Pros: The kayak tour was fun and my family really enjoyed ourselves. The tour guide was so sweet and kind. Next time we will probably just rent kayaks to do our own navigating but the tour was good for beginners and groups with smaller children. Cons: I had difficulty initially making reservations via their website and calling (a month ahead). I ended up emailing the info address and received a confirmation "reservation" email. However, after arriving at 3 locations, we still never figured out where our reservation was made for. We also had issues with using Groupon. I spent about an hour trying to resolve the hiccup and thankfully the front office staff was able to find the Groupons while we were on the tour. It all worked out in the end but the headaches from reservation to departing was aggravating. read more

This was a very disappointing experience. I signed my 10-year old up for a surf class as the website says they are able to do child lessons. She is an excellent swimmer (on swim team) and likes to waterski and sail--she was excited for surfing. When we arrived, the two instructors were extremely disaffected. They barely introduced themselves, didn't ask the names of the participants or any other info. There were 8 people ranging from 9-young adult. There were two instructors. After about a 5 min on-land lesson, they went out. The boards for the little kids were the same size as the adults. No one helped my daughter or the other two younger kids get out. Once out, my daughter was able to catch a wave or two for a second and I think she really liked it, but sadly battling back out past the breaking waves she took a surfboard to the face and got knocked down pretty hard. She got back up, but neither instructor noticed any of it. The other kids also struggled; by one hour in of the 90 minute lesson all three of your kids under 12 had quit. They brought their boards in. The instructor's either didn't notice or didn't care. I think for $90 per person, the lesson should have been a way to share the fundamentals and get kids excited about surfing. My child instead said she felt scared by it, didn't know how to get out from under the board at one point, and that the instructors were mean. So, that was kind of the opposite of what I'd hoped. If you say you can teach kids, please hire people who like children. Staff it so that young children get enough attention that they don't have a negative experience. Maybe greet paying customers either a smile or a hello or a greeting. Altogether this was a really bad experience. I also wrote to the email listed on the website and heard no response. read more

We were stuck in traffic I had no idea would be that bad. Called and asked if we should reschedule and was told no they were happy to help when we arrived. But the guy helping us with Jet skis was upset that we were late we had a large group and he was nasty telling us multiple time to get it together yall are already late LETS GO! He made us feel unwelcome! read more

We booked the alligator river kayak tour and got the guide tre. He was an amazing guide and the tour was excellent. Scenery was amazing. Tre was a blast and his love for the outdoors combined with expertise made the trip very enjoyable! read more

Kitty Hawk Kayak & Surf School - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

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Had a good time on one of the kayak tours - the tour guide was cool - very friendly and personable. they provided everything, there's a bunch of different options to choose from - some thing for everyone. read more

My son really enjoyed his surf lesson. His instructor, Keagan had a wonderful teaching style. The lesson was informative and fun!

Jalen was a terrific kayaking tour guide. A 2 hour journey through a forested canal packed with snakes, turtles, egrets and hawks all superbly narrated by our solicitous guide. I highly recommend this guided kayaking tour and will return on my next trip to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. read more

We had a kayak tour; our tour guide was Emma. She was EXCELLENT. We saw a cute turtle sun bathing on a log and the tour was great for beginners or any level. My family and I can't wait to come back when the weather is warmer. read more

Kitty Hawk Kayak & Surf School - What an AMAZING Kayak tour!! Emma was an EXCELLENT tour guide! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

The stoke dispensary slings stoke in a wide variety of strokes!! different strokes for different folks, or the same folks different strokes!! This review is for a kayak tour we enjoyed, AND Jr lifeguard camp!! We participated as a group of multiple ages in the kitty hawk kayak tour, and between being immersed in a beautiful and normally unseen part of the natural landscape here, the safe equipment and thorough instructions, and our knowledgable guide, the owner Herman, it was easy breezy for all of us, adults and kids, to have an enjoyable and meaningful experience! the second part of this review pays homage to the AMAZING Jr lifeguard camp that the Stoke Dispensary offers. Our camper is 11 years old this summer and has participated in 5 camps between this summer and last, that is how much she enjoyed it!! And she was as excited her last day of camp as the first!! The camp fosters friendships, healthy habits, safe practices, and local knowledge that sets the youth here up for a successful stint as a lifeguard or simply a leading member of our community!! The skills that they learn and the understanding of the ocean and safe practices is priceless. Tylor goes above and beyond for this camp to not only make it the best week for the campers, but to have that ripple out and affect our community in the most positive way!! Thanks to the whole team at the Stoke Dispensary and the lifeguards for the incredible opportunity to become involved in some of the behind the scenes activities and training that are part of Ocean Rescue. read more

Great experience. The brother team that instructed the group were extremely knowledgeable and fun! Got up on the board and had a blast in the waves! Highly recommend. read more

Took the kayak tour in a guide in Alligator Alley wild life preserve. If you like nature and or kayaking from beginner to experienced levels. Family of 5 had a great time Olivia was our tour guide and she was awesome greatly recommend her. read more

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Super friendly staff and ideally located on the canal. Equipment is great. The greeter had an excellent spirit and answered all questions. The digital waiver process is the simplest experienced so far on our trip. The launch dock and crew were helpful and upbeat. The path to take lead us under a really cool looking covered bridge and another concrete bridge. Lots of turtles and plenty of shade. We went an hour out and then one back to the dock. There was no current and the kayaking was superb - very quiet, Carolina blue sky and plenty of laughs to motivate your strokes. Their is a water hose to rinse off the canal water before you get back in the car which we all took advantage of ( one in our party tipped over ). You pay after the trip is over and for us (five boats and six people - we paid $220. Remember to tip the teenagers read more

We found a great Groupon deal for a 2hr Kayak Rental. We wanted to do something new while on vacation and thought kayaking would be fun. Having three kids with us 12-16yrs of age and all being their first time, the staff was very friendly, reassuring and gave us a quick demonstration on how to use the paddles. We had a fun time riding down the reserve. We saw turtles, toads and a few fish jump out of the water in front of our kayaks! Our family of five had a great time and we will definitely return! Maybe even during this vacation! read more

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I called ahead on a Sat abt a 3 day rental. They told me If I picked it up from the store they could pick it up from our rental house on Tuesday. I borrowed a local family member's truck to pick up two paddle boards. $220 worth of rentals. When I got there a diff person told me she remembered my call, it was incorrect info, & they didn't do pickups for 3 day rentals. I told her, based on the info she knew I had been given, I borrowed a truck & drove it in from 45 minutes away. All she said was sorry, they didn't do pickups for 3 day rentals. Wouldn't make a concession for me. I even asked if there was a fee I could pay. Trying to figure out how to get the board back doesn't work for me / our schedule so I walked out, no boards this week. read more

Best experience for a weekly rental of tandem kayaks and SUP! Easy to navigate website , great pricing , and exceptional delivery service ! Customer service was very pleasant as well. Definitely a satisfied customer! Second year of renting with them will be back again! read more

Spent two days of surf lessons, and a kayak tour. Had an amazing time with great guides. Would absolutely choose again.

Our family of four did a kayak tour with Scotty and had a great time. Scotty knew the area very well and gave us a lot of interesting information. Our two kids, 12 and 13, were able to get their own kayaks, and it was a perfect paddle for their experience level. Well done, Scotty! Highly recommended. read more

We parked our car and rented a kayak for a 3-4 hour trip along the Jean Guite Creek, which is adjacent to this location. Check in and boat launch were fast, easy and straightforward, and the Covid protections were excellent. The creek was beautiful, tranquil and solitary. We saw kingfishers, herons, a cormorant, turtles and a water snake. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Best price in the area, and great service to boot! Rented two surfboards for a week for my son and myself, and it couldn't have been better. We shopped around a bit, and Stoke Dispensary's price was less than half of one of their competitors. The boards were better, too! read more

Good experiences with kayaking, paddle boarding and surf lessons. Adequate instructions and guidance. All three events took less time than advertised. Staff in office was friendly and helpful. Office location was not the most convenient. Booked through Viator and their site didn't provide the correct location of the surfing. The School told us fortunately. read more

Unfortunate waste of time and money. A supposed 2 hour kayak "wildlife tour" turned out to be grossly overbooked (17 kayakers) that spent 80 minutes playing bumper boats than actually stopping, going into coves or inlets and seeing any wildlife. The guide (Ryan) did his best to make lemonade out of lemons and was personally great. But the owner/host Host (Herman) who was nowhere to be seen, left Ryan spending 20 minutes trying to figure out why the tour was overbooked and getting everybody to sign releases and into kayaks. I contacted Herman to report on what occurred and a full day later after second message, got a response that they are understaffed, can't "control" wildlife, and that a group size of 16 is consistent with their practice. Airbnb listed 10 as maximum group size. We had 17. Clearly a money grabbing Host that figures he'll never see/serve us again. Which is true. read more

Tour lasted about 2 hours, was able to see some of the sunset and just a few of the wildlife the area has to offer. Scottie the instructor is very welcoming and as a first time kayaker made it very easy! Would definitely recommend this for a nice date night or family night! read more

Kitty Hawk Kayak & Surf School - One of the views - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

Save your money. These people are crooks. They provided the wrong address for where to meet the instructor for the lesson. I communicated with the school when I was en route heading 20 minutes in the wrong direction. Upon finally receiving information about the correct meeting place, I subsequently missed the lesson. I requested my money back since it was completely the fault of the company that they did not provide me with accurate information. When I spoke with the instructor on the way (Clark), he was extremely rude. Upon receiving no services from the company, I had to submit a formal complaint to the management. The manager agreed to refund only half of my money. This was absolutely not acceptable, which I let them know. I assured them that unless I received a full refund, I would be writing a bad review. I wish I could give them less than a "terrible" rating. Obviously, they kept my money. read more

Great time learning to do stand up paddleboard with Victoria. This made for a fun and relaxing afternoon on our vacation. I highly recommend this experience and am looking forward to going again the next time I'm in the OBX. read more

I booked a Kitty Hawk Woods Maritime Forest Kayak Tour for a Sunday at 10 AM through Kitty Hawk Kites. I arrived a little early to find out that my party was the only one scheduled to go out on that particular tour! Sweet - a private tour! Our tour guide, Collin, was super knowledgeable and extremely friendly. He fittest us into our life jackets and put all of our bags and keys safely away in a back room. We got into our kayaks and started down the river. To be fair, we didn't need much instruction on rowing, but he did go through the basics and made sure we didn't have any questions first. The entire tour lasted about 2 hours and we were able to see snakes, turtles, and birds local to the area. Our guide answered all of our questions about different plant and animal species and made some great recommendations for activities to do during our stay in the outer banks. I will definitely be back the next time I am down there! I really want to go on a tour of Alligator river! read more

First time stand up paddleboarding lesson with Scotty. Really great - would definately recommend!

Had a great time touring the marshes in OBX by kayaks. Our guide Scott was very knowledgable and made us feel relaxed. It was nice to go into the marshes and see birds and learn about the different plant life. Also a chance to get away from all the busy crowds at the beach. Highly recommended this to groups and couples! read more

Kitty Hawk Kayak & Surf School - Kayak adventure - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

Tried the private surf lessons today at Nags Head beach with the fam. Instructor was disinterested in doing his job. Told me he "was going to be in the water all day." He was curt and made it difficult to enjoy. There was no energy or interest. At one point my 10yr old told me the Instructor pushed his board into a wave and let go and dumped him. Not sure how we got stuck with him. I felt bad for the guy because the sea lice were biting us up. I knew he was going to be stung the rest of the day. I still tipped him, but won't reccomend or do the surfing with this outfit again. read more

This tour was exactly what we needed to start our vacation off right. We took two tandem kayaks for our family of four on the maritime tour. Liam was an informative guide with a real interest for all things nature. We got to see blue heron, a falcon and lots of turtles. What a workout we got, in a peaceful setting! We were never rushed and the tour ended up being almost two hours. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone! read more

We came in to rent surfboards and were given a board with a fin falling off. We hadn't noticed until we had already used them, but they charged us the security deposit for the fin, which was already in that condition. On top of this, the service was extremely slow despite being the only ones in the shop. Their rates online are also not what they are in the store. They listed one day surfing rentals as $19 on their website, yet when we arrived they explained that their website was wrong and it is really $30 a day. I will absolutely never rent from this place again and would recommend people find other surf shops to rent from. There are plenty of fine surf rental shops in OBX to choose from that I've been to, just not this one. read more

Hugest scam i've ever seen. Called them and they told us to paddle board it was $29 per person per hour. Paddle boarded for 30 mins because it was in a dirty creek. Looked at our bank account later and they charged us 96$. We called back and they told us they only charge for 4 HOURS. Don't go to this place....you can find something more legit for the same cost or cheaper read more

The price and timing of our tour was why we chose KHKSS, but we were disappointed by the tour guide and plan. We arrived at our location and it was us and another tour company. We immediately noticed we should have chosen the competitor, which we have used before and loved. Our kayaks were old and not in great shape. The tandems were huge and very hard to navigate in. Scotty, our tour guide was our main issue. It was very windy so we didn't go out on the open waters, which was fine with us and we liked the "back" area. However, Scotty didn't help everyone into their kayaks, especially the women in the tandems. Then he spent the whole tour chatting with people but not actually being a guide and looking for wildlife or talking about the area to the group. Then we moved into a large more calm open area and we just got out to the middle of the area and sat there. We thought we were going somewhere, but alas when we got out to the middle, Scotty kicked back with his feet up on his kayak and chatted for about 15+ mins. Nothing guide like from him at all. Then we went back the way we came and were left to help each other out of the kayaks again. We will never use this tour company again and we come yearly. read more

Good place for beginning Paddle Boarders. The Kitty Hawk location had mellow waters even though wind was high on the island this day. Our instructor Jake was patient and showed a passion for the trade. Only downside is I felt it was priced a little high for a 1 hr and 15 minute lesson but overall a great time. read more

Tried to use their online rental through Stoke Dispensary and was horribly disappointed. Reserved two "sit-in" kayaks for a three day rental to include free delivery. Contacted the office and they advised me that someone should be present to receive the kayaks and they would be delivered by 9:00am the next day. I stayed at the B&B while my family went to the beach and at 11:00am I called the office and was told they would be there around noon. Called again at 2:00pm and was told they had till 3:00pm to get them to us but they should be there by 5:00pm. No kayaks. The next morning we found two "ride-on-tops" in the neighbors yard. Contacted the office numerous times concerning this matter and received hollow apologies and no billing corrections. Given another number to contact and only got an answering machine with no return calls. Charged me for a service they didn't provide. Charged me for kayaks they didn't provide and refused to talk to me about it! Use their services at your own risk! read more

Great SUP afternoon. Our group of 8 newbies went for standup paddle board lessons. The guide, Andrew, was great. The equipment was in good shape. The company was professional. Overall a fun time. We will do a tour with them when we return to the Outer Banks. read more

Not Exceptional. We took the Alligator River Kayak Tour on 6/20/2016. It was enjoyable, but not exceptional. We didn't see any alligators or bears. Just a few turtles. We did really like our guide. I just don't think it was worth $55/person. In my opinion, this tour is more for people from cities who aren't used to being out in nature much. If you do much canoeing/kayaking, you probably won't be impressed. read more

Made two reservations for surf lessons; one private today and a group tomorrow. Staff was great to work with and Keagan was a wonderful instructor! Looking forward to tomorrow! read more

I still remember my SUP session w Bobbie 2 years ago. He scared off a snapping turtle for me and tried to teach me some tricks (I fell in). He was very friendly and suggested other places to have fun. Can't wait to come back read more

My son goes to the summer camp each year for 4 years and loved it every year. He learned to kayak, SUP, surf... gone on field trips and always end the week with a friendly surf competition. The leaders are awesome - really experienced and well trained - and the kids love them. I highly highly recommend the summer camps. We've also done the Alligator River kayak trip which was spectacular for grandma and grandpa all the way down to the kids. 5 stars great group. read more

I cannot express how much we LOVE the Kitty Hawk Kayak and Surf School's surf camp for kids. My son feared the ocean for most of his youth, and the camp has changed that 100%! He can now surf, SUP, and kayak! The camp leaders make it fun and exciting, while keeping a close eye on everyone for safety. It's five days of shred-tacular fun! If there's waves, they surf - if not, they kayak or SUP, if it's raining, they go to the aquarium or another location to continue their learning until the sun comes back out. And they come home TIRED at the end of every day! These days its hard to get tweens to even go outside, much less get sun-kissed and fit from 5 days of non-stop action. LOVE LOVE LOVE it, we will send both our kids here until they are too old. read more