The kayak & sup bucket list.

Abel Tasman kayak freedom rental

Golden beaches, fur seals, no guide needed. Book huts months out.

Alta SUP at Whistler

Alpine lake glass, picnic rock, bears occasionally watching.

Alvor lagoon kayak

Boardwalk and lagoon.

Annecy SUP sunrise

Glass water, mountains pink, swans as traffic. Off by 9am.

Archipelago kayak day

Paddle the outer islands.

Ariège kayak run

Pyrenean rapids.

Aurlandsfjord SUP

Flåm to Undredal, goat cheese landing. Fjord glass mornings.

Ayung whitewater rafting

Jungle gorge, waterfalls, two fun hours. Guides do the hard parts.

Backwater kayak

Golden Island.

Bay of Islands Hole in the Rock paddle

Sea kayak to the arch when swell allows. Dolphins often join.

Bay paddle

Akti paddle.

Belém tower kayak at dawn

Paddle the Tagus past the tower before the ferries wake.

Benagil kayak sunrise

Through the arch into the skylight cave before crowds. Land early.

Berlenga island paddle

Fort views, sea caves, gulls everywhere. Ferry backup plan.

Bhangazi Lake paddle

Quiet paddle.

Big Lagoon kayak

Paddle the famous lagoon early.

Bioluminescent kayak

Night glow paddle.

Bioluminescent paddle

Night glow.

Biscayne Bay kayak

Paddle to the spoil islands.

Bled SUP dawn loop

Island church before rowboats, castle above. Mist included free.

Bovec Soča kayak school

Emerald water basics weekend. Wetsuit, helmet, grin. Graduate to rapids.

Bow canoe at Banff

Classic red canoe, Vermilion Lakes loop, sunrise mirror.

Brienz turquoise SUP

Glacial flour water, Giessbach Falls landing. Morning glass only.

Broken Group kayak

100 islands, wilderness camps, gray whales. Multi-day essential.

Budva island paddle

Sveti Nikola crossing, cliff lunch, old town return. Afternoon chop.

Buna kayak float

Emerald drift.

Butterfly Island kayak

Hidden island.

Canal de l'Ourcq kayak

Paddle east from Stalingrad into the city thinning out. Rentals by the hour.

Canals paddle

Venice paddle.

Cape Town penguin kayak

Clifton to Oudekraal with penguins and seals. Atlantic cold, views hot.

Cazaux Lake SUP

Lake paddle.

Cetina sea kayak exit

River mouth to Omiš beaches, pirate fortress above. Swim stops.

Chattooga Section III kayak

Long rapids, Bull Sluice finale. Guide or solid roll required.

Cheoah kayak run

Nine miles dam-release III-IV. Remote, cold, perfect.

Cheow Lan lake paddle

Drowned karsts, floating bungalows, gibbons at dawn. Eerie and perfect.

Chobe sunset paddle

Puku and buffalo on the banks, light going gold. Stay in the boat.

Coast kayak

Cliff paddle.

Coastal kayak caves

Grotto paddle.

Coastal kayak to the caves

Sea caves from Cala Figuera.

Cold plunge all winter

One winter, twice a week, no wetsuit. You will hate January and miss it by March.

Columbia SUP at Hood River

Glass dawn before wind, kite chaos after. Downwinders for pros.

Columbia SUP at Revelstoke

Warm lake reach, mountain ring, evening glass.

Como villa paddle

Varenna to Villa del Balbianello by water. Gardens from below.

Confluence paddle

Platte paddle.

Coniston canoe day

Wild camp islands, Swallows nostalgia, pub at the end.

Coracle river float

Round boats.

Coral Cave kayak

Stalactite paddle.

Corrib kayak

Lake paddle.

Costa Brava sea caves paddle

Medes Islands reserve, tunnels and arches. Snorkel stops.

Danube kayak sunset

Paddle the bend.

Deep Cove kayak

Indian Arm.

Deschutes River float

Summer tubes.

Diani SUP dawn

Glass water, kites later, colobus monkeys in the trees.

Dommel kayak paddle

City stream.

Doubtful Sound overnight kayak

Two days, no roads, sandflies and silence. Mother of all fiords.

Durance rafting day

White water.

El Nido lagoon paddle

Big and Small Lagoon by kayak before tour boats. Milky turquoise.

Elafonissi paddle lagoon

Pink sand shallows, turquoise channels. Wind picks up by noon.

Elba paddle week

Napoleon exile island circumnavigation in stages. Harbors nightly.

En-Vau kayak day

Paddle the fjords.