Private Kayak Tour In The Venetian Lagoon

We had a great kayak with Filippo! He took us out into the beautiful nature where we got to learn about the history of Burano and the nearby islands and see fisherman in action. We saw birds and took small canals only accessible by kayak. Filippo was a great guide. He was knowledgeable about the location and passionate about the lagoon.

It was a lovely trip to see the hidden parts of Burano with its nature and history!

Kayaking around Burano was so peaceful. Such a change from the busy streets of Venice. Filippo gave great explanations as we paddled around the protected areas. We did need to cross a few sections where motor boats travel. Filippo ensured we only paddled once there was enough time to cross safely. I do recommend that you have experience kayaking or have good upper body strength for this almost 2 hour tour. My niece commented that her arms were very tired and she was thankful we ended when we did. Pay attention to the meeting point location as it is on Burano but TripAdvisor states it is in Venice. The #12 water bus will get you to the correct place.

Booked this and arrived at the designated meeting spot at 9 am. Was surprised to find just me and my girlfriend there and no one else. Called Filippo and asked where he was, and he told me it was cancelled due to the tides. No notice was given to me that it was cancelled. He did offer a refund or another date, and to his credit, processed the refund immediately. Recommend reaching out the night before via whatsapp to confirm the trip is still happening.

Fantastic kayak tour with local guide. Took an early water bus #12 to Burano before the crowds arrived. Learned about the history of Burano and boating and Paddled through canals around the islands, a wonderful quiet respite. Highly recommended.

I very much enjoyed my tour with Filippo and can only recommend it to anybody else! It's a great option to get away from all the masses in Venezia and really appreciate the lagune's nature. First you will learn more about rowing traditions in Venezia, than the kayaking tour starts through the protected and hidden areas of Burano and more. Very nice and calming! Just to clarify for anybody interested, since I've seen confusion in other comments: This booking is for the tour with Filippo, but then you need additional 30€ in cash for the rowing school to rent your kayak. I recommend this to anybody looking for an authentic and slow non-touristic experience in Vienna and had a great time myself!

This tour was the highlight of our Venice trip and the ur tour guide was wonderful. Filippo was very helpful and provided a relaxing and insightful kayak trip. We even got to see Flamingos in the lagoon. Would 100% visit again.

After a couple days in tourist-clogged Venice, it was an absolute treat to board an early morning vaporetto for Burano where I met my guide Filippo at the vaporetto stop. Together we strolled through the quiet and colorful streets of Burano to the local rowing club. After a briefing on Burano, the local fishing community and the award-winning Buranese gondoliers, we launched our kayaks and set off on our tour of Burano, Mazzorbo, and Torchello, traveling through tranquil canals only reachable by kayak and with a local guide. While we did not see flamingos on this trip, we did see a number of bird species and wild goats as we glided through marshes and down the Torchello canal that Hemingway dubbed "Paradise."

After a couple days in tourist-clogged Venice, it was an absolute treat to board an early morning vaporetto for Burano where I met my guide Filippo at the vaporetto stop. Together we strolled through the quiet and colorful streets of Burano to the local rowing club. After a briefing on Burano, the local fishing community and the award-winning Buranese gondoliers, we launched our kayaks and set off on our tour of Burano, Mazzorbo, and Torchello, traveling through tranquil canals only reachable by kayak and with a local guide. While we did not see flamingos on this trip, we did see a number of bird species and wild goats as we glided through marshes and down the Torchello canal that Hemingway dubbed "Paradise."

This tour was unlike anything you can find in Venice and led by a very capable, kind and considerate guide. He was born, raised in a waterman household and has returned to work in Burano after many years as a water guide, so has a very deep connection to the ecology and made us feel safe. We took the early morning ferry to Burano leaving from the Venice Nove station near the hospital. It left at 8:10 and got us to the dock before 9. We didn't realize at the time how special it was to see Burano empty before the crowds descend. Each house is painted a vibrant color and surrounded by long grass and wildflowers, it feels Caribbean and fun. Filippo met us at the ferry and toured us through town to the charming Burano boathouse. We learned that the tail of every gondola in Venice represents the Rialto river plus its six major boathouses. The Burano boathouse rowing teams are very famous for consistently winning major races throughout history. We were able to catch a four-person team stand-up rowing in unison. It is amazing to see their wooden boats up close and realize the connection back to the more touristy gondolas you see in Venice. Kayaks are stored in the same boathouse and an attendant helped carry them to the ramp launch. You do about two hours of rowing through the wetlands and farmland, and see how the fisherman operate. Our favorite section was Hemingway’s backyard and called the paradise canal. There were baby swans at the entrance and gorgeous wildflower fields surrounding. Mid tour you will really feel yourself relax in the quiet and the beauty. Filippo surprised us at the end with a short, animated video of each stop on a map interspersed with photos he took of us. This was a special gift to be able to share the experience with the rest of our family back at home. The boathouse has a locker room with very clean showers, bring a towel and change of at least bottoms. Post tour we ate at an exception restaurant owned by Filippo’s family called “Primo” (middle of town, left side as you face the biggest church). We wanted to support him further no matter the quality, but the food was absolutely exceptional and worth every penny. You can tell it’s where the local families like to go for special meals and was not all tourists. We stopped at Murano on the way back to Venice, but Burano was our favorite.

Awesome experience! Filippo is a very personable guide who can authentically speak about the local history, environment and culture. Length of tour (2.5 hrs) is just the right length, felt like we got some time in nature, learned a lot, and had a great time! And you *can* get to Burano by 9 a.m. from Venice on the 8:10 #12 from Fondamente Nove! Highly recommend this.

it is a very special experience to experience the beautiful nature of the lagoon in all peace and quiet, with an excellently organised nature guide!

This is truly the best way to experience the islands of Venice! Felipo taught us so much about the history of the area and the environmental issues they are facing AND led us on a once of a lifetime kayaking trip around Burano, Mazzorba and Torcello! A fun and easy trip for beginners or experienced kayakers.

I found this online and thought that it would be a safe and enjoyable experience with the backing of tripadvisor but how wrong was that? I paid in full using my credit card while still in the UK. My booked appointment was cancelled the day before I was due to take part but a new time was offered so I continued with the new time. I met the provider of the activity but there was not a single kayak or any boat of any description in sight which made me start to feel suspicious and this was correct as I was asked for an additional €60 in cash before I could progress to see a kayak. After a long debate in which I explained that I had paid in full and didn’t wish to pay more money in cash I had to walk away and have now taken this up with my Credit card provided to retrieve my payment. Tourists beware that these people work in the Venice area and will financially hurt you if you are not prepared. I got a better kayak experience that I found in person for one fifth of the money in the same area only days later.

This was the highlight of our visit to Venice. To see pristine nature and get the history of Venice and Burano directly from a native of burano was amazing. Phillips was friendly, knowledgeable and laid back. Our group was a mix of no kayak experience and someone who owns a kayak and we all still had a wonderful time. Highly recommend this tour.

Fantastic tour of natural parts of the lagoon away from mass tourism. Filippo was a great guide, knowledgable, friendly, and accomodating. Glad we did a kayak taster session before our holiday, so we could just jump in and go. Lifejackets included.

We were met at the dock of Burano by Filippo, our tour guide and he gave us an unexpected walking tour of Burano as we made our way to the kayak launch. Our mother-in-law who is in her late 70's was with us but did not sign up for the tour since she thought it would be too much for her - Filippo offered to escort her on a two person kayak so she can sit back and enjoy the tour and take pictures - which she did. This was so kind of him and she loved every minute. I am not an experienced kayaker and I loved every minute of the tour. You will definitely get a peak of a side of the Venetian Islands you would not have access to without a kayak! Since you are kayaking through an area only non-motorized fishing boats are allowed - you will get a great view of the fish and even have a few jump into your kayak - as they did with us! Our kids had to throw back fish into the lagoon! Thank you Filippo and team for a wonderfully memorial experience! The Nicholson's

Filippo was very friendly and knowledgeable about the local islands and lagoons. We were taken to places that you just can't get to normally or where tourists can get access to. So it was very peaceful, and you see the real beauty of the lagoons of Venice. Compared to the damage, the motorboats cause the islands. Very worth while but you need some upper body strength 💪

Despite booking and paying in advance, we had no kayaking. They had our number, no call or text. No one ever showed up at the meeting place and we paid 350 euros (round trip for 7 people) to get to the island of Burano. Wasted both money and half a day. We asked lots of locals. No one knew where kayaks were for rent or anything about the tour. Needless to say, this was VERY disappointing! I would not book this tour. I will be looking for a refund when I get home.

We took a kayak tour with Filippo last month and it was one of the best things we did on our Italy vacation. Filippo was very responsive leading up to the tour, even adjusting the start time due to weather. He was very knowledgeable about the history of the area and took us to some spots only accessible by kayak. We got to see a unique view of the area including the native flamingos. He also provided us with a ton of pictures and a cool video tour of where we went. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the Venice area. Filippo was a fantastic guide, we really enjoyed this kayak tour.

Don't think twice if you enjoy the water and kayaking or just want to try something different book it now!! It was the most beautiful experience wee arrived in Burano 8.20am before it got busy and got the most amazing photographs. We then did the tour of the lagoon with philipo, he was so helpful and genuine, he told us so much about the history of Venice and burano while enjoying the most beautiful views, including wild flamingos flying over our heads. By far this was the best experience of our vacation, and to top our amazing day in burano we got engaged that evening, the perfect ending to a perfect day.

Well worth it, great experience with a local tour guide who went in details about the places visited while on the tour, super friendly guide who also took photos of us while on the tour and provided them to us afterwards, would 100% do it again.

Great way to explore some of the lagoon that is only accessible by kayak, Filippo the tour guide was very informative and a really nice guy. He made the tour feel alot more personal. I also did another more popular tour which was rated higher but hardly as good. Thankyou Filippo!

Best Venetian experience. Fillipo was excellent. The tour was inspiring. Learned a lot of history. If you miss this opportunity, you miss a part of this area unspoiled by "tourists". Do yourself a huge favor. Book this tour. It is unparalleled.

Absoluty fantastic. First a very interesting introduction of the rowing culture at the rowing club at Burano. The tour itself was pure joy. Flamingos, jumping fish..and we went right trough the heart of Torcello It was an unforgettable experience and of course all because of Filippo the perfect enthusiastic guide.

They charged almost double as indicated, you have to pay a second time in cash. This should be included in the price shown.

Fillipo was an excellent guide with lots of local knowledge and information. We found out about the beautiful racing gondolas in the boat yard and thoroughly enjoyed kayaking through the quiet, hidden away lagoon waterways. We saw wild flamingos, locals using traditional fishing methods and curious goats, it was like stepping back in time. Fabulous, memorable tour, highly recommended

Amazing experience! Our guide Filippo was great, had a lot of patience when teaching us to kayak and explained lots about Burano to us. This Kayak tour is a must do!

Our guide Filippo was great, the kayak tour goes to places that are not accessible with motor boat. Filippo is himself from Burano and gave us a lot of information on the history of the islands, the fishermen and rowing competitions.

Our tour guide was really friendly and informative. We loved seeing parts of Venice that are otherwise inaccessible to tourists.

The whole journey was a delight, with the opportunity to know the reality of a part of Burano, essentially fishery, away from crowds and immersed in Nature. Highlight the extremely welcoming form, the natural sympathy and all the historical and informative framework that Filippo provided us, made all the difference. For me it was wonderful, thank you!

Absolutely recommended for little adventurers! After a few days of crowds in Venice, the kayak tour provided a nice balance with peace, nature and local feeling. Life in Venice is overwhelmed by tourists. It is nice to see the ‘normal’ life of fishermen in the lagoon. Wonderful experience on the water. The price is 40 euros booking fee for private tour, and 30 euros for the kayak. This isn't too much for what you get. Philippo's calm approach and explanation came across as authentic. He is from Burano and told with great passion. His goal is to let tourists experience the local version. This area can only be visited with a guide and kayak. Tip: bring a raincoat and new pants. You'll get a little wet. Changing rooms with hairdryers and shower are available.

Esperienza magifica che consiglio a tutti. È molto di più di un divertente giro in kayak, insieme alla simpatica e preparata guida Filippo si scoprono posti incontaminati e nascosti che sono accessibili solo agli abitanti della laguna di Venezia. Il tour è molto bello perché si è immersi nella vera realtà del luogo infatti si scopre il lato autentico dell'isola dei pescatori di Burano scoprendo i metodi di pesca tradizionali che rendono unica l'isola nel mentre che si gustano paesaggi bellissimi. È stato divertente ma anche facile imparare a usare il kayak, consiglio a tutti questa magnifica e unica esperienza.