- All Ages
- 1.5 Hours
Kayak or SUP the marshes of the Roanoke Sound and Cape Hatteras National Seashore at sunset. This beautiful area of the Outer Banks is known for its abundance of coastal birds including terns, pelicans, and ibis.
Quick Details
EXPERIENCE OUTER BANKS BIOLUMINESCENCE
Outer Banks Kayak Adventures is excited to offer Bioluminescence and Full Moon Kayak Tours again this season! Join us for either a full moon tour or a bioluminescence tour, depending on when you book and where the moon is within its cycle. Whether you visit during a dark night and see the bioluminescence at its brightest or schedule your tour during a full moon to see a sky full of stars, you’re sure to feel the magic of this incredible natural location.
Bioluminescence is a natural phenomenon where organisms produce light through a chemical reaction. Our nighttime kayak tours allow you to experience the Outer Banks’ bioluminescence in the water.
This tour will start just after sunset, so we’ll begin kayaking in the twilight. Once it gets completely dark, you’ll be able to see the glowing organisms in the water. On clear and magical nights, we sometimes get to see shooting stars. This nighttime excursion is a bucket list kayak tour for sure!
When there’s a full moon, seeing the bioluminescence gets a little tricky. To see bioluminescence, we need it to be dark. Therefore, when there’s a full moon, we may not see the bioluminescence. But when this happens, we get to kayak under a beautiful star-filled sky and a bright and beautiful moon. So, if the thought of kayaking amongst the stars interests you, you’ll want to choose a date when the moon is at its peak. Every once in a while, mother nature gives us the gift of both. You get to see the bioluminescence as well as see the full moon rise. We try to time it just right on these days so you get the best of both experiences.
Our Full Moon & Bioluminescence kayak tours are fun for most families but unsuitable for young children and beginners. We kayak later at night and in complete darkness. In fairness to the other kayakers, crying children and people that are unable to stay with the group should not sign up for this experience. If you are over 275 lbs and/or unable to manage your weight/balance DO NOT book this tour. Please consider the limits of your abilities when booking.
The start time will change throughout the season, so if you make your reservation more than a month in advance, please check your email a day before your tour for your updated start time. *Please note: Our kayak tours are subject to weather-related changes, as with all outdoor activities. We recommend making reservations early on in your vacation to move your tour to another date if needed. This is a warm-weather tour that we typically schedule from mid-May through mid-September. Weather, wind, and water conditions are determining factors.
What to know when booking?
- We require children 12 and under paddle tandem (double) kayak with an adult.
What to bring?
- Plenty of water and a snack if you’d like
- A towel for after the tour (you’ll want to have it in your car)
- Shoes and clothing you don’t mind getting wet
- Apply insect repellent and bring a rain jacket if it might rain.
Please Note
This tour requires a minimum of THREE ADULTS to run, if we’ve not received enough bookings at the time you’ve requested, we will contact you to reschedule or refund your booking costs.
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Heading south, exit Croatan Hwy 158 onto Hwy 12 South to Nags Head Beaches and Hatteras Island. Drive south approx 1.6 miles. There is a pull-off for parking on the west side of the road. It is located right next to the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway Sign.
Google Directions Link https://goo.gl/maps/trEGX5ZKs8n1eZRn6
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Outer Banks Kayak Adventures provides the best kayaking experience on the OBX. We use American-made Perception Kayaks which are known for being extremely versatile, making them the top choice for beginner and intermediate paddlers. If you are not very experienced with kayaking and SUP (stand-up paddle boarding) fear not! Before each of our tours, Outer Banks Kayak Adventures provides a paddle lesson on land, ensuring that you and your group have the experience they need before paddling.
There are NO shoe or clothing requirements. Along with kayaks, Outer Banks Kayak Adventures provides the paddles and life jackets. We offer single and tandem (double) kayaks and we use sit on top style hybrid kayaks, making it easy for you to get in and out. Please be sure to select the number of tandem (double) kayaks you’d like for your tour when making the online reservation.
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The Fine Print: All cancellations must be at least 48 hours before your scheduled tour for a refund. We paddle in the rain and the wind but not during thunderstorms. If we must cancel due to inclement weather, we will reschedule your tour or issue a refund. If you choose to reschedule and you don’t attend the tour for any reason without giving us notice before 48 hours of your tour, you will not receive a refund. You are expected to arrive at the correct tour location 15 minutes before the tour’s start time (we will send location details in your confirmation email). Late arrivals and no-shows will not be issued a refund. If you choose to cancel for any reason within 48 hours, there is no refund.