The best tour guide, best equipment. The tour guide was very fun, good vibe

Fun experience

Joana_C, Aug 2024
Our 1st time kayaking and it was alot of fun! Tour guide was awesome! Would definitely do it again! Thank you.

Blair was an awesome tour...

Lauren_K, Jul 2024
Blair was an awesome tour guide! He was very patient and professional, and provided us with a memorable experience.

Amazing Adventure!

Tiffany_P, Jul 2024
Our tour guide, EJ, was fantastic! He was incredibly helpful and fun to be on the tour with during our outing. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is exploring this adventure!

Best experience for all ages

S_G, Jul 2024
Our Tour Guide, EJ made this trip AMAZING! His knowledge of the area and personable nature made us want to do it again. It was the hottest day on record (120⁰), but found the perfect places for us to cool off and never worried about overheating.

Beautiful experience

Lionel_C, Jul 2024
EJ, our guide was , was a pleasure to get out on the water with. He was very aware and concerned for everyone’s safety the entire time. Good company and conversation along the way. Even brought some snacks and water for the trip. I’d 100 percent go out with EJ again on any kayak adventure.

Best experience!

Tina_B, Jun 2024
This was such a great experience! Blair our guide was absolutely amazing! We are novice and kayakers and he took his time with my daughter and her friend. Plus he had an amazing sense of humor! Overall we had a great time!

Perfect day on the river

Dmercer1018, Jun 2024
I had an amazing time on this tour! What I appreciated, especially seeing other tours on the river, was that it was a small group. In those larger groups, you just couldn’t get the personal experience and info that we got! I was a bit nervous about the heat, but with the cold river water, a hat and plenty of water and sunblock I had no problems!

From $149.00

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 65 days in advance.

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