There is something special about kayaking holidays that makes them very different from a traditional break. Instead of spending your days beside a pool or moving between tourist attractions, you can spend your time on the water, exploring new landscapes, developing your kayaking skills and sharing an adventure you’ll never forget with other paddlers. Whether you’re looking for your first taste of white water or are already an experienced kayaker looking for your next challenge, kayaking holidays can be an incredible way to see somewhere new.
At London Kayak School, kayaking does not stop at the River Thames. Our regular UK trips and overseas adventures give kayakers the opportunity to take the skills they develop in London and put them into practice in some of the most exciting kayaking destinations in the UK and Europe.
Where Should You Go?
One of the best things about kayaking holidays is the variety of places you can explore from the seat of a kayak. Different destinations offer completely different experiences, from technical white water and freestyle sessions to spectacular alpine scenery and fast flowing rivers.
For London Kayak School paddlers, that can mean heading away for an adult white water weekend in North Wales, travelling further north to Scotland or heading south to Dartmoor. Our adult white water progression weekends regularly take paddlers to different locations around the UK, giving them the opportunity to experience new rivers while continuing to develop their skills with experienced coaches.
For those looking to travel further, LKS also runs overseas kayaking trips, including freestyle and river running adventures in Europe. These have included destinations such as the white water course at Saint Pierre de Bœuf in France, the Alps and the Soca Valley in Slovenia, giving paddlers the chance to combine kayaking with the experience of travelling somewhere completely new.
Kayaking Holidays in the UK
You don’t need to leave the UK to have a memorable kayaking adventure. North Wales is one of the key destinations for LKS trips, with its combination of accessible white water and challenging rivers making it an excellent place for developing paddlers to build confidence and experience.
Dartmoor provides another very different environment, with its rivers offering a range of challenges depending on conditions and experience. Further north, Scotland opens up an even bigger playground, with classic rivers surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK.
The LKS adult white water weekends are designed around progression, so the aim is not simply to travel somewhere, paddle for a couple of days and go home. The trips give paddlers the opportunity to work on specific skills, build confidence and learn how to handle different types of white water. The programme caters for paddlers from those new to white water through to those already comfortable on Grade 2 and Grade 3 water.
That makes a weekend away a useful stepping stone towards longer and more adventurous kayaking holidays, while also being a great way to meet other people who share the same enthusiasm for getting out on the water.
Taking Kayaking Holidays Overseas
For many paddlers, travelling overseas is where kayaking really starts to feel like an adventure. There is something very different about loading your boat, heading to the airport or driving across Europe and arriving somewhere with completely new rivers, scenery and paddling opportunities.
Our overseas kayaking trips are aimed at paddlers who want to combine kayaking with the experience of exploring some of Europe’s best destinations. Freestyle trips to Saint Pierre de Bœuf, for example, provide the opportunity to spend time on a white water course specifically designed for paddlesports, while trips to the Alps bring spectacular mountain scenery into the experience.
The Soca Valley offers another unforgettable setting, with its famous turquoise water and dramatic Slovenian landscape providing a spectacular backdrop for kayaking. These trips are about more than simply ticking off a destination. They are an opportunity to paddle somewhere new, spend time with a group of like minded kayakers and continue developing your skills away from the familiar waters around London.
Do You Need Much Experience for Kayaking Holidays?
You don’t necessarily need to be an expert kayaker before you can start thinking about kayaking holidays, although the right destination and trip need to match your experience. If you’re completely new to kayaking, building a solid foundation through regular sessions is the best place to start.
London Kayak School’s adult canoe club welcomes beginners as well as more experienced paddlers, with sessions designed to help people develop their skills at a pace that suits them.
As your confidence grows, you can start looking towards white water. LKS’s adult white water progression weekends are designed for paddlers at different stages, with coaching tailored to individual needs and the opportunity to progress from beginner white water towards more advanced paddling.
This creates a natural progression from learning to kayak in London, to taking weekend trips around the UK and eventually joining us on our overseas kayaking holidays.
Why Choose Kayaking Holidays with LKS?
Good kayaking holidays should be about more than simply finding somewhere to paddle. Having experienced coaches and a supportive group around you can make a huge difference, particularly when you’re tackling unfamiliar rivers or trying to develop new skills.
London Kayak School combines coaching with a strong paddling community, creating trips where people can improve while enjoying the experience of travelling and kayaking together. The variety of destinations also means there is always something different to work towards, whether that’s your first white water weekend in North Wales, a trip to Scotland, a freestyle adventure in France or an alpine kayaking trip in Europe.
For experienced paddlers, it can also be a great way to keep progressing rather than becoming comfortable paddling the same local stretches of water.
Start Planning Your Next Kayaking Adventure
Kayaking holidays don’t not have to start with booking a flight to Europe. It can begin with a Saturday afternoon on the Thames, learning the fundamentals and getting comfortable in a boat. From there, you can build your skills through regular coaching, join an adult white water weekend and gradually work towards more challenging rivers and overseas adventures.
With trips to North Wales, Dartmoor and Scotland, alongside overseas freestyle and river running adventures in destinations including Saint Pierre de Bœuf, the Alps and the Soca Valley, London Kayak School gives paddlers plenty of opportunities to take your kayaking further.
If you’ve been thinking about trying kayaking, joining a club or booking a coaching session could be the first step towards your next adventure. You might start on the Thames, but there is no telling where the river can eventually take you.
