The Swan Hellenic kayaking program is designed so that anyone on board can sign up for it. If the weather allows, we try to offer kayaking twice a day in locations where it's suitable. Safety is always a priority, so once your kayaking group head out, a safety Zodiac is always close by. Kayaks offer a relaxing, quiet experience, sometimes even attracting animals closer than a Zodiac would.
What happens when you set off on a kayaking experience?
You’ll meet up with everyone in Basecamp to get into your dry suit around half an hour before heading out. You’ll take a Zodiac to a location that’s been scouted from the bridge, and get into your kayak. From there, the group will explore together, paddling at a leisurely pace.
What kind of briefing about the kayaking do you do on board?
There are mandatory safety briefing for all guests, where we cover best practices, let guests know the inherent risks in kayaking, and explain how the program runs.
How do Swan Hellenic guests prepare for their kayaking adventures?
Guests prepare in the ship’s Basecamp. This is the place where everyone puts on their dry suits before heading out on the Zodiac boats (small inflatable RIB boats).
What do you wear in a kayak?
You just need to wear base layers. You’ll be in a dry suit, so you don’t need your big parka or snow pants. The dry suits replaces your outer layer, so you just need your base layers and insulation layers. We have dry bags that we lend to people, so they can bring phones to take photos.
Don’t know what a dry suit is? No problem!
A dry suit is like a Gore-Tex rain jacket but instead of a jacket, it's a one-piece. It's got built in socks, pants and a jacket, and there’s a Velcro strap at the neck and gaskets at the wrists to help keep water out. If you do go in the water, the only thing that really gets wet is your head and your hands.
What animals will I see when I am kayaking?
Unless it's penguins in the colonies, and we know exactly where they're going to be, it’s impossible to say. When it comes to birds, seals, and whales, it’s a question of seeing what happens when you’re out on your kayak. We can never guarantee any animal sightings as nature is unpredictable.
What are the best locations for kayaking?
There are no specific locations that are the best because the experience is different every time. Somewhere might be sunny day one day, but foggy the next. Sometimes you’ll see whales everywhere, and other days there will be no whales. It depends on what nature wants to serve you on any given day.
What are the requirements for kayaking?
Pretty much anyone can kayak. It helps if you’ve had previous kayaking experience, but it’s not essential. It’s very safe, because you’re in a double kayak that's extremely stable, and we only go to locations that are calm. A double kayak has two cockpits in it, so it has seats for two people, which means we can put a more experienced person in the back and a less experienced person in the front.
Is kayaking with Swan Hellenic physically demanding?
Some people worry they won’t have the energy to kayak, but it’s not usually a problem. It’s not a strenuous activity, and guests won’t break a sweat while they’re doing it. We cruise along at the pace of the slowest person, exploring the most visually appealing part of a coastline.
What happens if you fall into the water when you're kayaking?
It's very rare that someone falls in. If you do, the dry suit and life jacket you're wearing means you'll just pop back up to the surface, where you'll be helped back into your kayak. If you fall into the water and decide you want to go back to the ship, your guides will organize a ride back to your ship.
How long do kayaking experience usually last?
One to two hours. Once the kayaking experience is done for the day, everyone meets back up with the Zodiac and heads back to the ship.
Thanks to James Roberts for his help with this blog post.