UPDATED FEB 2020. Imagine what it would be like to kayak on a peaceful lake in Ireland. The cool, fresh air around you is still with a serene calm. Your arms guide an oar through the motions, gently slicing through the water to push you along the surface. You stop to soak in everything around you. The trees you can see lining the lake, the seals you can hear splashing nearby, the cool air that enters your nose when you take a big breath in. Now imagine doing it in pitch black under the darkness of night. It might sound a little crazy, but I’m here today to share with you why night kayaking in Ireland is the adventure that you didn’t know you needed and why it deserves a place on your Ireland holiday itinerary.
Why Night Kayaking In Ireland Is The Adventure You Can’t Miss
Disclaimer
There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.
The basics
Location: Skibbereen, West Cork
Company: Atlantic Sea Kayaking
Cost: €55 (approx $60USD)
How to book: Online through their website – all relevant links are at the end of the post
Highlights: Unique experience, bioluminescence, slow and mindful moments in nature
Why go kayaking at night?
When you look up ‘peaceful’ in the dictionary, there should just be an ad for night kayaking in Ireland.
Being out on the water in the dark was overwhelmingly serene.
Maybe it’s the nature, maybe it’s the quiet, or maybe it’s because when one of your senses is taken away, the others kick into overdrive.
I don’t know, but it certainly was relaxing.
I think of the tour as a chance to slow down and have a distraction-free experience. It was refreshing because so much of our travels are all go-go-go and trying to see and do as much as possible.
Don’t get me wrong, I love to maximize my time and be on the go, but I appreciated the chance to have a more mindful travel experience on this tour.
I think we all need some time like this in our busy lives. It was almost like a kayaking meditation.
Add a personal touch to your tour
If you want to add more meaning to your tour, get a copy of my latest book “Your Vacation, My Office
” to learn what it was like to build this unique business, what an average day is like, and how they give back around the world.
This book profiles people who work in the tourism industry around the world, including one of the owners of Atlantic Sea Kayaking, and offers a peek inside their incredible offices with real talk insight.
Can you see anything while night kayaking?
One of the most interesting things for me was that at first, you can’t see much. Your eyes have to adjust to the darkness.
Once they realize that it’s going to be dark for a while, it’s as if they kick in and you get a little night vision. It’s quite amazing.
The nature you will see
Many of the other posts I’ve written about being amongst wildlife, like gazing at Elephants in Sri Lanka or watching the jumping Crocodiles in Australia, usually involve a daytime tour to watch the animals do whatever it is that they do.
When you go night kayaking in Ireland, you will also be around wildlife, though, with your eyesight somewhat out of commission, you’ll hear them more than you’ll see them.
You will hear the splashes of seals who call the water home, the calls of birds in the trees, and we even had a swan swim by us.
Our tour guide, Jim, had a flashlight and he used it to show us some of the animals around us. Seeing a seal cruise by us under its own spotlight was very cool!
A perk to kayaking at night – Bioluminescence
Have you heard about the phenomenon of Bioluminescence?
It’s one of nature’s many gifts which you can see in many places around the world. Luckily, Ireland is one of them.
As with anything in nature, it can’t be guaranteed, so don’t go into this tour with the expectation that you will see it.
If you are going to see it, let it be the bonus on top of an already wonderful tour. I will tell you this though, it is pretty incredible.
Seeing the water sparkle with blue, diamond-like specks when I placed my oar in it is by far one of the most incredible things I have ever seen.
Tips for the tour
No phones or cameras on the tour. You’re going to be kayaking in complete darkness and the phone backlights, even if turned to the lowest, disrupt the peacefulness of it all.
You won’t get a good shot anyway without a flash, and again, a flash would be really douchey to the other participants (and disrupt everyone’s night vision).
This is not a tour to get the perfect Instagram shot, it’s a mindful experience.
Wear warm clothes with layers. When you arrive spray suits are provided to keep you dry.
It’s important to wear warm layers for night kayaking in Ireland and the team will give you a dry suit for the tour itself.
The staff
I know kayaking in pitch black might seem a little crazy, maybe even a little scary, but let me assure you that the team who takes you out on the water have your safety in mind.
They place one staff member at the front of the group and one at the back. The staff have reflectors, flashlights and high-vis vests with them. Don’t worry – you won’t get lost on the lake.
They’re not just going to keep you safe though, they’ll also make you feel welcome.
Jim led the tour I took and his friendliness made me feel like I had known him for ages – and I’m really shy so that doesn’t happen often!
As everyone arrived, he broke the ice and got us chatting so it didn’t feel like a group of strangers.
During the tour, he guided us and would stop now and then to talk about the area, point out an animal and, most importantly, remind us to pause to soak it all in.
Where to stay
Since you will be finishing late at night, it’s best to stay somewhere local – Dublin is a little over 4 hours drive away and there are no night buses to Cork to be able to get a night bus back to Dublin.
It’s also important to mention that there isn’t much by way of taxi or buses to get around in Skibbereen itself. Keep that in mind when you are planning your visit.
The best option is to have a car, but if you won’t have one (like me) I recommend emailing Maria when you book your kayaking tour to get recommendations on where to stay and how to get around. It will require a little prior planning.
I stayed at the Shearwater Country House B&B in Union Hall which was quite possibly one of the cutest B&B’s ever! The room was so cozy, the family were so kind, and the breakfast with a view of the water was a real treat.
If you have more time during your visit, check out this guide on things to do in Cork for ideas on other activities.
Other tips for visiting Ireland
Solo Female Travel In Dublin – How To Plan An Extraordinary Trip
What To Pack For Ireland In April – Here Are The Practical Essentials
For more information:
Visit the Atlantic Sea Kayaking Website and follow the Atlantic Sea Kayaking Facebook Page
Contact Maria and Jim at info@atlanticseakayaking.com
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Ireland here I come. Looks like a ton of fun.
That and the Viking stuff – definitely a lot of fun!