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Alki Kayak Tours
Categories: Active Life Boating Active Life Bike Rentals Boating, Bike Rentals [Edit]
1660 Harbor Ave SW(between S California Way & S Fairmount Ave)
Seattle, WA 98126
Neighborhood: West Seattle
(206) 953-0237
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 8:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
24 reviews for Alki Kayak Tours
24 reviews in English
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Review from Gabrielle F.
Bothell, WA
8/12/2011
I had an absolute blast on the Sunset Tour with them last night! Our guide Lorenzo was great, the weather was great, the entire experience was great. I would highly reccommend the tour (especially on a sunny day).
It did get a little choppy later in the evening, and I would make sure to dress for the occasion (it did get chilly towards the end, as with any water sport, cotton is rotten), but that's Kayaking 101. -
Review from Alan S.
Sacramento, CA
8/25/2011
We did the sunset tour. Overall it was a nice little paddle and the sunset was truly remarkable, one of the better sunsets I've seen in my life with the sun setting behind the Olympia (I think it was Olympic) mountains. The clouds right over the sound were painted this brilliant pink that changed by the minute, really a special scene. We also got to see some sea lions, perhaps a bit closer than we should have, since one of them started barking at us. Turned out okay though and was fun.
The kayak itself was okay but the set up for a tour group is always frustrating. People showed up late, people were slow getting in the water, etc. In the end that's the nature of tour groups and not the fault of the company but I would have preferred a stricter policy about when we start and when we leave; those of us who make the effort and sacrifice time to show up on time wind up killing lots of time waiting for laggards.
Shosonna was nice but didn't know much interesting stuff about the sea lions; she also didn't have anything at all to say when we asked about public transit options to get out of Alki flats. Do make sure to drive since there is no good public transit out of this area at night...cabs aren't too expensive to get back to downtown but plan ahead since there aren't many circulating out this direction late at night.
ADDENDUM:
I did get a personal mesage from the owner so they get an extra star for responsiveness. It's a nice way to see the Sound and a good value for the money, just some minor logistical issues -
Review from Kim D.
Seattle, WA
8/3/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
This is a review for their Stand Up Paddleboard tour.
I went on this tour with 3 other friends and we had a great time. Only 1 of us had been on a paddleboard before and for the 2.5 hours on the water, no one fell in, so it was not as hard as you might think.
Our instructor, Shoshanna, was very relaxed, gave us just enough instruction, and read the needs of our group very well. She got us out there and paddling in 30 minutes. We headed out the mouth of the Duwamish, all the while, she pointed out the sights to us. When we ran into some rough water, she gave us tips on how to stay afloat. She even helped my friends that wanted to have a race. It was very fun and very addicting. Thanks! -
Review from Nikki B.
Seattle, WA
9/21/2011
Took my dad here for a belated fathers day gift (we went in early September) and the weather was just perfect. Clear skies and sunshine brought out herds of people to Alki beach. We did the Lighthouse tour so luckily we got started around 10am which was a great way to start the day. For the tours, they pair two people up in double-person kayaks so make sure if you do the tour, go with an even number of people. The overall excursion was 14 miles round trip, so in the end it was good there was someone else helping me paddle. The route our guide took us on was beautiful, and we got to see other parts of alki besides the main waterfront. I had a great time and would gladly recommend this cute little rental place to anyone.
I would give them 4.5 stars if I could; the only reason why they didn't get the full 5 stars is due to the price of the tours. While I thought they were rather fair priced ($69/pp), it probably would've been cheaper to just rent two kayaks ourselves and paddle around the sound at our own leisure (our guide's main job pretty much was to just make sure no one tipped over or got too far left behind). So overall, this is a great place to go to get on the water during one of Seattle's rare summer days. -
Review from Adrienne R.
Mercer Island, WA
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
We went over to Alki Beach last weekend with the nice weather. We'd heard of Alki Kayak tours through a deal site, although we didn't purchase the deal. We did have a coupon through our Entertainment book.
We rented a long board, a set of in-line skates, and a set of quads. The guys were great, helping us find what we needed. We initially were going to rent 2 sets of quads, but one child was unable to balance and move forward on them, so he used his scooter we had brought with. They had no problem with us backing out of renting the quads and they honored the coupon, even though there were some oddities in the situation.
They were pretty busy - customer after customer after customer. Everyone seemed happy with the service.
I highly recommend Alki Kayak Tours for your Alki Beach rentals. -
Review from Courtney H.
Seattle, WA
7/10/2011
I recently wrote a review for Washington Surf Academy for paddleboarding and gave them five stars as well. That being said, these two places were completely different experiences and really apples and oranges which is why Alki gets five, and my sort of "recommendation" for being SUPers. I went to WSA and received a tour so definitely not as much instruction though...
But on to Alki Kayak Tours. I went this past Saturday for their SUP-U and got received a two hour lesson + "tour" of parts of Elliot Bay. For those looking to SUP around Alki I HIGHLY recommend doing the lesson, even if you've already been a couple of times elsewhere. I say tour in quotes because it's really more of a "Hey, water taxi here so don't get killed. Don't get pulled into the rocks right here... watch these boats and hazards." That being said, for inexperienced beginners, this tour is a necessity to be safe on the heavily trafficked area that is Alki.
My instructor/guide was Lolita, a surfer chick that is completely awesome! She has great tips on techinique that will make your stroke more efficient and help you a ton on the water. She was very encouraging and also has a lot of training in yoga/theraputic massage etc and can give anyone tips on how to stand up and do it well on the board. Everyone else there was very friendly and informative and I will definitely be joining them again in the future for Tuesday Night SUPer where you can pay 10 bucks for board demos from 6-9 and also participate in a 1.5 mile race if you're ready.
Hope to see you all out there SUPing soon! =) -
Review from Katrina D.
Seattle, WA
6/6/2010 ROTD 8/10/2010
Great place for outdoor sports. They are connected to Mountain to Sound Outfitters so essentially they cover it all: Biking, kayaking, rollerblading, paddle boarding, fishing, and snow boarding and skiing... Freaking rad!
As a newly self proclaimed "Seattle-lite" and first time homeowner in the West Seattle area, I plan on becoming a loyal patron to both Alki Kayak Tours and Mountain to Sound Outfitters.
Also, they have FREE stand up paddle boarding on Tuesdays. How cool is that?! Give it a try- it is easy if you have good balance, and maybe you will see me trying to rollerskate around the sound (yes, I said rollerskate... I just looked at their website and they have them!.. I have not done that in so so long!).Listed in: Getting the heart rate up in…
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Review from Angela T.
Torrance, CA
6/2/2008
My friend I used Alki Kayak Tour for their bike rental service, and boy was that interesting, and made for a great story after the fact...
Breezy Pixie Rental Chick (BPRC): It's a beautiful day! Welcome back!
My friend: Yes, it is a beautiful day. Hey, I hate to rush, but we need to make the next water taxi back; we have a plane to catch!
BPRC: Oooohhh, where are you going? Such a pretty day for flying! Isn't Seattle lovelyyy!
Friend: Yeah, we love it, too bad we really have to jet now...
BPRC: So, where did you go on your ride?
Me: Alllll over. It was great. So, I left my credit card as collateral...
BPRC: Okaaayyy.
(BPRC disappears into a little shack, and after a few minutes, returns with a bright smile.)
BPRC: Well, I can't find your credit card anywhere! Oh, boy!
Me: Well, it looks like...
BPRC: Yeah, I think the other girl took it kayaking with her because it's not where it's supposed to be.
Me: What? Kayaking?
BPRC: Yeah. (Smiley face)
Friend: But we need to be on the next water taxi! We are going to miss our flight!
BPRC: Darn. Sorry. (Shrug.)
Me: Can you look again?
BPRC: I guess! Actually I'll just check in the restaurant next-door.
Me: ????
(Minutes go by. BPRC returns from the restaurant.)
BPRC: Yup! It was there!
Everyone: Whew!
Long story, well, even longer, my friend and I had lovely time riding along the coast and through residential neighborhoods on our not-so-gently-used bikes (mountain and beach cruiser), I got my credit card back, and we made our water taxi in time. Try it too, if you dare. Hell, it's cheap!Listed in: Seattle Vacation, Bikes
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Review from Lisa B.
Seattle, WA
9/7/2008
+IT STARTED WITH A BIRTHDAY PRESENT+
This year on my birthday I decided I was going to try new things.
Top of my list was kayaking.
Living in West Seattle I had often been by Alki Kayak and never investigated any further.
So happy I did!
The people at the Kayak shack are so safety conscience and knowledgable. We were instructed on how to paddle, where to go and NOT to go, I felt no fear and left the shore confident of a good time. It was amazing being out there. I was wishing I hadn't waited so long to try it!
From that point I began to sample the other wares available there.
Two favorites stand out.
NUMERO UNO.
BEACH CRUISER BIKE .
What could be better than pedaling leisurely down the beach , wind in your hair and sun on your back for 7 bucks an hour? I think I have rented a beach cruiser bike (more like three at a time with my daughters) almost every week this summer, and every time I smile the entire hour. Try it , you'll see what i mean!
NUMBER TWO:
LONG BOARDS!
woot!
DUDE ! This is totally awesome! I have discoverd my inner skater chick, from my first 10 /hour try!
They have all of the safety gear , and answer every question I ask. I loved it SO much I bought one the next day from them . I have brought everyone I know to try it out .
L-O-V-E IT !
They also have roller blades there for 5 bones, if that's what blows your skirt up .
I learned that they also have overnight kayak trips to Blake Island... I am SO there !
If you are looking for something fun to do, hed to Alki Kayak tours ASAP! -
Review from Mele Y.
Seattle, WA
9/20/2009
I never had a 'real' tour of Alki so I figured that a bike ride around Alki would be a fun adventure.
Judy L. and I are good friends and she had rented a bike previously from here with no issues so she suggested renting from here again.
For $7/hour, don't expect a fancy ride. I was pleasantly surprised by the height of my bike, most bikes are too tall for me. I was able to get on the bike without looking like a total idiot, yay.
We set off on our adventure for about an hour, had a marvelous time! I didn't fall off my bike or run over any kids so it was a great day in my books.
Next time, I'd love to come back to rent a kayak. -
Review from Yiling W.
7/16/2009
Fun!
Bring your friends, look up the times, and don't reach to hard over the side of your kayak. Also might want to use the bathroom before you head there, as there are only port-o-potties (nothing in the fish n chips place) to use. It's also entertaining to listen to the surfer-accent-dude lecture you seriously on safety (pay attention!) and when you're done tooling around the bay and get back to shore, you can skip across the street for bubble tea.
A triple was $55 for 1.5 hours (pro-rated, yay). Haven't tried the bicycle or skate rental, probably never will. Check out the jellyfish in the bay! Irksome yet awesome. -
Review from Eve L.
Seattle, WA
8/28/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I purchased the 2-hour stand up paddleboard (SUP) tour for $65. The website advertised "For the first 10-15 minutes we will go over strokes and practice in the Seacrest Marina area. After that, its up to the guide and the group. Head into Elliott Bay to check out native wildlife and the mouth of the Duwamish River, or North around Duwamish Head (potential tug surf) and toward Alki."
The advertisement made me think we would get onto the water for a good portion of the 2-hour tour and see some wild life. However, we spent over 1 hour on the grass going over standing positions and strokes. Once in the water, we only went between the launch site and perhaps 1/3 mile up shore. We didn't go around the mouth of the Duwamish or toward areas of wildlife.
While it was fun to try out SUP, we were only in the water for 50 minutes, It was a pretty big disappointment overall especially for the price. -
Review from Erin R.
Seattle, WA
8/12/2010
I love going to places that I constantly zoom by in a car and view them from a different perspective. My kayaking tour experience today did just that!
Greg and his staff from Alki Kayak Tours took us on a tour around Harbor Island and down the Duwamish a bit. It was so awesome to learn about the industrial history of Seattle, the impacts and plans for the future of the area. Paddling under bridges and piers was so rad and the morning fog burned off in time for us to enjoy a glorious view of the city skyline and the Puget Sound for the paddle back in.
I have to admit, I would usually just rent a kayak and paddle around myself, but after today I think I will have to go for the tour!!! Way to much valuable information and cool sites that I would have missed. -
Review from Alanna M.
10/12/2009
We did a last of the season sea kayaking (6 people) and had lots of fun. The guys working were very surferish type dudes... It was quite entertaining to have them drill you on safety. Pay attention though because it'll save your life.
1 hr = $25 for the double kayak. Great experience. -
Review from penny j.
Seattle, WA
2/5/2011
Had a great experience renting rollerblades and doing the alki beach stretch in october- $5/hr seemed like a steal. Great customer service, patience in getting me fitted with the blades, the whole she-bang. the start of a great day! Can't wait for the temps to get a little higher to start paddleboarding this spring!
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Review from C W.
Seattle, WA
8/17/2008
Great sunset and great company... what better way to say I *heart* Seattle!!
This was my first time kayaking! A group of us (25 people or more) made reservations for the Seattle Sunset Sea Kayak Tour: 2 Hours Before Sunset ($40). It was well worth it for new comers as the sunset was breathtaking.
The guides were tremendously helpful and fun to talk to, one even geared up a kayak for Steve Pool earlier that day.
You will see the beautiful skyline of Seattle and the sunset disappearing behind the Olympic Mountains. Bottom line is... if you can hit Seattle on a beautiful summer night, the sunset is worth it all. Just make sure you bring a camera with you! Or you'll regret it... like I did.
Enjoy! -
Review from Rachel L.
9/9/2008
I've rented kayaks on Union Bay and near the Arboretum. The perspective from Alki is totally different and lots of fun. Plus, the sea lions are a nice perk. The equipment and safety briefing were top-notch. Tour info was interesting. Best way to enjoy a late-summer Seattle sunset!
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Review from Judy L.
Seattle, WA
9/10/2009
I haven't been kayaking yet but plan to in the future. I rented bikes from here twice and it's SO nice to bike ride on alki beach in the warm weather! It's cheap, easy to rent, you don't even have to wear a helmet (which I hate wearing just for casual rides..) and the staff is friendly. Once my bf and I were 15 minutes late and thought we'd get charged for another hour but the guy was really cool and just charged us for 1! So nice of him!! Had a blast and will be coming here again and again to rent bikes until I buy one of my one. They also offer longboards, roller skates, and roller blades. They have a variety of equipment, you should check it out! Bike rides are $7 per hour
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Review from Tushar A.
Seattle, WA
9/1/2010
I rented rollerblades from them.
1. The rollerblades were in pretty good condition.
2. The rent was very reasonable. Actually it was on the lower side to be fair :) (I hope they dont read this and increase the rent :P)
3. Staff was very friendly and knowledgeable.
Its sad that I found out about them towards the end of summer. Planning to check out their kayak tour whenever I get some nice sunny weekend. -
Review from Tom E.
Seattle, WA
7/17/2009
Good staff, good rates, and fantastic view of downtown while you kayak Also rents bicycles, skateboards, and rollerblades super cheap. Great way to enjoy Alki Beach area. Ignore the previous review - there's regular public bathrooms in the fish and chips place next door.
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Review from Heather L.
Bothell, WA
7/21/2010
I had posted a not-so-rave review but have reconsidered because the owner messaged me saying that we was going to work on all the things I didn't like. Not sure if it's going to happen or not but it's great when the owner actually takes time out to read these things AND reply.
Comment from Greg W. of Alki Kayak Tours 8/10/2010
Thanks for the feedback Heather. We are offering Tuesday as… More » -
Review from Paula K.
Arlington, VA
9/7/2010
We had a great time on our sunset tour--we didn't see in the way of wildlife but our guide, Adam, took us out for some amazing views of the city, and we had lots of fun. I would definitely recommend Alki for kayakers of all abilities. The water taxi is the best way to get to and from if you're in Seattle sans car. Be sure to dress warmly--that water is COLD!!
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Review from Kristian D.
San Diego, CA
8/11/2010
My fiance and I did the Elliot Bay kayak tour and loved it! The kayaks are way easier to paddle than I expected. I never felt tired. And our guide, Jordan, was awesome. Very mellow, knowledgeable and friendly. I highly recommend this tour.
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Review from arielle c.
San Francisco, CA
7/26/2010
If you love to try new things, kayaking is something you definitely need to try! Especially in Alki Beach, it was beautiful. It was mine and my boyfriend's first time kayaking and we took a morning kayak tour with Ben. Ben is freakin awesome! He was a cool guy that talked about the history of certain spots, offered us some blueberry muffins during a stop in the ocean and had a lot of patience with slow learners that fell behind from the rest of the squad. Best believe kayaking is tiring! We did 7 miles. Well, I did 2 and my boyfriend paddled the rest! lol. But, it sure was the best view of the city and the ocean- best view of Seattle! We even got to see jellyfish in the water! It was definitely an unforgettable, fun experience!
