Small Group Dolphin Kayak Eco-Tour
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Virginia Beach, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Paddle alongside the wild dolphins of Virginia Beach on a small-group kayak tour from North End Beach. Watch for sea birds and other wildlife as you steer an easy to use, sit-on-top kayak along the coast to the Cape Henry Lighthouses. Learn about the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins that swim past the Virginia coast each summer, and explore the shore with an experienced guide.
- Dolphin-watching tour with a small group for personalized attention
- Explore the Virginia Beach coast by kayak
- Family-friendly tour: no experience necessary
- All necessary equipment included and guides help you navigate
What's Included
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Local professional guide
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 2500 Shore Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, USA
The address for your GPS is 2500 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23451. Sometimes GPS will direct you to the Trail Center across the street- DO NOT DO THIS!!! You will need to turn into the CAMPGROUND entrance. Also, walk down to beach as we are on the beach! Tipping is also customary!
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Meet your guide at North End Beach in Virginia Beach, get fitted out with a boat and learn the basics of kayaking operation and safety. Your sit on top boat is stable, comfortable and suitable for all skill and experience levels, so you can focus on soaking up the scenery and watching for dolphins.
Follow your guide on a route toward the historic Cape Henry Lighthouses that passes through prime dolphin habitat. Atlantic bottlenose dolphins live and swim in groups, and have extraordinary intelligence; if you’re lucky, a dolphin may choose to play right alongside your boat, interacting and showing off. You’ll also see seabirds like the pelicans and ospreys that nest along the coast, and groups occasionally spot a sea turtle or cownose ray slipping beneath the surface.
When you reach Cape Henry Lighthouse turn your boat around for the return trip to North End Beach, where you’ll finish the tour.
Follow your guide on a route toward the historic Cape Henry Lighthouses that passes through prime dolphin habitat. Atlantic bottlenose dolphins live and swim in groups, and have extraordinary intelligence; if you’re lucky, a dolphin may choose to play right alongside your boat, interacting and showing off. You’ll also see seabirds like the pelicans and ospreys that nest along the coast, and groups occasionally spot a sea turtle or cownose ray slipping beneath the surface.
When you reach Cape Henry Lighthouse turn your boat around for the return trip to North End Beach, where you’ll finish the tour.
1
Virginia Beach
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Operates in a variety of weather conditions; please dress appropriately for your tour date's weather forecast
- For customers whose weight exceeds 250 lbs, please call us directly before booking to speak with a representative.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 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
Shelley_P
This tour exceeded my expectations. I thought I’d see a few dolphins but there was an entire pod of dolphins that stayed with us nearly the whole time. This included a baby dolphin which I now know is called a calf. Matt was our tour guide and he was kept things interesting and fun. This experience was so surreal, maybe for me especially coming from the Midwest. I could not recommend this more.
Reviews
4.8
based on 352 reviews
WeiCheng_L, Apr 2026
Megan was awesome! We did see some dolphins from far away, but since it was rocky wave, we keep floating away, otherwise I am sure we can get closer to them. I capsized and Megan helped me very quickly!
Sara_L, Nov 2025
If you want to get on the water on a beautiful day and see lots of dolphins in their natural habitat, then sign up for this experience! The kids and adults loved it! We took double kayaks, so each adult was with one child and the kids could rest when they wanted.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Sara thanks so much for the review. It was a great day on the water. Glad you and the family had a wonderful experience.
Heather_T, Sep 2025
The guide was knowledgeable and very good people person. We saw many dolphins and watching the birds feeding was fun.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Awesome. Glad you loved it. Birds feeding added to the magic kayaking with the dolphins. Hope to see you again next season!
Hannah_W, Sep 2025
Our guide was very patient with our group that consisted of varying kayak abilities. We had a wonderful experience being among the dolphins and even saw some Bald Eagles. We didn't expect our guide to be such a wealth of information; but he really did go above and beyond for our group.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Glad to hear the guide was so good for your tour. Thanks for the review and sharing about your experience.
Gabby_M, Sep 2025
This was an incredible experience, far more than what I was expecting. We saw several different pods of dolphins, both in the distance and close up. Our guide was fantastic with helping us in the kayaks and getting us to the right places to be as close to the dolphins as possible, and was very knowledgeable about them. I'd love to do it again!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
We appreciate the review. Cheers
Jen_W, Sep 2025
Cayden was awesome!! It was only a small group of us so I think we got to talk and joke with him more!
P.S. Everyone say blowhole!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Caden is my son and he and I both thank you for the funny review.
Shelley_P, Aug 2025
This tour exceeded my expectations. I thought I’d see a few dolphins but there was an entire pod of dolphins that stayed with us nearly the whole time. This included a baby dolphin which I now know is called a calf. Matt was our tour guide and he was kept things interesting and fun. This experience was so surreal, maybe for me especially coming from the Midwest. I could not recommend this more.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Awesome. Thanks for the feedback. Glad it was a surreal experience. Cheers
Elizabeth_B, Aug 2025
Awesome!! Would do it again. Saw many dolphins. Tour guide was excellent and knowledgeable about the area and marine life.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thanks for the kind review. Cheers
Mindy_M, Aug 2025
We had a great time kayaking and saw a lot of dolphins! Tommy & Brody were great guides getting us where the dolphins were and telling us about the area/ocean life. Customer service was impressive. Our tour was scheduled for a rainy time of day. Tommy called and offered to reschedule us for the later time slot when the forecast was clear at no charge. Would highly recommend this excursion!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
AWESOME. Thanks for sharing your experince!!!
Katie_A, Aug 2025
This was a wonderful tour! Declan and Sawyer were knowledgeable and made the tour fun. 100% recommend.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
So glad you had a great time on the tour. Thanks so much!!!
emilyrubinstein, Aug 2025
We had a great time, even though the water was choppy. Everyone was very kind. He saw a lot of dolphins very close.
Rebecca_C, Jul 2025
It was absolutely magnificent! Michael and Declan were our guides. They were very knowledgeable and friendly. We would definitely do it again! We seen dolphins and a sea turtle!
Coleen_T, Jul 2025
Absolutely amazing! Did a detour for the Chesapeake Bay tunnel and this was the perfect add-on. Great adventure
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for the great review!
Niraja_S, Jul 2025
It is very hard when you are traveling with teenagers. This is a great activity to do with them to get them out of the technology and have some family bonding time along with some exercise, the pricing was good and the guides were very professional and helpful. Just that when they were talking, it was hard to hear in the middle of the bay.
Overall, I highly recommend to anyone who goes to Virginia Beach.
Zoe_A, Jul 2025
My daughter and I had a great experience even though we personally didn’t get to see any dolphins, other people in our group did. The tour guides were amazing! All three were very welcoming, considerate, knowledgeable, and made sure everyone had a great time. I will definitely be back!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you!
Janelly_S, Jun 2025
Awesome personnel! Beautiful experience. I would definitely recommend it. It was both me and my husband favorite part of our trip.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much! So happy to hear that!
mara_w, Jun 2025
We enjoyed our kayak trip to see the dolphins.. Our leaders Declan, Jack, and Parker were knowledgeable and friendly. There are bathrooms on site. The leaders took pictures for us (free!) and provided a dry bag for our valuables.
Chloe_M, Jun 2025
It rly was amazing like one of the best things I’ve ever seen in my life and the boys who gave us our tour rly were amazing and are definitely very good at what they do
Elizabeth_W, Jun 2025
Excellent experience, great guides! Pierce and Chase were friendly and knowledgeable and the dolphin sightings were spectacular!
Melissa_T, Jun 2025
Jack was a great guide! We saw so many dolphins and didn’t kayak far! It was fun and relaxing. 😎 Also loved how it was from the state park.
Chelsea_G, Jun 2025
It was a lot of fun! We even saw a few pods of dolphins, Jack was knowledgeable about dolphins and the area around. He gave us a few recommendations on where to eat. Both Jack and Chase were helpful and nice. Because of winds we had to rearrange where we would be meeting but they were helpful with that too, great company great experience. Thanks guys!!
Keith_C, May 2025
Had a great time seeing quite a few dolphins and learned alot from our guides about them and some history of the area.
Tiffany_L, May 2025
This was a ton of fun. Our tour guides (James, Jay & Drew) were informative & awesome. Even if we hadn’t seen dolphins (we did) this still would have been worth it.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much!!!!!
Kaitlyn_K, May 2025
It is important to remember that they cannot make dolphins appear in these tours, but it is an amazing experience to be out on the lake with friends or family, and the tour guide is chalk full of historical information and fun facts that make it all the more fun! Really had a great time enjoying the bay with my friend!
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much!!!!
Sarah_K, Apr 2025
Even though we didn’t get lucky with dolphins, the tour was still fantastic. Matt and Kayden were so knowledgeable and personable that it made the trip. Thanks to both for a wonderful experience!
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much!!!!
MelissaO, Dec 2024
I'm a little late getting around to review this experience, sorry! My husband and I had a blast on this dolphin kayak tour!! The tour guide was really personable and knowledgeable, and we got to paddle right next to a pod of dolphins.. it was for sure a workout, but so worth it! It was really important to me that we choose a tour that wouldn't harm the wildlife. This one was perfect!
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much!!!
Doreen_E, Sep 2024
Unfortunately, there was a threat of thunderstorms that delayed our start, but once we got going all was well. The waves were about a foot high which made paddling more of an exercise but still very enjoyable. We did see a couple if schools of dolphins at a distance which was beautiful.
Thank you to our guides who were very friendly and patient.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you!
Kyle_S, Sep 2024
Seeing the dolphins! Our two tour guides were informative and friendly. I will likely return when my two kids are older so that they can enjoy this.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you!
Zeel_P, Aug 2024
The tour guides were wonderful and we saw many dolphin pods during our tour! The bay was serene and the whole experience was informative and breathtaking.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you!
Sarah_H, Aug 2024
Super fun experience, would definitely recommend! We had a younger girl (I can’t remember her name now) for our guide who was very nice, helpful, and knowledgeable!
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you!
From $68.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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