So, Soon-To-Be Adventurer, you’re curious about kayaks. Kayak tours here in Charleston are one of our favorite activities and expeditions to provide to our locals and visitors but there are many that are concerned or curious before they actually click that ‘save my spot’ button. We’re here to assure you that when you kayak with us here at Coastal Expeditions, we make sure you are safe, informed, and excited for the adventure ahead of you!

There is a large difference between kayaking on rapids and taking a steady trip through the rivers of Charleston, SC to experience the calming nature around you! The realistic risk for our kayak tours is reasonably low because you will always be guided by an experienced expedition guide from our team, and plenty of methods, rules, and safety measures will be put in place for your benefit! To ease your mind as you debate on signing up for one of our popular kayak tours, we’ve put a list together of ways to help make your experience enjoyable and safe and sound!

1. Life Jackets or PFDs! You could research anywhere about kayak or canoe safety and the main priority for any safety conscious individual is to wear your life jacket! Not only is it important and mandatory to wear your life jacket on our expeditions, but we will show you the correct way to wear them and make sure there are plenty to go around!

You may be wondering- if the tour itself is safe, why do I need to wear a life jacket? Well, it is still possible for kayaks to tip, whether it be from misdirection in steering or just simply tilting into the water. Either way, it’s important you have your life jacket on as a safety measure.

1. Sunscreen! We recommend you prepare for your tour or expedition by bringing a bottle of sunscreen. We may have some available for purchase within our storefront too before we embark on our kayak tour. Being out on the water is such a wonderful, relaxing experience, but it also can make it easier to get sunburns! A great way to protect your head and scalp as well is to bring a hat or cap. Getting sunburnt on your scalp can be so uncomfortable, and some people find applying sunscreen up there unpleasant, so make sure to take into consideration how you’ll prepare!
2. Hydration is a High Priority! It is extremely important to keep a regular intake of water into your system, and we don’t mean as ice cubes in your sweet tea! Be prepared to bring drinking water with you along most of our expeditions and kayak tours. The last thing you want to experience is dehydration while out on the water or in a group tour, not only is it physically dangerous to your well being, but it can be difficult to stop or change a trip if medical assistance is needed. Make sure to drink plenty of water the day before your trip and bring a container for yourself for the day of the expedition!
3. Knowledge is power. We prioritize filling our expeditions and tours with knowledgeable, experienced guides who know the rivers and routes like the back of their hands. You and any friends or family that attend will be given a mandatory lesson before we set up and embark on how to correctly wear your PFDs, how to safely get into and out of your kayaks, how to steer your kayak, and other important information in relation to the specific expedition or kayak tour itself. You’re in good hands, we know every aspect of our beautiful rivers and we’ve taught so many first-timers that are now regular attendees! We’ll be there with you along your journey every step, or paddle, of the way- and helping you should you need any guidance or tips. If you have any specific questions about attending one of our tours, let us know! We are more than happy to ease any worries and provide more information to make our adventures safe and accessible for you!

So, is kayaking dangerous? It depends on many factors, but overall we don’t believe so! The level of kayaking activities we offer here at Coastal Expeditions are not the ‘white water rapids’ kind. There may be currents and wildlife to be aware of, but you can guarantee our guides will help you be careful and safe as you explore! As we glide our ways across the water and experience the beauty of Charleston nature scene from front-row seats, we may even have opportunities for wildlife education moments from our guides! You may find that not only are our adventures exciting from a physical experience level, but also on the educational level as we share information on animals, plants, and even the history of our area! We provide education, guidance, and protection every step of the way so you know you’ll be in good hands!

What some don’t realize is that kayaking is actually a really beneficial exercise activity overall as it’s considered a low impact activity. Kayaking provides a high energy workout, but without the direct impact on your joints and tissues. Kayaking is also known to increase your cardiovascular fitness and strengthen the muscles in your core, arm, back, shoulder and chest! You may feel sore after a day out on the water with your tour group too if you’re brand new to our expeditions. Everyone starts somewhere though, and there’s no shame or worry in being new to something!

All of our loyal, repeat adventurers were once ‘newbies’ on the water, so don’t beat yourself up or be afraid to try something new! You may find that kayaking tours are a new favorite pastime for you and your friends, and we guarantee you’ll go to bed later that night dreaming about the sounds of the river and the beautiful imagery of the wildlife around you!

We offer a wide range of options for guided kayak tours here in Charleston, SC. You can take a look here on our website to learn more about individual trips, or maybe you’re interested in other types of expeditions like boat tours or nature hikes? We’ve got you covered! We like to provide multiple opportunities for nature enthusiasts to enjoy, such as sunrise tours, kayak and hiking tour combos, and even a full moon evening kayak tour! Kayak are just the tip of the iceberg though, as we also offer paddleboarding, canoeing, and other kinds of expeditions for you to experience! And there’s no need to worry about any kind of adventure, because we’ll be right there to give you all the guidance, setup, information, instruction, and education you could need to make your adventure memorable forever!

Until next time, adventurers! We hope you’re doing well and we can’t wait to see you out there on the water!