Emerald Cave Kayak Tour: Scenic Paddle with Optional Shuttle
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Las Vegas, USA
+4
- 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Leave the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas behind and get up close to the Colorado River on this half-day kayaking tour. Board your shuttle at Mandalay Bay Resort (if option selected) and travel to Willow Beach. Embark on a relaxing 5-mile (8-kilometer) journey through Black Canyon, including a visit to the picturesque Emerald Cave. Enjoy included snacks and water as you take in the natural beauty around you.
- Explore the Colorado River, Emerald Cave and Black Canyon
- Safety gear, kayaking guidance, and refreshments all included
- Option of round-trip transit from the Las Vegas Strip makes logistics easy
- This kayaking excursion is beginner- and family-friendly
What's Included
- Round Trip Transportation from the Mandalay Bay Hotel (if 'With Shuttle' option selected)
- Professional kayak tour guide
- Single or double kayak and life vest
- SnacksWe provide bottled water, bananas and granola bars - if you have any food allergies or sensitivities please bring your own snacks
- Round-Trip Transportation (if SELF-DRIVE option selected)
- National Park entry is free for kids, NPS card holders and military; For adults it is$15.00 per person
- If you meet us at the launch site, National Park charges a $25 entrance fee per vehicle.$25.00 per booking
- Natinal Park Entrance is FREE with NPS Card, Millitary ID, Veteran ID and kids under 16.
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
What To Expect
For this Emerald Cave kayak tour, either meet at the designated location in Willow Beach or reserve pickup from the Mandalay Bay valet pick-up area in Las Vegas. This tour is ideal for travelers who’re staying in Vegas but want a little break from the bright city lights.
Once you arrive and check in, get assigned to a kayak for this day tour. At checkout, you can book a single or double kayak, depending on your preference.
A guide leads you on the 5-mile (8-kilometer) kayaking trip down the Colorado River to the Black Canyon and Emerald Cave. Make a stop at a historical outlook for a short hike before getting back on the water to make your way to the cave for more impressive views.
Your kayak tour ends back at Willow Beach.
Once you arrive and check in, get assigned to a kayak for this day tour. At checkout, you can book a single or double kayak, depending on your preference.
A guide leads you on the 5-mile (8-kilometer) kayaking trip down the Colorado River to the Black Canyon and Emerald Cave. Make a stop at a historical outlook for a short hike before getting back on the water to make your way to the cave for more impressive views.
Your kayak tour ends back at Willow Beach.
1
Colorado River
2
Willow Beach
3
Emerald Cove
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Infant seats available
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Maximum weight limit is 300lb/person
- What to bring? Hat, sunglasses, sunblock, water shoes, comfortable clothing, swimsuit (under clothes)
- It's a family friendly group activity, NO ALCOHOL OR SMOKING ALLOWED
- Only service animals are allowed on this tour with SELF-DRIVE option only
- Please note that if you bring any electronics with you during the tour, it is highly recommended to bring a waterproof case
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 96 travelers
Supplied by
Frequently Asked Questions (11)
Q:How do I arrange pickup for the Emerald Cave Kayak Tour with Optional Las Vegas Pickup?
A:The meeting location is the Hoover Dam Lodge on U.S. 93 in Boulder City or from the Mandalay Bay Hotel at the shuttle pick-up area on the lower level. Please specify your preferred departure location in the "Special Requirements" box at checkout.
Aug 2021
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
Featured review
Kristen_J
This was a great experience, especially since I had never been kayaking. Our guide, Robbie, was awesome! He was fun, patient and informative. You could tell that he really loves his job. The scenery was amazing. A definite must do if you love the outdoors!
Reviews
4.9
based on 3,195 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
MarkA_S, Sep 2026
So much fun! First time kayaking, guide was super kind and helpful.
The pace was awesome, just the right mix of travel, physical activity and chilling!
Jeffrey_M, Sep 2026
Our Emerald Cave kayak tour was absolutely amazing from start to finish! The views along the Colorado River were breathtaking, and the trip to Emerald Cave was something we’ll never forget. Seeing the beautiful water, incredible scenery, and even bighorn sheep in their natural habitat made the experience even more special.
Our tour guide was fantastic—knowledgeable, friendly, fun, and made sure everyone had a great time. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide or a better day on the water. If you’re considering this tour, do it—you won’t regret it!
Maredyl_B, Aug 2026
Robby was very attentive and knowledgeable throughout the tour. it was a workout to kayak through the wind but so refreshing on our +110° day! we stopped for a dip and mini hike for beautiful views of the river. we were well hydrated and provided snacks as needed as well, and the pick-up option was a great choice for a restful ride back to the strip. highly recommend!
Susan_P, Aug 2026
What an experience!!! Slap on your factor 50 and enjoy this unforgettable trip! Robby our guide was just brilliant. So lovely, helpful and informative. He seemed to enjoy it as much as we did. Would highly recommend. It was so nice to take a day away from the bonkersness that is The Strip and do something totally different. I’ll never forget it! Great for kids and families!
Alicia_H, Aug 2026
It was an amazing trip. I will be honest that I only read a few reviews before I booked and I didn’t realize that Emerald Cave is REALLY small. Still worth it. Also, our guide Anthony was the best!!!!
Janette_W, Aug 2026
This was an amazing nature experience/ get away from the Vegas life. I booked last minute and they were able to accommodate us with the shuttle ride. Also some cool stops on the way. I would do it again!
Jacob_Z, Aug 2026
Johnny + Robbie were the BEST guides! I really enjoyed learning about the landscape and the environment more than the actual kayaking part itself. The trip was so much fun. I would definitely recommend bringing more water than anticipated, as well as sunscreen.
Emily_M, Aug 2026
It’s was a great time. Easy for beginner like me, beautiful sites. Little disappointed that the “emerald cave” is actually a divorcing the side of the rocks. But the tour guide was awesome very sweet and informative. He was also very personable and got to know us all a little bit throughout the excursion
Lori_W, Aug 2026
It's fun easy for beginners and worth the money. The guides were amazing. Loved the history lessons, hike, and was able to meet new people among the way.
LesleyDiane_S, Aug 2026
It was a great day , the water was so emerald colour and clear . The only thing is the cave is very small and we had to wait inline for a while to eventually get in and out fir oa photo. Loved the scenery and experience.
Mariia_K, Aug 2026
This tour was great! Robby is a really cool and funny guy, I'd definitely recommend him as a tour guide!
But be prepared to paddle over 4 river miles (around 3 hours straight), that is definitely tough physically and even though I've done kayaking before, I was extremely exhausted by the end of the tour.
Also, be prepared for the tour to actually last longer than listed on the website, because there can be a line to entrance to the Emerald Cove, we waited 45 more minutes just in the line.
Our tour started at 9 am and we got back to Las Vegas at 5 pm.
Other than that, I loved everything! Colorado river and mountains around are absolutely breathtaking.
DeAnna_C, Aug 2026
This was 4 mile kayak ride, 2 miles there, 2 miles back, it was just the right amount of time and the water was so cold. So even in the hot beating sun the water helped keep us cool. It was an incredible experience and would love to be able to do it again! Thank you Zen you were amazing!!
Carlos, Aug 2026
Johnny is an excellent guide tour. He was always attentive of the group. 5 points. Only I recommend to do this activity in another season, this summer is to hot in Las Vegas.
Edward_B, Aug 2026
We had an amazing time on our kayak tour! The views were beautiful, but what truly made the trip exceptional was our tour guide. They were fantastic—knowledgeable, attentive, and went above and beyond to make sure everyone in our group was safe, comfortable, and having a great time. You can tell they genuinely care about giving people an unforgettable experience.
Everything was smooth from start to finish, and we couldn't have asked for a better day on the water. If you're thinking about booking this tour, do it! We had a blast and will definitely be back.
Sherry_G, Aug 2026
The kayaking was great. The temperature was a little too hot…110.🥵 Anthony was a great guide and gave us interesting facts along the way. The trip was about 2 miles to the Cave and 2 miles back.
Lucy_B, Aug 2026
A great experience from start to finish. Booking was simple and plenty of communication before the trip. Our tour guide was great, very involved and made our experience fun
Dee_B, Aug 2026
I’m a flight attendant and had a layover in Vegas . I booked this tour . I was solo but there were two vans of us that went . I chose to be picked up at the Mandalay Bay . I wish there were downtown /Fremont hotel pick ups because I had to pay to get to the Mandalay which and roughly another $40 to my experience. My other feedback is that I did not receive a text message suggesting what type of clothing would be needed until I had already pulled up to the meet up location. Perhaps this information should be shared under what you need to know while booking. The last feedback is that communication from the operator “ suggested “ cash for the $15 Park entry fee because it would make the process go faster. However, when we arrive for pick up, they only accepted cash and gave directions to go into the hotel to an ATM . I never have cash but luckily, I had $15 this day. That language should also be updated while booking. So just keep in mind that you will need cash.
My van driver and ultimately primary guide was Johnny . Johnny was so charismatic, well traveled, and knew so much about the history of not only just the river, but the geology and how both American and world history impacted the river, wildlife, and systems. He was funny and made it all very interesting even if you’re just there for the kayak and photo ops.
I’m an inexperienced kayaker, but he made sure that I was never left behind and was aware and accountable for everyone in our party. I’m so happy that I chose this tour and it’s definitely well worth it to get off of the Strip and Fremont.
P.S. Give Johnny a raise.
Rhonda_S, Aug 2026
We had a great time. Robbie is an awesome guide. We will request him next time as well. It is a great experience and would recommend to all my friends traveling to Las Vegas in the future.
Batsheva_G, Aug 2026
Great experience, with a great guide water was cold and the weather was hot. Perfect for kayaking with family
Julie_K, Aug 2026
Beautiful area, learned a lot, great kayak guide. The emerald cave is smaller than expected, but an interesting experience.
Amy_p, Aug 2026
This was amazing! Enjoyed every minute. Not hard, they took their time to enjoy the views. Justin was a wonderful guide.
Kelly_F, Aug 2026
This was so much fun! Loved spending a day “off the strip” for some much needed time in nature. The river is beautiful! Our guide Johnny was an absolute riot and made the trip even better!
Melissa_P, Aug 2026
Johnny B was an awesome tour guide! Highly recommend!!! Next time I come to Vegas I will make sure to book with him again. Kayaking was one of the best things I did on my trip. If you’re on the fence, just do it, you’ll be glad you did!
Michelle_B, Aug 2026
I had a great time and learned a lot. Johnny was our guide and excellent. Five star experience for sure.
Lisa_D, Aug 2026
Phenomenal experience!! Robby was fantastic and made sure we had a great time. My boys 11 & 15 really enjoyed this tour as well.
Meagan_B, Aug 2026
Our tour guide Anthony was excellent! We enjoyed our entire experience! The water felt great considering it was about 110 degrees outside.
Deborah_H, Aug 2026
such a fun experience. Robbie was a great guide, gave lots of great information about the colorado river and wildlife, plants etc. Would
highly recommend this tour. very family friendly, safety was very important, great instruction of kayaking..
Kerie_G, Aug 2026
Robbie was very good as your guide. I’d never done before and it was such fun. People with you all join in and together you enjoy the activity.
Kerri_A, Aug 2026
Relaxing
Fun for a hot day, glimpses of lots of wildlife
Everything provided
Well paced, suits most people
Troy_G, Aug 2026
Great tour! Well planned and our guide Zen was awesome! The kayaks were ready to go and instructions and assistance were given to help those not experienced. They were great with kids. Overall, totally worth it and sights are just awesome!
From $89.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Emerald Cave Kayak Tour: Scenic Paddle with Optional Shuttle
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