Kauai Adventure: Kayak & Hike To Secret Falls With Expert Guide

We had such a wonderful time with Zach! He always made sure we understood how to handle the kayak and if we were doing ok. He is friendly, educated and fun!! He had an immense amount of knowledge of the area and the vegetation. We would highly recommend this Kayak adventure

Quite simple and relaxing, Zach was very informative and excellent in public relations, nothing much to see with out hiking to the falls

Absolutely beautiful. Zach was a wonderful guide! He made everyone comfortable and made for a phenomenal experience

Would do again ! We had a blast ! Our guide Zach was so friendly and knowledgeable about the landscape. We got a partial refund due to the fact that the hike portion was closed due to the recent storm nonetheless, we had an amazing time. Definitely check them out if you are in Kauai.

This was an epic adventure that we took. Our tour guide Zak was beyond amazing due to his knowledge of the history of the river and the island, but most especially his professional background dealing with kayaks. He gave us some pointers that will remain with me because he is a Kayak instructor and it was well worth the price that we paid.

Our trip with Zach was awesome! He does a great job explaining the day, laying out expectations for the exertion required (nothing terrible - you will need to paddle for a couple of hours in total and the hiking is quite easy as long as you watch your footing), and providing history and nature facts along the trail. We saw several other groups on the water and trails, but honestly none of them seemed to be having as good of a time as we were with Zach. The Falls are amazing to experience and wade into. And there's an added highlight / interactive nature moment along the trail that you'll only experience with Zach (though we won't spoil the surprise). Definitely book this tour while you are on Kauai, and definitely book with this company!

We met up and were given a short overview of what to expect and then we were off to our kayaks. Our guide was very knowledgeable, offering both factual and humorous insights during the first leg. We eventually beached our kayaks and began our hike. This was no hike for faint-hearted! It was at hilly with beautiful, dense vegetation; and sometimes we encountered mud into which we sunk into above our ankles! But when we reached the waterfall, every bit of grime was worth it. What a gorgeous spot to take in, rest, have a fortifying snack and take keepsake pics. Of course, after a reasonable amount of “free time,” we did have to turn around and go back the way we came. So we added a layer of mud socks, hiking back to our kayaks. While I could use words like serene and relaxing to describe the paddle in, I’d have to change those to inclement and challenging. A steady rain had begun and that, coupled with the wind and the current coming up the river from the sea made paddling back an intense workout. But we made it, safe and sound, just a little worn out and lot dirty! It was a highlight of our anniversary trip!

We had a great time on the kayak and waterfall hike, and our guide, Zach, was fantastic—happy, entertaining, knowledgeable, and clearly cared about the experience and safety of his guests. *****One thing that really stood out was that Zach provided walking sticks for everyone. We passed many other tour groups along the way, and he was the only guide who had cared to do this. The hike includes eight very slippery water crossings, and much of the rest of the trail is heavy mud. The walking sticks made a huge difference in stability and reducing the risk of a fall or injury. Slippery ya’ll and not one other company provided any safety measures for it. It’s such a simple thing to provide, but on this particular trail it feels necessary rather than optional. Seeing so many other groups navigating the same conditions without them made me nervous for them and appreciate the foresight and care Zach put into taking care of his guests. None of us were injured while other folks were falling and slipping and looked more anxious than joyful. The kayaking was fun, the hike was an adventure, and the waterfall was absolutely worth it. Great experience and an excellent guide!

If you visit Kauai, this is a must book experience for anyone that enjoys water activities, adventure, and beauty. Oh! ...and if you are lucky enough to get Zack as your guide, it might be the best thing you do in the Hawaiian islands.

We loved this tour and Mikayla was a terrific guide! After reading other reviews I was concerned about how slippery the hike would be, but I was totally fine. We are a 49 year old couple and there was another couple in our group in their 60’s, and we were all fine. It’s about 45min kayak, 45min hike, time at the waterfall and then you return. I would recommend you take a stick for the hike when they offer you one after you finish your kayak. I would also wear sneakers, or good water/hiking shoes as you do wade through water up to your thighs and some parts are muddy. This is one of the first tours of the day, so the waterfall isn’t as crowded as what it would be later in the day. This was our last tour after being on the cruise ship for a week and we loved it!

This tour was awesome and the perfect way to explore some parts of the island that are challenging to get to without a guide. Mikayla was our guide and she was a total rockstar. She balanced the group well letting those who were better at kayaking explore ahead without leaving those struggling behind. The waterfall was truly amazing and a highlight of our trip. The kayak trip back to end the excursion was peaceful and serene. Totally recommend this excursion!

Great time and Zach was very honest before we started what we were getting ourselves into so there were no surprises. Perhaps this should have been made plain before purchasing tickets.

Brian is a fun and knowledgeable guide! My 71 year old mom did this adventure as well as my husband and I who are not athletic by any means. Five stars for a fantastic day!!

Make sure all attendees know how to kayak before they go on this experience. It is a two mile kayak trip then a mile and a half hike to the Secret Falls. Then the return trip. It is worth every moment. Beautiful!!!

Mikayla was great! She made our tour so fun. She was patient, kind, and knowledgeable! We loved our experience.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing Adventure to Secret Falls! We had such a wonderful time on this excursion! Our guide, Mikyla, was absolutely amazing. She explained everything perfectly, taught us about the area culture and plant life, made us feel comfortable the entire time, and was so much fun to spend the day with. She really made the experience even better! The kayak paddle was beautiful and enjoyable, and the hike to Secret Falls was easy, scenic, and absolutely gorgeous. And once you reach the waterfall—so worth it! It was the perfect reward after the kayak and hike. You don’t need to be experienced in either but you must be able to hike over 2 miles and paddle 7 miles. Do not wear flip flops. Close-toed hiking sandals are the best! The whole adventure was well organized, beautiful, and such a fun way to experience Kauai. We would absolutely recommend this excursion to anyone visiting the island. And if you’re lucky enough to get Mikyla as your guide, you’re in for an extra special experience! Definitely one of the highlights of our Kauai trip! 🌺🌴💦

This experience was incredibly fun, the tour guide Mikaela was awesome, and the views were beautiful.

We had an amazing time! Our guide was fantastic. She was fun and shared great information about the island!! Thank you Annie!

BOOK THIS EXCURSION! Request Mikayla, if possible. We had so much fun! Mikayla was literally the best tour guide we’ve ever had. She was amazing at keeping a pace that suited our diverse group. She knew so many random facts. SHE IS FRIENDS WITH THE BIRDS! This bird literally hung out with her while we found worms for him. It was so much more than a paddle and a hike. We walked away with a true appreciation of the area and history. IMPORTANT NOTE: Don't try to go on your own without a guide. We could see how some of the crossings could get dicey if you're not with a professional. Things change quickly on Kauai, and flash flooding is real. In fact, when we came back, a company was looking for folks who had rented kayaks and hadn't returned them yet.

Great trip down the river and so fun with Makayla, as she is so funny and very helpful. I liked going on the 12:45 pm trip as it was nice with a small group. Super chill kayak and not hard at all!!!

We had an amazing experience kayaking and hiking to Secret Falls with our guide, Mikayla! From the very beginning, she made the experience stress-free. The night before, she texted us with clear information about where to meet, what to wear, and what to pack, which really helped ease any anxiety we had about the logistics. Mikayla was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the entire day feel relaxed and enjoyable. The kayak portion was beautiful, and the hike to the falls was relatively easy. We had plenty of opportunities to take breaks, and Mikayla used those moments to teach us interesting facts about the local plants and wildlife. I would definitely recommend taking a guided tour for this experience. Having someone who knows the area, understands the trail and river conditions, and can provide local knowledge really adds to both the safety and enjoyment of the adventure. And the waterfall itself? Absolutely worth the hike! Secret Falls was amazing to see, and it made for a memorable day. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide than Mikayla!

Mikayla was the best guide! She made it very fun. The river was higher than normal and she was very aware of our safety because of the downpour. Despite it being very rainy, we had a great time kayaking and hiking to the secret waterfall. We had an early trip so we were one of the first groups to get to the waterfall. She took a picture of me and my husband since it was our 40th anniversary. She gave us plenty of information as we kayaked and walked. We enjoyed both the kayaking and the hike that wasn’t too challenging. It was muddy, but that was because of the rain. Highly recommend going on this trip with Mikayla! You won’t be disappointed!

This is a great-value tour packed with a full afternoon of activities. The river we kayaked through is very scenic. You paddle back and forth (45min one-way) to the waterfall. It is an excellent workout and fun experience especially if you enjoy water activities. We went with a very nice and chill group and our tour guide controlled the activity timing very well. There is not much view on the hike but I loved the waterfall. We were one of the final groups at the waterfall so it is not crowded and everyone had plenty of room to enjoy themselves (if you can, book one of the afternoon groups of this tour). The waterproof backpack they distributed was very helpful. Meanwhile both the kayaking and the hike we did turned out to be fairly strenuous. There are three to four sections of the hike where you’ll need to wade through water. Most are slightly above ankle-deep, while the deepest may reach above your knees. As this isn’t clearly stated in the tour description, be sure to bring suitable footwear and quick-drying clothing.

Absolutely loved this tour, the weather was great, the kayaking was fun and not too difficult. There were some parts where we were slightly against the current but nothing too crazy. Our guide made sure to check on us multiple times and the stop at the waterfall was gorgeous. Our guide was super friendly and offered to take photos for us as well.

Beautiful views! Super fun experience. Wear good water shoes with traction for the hike and walk through the river. Annie was a wonderfully fun guide.

Very muddy. Wear good shoes that you don’t mind getting wet & dirty…or go barefoot during the muddy parts.

This was an amazing experience with our 10 & 12 yr old girls. Mikayla patiently and safely guided us to the waterfall. The water was rushing and the trek was very muddy, but we all loved this! A great adventure on Kauai!

Zachary Nall was an excellent guide and teacher. He demonstrated a great understanding of local nature and history, and promoted good environmental stewardship. He even called a bird over with his own whistle and hand fed it! Incredible. His continued development of dad jokes and boundless energy for the paddle was infectious. I highly recommend this tour. Of course the waterfall was beautiful and you are able to swim in the pool and go behind it. I’d recommend doing this tour in the morning as it gets crowded as the day goes on (we did the 7am).

This tour was so much fun! We started with kayaking through a peaceful river surrounded by beautiful nature and then we went on our hike that was fairly easy - a lot of the path was boardwalk with a couple of points where we walked through a bit of mud and some water (your shoes will absolutely get wet) The hike took us through an incredible jungle area where we saw huge trees growing out of cliffs at seemingly impossible angles. Then we swam at a waterfall and had so much fun, the water was so fresh and being underneath the waterfall was exhilarating and amazing for pictures! Our guide, Annie, was so fun and sweet and amazing with directions - we all had a great time on this tour and I’ll remember it warmly!

We really enjoyed our experience and the falls did not disappoint!! We personally found this to be a relaxing kayak and walk experience which made for a perfect day. We would recommend doing the 12:00 start option so you can paddle home when it’s dusk! Be prepared for mud- but your guide will help you through it all. Kayak Zac was the best

We had a great time kayaking and hiking to the secret falls. It was 2 miles of kayaking to the hiking trail and an easy 1.5 mile hike to the Secret Falls. We had plenty of time to swim, take photos and have lunch. A dry bag was provided to keep our phones, keys, wallet and towels safe and dry. The guide was easy going and informative about the wildlife and foliage around us. This was our 15 yr old son’s favorite adventure tour. We enjoyed the trip and would do it again!

It was a lot of fun. Hike and kayaking were relatively easy. The guide was cool and weather was perfect. I would recommend doing the first tour of the day.

The guided kayak/hike to secret falls was fabulous. Annie was a wonderful guide and I highly recommend asking for her. Their advice on it being a semi-strenuous hike was spot on! Some walkway but lots of rocks to traverse and water to ford. It was totally worth it!!

This is a great adventure kayak and hike through the jungle to the secret waterfall. You definitely need to be in somewhat good shape or have hiked and kayaked before. It was definitely worth it, we had a blast. Water shoes with tread or water proof shoes are a must. Zach was a great guide!

This was a fantastic adventure! I wish Zach would have taught me how to kayak twenty years ago! The hike to the waterfall was beautiful. I would highly recommend this trip to an adventurous family.

Our travel guide Mikayla was outstanding and very knowledgeable about the area. The kayaking was simple and beautiful. The hike was very unique as well and the waterfall was gorgeous. Definitely gives you a little bit of a workout but well worth it!

One of my favorite guided experiences ever. Zach was a great guide leading us through a spectacular kayak down the river, a lush hike, and a beautiful waterfall climax. Can't recommend Zach's tour more highly.

Our guide, Zach, was awesome! Very knowledgeable and kept us safe. Highly recommend this experience. The hike through the rainforest was my favorite. Although best for able bodied. There are times that you have to manage your way over slippery rocks. Protective shoes for your feet are important.

Overall I recommend this excursion but there are a few things to consider before booking. The falls are beautiful but they are most certainly not secret. The falls are in a relatively small area and during peak season (like when we went in June) there were at least 100 people all crowded there. I admit it took some of the enjoyment away with so many people all crowding around trying to get pictures. Additionally, wear bug spray. The mosquitos are out in force during the hike. Having said that, our guide, Zack, was awesome and made the experience very fun. He’s highly knowledgeable and entertaining. The best part for me was actually the kayaking portion. The river got a bit congested with kayakers at the start but then you can space out so that felt more open and peaceful for me. In case it’s not clear, they are tandem kayaks. The hike is not strenuous but does get extremely muddy in a few spots, but the scenery is breathtaking. If you’re an adventuresome person who is confident in doing things on your own, I might suggest you doing your own hike to other waterfalls that may be less crowded, otherwise I do recommend the trip overall, just be prepared for bugs, mud and crowds.

Our guide Makayla was awesome. Kayaking was nice in the morning as the day went it got busy. Hike was easy but definitely muddy with several river crossings. The waterfall was epic and felt very rejuvenating. Would definitely do it again.

We were not able to take the excursion because the tour guide said we would not make it and had to go back

Our family of five, including three kids, had a fantastic time on this tour! The combination of kayaking, hiking, and visiting Secret Falls made for a truly unique Kauaʻi experience. Reid was an excellent guide—friendly, knowledgeable, and great with our kids. We made wonderful family memories and captured some amazing photos along the way. One of the highlights of our trip, and we highly recommend it!

Beautiful and our guide Zach was great! Good workout kayaking and hiking and totally worth it😁 highly recommended if ur into that sort of thing!

Our guide, Brian, did a great job! Made the difference between a tour and an experience. We’ve come here for years but this is the first time to do this adventure. So glad we did!

What a great way to start our Hawaiian vacation. It was a beautiful day. It was a little overcast, and we had a few Hawaiian blessings, (brief showers) but it was a gorgeous paddle and a fun hike to the waterfall. The waterfall was absolutely amazing. Our guide, Mikayla was outstanding! She made sure everybody knew what they were doing in the kayak and on the hike. She was also really safety conscious and lots of fun. She taught us so much about Kauai. According to her we had really good conditions. The waterfall was at about 75% and just breathtaking. And the hike was a little muddy but nothing too difficult. She said the area sometimes has flash floods and the hiking part could be really treacherous. But she was on top of it, checking the levels and the weather throughout our journey. I don’t think that hiking to the Secret Falls without a guide is a good idea. I just hope you get someone as great as Mikayla if you decide to embark on this adventure. Just be prepared for anything!

This is was one of the best experiences my wife and I had on our visit to Kauai. Brian was great and did an awesome job making sure everyone didn’t feel rushed and went at the pace they needed to be safe on the hike. Kayak was nice addition for the trip too.

The adventure was a kayaking trip, 2 miles, up a river and a hike to secret falls. The guide, zach, was absolutely fantastic. He stopped periodically to give history, information about the plant life and even fed a grub to a forest bird as we watch. The trip was amazing. Very highly recommended. I give 10 out of 5 stars.

We had an amazing experience! We have been to Kauai several times and this was our first time to take this trip. Brian was an awesome guide. He was very helpful, funny, and knowledgeable about everything Kauai! The hike was a little muddy and slippery but totally manageable. The water falls were beautiful and the view while kayaking was just spectacular. This was my first time kayaking, and Brian gave perfect instructions that made the whole experience feel easy! I would definitely do this trip again!

The hike was very muddy and you cross over creeks. Because of this, I would recommend water shoes with a good tread. Mikayla was our guide and she was awesome. My husband and I were the slowest kayakers but she was very encouraging and helpful! She made sure everyone was safe during the hike by suggesting the best places to step in the mud and the best way to cross the creeks.