Emerald Cave Kayak Tour: Scenic Paddle with Optional Shuttle
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Las Vegas, USA
- 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
Daisy_C
Really enjoyed this tour! Our tour guide Juston was very informative but very entertaining as well. The tour is only as good as your guide and he definitely knocked it out the park. Would definitely recommend to try atleast once.
Reviews
4.9
based on 3,146 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Sean_K, Jul 2026
Cold water and good times! Our guide was great! He made us all feel like we were friends. Will definitely come back!
Vicki_T, Jul 2026
Excellent, fun day on the water! Jonny was such a great guide! We loved being able to share a kayak and hike and swim a little too!
Kristopher_T, Jul 2026
Are guide, Anthony, was amazing, informative and extremely kind. The experience was breathtaking. I loved the experience, information and details we received on this excursion.
Elsie_B, Jul 2026
I loved out tour guy, he made my kayak experience fun and enjoyable .thank you buddy, I will bring my friends on our next one. Sincerely Elsie B.
Jeff_F, Jul 2026
Water stays chilly year around. Not so cold that it’s uncomfortable but takes a minute to acclimate your body
Bruce_F, Jul 2026
Nice at leisure kayak ride with Jonny down the Colorado river. It is about a 1 hour+ ride from pickup point to get to launching site. Jonny did a great job with our group explaining things and taking pictures. Only downside to me was that after about a 45 minute to go into the cave, the cave was only about 60’ deep. We assumed we’d be paddling through a cave and that was not the case. It is pretty hot on the river, need hat and sunscreen for sure😊
Danielle_D, Jul 2026
I booked The Emerald Cave excursion. The experience was a 10 out of 10 all around. From pick up to drop off everything was meticulous and fun. Johnny was our guide and he was the perfect person, super knowledgeable and a great personality. I would highly recommend this excursion, but note the actual cave is not really as depicted in pictures. It was an enjoyable experience, regardless.
Mahogany_T, Jul 2026
Wonderful experience, great tour guide. The views were amazing. Definitely something to do with the family.
Martin_F, Jul 2026
Pick up point was a little confusing, trip was awesome, easy paddle as the river does not have a strong flow. Best trip on the week worth every dollar.
Chi_N, Jul 2026
Our guide, Tristan, was absolutely fantastic! Friendly, knowledgeable, and made our Emerald Cave kayak tour the highlight of my sister’s bachelorette trip. He gave great instructions, shared local insights, took photos, and provided water and snacks. Highly recommend!
Maggie_K, Jul 2026
Those 4 miles are just enough! Bring sunscreen and wear protective gear. If you have a good guide then you’ll enjoy this. These guys know what they’re doing!
Fernando_A, Jul 2026
Anthony our guide was awesome! He was very helpful and knowledgeable. Our adventure was wonderful thanks to him.
Bridget_V, Jul 2026
We had an amazing tour with Austin. He shared information throughout the tour, not only tips and instructions for kayaking but also about the history of the area. We traveled with our kids who are 12 and 13. It was the perfect length of a trip
Rachel_B, Jul 2026
This was an awesome experience. The kayaking was super fun and the view was fantastic, we even got to see some Bighorn Sheep along the river! I highly recommend.
Camille_M, Jul 2026
It was not what was expected by the picture. I thought we were kayaking through the cave. We wasn’t but it was fun. The tour guide was really good and funny. The scenery is so beautiful. I would recommend and do it again.
Sabrina_T, Jul 2026
It was a half day adventure at emerald cove, this was my first time kayaking and my tour director zhen was patience with me everyone. I definitely will be kayaking again with what I've learned.
Paola_S, Jul 2026
The tour was everything that we expected and more. Our guide, Anthony, was great. He even got a little surprise for us. Thanks.
Josee_A, Jul 2026
Zander, our guide, was amazing. Very knowledgeable about the river and patient with our kayakers who were first timers. I would 100% recommend this tour for someone who wants to get off the strip, get out on the water, and have an incredible day in nature.
Vanessa_J, Jul 2026
We started off rocky as my mom and her friend were definitely struggling in the water, but, Zen, our kayak guide was so helpful and patient and we were able to do the whole entire thing when I was convinced we would have to stop eventually 😅 very grateful for a patient and encouraging guide.
outside of that, I really love the experience of being on the water. It was really beautiful. Emerald Cave itself is underwhelming, but fair, I didn’t even look up what that was lol. It’s definitely an activity that makes a Las Vegas trip feel more well-rounded. I am very glad we did this excursion :)
Helene_T, Jul 2026
We had a wonderful experience. Our guide Triston was friendly, very attentive - he spent a good amount of time helping my nephew that was struggling - and made everyone comfortable. Highly recommended, full success !
Julie_A, Jul 2026
We had a great time on this trip! Anthony was a great guide! It is 2 miles down to the cave and 2 miles back. The cave was beautiful and great to take photos.
Ray_B, Jul 2026
This is a great trip that can be accomplished for a novice kayaker. The scenery is beautiful.
Zen was our guide who did an outstanding job. He as kind, spoken to each of us individually and share very interesting info on the history, fauna, and rock formations. He really is a gem. So glad we were in his group
Nayelis_C, Jul 2026
Definitely worth doing if you come to Vegas. Our tour guide was super nice and friendly made the whole experience feel breezy. The view was beautiful, we learned a lot about the cave and things surrounding it as we went along. Would definitely do it again when we come back.
Decontee_K, Jul 2026
Me & my sister had a great time! Our guide Jonny made the experience even better, he was a great teacher and super friendly
John_L, Jul 2026
Johnny was awsome!! great day on the water! all things considered this was the best excursion to do for a day in vegas and away from the strip!
Rene_F, Jul 2026
Anthony was amazing start to finish! Great instruction and very engaging. I highly recommend this excursion. The water was amazing and refreshing and the views are spectacular!
MaryorRaymond_B, Jul 2026
We had a fantastic time kayaking the Colorado river! Kwame and the other guide are knowledgeable and made our trip to the Emerald Cave fun and exciting. We will be taking our family and friends on this tour when they visit us in Vegas. We highly recommend and we are excited to go back.
Paula_P, Jul 2026
Wonderful experience, refreshing water temperature in AZ heat, beautiful sights and we got to see rams. highly recommend
Tony_P, Jul 2026
Robbie was a fantastic tour guide. Beautiful trip up and down the river. Snack, water were needed so thanks for that. Just a fabulous day!
Lorraine_H, Jul 2026
Amazing day on the Colorado River and visiting the Emerald Cave with Las Vegas SUP Kayak Club. Water was a beautiful, crystal clear green and our guide Jonny did a great job of telling us about the area, local legends and highlighting points of interest. We saw big horned sheep traversing the mountain side, coming down to drink water. It was 103 that day so being on the water was a great way to beat the heat. The shuttle picking us up at Mandalay Bay Resort was a big plus, as we didn't want to rent a car. Recommend 100%
From $89.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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