Kayak Adventures with Coastal Kayak Touring in Nags Head

Along the windswept barrier islands of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, the Coastal Kayak Touring Company offers paddle tours that bring you face-to-face with the sound’s serene waters, salt marshes, and rich wildlife corridors. Based in Nags Head, this local outfit specializes in kayak trips across some of the region’s most distinctive waterways — from the labyrinthine marshes around Kitty Hawk to the striking waters near Bodie Island Lighthouse.

Each tour reveals a different side of the Outer Banks’ ecosystem. The Kitty Hawk Maritime Forest & Marsh Kayak Tour, for instance, threads through silty creeks where oyster beds peek from the water’s surface and elusive birds pick along marsh grasses. Along the way, guides provide insights into this dynamic coastal environment and its seasonal inhabitants, making it equally accessible for first-timers and seasoned paddlers. The shorter version of this tour condenses the experience without losing the highlights, perfect for visitors tight on time.

Another standout is the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Kayak Tour, where calm waterways are home to impressive alligators, turtles, and sleeping bald eagles overhead. The refuge’s mix of freshwater and salt marsh habitat offers a quiet contrast to the beaches, rewarding paddlers with vibrant wildlife sightings and a deeply peaceful atmosphere.

The Bodie Island Lighthouse Tour adds history to the paddle, letting kayakers circle the rugged coastline near this iconic landmark. Beyond its coastal beauty, Nags Head’s kayak offerings serve as a gateway to Currituck Sound’s more remote pockets that many visitors miss. Guided by enthusiastic locals, Coastal Kayak Touring Company blends education and adventure on every trip, ensuring guests leave with more than just photographs, but a genuine sense of place within this unique part of North Carolina’s coast.