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Nashville Guided Kayak Tour

Recommended by 95% of travelers
Nashville, USA
  • 2 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.7
·
· Cheryl_R ·
Aug 2025
It was relaxing and enjoyable. The river was calm and the guide knowledgeable. We had a great experience.
· Sergio_L ·
Jul 2025
We had a great time and the staff was great! The river was calm and its great for beginners to try out kayaking. The price is on point and worth the experience.

Overview

See Nashville from a fresh perspective with this small-group kayaking excursion. Meet your guide at a pick-up point and utilize the complimentary shuttle to reach the launch point. Then paddle three miles downstream back to downtown Nashville, admiring skyline views along the way. All necessary equipment is provided; water and sunscreen are complimentary.
  • Go on a kayaking adventure in Nashville
  • Paddle downstream during a relaxing tour
  • Check out views of the Nashville skyline
  • Complimentary shuttle to reach launch point included

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)

Reviews

4.7
based on 168 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
We perform checks on reviews

Left stranded

Kristin_D, Aug 2025
The guide me we showed up. I heard from the guide via text confirming the day. I let them know I would not be there but 2 of my friends would be. They confirmed again. My friends tried calling and texting with no response and no one showed at the meet location.

Fun in Nashville

Patricia_L, Aug 2025
Great fun and Dan and Josh we’re so attentive and friendly. So glad we chose this activity while in Nashville.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thanks so much for joining us at Big Willies! We’re thrilled you had a great time—come ride with us again soon!

It was relaxing and...

Cheryl_R, Aug 2025
It was relaxing and enjoyable. The river was calm and the guide knowledgeable. We had a great experience.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

We loved having you on the tour! So glad you enjoyed the Big Willies Nashville experience. See y’all next time!

This was a beautiful...

Nic_R, Jul 2025
This was a beautiful experience. I felt safe and enjoyed the vibe of the owners. Easy to talk to, felt safe🦋

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thanks for hopping on with us! Big Willies is all about fun, and we’re glad you felt that energy!

Friendly staff

Sergio_L, Jul 2025
We had a great time and the staff was great! The river was calm and its great for beginners to try out kayaking. The price is on point and worth the experience.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

So happy you enjoyed the ride! We put our heart into every tour, and we’re grateful you chose Big Willies.

Very friendly. They...

Tribiah_M, Jul 2025
Very friendly. They waited for us before they left. We were late (circumstances out of our hands, dropped off at wrong location) and they drove down to pick us up.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

We’re so glad we could make it work and get you on board! At Big Willies, we’ll always go the extra mile (literally!) to make sure no one misses out on the fun. Thanks for rolling with us—we loved having you!

Was a very fun and...

Chris_S, Jul 2025
Was a very fun and relaxing Kayak trip down the river! Our guide was great and provided bottle water as well - worth the experience / seeing downtown Nash from the river!

Response from Host, Aug 2025

We truly appreciate the love! Knowing you had a great time with Big Willies means everything to us. Y’all come back now!

Fun time!

Scott_F, Jun 2025
It was a good time. Dan was very personable and made the trip fun. It was interesting to kayak near a large city.

Great experience and very...

Ginger_B, Jun 2025
Great experience and very relaxing. I would do it again. The skyline was beautiful, and the staff was very friendly and helpful

The guides were friendly...

Hannibal_G, Jun 2025
The guides were friendly and went out of their way to accommodate us. The river was perfect and the city skyline was impressive from your kayak.

We had so much fun...

Jacob_S, Jun 2025
We had so much fun kayaking down the river, our guide did a great job ensuring safety for everyone on the trip. I’d love to do it again sometime!

Kayak

Iris_B, Jun 2025
They were helpful and made sure you got to the excursion. He was friendly made you comfy for first time. Loved it

10/10! Loved this experience

Kelly_M, May 2025
This was a perfect addition to our trip to Nashville. The guides were friendly, patient and all equipment was provided for our kayaking adventure. They started the trip with history of the river which was a cool touch. We saw turtles and heron and got great pictures!! We loved this and totally recommend adding Big Willie’s to your trip!

Great fun and beautiful downtown views

Codi_C, May 2025
Great outdoor adventure in the heart of Nashville! I had a wonderful, easy peasy, relaxing kayak drift down the Cumberland river. The end of the tour was across the bridge from my downtown hotel so that was super convenient! Dan was our tour guide and was very nice and fun and accommodating! Thanx for that!

Quite the experience

Tyra_B, Aug 2024
I've never went kayaking before so I was looking forward to the experience. Josh has an amazing and very personable personality and approach. The ppl who joined were also so friendly. Big Willie was also a delight and professional. The mile and a half was a bit much for me personally and the temp was just too hot, so unfortunately, this made my experience not so great. The only advice I would suggest to the co.pany, is that it should be a guide leading in the front and one to stay in the back. If something were to happen to one of the patrons in the back, no one would ever know...no one looked back too often including the guide

Sarah or tour guide was...

Liset_M, Aug 2024
Sarah or tour guide was super sweet, patient, and energetic. I love the whole experience, she also took super cute pictures of us. We recommend it 100%

Amazing Kayaking

Violeta_M, Jul 2024
This was my first time doing kayaking. All of the guides were patient and allowed me to get comfortable. Being in the river was so relaxing. We met new friends. Amazing excursion!!!

so much fun

Suzanne_D, Jul 2024
everyone was so helpful i really enjoyed our guides a fun time meeting new friends & seeing the sights from the river

Kayaking not on a city view

colleen_h, Jul 2024
The kayaking was fun but I was very disappointed that we did not go towards the city as advertised which is why I booked I wanted to take pictures of the city sky line. I live on a lake and can and do kayaking on the lake often. I booked to see the city views and was disappointed that we did not do the route as booked ( if it was just kayaking I do not believe I would have booked )

Great tour with great guide!

Allison_V, Jul 2024
Great time with a great tour guide! Our tour guide made sure to memorize the entire group’s names and made it a very welcoming experience. Due to the 4th celebrations we had to take a different route but it was still scenic and a nice time.

Whoot whoot

Emily_J, Jul 2024
Beginning to the end it was a fun experience with two great guides and fun people on the tour as well! Highly recommended if you want to get off the beaten path!

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Thank you so much Emily! So glad you had a good time!!

LET. DOWN.

Luke_R, Jul 2024
The downtown portion AKA the entire reason to go on the Kayak was shut down so we went on alternate route under sewage tanks that was basically dirty fecal water covered with trash, I understand the city being closed off but not being offered the option for a refund beforehand was severely disappointing because there is no way I would pay $220 for my family to paddle a fecal trash creek.

Friendly Staff and Impressive Tour

Jorge_G, Jun 2024
Everyone is very friendly and the tour among the buildings is really good. You can take good photos, make good videos, enjoy a nice kayak tour, recommended.

Fun and relaxing!

Tricia_W, May 2024
The staff was super friendly and the kayaking was relaxing. It was a fun and simple way to enjoy Nashville.

A Nashville Visit MUST-DO

Tina_B, May 2024
Everything was PERFECT! Definitely a must do while visiting Nashville. Our tour guide Josh was super helpful and even made sure we had some great pictures!

Beautiful time

MARY_J, Apr 2024
It was great! I just wish it were longer 😃 Josh was super!! Scenic and tranquil. Everyone was there on time Thanks 😊

Great new experience

Debra_C, Sep 2023
Our guide was very patient with our group. Most were inexperienced kayaker. It was a lovely time. Would do it again

Loved the whole kayak trip! No complaints

Jesse_V, Sep 2023
This kayak tour is well worth it! So peaceful and quiet and the groups are small. Maybe 8-12 tops. We had a fun group of people from all over. The guide is great. There's no rush or hurry on the tempo. Great pace. No issues!

Lovely Nashville outing!

Gary_G, Sep 2023
We had a fantastic time! Dan & Melissa were super friendly and patient. We actually had the time mixed up, and arrived 30 min late. They allowed us to join in on the next one which we so appreciated. The kayaking was relaxed, the views were nice, and the river was calm. We felt it was the perfect length as well. :)

Its pretty but I wouldn’t do it again

Kaitlyn_K, Aug 2023
I enjoyed it being a small group. It was only my group of 3 with two other people besides the instructor. The two other people were nice but was like a mile ahead of us the whole time so it wasn’t much of a tour just kayaking with my friends 🤷🏼‍♀️
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