Kayaking tours are temporarily suspended
Very few of the marshlands, on which Venice was constructed, still exist.
Some of the best preserved marshes — barene in Venetian — are around the Lazzaretto Nuovo island, which is where our kayaking tours start.
The Lazzaretto Nuovo is an interesting historic and archaeological site in its own right, and all our tours include a brief visit to the museum on the island.
The main attraction in the Venetian lagoon is the lagoon itself. It is, together with the city of Venice, a UNESCO heritage site.
The salt marshes form a unique ecosystem, which is host to many highly specialised plants and a varied bird-life.
Besides the natural beauty, the Venetian lagoon is full of islands, each with its own history. The Lazzaretto Nuovo is just one of these islands.
Short tours in the marshes
A short tour of 1½–2 hours in the marshes behind the Lazzaretto Nuovo is the perfect way of experiencing that other side of Venice which nobody sees.
The distance is 4–5km, all in the marshes around the Lazzaretto.
These tours are suitable for beginners and parents with children.
Half-day tours
During a half-day tour, we can do a paddle through the marshes and beyond, to the islands of Mazzorbetto, Mazzorbo, Burano, San Francesco del Deserto and back.
Active paddling time is generally around 3–4 hours. We might make a short pause somewhere, but there isn’t time for sightseeing on foot, or visits to monuments or restaurants.
The distance is usually 10–15km, but can be more for experienced paddlers.
Alternatively, we can paddle to Sant’Erasmo, past the Bacan beach towards the MOSE floodgates, and from there to the Fortress Sant’Andrea and return through the Vignole islands.
Half-day tours require some paddling experience.
Full-day tours
On a longer full-day tour, we can explore much of the northern lagoon, past Torcello to the islands of Sant’Ariano and Santa Cristina.
Alternatively, the time can be used to stop and see some of the places and islands along the route, such as the church of Santa Catarina on Mazzorbo, the ancient cathedral of Torcello, or do the guided visit with the Franciscan monks on San Francesco del Deserto.
Active paddling time is normally 5–6 hours, with a decent lunch break in the middle. We rarely bring packed lunches, but rather stop on Torcello or Burano for a decent lunch in a restaurant or a snack bar.
On some islands we can land, while others are out of bounds, either because they’re privately owned, or because there are restrictions on them. I have made a list of most of the islands, and an interactive map of the lagoon islands with their location. Kayaking tours are limited to the northern lagoon.
What others said
A different and unique way to spend a few hours in the city
My fiancé went on this tour and loved it. He loves history so it was a unique and interesting way to spend a few hours. René was courteous and knowledgeable and we would recommend the tour to anyone looking for a different way to learn about the beautiful city of Venice.
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René was extremely knowledgeable about the history culture and social and economic conditions of Venice and was able to connect everything to world issues and make Venice a place of historical importance and connection to the whole world. His knowledge of history culture and languages was amazing! He truly has an in-depth and detailed knowledge of his subject. He was able to show us in the Square we visited how these facts connected to the actual place, Venice and give examples of what he talked about. he told us so many things that none of the other guides or tours have included so it was a very unique experience. René also was very kind and thoughtful and enable me as a visually impaired person to touch physical parts of the buildings and give detailed visual descriptions of things I could not see. He was able to answer any questions and moved in a way that was easy to follow. I would recommend his tour to anyone who is interested in knowing more about Venice and its historical place in the world and how the Venetian’s have come to be who they are today.
Meeting with Rene is a complete learning experience
Meeting with Rene is a complete learning experience. He has the knowledge of a university professor with the friendliness of a grad student. We spent the two hours going beyond cute stories from past – and really exploring some of the complexities of Venetian history. In the end this is much better than the typical rote recital of some common history. Probably not for kids, unless they are high school history nerds.
Practical matters
The Lazzaretto Nuovo is serviced by public transport. The vaporetto is line 13 from Fondamente Nove (platform D) in Venice, or the Faro stop on Murano.
There is at least one departure each hour throughout the day. The journey takes about 25 minutes each way.
The Lazzaretto Nuovo vaporetto stop is on request. It is necessary to tell the sailor that you want to get off there. The previous stop is Vignole, and the sailor can be notified there.
Frequently asked questions
Below are some of the more frequent questions we get. Click to expand.
Clothes and shoes
You should bring clothes suitable for kayaking, preferably synthetic or woollen. Cotton clothes are not well suited for kayaking.
We launch from a small beach, so your shoes will inevitably get wet. Bring suitable shoes for that.
In the summer, it is absolutely necessary to bring a hat, as we’ll be out in the open under the sun for the entire duration of the tour.
Water
Do not go kayaking without water. At the very least, bring an empty bottle which you can fill with tap water on the island.
Toilets
There are toilets on the island.
Showers and changing rooms
The Lazzaretto Nuovo has showers, and the space can be used for changing too, both before and after kayaking. If there are no other activities on the island, the room can also be used for bags and valuables for the duration of the tour.
Valuables
Normally, phones, bags and other items can be left in the shower room, but we cannot guarantee this, as there can be other activities on the island. If this is a necessity, please ask us in advance.
Photos and cell phones
The guide has a camera, and will take photos for you along the tour. Please do not bring phones or cameras which are not waterproof. The lagoon water is saline, and can damage electronics in seconds. We will accept no responsibility for ruined or lost phones.
Children in kayak
Children are welcome, but if they’re aged 14 or less, they must be in a double kayak with a parent or a guardian. The guide does not paddle with children in a double kayak.
We have two double kayaks only, so we can accommodate at most two children if they’re with two adults.
Prices and booking
The kayaking tours support the Lazzaretto Nuovo with forty percent of the price of the tours.
| Tour | 2 persons | 3 persons | 4 persons | 5–8 persons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short tour (1–2 hours) | €100 | €90 | €80 | €70 |
| Half-day tour (3–4h) | €120 | €110 | €100 | €90 |
| Full-day tour (6–7h) | €150 | €130 | €110 | €100 |
All prices are per person for the given total group size. The price per person is lowered if more people join a tour. If two couples sign up separately for a short tour, the group is 4 persons, and they all pay €80/person.
Children are half price, as long as there are at least two adults in the group.
Booking is by email. Just drop me a note with what you’d like to do, when you’ll be here, and how many you are.
No food or drink of any kind is included in the price, but you’re free to bring your own. In fact, you should absolutely bring a water bottle. The tap water on the island is drinkable.
Experience and safety
I ran a kayaking company in Venice for over ten years, so I know the lagoon and its islands better than most. I also have a two-star sea kayak coaching award.
Most of the kayaks and other equipment come from the old kayaking business.
For beginners, there are three very stable single kayaks and two double kayaks.
There are about half a dozen other kayaks of various makes and models, mostly in fibreglass, for more experienced kayakers. Some of them are quite challenging, even for fairly able kayakers.
We have a mixture of basic euro-paddles and some Venetian made Greenland style paddles.
Life-jackets (PFDs) are supplied, and their use is obligatory. If you don’t agree with this choice, please go paddling with somebody else.
We do have some spray-skirts, but their use is not necessary for paddling in the lagoon around the Lazzaretto Nuovo.
Caveats
With boating and nature, there’s always a “but.”
I do not do kayaking tours after dark. All tours must start after sunrise and end well before sunset.
Kayaking tours are subject to the weather and the tide. Late cancellations can always happen.
The weather in Venice can be quite variable and unpredictable, at all seasons. Often a forecast is only reliable for a few days.
Needless to say, there’s little fun, and less safety, in being in a kayak in the lagoon in the rain, in a dense fog, or worse, in a thunderstorm.
The tide is a part of life in Venice. The water rises for six hours, and it falls for six hours, as the Venetians like to say. The tidal excursion is up to 1.2m at spring tide.
The Venetian lagoon is best enjoyed in kayak when the tide isn’t too low, and we always schedule tours with the tide in mind.
Scheduled kayaking tours
Only short 1½–2 tours in the marshes are pre-scheduled. For half-day and full-day tours, please contact us so we can find a time that works, tides included.
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