Chesapean Outdoors

We booked the sunset dolphin kayak tour with Matt, and it was even more spectacular than we had hoped. The entire experience was seamless, and the result was a magical evening we will never forget. The check-in process was quick and easy, and the gear was all excellent, Matt was friendly and enthusiastic from the moment we arrived. As we paddled out into the water our guides shared fascinating facts about the local marine life and ecosystem. It wasn't long before we spotted the first dolphin fins breaking the surface. Before we knew it, an entire pod of dolphins—including a baby!—was swimming and playing just feet away from our kayaks. The final hour of the tour was absolutely breathtaking. My partner and i are not experienced paddlers, but Matt made everyone feel comfortable and safe. The kayaks were very stable, he was constantly checking in to make sure everyone was having a good time. We cannot recommend Matt enough. If you are looking for an unforgettable adventure in Virginia Beach, this is the one to book. We will definitely be back!

This was the best kayak tour ever! Perfect weather. Sunny, no clouds in the sky & or 80s with no humidity. Our tour guides were Brandon & Rhett who were professional, fun, knowledgeable & patient. They gave all the proper info before we began & almost immediately we saw a dolphin then several pods. Beautiful! We were very fortunate to see so many dolphins as it’s not guaranteed so the fact that we saw so many was amazing! It was a wonderful way to spend the day, learn some history and spend some time in nature. Thanks guys 🤩

For anyone visiting Virginia Beach this is definitely the place to go! Did the sunset kayak dolphins tour and was just amazing! The tour guide Matt was super friendly and knowledgeable about the area and about dolphins and all other wildlife in the area. Got to see lots of dolphins and a stunning sunset in beautiful weather! I would highly recommend going here!

Came in from Florida for a concert. Made a last minute decision to take this sunset tour. I was nervous at first just due to my age (61) and being out of shape but the guides quickly put me at ease. They were very friendly and answered any questions. We had a lot of small talk waiting for others to show. Some bad weather days had the eve windy and a little choppy. The guides assured us we would all be safe and gave us a quick tutorial. They assisted us getting into kayaks and made sure we felt ok. We paddled out in some strong currents (whew) but rested for a few once we got to certain areas where they would give you some naval history , info of the seagulls/birds, history of Indians that used to be in that area as well as fisherman use of traps there. Very knowledgeable. They were kind enough to take pics out there as well as videos of the dolphins. Only a few dolphins had finally showed up and they didn’t want to give a big show but that can’t be helped. Overall we still enjoyed seeing the few we did as well as the sunset view and getting all of the history. Shout out to our amazing guides Paul, Caden and Rhett.

Had a truly amazing day on the water! Saw so many dolphins, and thoroughly enjoyed the information and experience of our tour guide Matt. Would highly recommend!!!!

What an awesome experience! Our family did the dolphin kayak tour. Matt was extremely knowledgeable and was an excellent tour guide. He took lots of photos and video - which was great because I didn’t get many. We saw a lot of dolphins on our excursion. My 7 y/o absolutely love it. Would definitely recommend!!

This was so much fun. The 3 tours guides were great. They were so friendly and very knowledgeable. They answered questions, provided information about the area, and told us a lot about the dolphins, birds, crabs, and turtles we were seeing. The kayak was great easy to handle.The guide explained the boats and equipment before we went out. We saw a lot of dolphins that were swimming right around our kayak very close up. It was a great time. The guide Also provided photos that they took during the trip.

We booked the 5:30pm dolphin kayak tour to celebrate my girlfriend’s birthday with a group of 9, and it was everything we hoped for and more. The weather couldn’t have been better — calm waters, a gentle breeze, and a stunning sunset that made for an unforgettable backdrop. Our guides Pearce, Brock, and Rhett were fantastic from start to finish. They were not only super friendly but also impressively knowledgeable, sharing fun and interesting facts about the area and the wildlife along the way. They made sure we were always in the best spots to catch glimpses of the dolphins, and thanks to them, we got to see quite a few up close! The whole experience felt well-organized and relaxed, with just the right mix of adventure, education, and awe-inspiring nature. If you’re looking for a memorable and fun activity — whether for a birthday or just to enjoy the outdoors — I can’t recommend this tour enough. Thanks again to Pearce, Brock, and Rhett for making it such a special evening!

Of all the places to see and do while in the Chesapeake Bay Area, you owe it to yourself to try the dolphin kayak tour. Absolutely a fun trip. I went on the 930 am tour out of first landing on the beach, and I must say, every guide was knowledgeable, professional, and safety oriented. That to me, is the most important. What sets this apart from other companies? Firstly, Matt, the owner, answered all my questions regarding what your to take, and, he has been in business for over 27 years. The historical side of the tour is fascinating, as the guides talk about the maritime history as well as the anthropological history of the area. The company does provide dry bags just in case. The icing on the cake was having a bottle nosed dolphin swim within five feet of my kayak! Superb.

We had the most wonderful time on the water today with Pearce and Will! We saw so many dolphins. We were thrilled. And the guides were so knowledgeable. Highly recommend this great small business! Totally worth the price.

I have done kayak tours in the past( not in VA), the experience has been a mixed but the one led by Mike from Chesapean Outdoors was one of the few great ones. Super friendly, professional and knowledgeable. Did I get to see some of the dolphins? I just saw the shadows of one. I knew when booking this type of tours it could that I can see or can not. Besides that note, I really enjoyed kayaking. To be honest, I booked the tour because I wanted to kayak. I am still hesistant to do it alone and even more when it involves waters with expossure to the ocean. :) As for why this company and not book a tour with the other ones? I did my research on the different companies that provide this service in the area and what caught my attention about this one was their efforts for fundraising funds for water in communities impacted by Operations Smiles. In addition, the laid back and attention to detail when it comes to reaching out to the client.

We had an awesome time and it exceeded our expectations. We booked last minute for a Friday sunset tour for our last night in VB. We saw so many dolphins and the weather conditions were ideal. The lead guide said it was one of the top five tours he's ever lead and for first timers like us, it was incredible to be so close to so many dolphins with my two sons who never kayaked before. There were so many that passed by us, making blow hole sounds, slapping their tails, etc. The guides were awesome throughout the trip and afterwards shared some photos with us and local recommendations. This was way more enjoyable for me compared to the whale watching from a boat tour I did near Cape Cod before.

What an amazing first kayak experience! Not only were Tommy and Ryan fun and knowledgeable about the park and wildlife, but their coworkers - the dolphins - were incredible. Highly recommend the sunset ride because the views in the Chesapeake were amazing. Cannot recommend Chesapean Outdoors enough!

Our guide Megan was really good. There were just the three of us out on the bay. Little more rough due to after a storm. We got to see so many dolphins. I would definitely book this tour again will probably try some others when we come back

Before my lady and I went to Virginia Beach recently, I was looking up things to do, and the sunset dolphin kayaking tour from this place popped up on my search. The place itself had really good reviews, and I do love dolphins, so I thought it would be a great experience for us both. I scored us a reservation online, which was super easy, for a Wednesday evening at 5:30pm. I received a confirmation email almost immediately with the info on where to go for the event. Note: DEFINITELY read the proper time/location information before going. My lady and I were late because I read the wrong info. Still, Tom, one of the employees, was waiting for us there at the location. He made sure we got everything we needed, instructed us on maneuvering the kayak, and help us meet with everyone else on the tour. I've had lots of kayak experience, but my lady is not, so Tom made sure she was comfortable and talked to her making sure she wasn't nervous or scared at all. We met up with the others on the water in no time and the tour continued. The tour itself was very relaxing and laid back. The guides took us to spots that dolphins regularly frequent. With the sun just starting to set, and a light breeze blowing, it felt just right. Unfortunately, we didn't see any dolphins (ya can't predict nature), but we did see a beautiful bald eagle perched upon a post in the water. Even with no dolphins on this tour, my lady and I really enjoyed our time on the water. After about an hour and a half, we headed back for shore, and the guides offered to take sunset pics for us before we left. All the guides were very friendly. Overall, this was a really cool experience, dolphins or not, plus I always love kayaking. I could see my lady and I doing this again next time we're in the area. Only next time, I'll get the time/location right, and we WON'T be late.

Really couldn't ask for a better activity on the bay. The company was very communicative and helped us navigate some questionable weather in booking. The launch site was very easy to find with excellent pre-event instructions. Michael and Zack were great guides and had an amazing eye for spotting the fin. We got up close a personal, but still had enough space for all skill levels to keep up and maneuver in the kayak. The guides worked in plenty of breaks with great facts about the Bay Area, the water, the dolphins and even the adjacent military base. Would HIGHLY recommend.

We have done the dolphin tour before and it was great, would highly recommend. This time we rented kayaks and went up the river on our own. Great people and good kayaks, no complaints here!

It was a great tour lead by a very knowledgeable Matt. The pace was good for both new and experienced kayakers. We were able to see dolphins and even had the opportunity stretch our legs on the beach on the middle of the tour.

My Mr. really wanted to do this tour. The combination of Kayaking and seeing Dolphins sounds very fun. I haven't kayaked for more than 10 years so I was quite nervous. Especially in the Ocean. My Mr. is more experienced. He went online and purchased the tickets. $60.00 dollars per person. We made sure to check the weather. Perfect... 70 degrees and sunny. Our reservations was at 5:30 Pm (2 hour tour). Make sure you read your email carefully on the times and locations. We made a mistake and went to the wrong location, so we paid the price and was late. Our meeting place was at First Landing State Park. The company was very laid back and waited for us. The people that were there already took off. The person (Tom) who waited for us was very helpful and patient. He gave me a quick lesson. Made sure I was comfortable before getting in the water. Once in the ocean, I got used to it, I wasn't scared anymore. Our tour guide was talking to us to help ease my nervousness. He mentioned that it's easier to kayak in the ocean versus the river. It's much smoother. He was right. We finally up with the group. There were 3 other tour guides. All professional, laid back and down to earth. We went around some piers and they gave us some history on the marine life. We sat there for a good 20 minutes and waited. No dolphins. They can't control nature. It's quite alright with me because this experience was nothing but fun. I was actually relaxed and enjoyed the scenery/weather. I highly recommend this company. If you are in the Virginia Beach area and want to do some outdoor fun, go kayaking!

My wife and I recently did both the dolphin kayak tour and a private surf lesson for our anniversary. These are an absolute MUST if you're in VA beach! The owners and all the staff obviously care so much about what they do, about their guests' experience, and about the area. We can't wait to get back! The surf lesson was amazing. Our instructor was incredibly knowledgeable, helpful, and patient. Before the lesson we didn't think we'd be able to do much in just one session but we both were able to stand and get some great rides in! The dolphin tour (we did the evening tour) was also amazing. We saw over a dozen dolphins and some swam right around us, within about 20 yards. The guides gave great information about the area. Even though the tour was given in a group with people we'd never met, it often felt like a private tour with how the guides gave one-on-one time to each guest.

I had the best surf lesson with Adam! The company was professional and well prepared. I highly recommend them!

Such a cool experience! So happy Tommy let us know about it! Originally my friend and I had planned to rent kayaks on laskin and go out on our own until Tommy let us know about the guided sunset dolphin tour we were stoked!!! Our experience was the best only thing was I forgot my big stray lots of bugs in the evening time. However we saw pods and pods of dolphins up close it was beautiful made the bugs totally worth it! Tommy and Nate took some good picture and videos while we were out and shared them with us really cool guys! Thank you again :)

Visiting for the weekend and wanted to do something fun with my husband and 12 yr of son. Found Chesapean and booked a kayak dolphin morning tour. I have been kayaking several times but my boys have only been once before. Didn't matter because this group is fantastic for all levels of skill and kayak experience. Right away from booking, communication was key, from waivers to launch location to potential weather delays or changes. Our tour guides were Dave, Cam, Troy and Nate and every single one of them were absolutely amazing. They went over safety, kayak handling and were all very knowledgeable not only about the dolphins but the local area as well. We had about 10 people in our group and the guides all paid individual attention to each group within the group, taking pictures and making conversation within the tour. Of course we saw a pod of dolphins and that made my day even better! Absolutely would 100% recommend to anyone in the area, vacationing or local. We will definitely book again next time we are in VA beach!

My kids have gone to the Chesapean Adventure Camp for the last two summers and they LOVE it. They have a great time and they get to do so much. It is one of the highlights of their summer, which is why we do it twice!

My wife, two daughters (13 and 9) and I took the 9 am First Landing kayak tour and had an absolute blast with our guide Michael. The kayaking was just the right challenge for the kids and still a good experience for my wife and I, the scenery was beautiful and Michale did a great job keeping us connected showing us the best spots to visit and telling us a ton of local tidbits and tips. We even got to see ospreys and a bald eagle!

Great experience! We saw several Dolphin pods. The guides were very helpful and knowledgeable. Definitely would recommend this outdoor adventure.

We had a great experience on our dolphin kayak trip. Got to see several pods of dolphins even before we got in the water. Mat our tour guide was great, lots of fun and very informative. His assistant guide Taylor was also super fun and she was a pleasure to hang out with. Whenever am back in VB deff gonna book another trip hopefully in sunnier weather.

Had some friends come into town and I thought let's try something completely different. I decided on the kayaking dolphin tour and it happened to be a GREAT decision. It was most of our first time kayaking. The instructors were Great, saw plenty of dolphins and it was just plain relaxing. I highly recommend setting up a tour for the Summer if you're looking for a good and relaxing time. We will definitely be back for the Sunset tour.

We had an awesome adventure kayaking yesterday at sunset! David was a fantastic guide, the seas were a bit rough but soooo worth the experience! All of the guides- David, Will, Stephen & Troy clearly know their stuff. They answered all of our questions & got our large group safely out & back. They even took pictures of each kayak group for us.

My husband, 6-year-old daughter, and I had the best time on this sunset dolphin kayak tour. We saw TONS of dolphins very close to us, and our guides were funny and kind, making the whole excursion worthwhile. It was obvious how much they love their jobs. They even shared photo and video with us afterward that they captured of our family, which I appreciated since we had our all of our technology into water safe bags. All of us left happy and ready to do the tour again!

I loved being out in the ocean being able to see dolphins swimming a few feet from me. Very relaxing will be returning here the next time I vacation in Virginia Virginia Beach

Chesapean Outdoor Camp was, as my daughter stated, "by far the best camp EVER!" From the interactive lessons on various jellyfish to paddle boarding, kayaking, and so much more. My daughter has never been more excited to attend a camp than this week's adventures! It was beyond AMAZING to see what you all do to inspire and make a community out of that group of young adults. The camp counselors are superb with the younger children and my daughter felt safe and loved through every minute of the week. Kudos to you all! We cannot WAIT for next year! ‍‍

Did a morning stand up paddle boarding and loved it! Staff was very professional and fun. Will absolutely do it again!

Just rented some kayaks from them. Awesome customer service! You can do everything through their website including filling out their waiver beforehand.

I was recently on a kayak dolphin tour that went very wrong. To not get lost in detail I will give the bottom line. Chose another company!!! The guide was not prepared when someone on our tour capsized and was not able to get back in the boat and was screaming "HELP" while pulling his wife under bc he was panicking. While this was going their child was watching in another boat with the guide. My 14 year old daughter and I had to take control, tell the guide to go help the struggling man, jump in the guides boat and get the child to safety without invoking panic. More to the story but I'll spare the additional stupidity that occurred. When I called the owner Matt to tell him what happened he was so arrogant and came at me with "are you the lady that wants to sue me bc someone swallowed some water". Enough said. Parents do NOT trust you are safe on this tour with your children!!!! You are NOT!

Chesapean Dolphin Kayaking tour was everything plus some. They were so accommodating and even when they predicted spotty weather for our 5:30pm tour they called and asked if we could come sooner. This was such an amazing accommodation as were leaving town the next day. This company is really awesome and people centered. Our tour guide was so personable and knew so much about everything. We highly recommend touring with Chesapean.

I went here today for the first time & I had an amazing experience!!! We saw about 3 dolphins before we even got in the water & many more out in the ocean. They did let us know some days it may not be as many as others but today was a good day. Our tour guides were amazing! I went alone so I was in a kayak alone when my arms got tired & I fell back one of them were always with me. We worked w/ the 3 B's Lol cause all their names started w/ a B. But all the equipment was provided it was just a really great tour! Got many pics & videos. Will be going back w/ my friends before the summer is out!

Such a great experience. Was nervous because I've never kayaked on the ocean before but our guide was amazing and super knowledgeable! Definitely worth the money, and hoping to do it again in the summer!

Had a great kayaking tour with the awesome Tommy. Also gave a great suggestion for dinner. Thanks Tommy!

My twin 8 year olds loved the adventure camp. They made friends and got to spend the day exploring the narrows at 64th street and first landing state park. Can't wait to sign them up for more next year. The staff was AMAZING!

Thank you Mitch and Logan for a great day in the Bay! Lots of dolphins... highly recommend to tourists and locals!

Best thing Virginia Beach offers in the summer time! The amount of Dolphins we saw was awesome. We booked this place because of the groupon, it was half the price compared to every other kayaking trip. We called to make our appointment for Wednesday, their 9 am dolphin tour was booked so we took the noon tour. They called us around 10:30 am on Wednesday telling us the waves were large and if we could reschedule for Thursday. We didn't mind because we were prepared for the chance of our trip getting cancelled or postponed due to weather. We started with two single kayaks but they suggested we do a double because it's difficult to paddle through the surf on a double. So we took a double, getting through the surf wasn't scary or too hard, only a few people tipped out. We paddled down around the point into the bay where the Dolphins hang out. We saw tons of Dolphins, some were so close. We stopped and relaxed in front of the light house and watched the Dolphins play. Some of us got out of the kayaks and swam. Our tour guides were fantastic. The nicest guys and really helpful. I highly recommend asking to have Jeremy as your tour guide or getting on a tour with him in charge. He used a paddle board and was so knowledgable about the area and the nature. When we took our break he even let me try out the paddle board (it's a lot harder than it looks!). I am sometimes hesitant to use groupon when choosing something that could really be a hit or miss but it was the best part of our trip. Jeremy did say the 9 am trips see more Dolphins so if I did it again I would go at the earlier tour but we still saw tons of fish and Dolphins!

Unfortunately, I was looking forward to this booking. However, my husband and I had a death in the family and we had to cancel, ended up canceling the entire vacation we had planned. I notify this company 48 hours prior to the booking, they have a cancelation policy that they need 24 hours. I have YET to receive a refund. They have gave me the run around. I have called and text. As advised, I will be taking the next steps to get some resolution.

I took 28 kids on a church mission trip to Virginia Beach and was looking for something fun to do on our free day. Fun was what we found. We kayaked with the dolphins and had surfing lessons. It was an amazing time for the kids and the chaperones. Trust me when I say that I have zip lined, go carted and rafted with kids all over the country. The day we spent with these guys was the BEST TIME we have ever had. They receive my highest recommendation.

I just want to thank you for the awesome camp this week! The kids had an amazing time! It is so nice to get them outside with friends after all of the craziness the last few months. Also, you have a great group of counselors that have been super polite, engaging and responsible... especially with all of the COVID precautions. We will definitely recommend future camp sessions to other friends and our son might be back for another session!

Great find! The prices are reasonable and easy to find with plenty of parking. They sanitized the kayak and let us wipe the paddles ourselves. Beautiful surroundings while on our trip. Can't wait to go back again.

Amazing!!!!Our tour guides were so knowledgeable and equipped but also super fun! Would definitely do this again 10/10!

My child absolutely love this camp! They were busy and having fun from the minute they got there to the minute they left! If you need something for your child to do in the summer, here's your answer! The camp directors are a husband/wife team who are very family oriented and offer a wonderful experience for the campers! Very affordable also!

We came to VA Beach again this year because we love the beach, the environment and the attractions. Last year we did the large boat Dolphin tour, this year we wanted to be closer to the Dolphins. We found Chesapean Outdoors and booked our 9:30am Kayak Dolphin tour. Wow! We were not disappointed! We paddled out a short distance, after a short wait while the guides gave descriptions of some of the sites & surroundings, the Dolphins literally swam through the Kayaks while we floated out in the Bay. There were several pods that came through at different times. It was absolutely incredible! We saw the larger Dolphins and baby Dolphins! My son & his friend were absolutely blown away by how close we got to be with these magnificent animals & the guides were very respectful of the Dolphins space & keeping everyone safe while still having fun. The guides David, Troy & Michael were knowledgeable, very personable & a great time. I cannot recommend this tour enough, it is a must when in VA Beach. We will be back and we will book with Chesapean for definite!

Second time we used them this month. Great service, staff and the equipment is excellent

Easy booking and fun time kayaking out on the sea. The possibility of you seeing a dolphin may vary but it was a nice, friendly team guiding us.

Just spent a fabulous few hours on a Chesapean bike tour. It was fantastic! Our guide was top notch and wonderfully knowledgeable about the city, its history, flora, fauna, and stories! We went on the paths in the State Park and through town, and of course the boardwalk area. He was very good at adjusting the pace to match our riders' ability level. We got to see many sights the normal visitors miss. Totally and completely recommend!

Brantley and Cameron were amazing !!! Very friendly and knowledgeable. I had a total of 11 people for my 21st birthday and it was just a great time. Everyone was first timers and we caught on so quickly ! Super easy activity! Nothing but laughs and fun. You will get a bit wet but nothing too bad. It's beautiful 10/10 recommend!

Thank you for an awesome week. Jacob had so much fun that he wanted to show me what he saw and did. The Counselors were amazing - from the smiles on their faces to the patience that they had. I thank all of you for creating a wonderful week. He is already planning on coming back next summer. Again THANK YOU

I couldn't recommend their tours more! We had an incredible time kayaking and exploring with Matt and he did so many things to make the tour extra special, including teaching us proper technique, providing lots of information about the areas we were exploring and taking pictures of our group for us! We had a blast and if we could give more than 5 stars, we would.

My family of 5 went on the Dolphin kayak tour on Memorial Day weekend. Well, it was more like a kayak float. We know that there's no guarantee to see dolphins, but the tour guide actually said, "You're our first customers this year so we really don't know where the dolphins are yet." If dolphin tours are your business, then spend some time in the weeks or days ahead of opening, to find out where the dolphins are hanging out at! I told the owner that we were coming down to do this a few days ahead of time so he could've sent one of his crew out to see if he could at least find some dolphin pods and have some intel on the whereabouts of the dolphins. Again, I get there's no guarantee, but at least have a clue. Don't go out with paying customers on day 1 and say you don't know where the animals are because you haven't been on the water since the fall! That was wrong. It was so boring. We paddled down the shoreline a bit, turned around and came back. I could've done the same thing in a pool and not spent hundreds of dollars. Don't bother with these people. Go to a more professional company that actually puts in work in the "off season" to prepare for their "in-season."

Just finished the sunset kayak tour and was amazing. Hayes and the other guys were so chill and super knowledgeable about the area and the water. Loved being able to kayak alongside dolphins. Thank y'all so much! I will definitely be back for more tours.