Emerald Cave Kayak Tour with Wildlife, Swim and Shuttle Option
Badge of Excellence
Las Vegas, USA
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
As the Colorado River weaves its way through Arizona, it cuts through the desert and leads to the Emerald Cave. This respite on the Nevada state border is full of cool, refreshing water that offers a wonderful break from the heat. Take a kayak out on the river and discover the cave for yourself on this guided tour. Paddle, swim, and savor a day in the great outdoors.
- A great afternoon activity from Las Vegas
- Great for large groups like bridal parties
- Ice water and snacks are included to fuel your journey
- Spot bald eagles, bighorn sheep, and other wildlife
What's Included
- SnacksWe will supply waters, snacks (granola bars, chips, etc) and fruit (watermelon, pineapple, melon)
- Kayaks and Lifejackets
- Guide
- Ice waters
- Toll booth at Lake Mead/Willow Beach Park, Emerald Cave Kayak$15.00 per person
- National Park Fee (included w/transport; not included w/self-drive or without transport option)$25.00 per booking
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Start time.11:00 am
What To Expect
1
Las Vegas
2
The Colorado River
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- When you arrive at willow beach you will need to pay a $25 vehicle entry fee if the toll is open. After passing the toll, drive all the way down the road to the willow beach marina.
- Not recommended for travelers with mobility issues.
- Our single kayaks have a weight capacity of 275Lbs
- Our double kayaks have a weight capacity of 405LBS
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Matt_S
We had such a great day with Johnny as our tour guide. Very laid back and no pressure to hurry and just an incredible day. Beautiful scenery and we had some fantastic guys from Canada on the tour that made it even more fun. I would go again in a heartbeat.
Reviews
4.5
based on 68 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
JR_D, Jul 2026
The experience was good. The only thing I would say is a concern is that when we booked we thought we could do two people to a kayak. It was definitely strenuous especially since we were not able to pair up because of a lack of two person kayaks. Our guides were great and the river is gorgeous. Luckily all of our party were able to complete the journey but there were a few others that struggled.
Mark_S, Apr 2026
The kayak supplier canceled due to "wind" claimed to have texted and emailed me but neither got to me. Directions to the launch point were bad. Hundreds of kayaks were being launched while we waited for an hour. Be aware that there is no signal and wifi costs money and does not work at the launch site. When asking numerous other operatiors about our supplier they said "he is usually late and often doesnt show at all" this ruined our 2 day trip. Never using viator again. You need to find a reliable kayak service or all your clients will be leaving you.
Matt_S, Feb 2026
We had such a great day with Johnny as our tour guide. Very laid back and no pressure to hurry and just an incredible day. Beautiful scenery and we had some fantastic guys from Canada on the tour that made it even more fun. I would go again in a heartbeat.
Fabian_A, Nov 2025
Great tour, be careful with the timing and arrival.
We arrived an hour early due to time zone differences but we were not able to reach out or check our booking details because Willow Beach lies in an area with no mobile network coverage.
We started a little late due to this and were able to just catch the Emerald Cave lighting up in time (it was also shining low due to November) but our guide Paul made it work.
Additionally, Paul was an awesome guide who provided us a lot of additional insight about the place and area, history etc.
Even in November, the 85 °F were inviting us to take a swim during and after the tour which made us soak up the after-vibes of the tour experience to a maximum and made an overall awesome day.
The insights Paul provided, made us want to come back for more exploration on our own or even attending the longer tour to the Hoover Dam.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for the great review !
Thomas_o, Oct 2025
Communications : C- ( vendor sent info via what’s app, my # was not on his list, we and address for a hotel that spans 4 city blocks.it should have states in the info at the beginning “pickup in “ride share” area of hotel. Messaging thru Viator we slow to respond)
Transportation: D (old van that barely fit 15 people, there were 15 in group) AC vent in back is broken, we had to cram paper in it to keep it open. Van needs shocks and had a bad rear tire, lots of vibrations and rattling).
Kayak quality (C-: hodgepodge of equipment. Life vests are very worn, min effort made to fit. . Kayak seats are old and pieced together with bungee cords and extremely knotted straps that would not allow for adjustment) kayaks were not comfortable.
Viator Descriptions do not clearly indicate that group must paddle for 2 miles to reach single cave that is about 50feet in depth. Long way in these kayaks. Also, once you arrive at the cave, expect at least an hour in line while sitting in kayaks before you get to go into cave.
This was all coordinated by a 2 man team, seemed to be a lot of chaos.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your input. Everyone else in the group did not have the same issues as you, so we will see what the difference was on this particular day.
Steven_M, Oct 2025
Don was a wonderful guide on our kayak tour. He was patient and helpful and encouraging with us older inexperienced people.
Joe_P, Oct 2025
Great time out on the river. Great tour guide, Don, made it fun.. Strongly recommend a day that may be a bit cloudy otherwise be sure to bring sunscreens. Oh, and you will get a little wet!
Robin_H, Sep 2025
The day of the tour we walked to the pickup location and waited for the shuttle. When it didn’t arrive, we messaged the company and they responded that they had “sent a message” that morning offering to reschedule for the next day due to the weather. The reason? “We try to avoid the heat, humidity, and moderate winds”. The weather was beautiful so I’m not sure what they were talking about.
The bigger issue is that I never received an email, text, or call. When I told them this, they said “sometimes service in the casinos is bad”. Odd because I wasn’t in a casino and my service had been five bars all morning. If you are canceling a tour you should confirm that the guests receive the cancellation and maybe try a few ways of contacting them. In the end, we of course were told they would refund it (I haven’t seen it yet but it’s only been 3 days) however, we wasted our entire morning preparing for this. There are many options for companies to do these tours and they’re all about the same price, I really wish I had booked with a different company.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
The weather is much different at the river than the las vegas strip so it can appear nice, but in reality the winds can be very unenjoyable.
This being said, I love trip advisor and viator as they allow really cool people who do not take our tours or who I have never met to leave amazing reviews. These customers also appreciate the fact that we are always looking out for their safety by expressing their joy. Also, please note that after we put in the cancellation request, its up to Viator or Trip advisor on refund times. So you can contact those amazing companies and thank them for the delay. Im very grateful they don't take down reviews about refunds seeing how it's out of my control. Please read all the true reviews before you take this review seriously.
Rebekka_W, Sep 2025
This experience had great tour operators and beautiful scenery all around! Book it and have a blast!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much!
Zoe_B, Aug 2025
This experience was advertised as taking 4-5 hours. Ultimately we were gone for over 8 hours, most of which was spent sitting in a hot van. The guides were very unorganized and bad at communicating how much time we would be waiting. For example they dropped us off at a grocery store to get snacks and told us it would be about 10 minutes. We ended up being there for 45 minutes!! The kayaks were in bad condition. The pros were they did have snacks and waters and the actual kayaking was fun. I would just make sure to book through a good company because booking through this site you could get matched with any bozos.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
"The actual kayaking was fun" Isn't that the whole trip, is kayaking? Stopping off at a store so you could grab snacks was bad? ThanK yA foR you'rE iNput!
Salina_M, Jun 2025
Unfortunately we were unable to due to weather. The staff was very transparent with us so that we could have the best time and that was very much appreciated. We could not reschedule for this trip but will definitely try to do at a later time.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
So we canceled because of the bad weather and we got 3 stars?. Im sure trip advisor or viator won't take it off either. They are pretty awesome about leaving customer reviews when those customers dont get to experience our tours.
Laura_K, Jun 2025
We had a great experience although there was an overcast which was good because the temperature was cooler but we didn’t get to see the full effect of the light shining into the cave. Our tour guides Doug and Isaac were great. Would definitely recommend this tour.
Anonymous, May 2025
Driver never picked us up. We spent money on a cab, woke up early, lost 3 hours waiting and preparing.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
We called you and messaged and let you know the tours were canceled. Please put the correct contact information next time. ThanK yA foR you'rE iNput
Janis_U, May 2025
Tour was well organized, Isaac was a very attractive tour leader, pointing out every little thing to pay attention to. Weather was awesome and swimming in Colorado river is a real adventure.
cm1mendez, Apr 2025
Awesome day! Our pick up guy provided us some history and a lot of useful information on our way. The guides were great and extremely helpful. What a great experience!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you very much! We try to give everyone the best experience possible!
Anika_M, Apr 2025
Beautiful experience, Isaac was very knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating. Definitely a must if you need a break from the city.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for the amazing review!
Kerrie_H, Apr 2025
It was a very fun day on the water! Don was a fantastic guide, with information about the area, wildlife, and plant life. I chose to meet at Willow Bay, but there is an option to be picked up at one of the hotels on the strip, which is great for those who need it. Fun experience!
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you so much for the great review! Don is the man!
Magda_L, Nov 2024
This kayaking trip was excellent. Our guide, Don was great with information, photos, snacks, etc. he pointed out things to see and explained history. The small group experience was also particularly enjoyable. Great pace. Highly recommend the tour and Don.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you very much! We appreciate the great review!
Berhan_I, Sep 2024
Great day experience! Definitely would do it again. The views were amazing and our tour guide was great! I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for an adventure. We started the day wıth a 9am pıck up and made ıt back around 4pm. They offered bottled water, fruıt and bars. I would recommend bringing a small cooler wıth you on the kayak to pack your lunch and your own snacks or a water bag to keep your belongings.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you for joining us on the river!
Daniel_M, Aug 2024
It whole experience was amazing! Me and my dad had so much fun and felt so much adrenaline going against the current. Ever since we left Nevada, we have been planning to buy our own kayak and bring it at sea. Thank you for the amazing trip, hopefully it won't be my last time on a kayak.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Good day on the river! Thank you!
Brandon_L, Jun 2024
Paul and Justin where great guides and really friendly and explained all the history along the trip we also appreciate the pick up and drop off to our casino that was very helpful
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you for the amazing review
Daniel_Q, May 2024
It was a great experience!! Had a blast! Very relaxing and fun! The experience and history about that area was interesting.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you for the great review! Come back soon
Buffy_B, Mar 2024
An amazing day! Oneness was amazing. Our guide, Isaac, was so friendly and made the day so relaxing! You have to book with them!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you for the kind words! We sincerely appreciate it
Jeanne_W, Mar 2024
I purchased a paddle boarding trip with a ride to the location from the strip. Turns out they don't give rides or have paddle boards. It took 2 days to get in touch with anyone and they told me they'd refund me and haven't yet. It's been a week.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
(Please check all the reviews before you take this one seriously) Check your viator portal. The refund has been sent back. Also, check the trip ad... Meet up location at Willow Beach Marina only right now. I am sorry you are confuesed.
Salem_M, Nov 2023
Excellent adventure, Guide was very knowledgeable, very accommodating. Learned a lot about the area, history and surroundings throughout the trip, very tailored to our needs and made sure we were comfortable and enjoyed every aspect of the trip, plenty of photo opportunities, and time to soak up the scenery and the day.
Would defiantly and have recommended this to friends and family.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you so much!
Gregory_D, Nov 2023
Awesome guide, very knowledgeable and helpful. Overall great time. Great trip for all ability levels. Beautiful trip, had a bald eagle fly over head and saw longhorn sheep.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you! Had a great day
Stanley_W, Oct 2023
Unclear staring instructions. Had to message operator regarding start and end time. Timing was still incorrect. We planned dinner but then found out during the tour that we wouldn’t be back in Vegas until close to 530pm. Tour time is listed as 3.5hrs. Pick up was 1015am. We definitely were not anticipating being it there for that long. Group size was terrible with much too large of a group. Should’ve been split to allow for faster paddlers. Also too many ppl to fit into the cave and minimal time inside to enjoy the experience. Felt like cattle being herded in and out.
Plenty of water
Response from Host, Nov 2023
We apologize that you did not have an amazing experience. We do our absolute best to always have smooth days, but sometimes traffic on the Las Vegas strip, and the weather, can make the trip last a little longer than expected. Note, actual time "ON THE WATER", is around 3.5 hours. This does not include your drive time. Also, with the growing popularity of the cave and its beauty, can get a little congested on the weekends. Again, we sincerely apologize and can offer another complementary tour for you and your family to show our appreciation. We will make sure to go at the end of the day, so we have no crowds to deal with and you can spend as much time as you need in the cave.
Alaaa_A, Oct 2023
Isaac was absolutely amazing. He called ahead of time to make sure we'd attend. He had water and snacks for us during the kayak. He took pictures of us and let us go at our own pace. I would definitely recommend!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you and hope to see you again soon
Lori_C, Oct 2023
The scenery was breathtaking, and enjoyed seeing the wildlife - rams and eagles nest. Our tour guide, Issac, was awesome. Enjoyed the pace.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you so much!
Lonnie_T, Oct 2023
Very relaxing and beautiful scenery
Our tours guides were very knowledgeable and would highly recommend Isaac and Paul
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thank you for the great review
From $129.00
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