Question #1 - I've never paddled a sea kayak before, can I join one of your trips?

Answer - We tailor our trips to first-time paddlers and beginners. Our friendly and supportive guides and tour leaders will teach you the basis, necessary skills you need in order to enjoy your time on the water. Sea kayaking is very easy. It's a safe activity for all ages. The majority of our guests are middle-aged or older. Experienced paddlers are welcomed too.

Questions #2 - Are your trips strenuous?

Answer - Our pace is based on the group. We keep our itineraries flexible so that every trip participant gets the exact type of sea kayak trip that she/he desires. You do not need to be athletic to enjoy this wonderful activity. If you can trek, you can paddle a kayak. It's that simple.

Question #3 - What happens if I capsize?

Answer - Capsizes are extremely uncommon. All of our traditional sea kayaks are stable. You may be mistaking sea kayaking with white water kayaking where the small river kayak bobs through waves and rapids and occasionally flips. Sea kayaks are designed differently and stability is one of the main characteristics of sea kayaks.

If by some chance you do capsize, it is not a big deal. You won't be stuck in the kayak if you happen to tip over. In fact, you must brace your thighs under the deck in order to remain in a capsized boat. Emptying the kayak and getting you back in the boat is very quick and easy. All of our guides and tour leaders are experts at assisted rescues.

Question #4 - What do people enjoy about sea kayaking?

Answer - Sea kayaking is a method to explore and enjoy the natural world on a very intimate level. There is both the solitude of solo paddling as well as the joy and camaraderie of a small group sea kayaking adventure. Kayaking is physical, so it gives you the feeling of actually accomplishing something on your vacation. Anyone can sit on a beach all day; you can be a sea kayaker. Give it a try... you'll be glad you did.

Question #5 - What sort of accommodations should I expect?

Answer - One of our major goals is to get away from the more popular tourist spots. This means that some of our bungalows are very basic. The quality varies from spot to spot. We require our bungalows to be clean and to have scrumptious food. The reason why we stay in bungalows rather than camp is that after a fun day of paddling, we want a proper shower, a great meal and a comfortable bed after that. Camping in the tropics isn't very comfy. As most of our guests are middle-aged or older, this works well.

To see sample of some of the bungalow we use, see our bungalows page.

Question #6 - What is included and what should I bring?

Answer - This trip includes all transfers from nearest local airport, bus station or train station (airfare not included), all equipment, accommodations once on the trip, all meals, all snacks, all non-alcoholic drinks, and insurance. Plus, you'll get a free colorful complimentary PaddleAsia T shirt.

Click here to see our ‘what to bring’ list.

Question #7 - Can I bring my camera, video recorder and binoculars?

Answer - By all means. We have dry bags for you. Bring a small towel to wrap your gear before putting it in the bag help keep the moisture out. Binoculars are a very valuable asset, especially in Khao Sok National Park. We do not supply binoculars. We are not responsible for damaged equipment.

Question #8 - Can you tell me more about your sea kayaking equipment?

Answer - We have a large fleet of high quality traditional sea kayaks. We have both single and two-person kayaks in a variety of sizes to suit guests of all sizes. Your comfort is very important to us. Supplying you with a proper fitting boat increases your comfort factor tremendously.

We also have high quality lightweight paddles. This is even more important than the kayak. This is your tool. At the end of the day and when you get up the following day, we want you to be fresh. If you are sore, we've failed... and we don't fail.

Question #9 - Do you rent kayaks?

Answer - Yes, we rent our kayaks and equipment to qualified paddlers. Let us know about your experience level to see if you qualify.

In addition to renting our kayaks, we will set you up with an itinerary, bungalow reservations, a nautical chart and anything else that you may need.

Another option you have is our "accompanied rental" program. With this option, one of our Thai guides joins you to assist with certain aspects of your itinerary. To read more about our kayak rental program, see our rentals page.