The 13 Canoes & Kayaks Tours in the Middle East That Earn Their Price

1.Desert Safari or Hatta Tour with Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★3.4 · 213 reviews · 6 - 7 hours · from $29Our pick

Choose a six to seven hour Dubai outing: a Lahbab desert safari with dune bashing, camel riding, sandboarding, BBQ dinner, and live shows, or a Hatta trip with kayaking, heritage stops, and Hajar Mountain views. Hotel pickup is included, groups are limited to six, and guides such as Yasir, Rehan, Ali, and Umair lead the day.

“I had such a great time on the store. It was extremely relaxing, and I had a great time kayaking. The views and dam are really so beautiful. Even the ride to the dam was beautiful. Our guide was very knowledgeable and provided a lot of tips of things we could do next. I definitely recommend this as a day trip.”

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2.Kayaking at the Pearl | at MIA Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 138 reviews · from $82Top rated

Paddle for about an hour from MIA Park with a professional instructor, looking across calm water toward the Museum of Islamic Art and Doha’s skyline. You receive a kayak, paddle, life jacket, safety briefing, refreshments, photo help, and insurance. The private format suits couples, families, and first-time paddlers.

“We did the Pearl. Our tour guide, Saad, was very professional. Great experience if you are going for a beautiful photo shoot. We went at sunset and the pics were great. A very easy kayak distance.”

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3.Clear Kayaking Experience with Burj Khalifa View

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 137 reviews · 1 hour · from $41

Spend an hour in a transparent kayak at Dubai’s Fishing Harbor, paddling between Jumeirah Bay Island and the city skyline. Guides such as Prasad, Chamara, and Pradeep provide instruction, safety help, and often photos. Choose a double kayak for two people, or book separately for single kayaks.

“The guide was a very good person. He was all the time with us and made the experience amazing !”

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4.Atlantis Dolphin Kayak Trip & Aquaventure Waterpark

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 92 reviews · from $135

Meet a marine mammal specialist, kayak through Dolphin Bay Lagoon, and watch curious dolphins near your boat. Your package includes equipment, lockers, showers, juice, and same-day entry to Aquaventure Waterpark. The activity is in English, suits all swimming abilities, and is for ages 8 and up.

“the instructor was very helpful, he gave us a full inside into the dolphins habits etc. it's well worth the money”

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5.Palm Jumeirah Paddle Boarding Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 89 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $30

Spend 90 minutes stand-up paddling from Palm Jumeirah toward Atlantis, guided by instructors such as Pasindu, Isuru, or Marvin. You’ll receive a basic lesson, bottled water, hotel changing facilities, and time for photos, a short walk, and a quick sea swim. Expect calm water, skyline views, and no hotel transfer.

“The Activity was great, guide was super patient, very helpful. Exactly as we hoped.. the instructions however were terrible.. it said join at the Sofitel Hotel and the activity provider has moved from there 2-3 months ago... no one seemed to know where to go so the instructions do need to be changed, anyone in Dubai heading here be warned its not at the sofitel hotel any more.”

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6.Eco Kayaking Adventure – Mangrove Exploration at Purple Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · from $75

Join AquaSports Qatar for a roughly three-hour kayaking trip through Al Thakira’s mangroves near Purple Island. Your guide, sometimes including Mr Google, covers paddling, safety, wildlife, tides, and local culture. The package includes a kayak, 90 minutes on the water, camp access, tea or coffee, and insurance. Transport and dinner cost extra.

“The guide, Mr Google, was enthusiastic and managed all abilities well. Although it was a low tide the day we attended. Mr Google made all efforts to extend our time so we could catch a higher tide and experience the mangroves. Paddling throRead more”

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7.Mangroves Kayaking Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 72 reviews · 2 hours · from $60

Paddle through Al Thakira’s mangrove channels, then reach Purple Island with an English-speaking guide. You’ll receive a safety briefing, beginner paddling help, kayak gear, water, and a guided look at the island and mangrove ecology. Guides such as Joseph, Prince, Peter, and Mohamed have been praised for patience and good local explanations.

“Kayaking in the mangroves was fantastic, both in open water and in narrow channels. We stopped half way through to enjoy a spectacular sunset and swim in the water. Our guide Joseph was very good - he was very informative during the trip and also walked with us back to the road so we could get our taxi home.”

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8.Mangrove Kayaking Purple Island Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 58 reviews · from $55

Paddle through Purple Island’s narrow mangrove channels near Ras Matbakh with provided kayaks, paddles, and life jackets. Guides such as Peter and Joseph offer safety help and local nature information. The four-hour outing may include birds, crabs, fish, and sunset views, while pickup costs an extra $30 per person.

“Peter was knowledgeable and taught us about the types of mangroves and some of the wildlife in the area. Going at sunset was pretty, but visibility was very limited in the second part of the excursion. Make sure you go with someone you work well with as you are in a double kayak. It was nice to have changing areas. We really enjoyed our experience overall.”

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9.Hatta Sightseeing Tour with kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 53 reviews · 9 hours · from $61

Travel from Dubai to Hatta for a guided day of kayaking, mountain scenery, heritage sites, local lunch, and short walks. You will paddle Hatta Dam for about 45 to 60 minutes, visit Hatta Heritage Village and Hill Park, then walk to Al Khattem Dam for views of the Hatta sign. Guides such as Wael, Saleem, and Khalid have received especially warm praise.

“An absolutely must-do experience in the UAE! Kayaking in Hatta is truly something special — stunning scenery, peaceful waters, and such a unique way to experience the mountains and nature. Our guide, Saleem Raja, was incredible. Friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience fun, safe, and unforgettable. He really went above and beyond to make sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying every moment. From start to finish, it was perfectly organised and such a relaxing, memorable experience. Whether you’re visiting the UAE or live here, this is one experience you genuinely shouldn’t miss. Highly recommended — we’ll definitely be back!”

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10.1-hour Kayaking or Stand Up Paddle at Dukes The Palm

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 47 reviews · 1 hour · from $35

Spend one hour on Dubai’s waterways from Dukes The Palm with a single kayak, double kayak, or stand-up paddle option. An English-speaking host helps you get started, then you paddle at your own pace toward harbor views and beachside picnic areas. This is independent water time, not a guided lesson or sightseeing tour.

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11.Night Kayaking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 46 reviews · 1 hour

You’ll paddle a one or two-seat illuminated kayak from Jumeirah Fishing Harbor with an English-speaking instructor. Expect a safety briefing, bright city views, and time for photos of the Burj Khalifa and Jumeirah Bay. Guides such as Faruq, Jamer, and Paru are noted for friendly, hands-on help.

“Super atrakcja! Duża swoboda i przemiły instruktor – bardzo pomocny, życzliwy i naprawdę zaangażowany, żeby można było w pełni swobodnie spędzić czas i odpocząć. Szeroki teren do pływania kajakiem, piękne widoki – idealny sposób na spędzenie wieczoru. Polecam z całego serca!”

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12.Hatta Heritage Village Tour from Dubai With Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 41 reviews · from $78

Trade Dubai’s towers for the Hajar Mountains on a six-hour small-group outing. You’ll visit Hatta Heritage Village, Hatta Hill Park, Hatta Dam, and Hatta Wadi Lake Park, with hotel pickup and one hour of kayaking included. The group is capped at 14, though the heritage village may be closed for renovation.

“Great trip for those looking to enjoy some natural scenery and gorgeous mountains. Kayaking was definitely the highlight of the trip, the parks were lovely and peaceful, but sadly the village itself was closed for renovation. Our only problem was Read more”

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13.Clear Kayaking Adventures!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews

Meet at Fishing Harbor 1 near Jumeirah Public Beach for a one-hour clear-kayak rental. Guides provide life jackets, paddle lessons, safety help, photos, and waterproof speakers. No kayaking experience is needed, and instructors such as Pradeep, Chamidu, and Faurok help you get comfortable on the water.

“Had a blast doing this activity! The guide Faurok was so sweet and was by our side every step of the way in the water. Would definitely recommend this activity to any and everyone!”

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