A Poros kayak tour takes you along the narrow channel between Poros and Galatas and into the quiet bays of the Saronic Gulf. Find more sea and land trips on Greece Tours.
Next come the trips you can book, the canal route, the guides, sea conditions, beginner advice, rentals, other activities and common questions.
What is a Poros kayak tour?
A Poros kayak tour is a guided sea kayak trip around Poros, a small island in the Saronic Gulf that sits just 200 metres off the Peloponnese. Routes follow the narrow channel to Galatas, the islets at the harbour mouth and the coves of the island’s coast.
Poros lies about 58 km south of the port of Piraeus. A sea channel only 200 metres wide separates it from the mainland, with the town of Galatas on the far side. The island is really a pair: Sphaeria, the volcanic southern part where the town stands, and Kalaureia, the larger northern part.
That shape makes the island a natural place for a Poros kayak tour. The channel, the bays and the small islets sit close together, so one outing can link the islets, the bays and the town. A Poros kayak tour moves quietly along the shore and can land in quiet coves along the way.
Three local firms run the trips. Saronic Outdoor Activities, founded by two locals, teaches kayaking and SUP. Odyssey Activities runs kayak weeks in the waters around Askeli beach. Xtreme Greece leads a canal route from Galatas. Our Poros page covers the island’s town, beaches and ferries.
Which Poros kayak tour can you book?
Viator lists “Sea Kayak Adventure in Poros”. Xtreme Greece runs a canal tour from Galatas between April and November, Saronic Outdoor Activities offers kayak lessons and sea rides, and Odyssey Activities runs guided kayak weeks.
The Viator Poros kayak tour is listed as “Sea Kayak Adventure in Poros”. Check the start time, length and meeting point on the Viator page before you book.
Xtreme Greece sells “Sea Kayak at Poros Canal”. It runs from April to November, with guiding in Greek and English. It also sells a two-day sea kayak and camping trip in Poros.
Saronic Outdoor Activities offers kayak lessons with certified experts, sea rides and snorkelling. Its other sports include SUP, full moon SUP tours, SUP pilates, swimming, hiking, mountain biking and trail running. It also builds 4-day and 7-day packages that mix these activities.
Odyssey Activities works on a longer scale. It runs guided sea kayak adventure weeks and courses towards British Canoe Union star awards, based at the Odyssey Centre, 50 metres from the beach. A Poros kayak tour with Odyssey suits guests who stay on the island for a week.
What does the Poros canal kayak route show?
The canal route starts at Galatas and heads east, reaching four small islets after about ten minutes, among them the Bourtzi with its fort. It then passes the houses of Poros town and the volcanic rocks of Galatas, and ends at a secluded beach with a local meal.
Xtreme Greece starts its Poros kayak tour in Galatas, the mainland town facing the island. The group sets an eastward course across the calm channel. After about ten minutes of paddling, the kayaks reach four small islets near the entrance to the port of Poros.
One of the islets on this Poros kayak tour is the Bourtzi, an island of about 30,000 square metres. A castle has stood there since the Byzantine period, when it served as a base against Saracen pirates. The ruins seen today belong to a fort built in the 19th century by a Bavarian philhellene.
The Poros kayak tour then crosses to the island itself. Small boats ferry visitors back and forth across the channel. On landing, guests find tavernas, yacht marinas, neoclassical buildings, a clock tower and pine forests that reach down to the sea.
From the water, the houses of Poros town and the volcanic rocks of Galatas face each other. The Methana volcano last erupted in 273 BC and changed the shape of Poros and the land around it. The tour ends at a secluded beach with clear water, where guests eat a meal of local, organic, home-made products, swim and rest before paddling back.
Who leads a Poros kayak tour?
Certified local instructors lead the trips. The founders of Saronic Outdoor Activities hold sea kayak and lifeguard diplomas, and Odyssey’s kayak programme runs under a British Canoe Union Level 3 Sea Coach.
Saronic Outdoor Activities was founded by Spyros and Katerina, who both come from Poros and guide Poros kayak tour groups. Spyros is a physical education coach who specialises in swimming. He holds diplomas in sea kayaking and lifeguarding and has taken part in international sport and adventure events.
Katerina studied business administration. She also holds sea kayak and lifeguard diplomas, and she has raced in marathons and swimming events. The couple share their love of adventure with visitors to the island through their company.
Odyssey Activities puts safety first. All of its sea kayak trips run under the supervision of a British Canoe Union Level 3 Sea Coach. Odyssey has run sea kayaking since 2006, and its blog counts around 400 participants from around the world in its first 8 years.
The guides know the water well. A Scottish BCU 3-star kayak guide, Brian, leads groups at Odyssey with local guides Spyros and Katerina, according to a US kayak club that runs retreat weeks on Poros. The club notes that its kayak outings depend on the weather, so routes change with the conditions.
What is the sea like on a Poros kayak tour?
The sea around Poros has no tides, small waves that stay mostly under a foot and warm water. The waters near Askeli beach are calm enough to learn in, and the canal route runs through the narrow channel.
A US kayak club that runs retreat weeks on Poros describes the conditions in plain terms. The group paddles in salty water with no tides. Small waves appear, but they mostly stay under a foot high. In September, when the club visits, the water stays around the low 80s °F, about 27 to 28 °C.
Odyssey Activities picks Askeli as its teaching ground for a first Poros kayak tour. It calls the waters around Askeli beach and the Saronic Gulf off Poros an ideal place to learn sea kayaking. The same coast also suits experienced paddlers, who set off on longer trips along the island’s beaches and turquoise water.
The boats are built for this sea. The club’s kayaks are 14-foot sea kayaks about 24.5 inches wide, made in Italy, and the club calls them nimble, comfortable and stable. Paddles and life jackets come with each outing on a Poros kayak tour of this kind.
Odyssey also runs special outings at the edges of the day. Sunrise and sunset paddles are part of its programme. They suit guests who want calm light on the water as well as exercise.
Can beginners join a Poros kayak tour?
Yes. The local firms take every level, from first-timers to experienced paddlers. Rentals need only good health and good swimming, and Odyssey limits each guided group to 6 people for safety.
Odyssey’s kayak programme is open to all levels. Its instructor writes that the focus is on fun, adventure and time outdoors. Guests who want to build skills can add training and certified courses to the days, up to British Canoe Union 2-star and 3-star awards.
Group size stays small. For safety, Odyssey’s instructor takes only 6 people out at a time. That keeps each paddler close to the guide on a Poros kayak tour.
Saronic Outdoor Activities teaches from scratch. Its certified experts train guests to paddle properly before the sea rides, and they add snorkelling to the sea rides. The company also gives swimming lessons in the sea.
Xtreme Greece sets a simple rule for its canal route: travellers can take part, as long as they have no serious medical conditions. Children and older guests can ask the operator about fitness before they book.
Can you rent a kayak on Poros?
Yes. Rent a Boat Poros rents kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to explore the Neorio coastline at your own pace. No experience is needed, but renters must be in good health and swim well.
The rental is the self-guided option. Rent a Boat Poros offers kayaks for exploring the coast near Neorio and its clear water, at your own pace. The price includes a paddle, a leash, a life jacket and a dry bag.
The same firm rents stand-up paddleboards for part of a day or a whole day. The board package includes the same safety kit. Renters need no prior experience, only good health and a good knowledge of swimming.
A rental suits confident swimmers who want a short paddle near the beach. A guided Poros kayak tour suits guests who want a route, local stories and a guide who reads the sea.
What else can you do on Poros after a kayak tour?
Hike to the Three Peaks above the town, try stand-up paddleboarding under a full moon, visit the ruins of the Sanctuary of Poseidon or cross to Methana for a volcano trail.
The hills give the island’s best views. GetYourGuide sells a guided walk of 2.5 hours up to the Three Peaks, which look down on the canal and the Saronic Gulf, and it ends with a glass of fresh lemonade. Our Poros hiking tour page covers the island’s walking routes.
The sea offers more after a Poros kayak tour. Saronic Outdoor Activities runs SUP tours and full moon SUP tours near the island, plus SUP pilates and yoga. Its team also leads snorkelling trips and swimming sessions in the open sea.
History waits on the hill above the route of a Poros kayak tour. The ancient city of Kalaureia, the northern part of Poros, held a sanctuary of Poseidon, and its ruins still stand on a hilltop near the town. Swedish archaeologists have excavated the site. The Athenian orator Demosthenes came to the island in the years after the death of Alexander the Great.
The mainland is a short crossing away from the start of a Poros kayak tour in Galatas. Saronic Outdoor Activities leads hikes on the trails of Methana that climb to a volcano crater, and bike rides through Methana and Argolida. Our Poros day trip from Athens page covers the fast ferries from Piraeus.
What do travellers ask about a Poros kayak tour?
Do you need experience for a Poros kayak tour?
No. The local firms take beginners, and Odyssey’s programme is open to all levels. Renters need good health and good swimming skills.
When does the Poros canal kayak tour run?
Xtreme Greece runs its canal route from April to November, with guiding in Greek and English.
What is the group size on a Poros kayak tour?
Odyssey’s instructor takes up to 6 people at a time for safety. Saronic Outdoor Activities also offers lessons and sea rides.
What do you bring on a Poros kayak tour?
Bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection and drinking water. Paddles and life jackets come with the kayak, and Rent a Boat Poros adds a dry bag for phones and keys.
How do you reach Poros for a kayak tour?
Poros lies about 58 km south of Piraeus, and high-speed ferries link the two. The canal route of the Poros kayak tour starts across the channel in Galatas, on the Peloponnese side.
Can you snorkel on a Poros kayak tour?
Yes. Saronic Outdoor Activities combines its sea rides with snorkelling, and Odyssey’s kayak outings stop for swims in quiet bays.