About Coastal Kayaking Tours
Coastal Kayaking Tours is Bar Harbor's original sea kayaking outfitter, leading guided paddle trips along the rugged coastline of Mount Desert Island since 1993. Their base on Cottage Street puts them within easy reach of multiple launch sites around Frenchman Bay and the quieter western side of the island. With over three decades of experience navigating these waters, their guides are certified Maine Sea Kayak Guides who know every cove, ledge, and tidal pattern along the Acadia shoreline.
They offer a variety of half-day and full-day tours designed for different experience levels. The Frenchman Bay tour is their most popular, paddling past the Porcupine Islands with views of Cadillac Mountain rising above the harbor. For more adventurous paddlers, the Western Bay tour explores sea caves and rocky headlands on the quieter side of the island. Sunset paddles offer a more relaxed pace with stunning views as the sun drops behind the Camden Hills across Penobscot Bay. All tours include tandem kayaks, paddles, PFDs, and dry bags, with no prior experience required.
What makes Coastal Kayaking Tours stand out is their intimate group sizes — typically capped at 10-12 paddlers — which allows guides to provide personalized attention and adjust routes based on conditions and group ability. Their naturalist guides point out harbor seals, bald eagles, osprey, and porpoises that frequent these waters, turning each paddle into a wildlife experience as much as an athletic one. They've earned a stellar reputation on review platforms and remain one of the most-booked activities in Bar Harbor every summer.
