Kayak-iti-Yat, Original Kayaking Tours of New Orleans

I strongly recommend this tour for locals and visitors alike! I had the best time on my 2 hour tour of the Bayou this morning with Nick. I learned so much about New Orleans history, natural history, the creatures of the bayou, the historical importance of Bayou St. John, etc. I live locally and still learned so much and have a renewed appreciation for the bayou. Plus being out on the bayou is absolutely gorgeous and we saw so much wildlife along the way.

We had a great tour with Colin yesterday. Getting in and out was easy with the assistance of our guide. They let me borrow a wet bag just in case and provided sun screen which was necessary. We kayaked south to the Magnolia Bridge and got a great review of the history of the bayou and area. Then we reversed back and travelled along, under several bridges and around an island before heading back. We learned about the rehabilitation of the natural plants that was happening in the bayou too. Very educational and a good workout heading back against the wind. 💪. I highly recommend this local outfit.

Our guide Colin was well informed and enthusiastic. Only 4 boats made it easy to hear the history of New Orleans in general and Bayou St. John specifically. Highly recommended!

Loved our 2 hour paddle on Bayou Saint John. Lots of history, fun stories, tons of patience and instruction with beginners. A peaceful location, nice good quality kayaks and friendly guides. You’re not in a swamp, more like a clean canal ( for swamp you need to go farther out of town), although there are gators in there! Don’t worry you’re not at risk and it’s a gorgeous few hours to spend. Can recommend!

It was wonderful to start our day on the water! A welcome counterbalance to the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter. Plus we learned about the history of the area and got some great recommendations for restaurants and other things to do in New Orleans. Thank you Sara and Colin!

Kayaking the bayou was a fun, unique way to explore and learn about New Orleans. My husband and I appreciated that our guide, Rob, tailored the tour around our interests, kayak experience, and time. We would absolutely recommend this to anyone and plan to take another tour the next time we're in the Crescent City.

A unique and fun way to see a different side of NOLA! Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about the history, architecture and even the wildlife we saw. Highly recommend!

We had such a great time on the 4 hour paddle with Colin. He was very knowledgeable about the ecosystem and role of the Bayou and even the lake. We had forgot sunscreen but they let us use theirs which was just very generous!! I really liked that he cared enough about the water to paddle over and get trash and even on the walk to the lake he stopped to pick up litter. That’s definitely some one who cares about the earth!!

Had a very chill paddle. Even though I've been to New Orleans several times, I still learned new stuff! It was great to see the city from the water and spot some cool birds. The guide was great and gave our group some good tips about where to go eat too.

Nice relaxing tour of the bayou. My wife and I did a double kayak, our guide was great. I recommend the 5PM time as it was even nicer at sunset. We walked to Lola's for paella afterwards.

As always, the Kayak-iti-Yat folks are fun, friendly, knowledgeable about history, nature and kayaks, and the trip is safe, easy, scenic (historic homes and wildlife!) and fairly priced. Even with some windiness, they guided us perfectly around Bayou St. John. This was, I think, my fourth trip with them, and I will be back for many more.

Outstanding experience- great with inexperienced kayakers, great knowledge of local history. Exactly the tour/experience I was hoping for - a peaceful paddle down the bayou, a history lesson, great story telling and sharing, recommendations for local food and attractions for the rest of the day. Just an overall fantastic experience. We brought our own kayak, and we STILL got the royal treatment- help with getting in and out, launching the boat, tips on paddling and buying better paddles (we're still a bit new at this). Have I mentioned this was a great experience? You won't be disappointed.

Kayaking the bayou was a fun, unique way to explore and learn about New Orleans. My husband and I appreciated that our guide, Rob, tailored the tour around our interests, kayak experience, and time. We would absolutely recommend this to anyone and plan to take another tour the next time we're in the Crescent City.

Great day exploring the bayou with Rob as our guide. Met Trishelle the owner( and her sweet dog) who got us set up and checked out speedily. Rob was a great conversationalist and we ended up discussing a lot of topics not on a typical commercial tour experience. It was a very chill way to see some of New Orleans different building types. I would highly recommend a relaxing excursion, away from crowds, just taking this small part of the city in.

Well over a year ago, looking for something a bit different than another tour bus adventures from the French Quarter, my husband and I went on a kayak tour using the street car to get us there. Neither one of us had ever gone kayaking before but after non stop eating we needed to get out and do something active. We went on the St. John Bayou kayak tour which leaves from the City Park exit of the street car, and despite rain it was a nice adventure with our guide Sarah. Sonny and Sarah the owner/operators were great tour guides and where charming. Despite my unfit state, I did it ( with blisters on both hands to prove it)! Our next trip to New Orleans we immediately wanted to go kayaking again with Kayakitiyat. We went on the longer Bayou Bienvenue wetland triangle tour with Sonny. The tour was like going with great friends and was even more enjoyable, since we knew them and they remembered us. The Bayou Bienvanue trip much more challenging. The day we went it was raining/windy on and off, so the return portion was a lot of work and the tour was modified for our comfort. The appeal for me of taking our kayak tour with Kayakitiyat is both Sarah and Sonny's love of the area. While on the tour they pointed out the birds and wildlife so we could try to take a pictures. They are ambassadors for Louisiana and share their zest for this region. Our most recent vacation to New Orleans in June 2014 we signed up for the Bayou Bienvenue wetland triangle tour again and this time we brought friends from Arizona with us. Although we need to take a cab to go on this particular adventure, the tour is a way to get way from it all in NOLA, and enjoy nature and the peace that is limited for a traveler to experience. With the Ninth Ward rebuilding there was a new snack shop and we picked up a snowball after the tour ended at Galvez Goodies. I was in heaven. What a life! As we arranged our tour ahead of time, I've had excellent communication by phone to coordinate the group and make sure everything goes smoothly. On other unrelated wanderings, we've pass by the launch site for the St John Bayou tour and noticed there were two couples preparing to head out towards Lake Pontchatrain for a Kayakitiyat kayak tour. We stopped and chatted with Sonny/Sarah and the couples. I'll admit I was jealous because I knew what fun is in store. It's as good as it gets!

As recommended in The NY Times article "36 hours in New Orleans". Did the 2 hour tour. Our guide Colin (I think, please forgive me if I'm wrong) was great. Answered all our questions. Lots of really interesting things to learn about the history of Bayou St. John. Even in the rain it was great.

Strongly recommend the Bayou St. John tour. Our guide, Trechelle (sorry if I misspelled it!) was so knowledgeable about NOLA history, the bayou, and the flora and fauna we encountered. And fun! The kayaks and paddles were in great shape, and the whole operation ran very smoothly. We saw tons of herons, turtles and ducklings, and several alligators (small ones!) What a great way to work off all those po boys and Hurricanes!

Collin was a lot of fun, he taught us a great deal about the bayou and surrounding buildings and wildlife as well. Alex, his assistant, was very good as well.

Sonny is an amazing tour guide My wife and I went out with Sunny earlier this week and we had a great experience. He is extremely knowledgeable on the history of Louisina and New Orleans, plus his knowledge and love of nature is easy to see and unsurpassed by anyone else we've meet here. Sunny also gave us some great recommendations where to go, so that was pretty awesome as well. Thank you for making our wedding week even more amazing Sonny, and good luck to you Sarrah with the house boat.

I really enjoyed this tour! It was a lot of fun as a solo female traveller. I learned a lot and it was also really special to experience kayaking on the bayou. What an experience! The guide was passionate and had a lot of information to share. The tour is also right by City Park - I stopped by afterwards and it is a must-see.

Best part of our trip to NOLA! The bayou was nice and quiet, and the weather was perfect. Our tour guide was super knowledgeable and accommodating, and led the most pleasant tour for the small group of four. So much fun! We got to see lots of turtles and blue heron as well.

I have been doing this on every trip to New Orleans for the last 8 YEARS! I go to NO for a conference and this is the perfect way to end it. It's leisurely, beautiful, good exercise, and you can see the city from a completely different viewpoint. Sonny & Sara (your guides) know the area's history, heritage, ecology, and can answer questions about the different wild life you'll see above (and below) the water. Birds, turtles, and the occasional baby alligator will sometimes appear to make the trip that much more special. For novices or experienced alike, this is a great, alternative viewpoint of life along the New Orleans St. John Bayou Family friendly, LGBT friendly, Solo trip, Business Group - you can't go wrong with Sonny & Sara as your guides!

My aunt who was visiting from Los Angeles took my 14 year old daughter and 12 year old son on the 2 hour tour. It was just the three of them and the tour guide. I had to work so I didn't get to go but I did come out to bring caps and I took some pictures of them. The report was that they have a wonderful time. My aunt said the tour guide was knowledgeable and provided loads of information as they paddled through the water. My aunt said my son got tired at one point as he was in a solo kayak so the guide hitched him to her kayak and pulled him along. My son put his feet up and relaxed. I was told for the second half he got his second win and was able to continue and and actually beat the others back. My daughter and my aunt had a tandem kayak and learned a little about teamwork while bonding. They said they went under bridges, through trees, saw many different birds, fish, turtles, as well as trees and other water plants. They reported that they would love to do this again and they would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an adventure.

This was a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend it to locals and tourists who want to see a different side of the city. Historic architecture, wildlife, and a glimpse of the importance Bayou St. John has had in the economic, social and cultural history of New Orleans (actually, even before the city was founded). The tour is good for kayakers of all levels (unless you're expecting white water), and you can move at your own pace. Our guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly loved this beautiful part of the city.

We very much enjoyed our paddle tour. It was a great way to get a little exercise after all the delicious New Orleans cuisine! I've long since moved away but I grew up in the area and I had never done anything like this. Sara was gracious and gave us a quick paddle tutorial and I really enjoyed chatting with Sonny while we paddled. If you are looking for stuff to do on your NOLA trip, I highly recommend getting out of the French Quarter (don't worry the bars will still be open when you're done) and going on one of Kayakitiyat's tours.

Wonderful experience! Saw an alligator, lots of jumping fish, many turtles and a good variety of birds. A lovely paddle in very comfortable gear. Treeshell was awesome! Highly recommend this adventure as part of your New Orleans experience

As an active person, I loved the idea of "seeing" New Orleans and getting in my workout. Showing up at a Shell station, I was at first a little nervous, but once Sonny got us in the kayak and going I was very happy we chose Kayak-iti-yat. Sonny was knowledgeable, kept it interesting and kept the group together in a fun setting. He gave us interesting facts about the city, architecture and ecosystems in an way that encouraged us to ask questions and want to know more. I would 100% recommend this adventure to anyone and everyone as a must do while in New Orleans.

We took friends to NO to try to expose them to way more than the French Quarter for what South Louisiana is all about. We stayed in the neighborhoods, stayed a night across Ponch in Mandeville, stayed in Riverbend, drove out and toured Nottoway... and went kayaking on Bayou St John with Sonny and Sara and then stayed in a fancy hotel in the CBD. And the time spent in kayaks was one of the highlights of the trip for all of us. A little exercise, a little education, a little peace on the water. Thanks, Sonny. Great paddle.

My spouse and I did the four-hour Bayou Saint John paddle with guides Trishell and Alex and loved every minute! They were knowledgeable about the plants, animals and neighborhoods we passed and entertained us with their personal stories. From the oak and cypress-shrouded banks of the bayou to the vast views of Lake Pontchartrain, we were introduced to a watery New Orleans that we didn't know existed. It was a welcome departure from the music, bustle and food of that amazing city.

Enjoyed a nice leisurely tour in the city river. Sonny gave good background information of the surrounding areas.

Your google search mentioned the rest but you need to book with the best! I absolutely, 100 percent recommend that everyone book a tour with these folks-families, couples, solos, young, old, locals and tourists and kayakers of any experience level will all truly enjoy the experience, learn new things and have a great time. I'm from Baton Rouge and I come to New Orleans several times a year for fun in my favorite city and to visit friends.  This time I decided to try something a little different. I asked several people from the city if they could recommend a kayak tour and they all pointed me to Kayk-iti-yak-it's local so there's no traveling to eat up your time, just drive up and hop in! I'm an experienced kayaker (although you don't really need experience to enjoy these tours) and I really like to support local businesses so I chose to book a 4 hour tour with Kayak-iti-yat.  Booking was a breeze, the experience offered even more than I expected, finding the rendezvous point and getting into the water was easy as pie, life vests were available and the price was excellent. I had no idea what a beautiful place Bayou St. John has become for water recreation (you can even jump in and swim) The water is clean, free of litter, and full of life-a perfect place for kayaking.  The health of the environment is no doubt helped by the fact that Kayak-iti-yat makes regular clearing of invasive plant species a priority.  How awesome is that? Add an experienced and personable guide with an endless amount of historical and cultural knowledge and the excursion becomes even better! I went solo and was so blessed to have Trishell as my guide.  We had an absolute blast paddling around the bayou and talking about everything under the sun: environmental conservation, remarkable architecture, the local culture and more.  Trishell, who obviously loves what she does and cares about the natural environment as much as she cares that customers have a great experience, was really amazing.  Everyone needs a Trishell!  I really hope that she is our guide when I bring my husband and daughter back for another tour in the very near future.

No one comes to New Orleans thinking of kayaking. Most people come to visit for drinking, music, partying and/or food. If you miss out on this experience though, you aren't fully appreciating all that New Orleans has to offer. I have to start out by saying that I have kayaked in plenty of other cities, and none of them ever had the attention to detail that Kayak-iti-yat did. They provided each rider with their own wet bag to store your items during the ride, which was great so that I could have my phone handy but still protected from the water. Then our awesome guide gave a great run down of kayaking tips, which I have never really seen other spots do. Usually places collect your money, put you in a kayak and send you off on your merry way. Not only do they provide excellent service before you get out on the water, but you also get a personal guided tour! Sarah was so knowledgable about the Bayou St. John, past and present, so not only did we get a great historical tour but we also left with a handful of local tips on places to check out. The sunset tour is absolutely beautiful and I highly recommend it, but next time we definitely want to check out the 4 hour morning tour. Get out there, and get some fresh air!

I live here in town and I am always looking for new things for my family to do when they come to visit me so for Thanksgiving, I booked a kayak tour with Kayak-it-i-yat. My mom and 14 year old sister and I had so much fun on this tour. Sara, our guide, was so knowledgeable about the city's history and architecture as well as environmental current events regarding the natural waterways of the City. She really tailored to tour based on the interests of the group so even the locals had a great time and learned something. The trip was several miles but the pace was easy and there were several areas where we went slow to ooh and aww at the sites and then other times where some of us let loose at the straightaways. The homes on the tour are on Park Island, a nearly hidden neighborhood with interesting architecture that can not be found anywhere else in the City. This was such a fantastic break to the usual New Orleans entertainment and the added bonus of burning calories after all that New Orleans eating! It was so good, I can't wait to go again.

Excellent tour. Well run and guided by people who are deeply familiar with the area. Sonny knows his birds and fish! Thoughtful commentary not too much but just enough. Lovely to swim in Lake Ponchitrain. We did 4 hour paddle but it is an easy paddle not too intense. If you are looking for a real work out this is not it despite what they say. The paddle is NOT in Lake Ponchitrain. You paddle close by and then walk the final distance since flood barriers are in the way. You paddle along the bayou looking at a variety of homes it is peaceful. The most exciting thing is smoothly negotiating the bridges and clearing them without tapping your paddles. It's easy but quite fun.

This was our best experience in NOLA. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. We took our two children, and did not feel unsafe at any point. Well worth the price!

My boyfriend and I booked a tour for our special trip to New Orleans. We couldn't have made a better choice! Not only was the tour fun and relaxing, but Sara and Sonny greeted us with a bottle of champagne....they remembered that my boyfriend mentioned when booking that it was our one-year anniversary. That was so kind and considerate of them, it really gives you insight into what kind of business they are running here; one where they care about their customers. They are very knowledgeable about their city, kayaks, wildlife, and environment. The whole tour was like chatting it up with an old friend. Highly recommend!

Had a wonderful time! Sonny and Sara were great. Such a great way to see a different part of the city. My only regret is that I wasn't able to squeeze in the longer 4 hour tour! If you're looking for something different and to see a different part of the city try this! (and then check out City Park!)

I did the four-hour tour, got to do a little hike, and also swim in the lake nearby! I also got an opportunity to talk with a local TV channel there. I adored the fact that I was able to work off some early morning energy with Sonny and Sarah during my trip in NOLA. I absolutely adored learning about the history of the surrounding buildings and also the serenity that came with kayaking. Be hydrated and sunblocked because you will get major dehydration and sunburnt if you don't. Take breaks and it's okay if you fall a little behind. Take in the scene and go get some CC coffee after if you are still waking up after that workout. Also, keep stretching. It's a workout!

We went on the 2 hour tour this evening. Great fun and a great outdoors break from the traditional NOLA tourist stuff. Sara was our guide and did a great job describing the ecology of the bayou and a history of how the enviroment has been altered over the years and the implications those decisions have on the residents today. Highly recommend.

Great tour! Have never kayaked-this is not a problem. Very nice guides that go out of their way to accommodate. Very beautiful and interesting. Not as many well known sites as I was thinking I would see but I loved it any way!

Great ride, perfect amount of work with not too strenuous pace. We had Sonny take us around and he seemed to know everything about everything, even gave us good recommendations for local eateries.

Sonny & Sara were absolutely the best. The Bayou St. John tour was one of the highlights of our time in New Orleans. Sonny did an amazing job of giving us a deeper context of the history, nature, and politics of the city and the bayou. Also got some great Rex's for the best places to eat and find snow balls. Do this tour, its great!

Awesome! One of my favorite parts of our trip to New Orleans. We did the 2 hour, late afternoon tour. It was so beautiful, peaceful and relaxing. Sara & Sonny were amazing. Very sweet and very knowledgeable about all things New Orleans. Also, not only were they super understanding when I woke up on our scheduled kayaking day with strep throat and let me reschedule, but they even gave me recommendations on where to get some delicious chicken soup (pho). Next time we're in New Orleans, we'll be doing the longer (4hr) tour for sure :)

Had a great time on our kayak tour of Bayou St. John. Our guide was a huge resource for advice on how to get the true New Orleans experience. The trip was easy enough for non-kayakers to keep up and there was plenty to see along the way. I have to say that the customer service is really exceptional. Due to my poor planning, I was going to have to cancel my reservation. They were incredibly accommodating, offering to switch me to any of the other tours they had during my stay. I was very impressed by both their level of commitment to sharing their love of their city as well as their professionalism. Thank you both so much!

Sometimes I roll my eyes at the thought of yet another kayak tour (they're a dime a dozen these days, right?), but that's because I'd never been out with Sonny and Sara before! Sonny is a trained marine biologist, so on top of history of the bayou and the city, we got an in-depth look at its ecosystem, too. Everything about this tour was fascinating, from the architecture in the neighborhoods we paddled in to the penitentiary we passed to the graffiti beneath the bridges we floated under. We even kayaked past a baby gator! I would absolutely do this tour again in a heartbeat, and it's also the #1 thing I now recommend to all visitors to New Orleans.

What a great experience and a great tour! Perfect for the average person trying to experience New Orleans in a different way. Husband and wife owned business and they go above and beyond to make sure you enjoy your experience! Make sure to take the 4hr tour as you get to jump into lake ponchetrain!!! Unbelievable experience! Great Job and great business

Brand new tour company operating near City Park in New Orleans. Probably one of the most uniques experiences I've ever had in the Big Easy and something you'll never forget. Also good chance to spend several hours away from tourist traps on Bourbon!! Don't balk at the price, it's worth every bit of the $60 they're currently charging. Whatever kind of experience you want on the water, they will provide - talk history, talk local culture, or just paddle around and relax. The neighborhoods you ride through are incredible. I recommend bringing a snack and some water, oh and of course sunscreen. Best thing we did in NOLA.

The Bayou St. John tour is a nice change of pace if youre sightseeing in NoLa. You need only a basic level of fitness because the goal is to just be out on the water for a couple of hours, seeing and learning, and that you do. Sonny was our guide. The Bayou was quiet for our evening tour, and although I grew up outside New Orleans, I learned quite a bit. I also saw birds, fish and a raccoon family and spent a low-key yet memorable two hours paddling through the city.

Really enjoyable experience. My girlfriend and I took the 4 hour tour last week and got lucky in that we were the only people with our guide. Sonny was a great guide, very nice and knowledgable. Wasn't too strenuous an activity, more about learning and being in nature.

Was looking for something different to do this trip and discovered Kayakityat! Easy to get to, super helpful, and a fun, informative kayak ride down the bayou! Also go to enjoy a swim in Lake Pontchatrain! We will be back!

My husband and I did the 4 hour Pontchartrain Paddle up St John's Bayou and back. Wonderful! This was probably our biggest highlight of our visit to New Orleans. We took the street car out to City Park and was able to get away from the city as we paddled peacefully up the bayou and back. Sonny was our guide and was a great wealth of knowledge of nature, history, current events, local food and other attractions. I urge you to get out there, do something different and give this a try.

really as good as it gets. It was just the two of us and Sarah the guide for about 4 hours in the st. john bayou and a walk to Lake Pontchatrain. Sarah was awesome. Very fun, funny, knowledgeable and totally the perfect activity. I had never gone kayaking before but really, it was challenging and relaxing at the same time. She told us so many interesting things and we got to see some really interesting birds- which is way cooler than it sounds! She even gave us a local place to grab a bite afterwards that turned out to be AMAZING. Highly recommend doing this!

I have never been in a kayak before and this was awesome! The guides made it easy. Our guide was informative without talking constantly. I was on the city park tour. Paddling along looking at architecture and having the guide fill us in on everything from music to the new juvenile detention system. Being on the water for two hours we finished at sunset. A must do!

Awesome and unique way to experience a part of New Orleans history, culture & nature. Sonny & Sara are great & she's a terrific guide - really knowledgeable and lots of fun. Highly recommend getting on the water with them!

Sara was great at helping us organize our trip & Sonny was a great guide! It was a really cool way to see the city. We kayaked under some roads and train tracks, past neighborhoods, fair grounds, City Park, and Demourelles Island. We saw so many cool birds and Sonny told us a lot about the local environment, history, and culture. He also gave us great restaurant tips and we had the best lunch of our trip right after the kayak tour. I highly recommend this tour to all!

I actually haven't gone on one of this company's trips, but I had intended to and then had a change of plans very last minute. They were extremely kind and reasonable and made my life easier at a time when it was very hard. I can't speak to whether their tours are good, but they are.

Tour was fantastic!! Such a great way to see the city. We did the 2 hour tour and brought two guest with us from out of town. Definitely a great workout and everyone had a great time. Also- recently had surgery and Sonny and Sarah were very accommodating!!