Good follow up letter I feel is very worthy of mentioning these things. Happy Kayaking! "Atlantic Kayak Tours has been running kayak tours and instructional programs for 25 years. Our prices are lower than most other outfitters, while our equipment is the best available and our staff are highly trained. We offer programs starting at $20. Full day programs are about $100 and the equipment used on these programs range from $1,500 to $4,000 per client. We offer the boat ramp for free and are happy to have the paddling community use it. There is not a yearly park launch permit needed for car top boats (only for trailered boats). Safety policies are needed as kayaking now has the highest number of accidents of all boat types (according to the Coast Guard). Just this week a power boat hit a rowing shell just south of Norrie. We are proud to be the winners of the Sea Kayaker Magazine award for "Best Tour Operator in the Northeast", voted by the Readers. We continue to work hard to be the best outfitter in our area. " -Bill, Atlantic Kayak Tours read more

Our group of eight shelled out nearly $500 for the Norrie Short Tour at noon. I did the booking for the majority of us, and expected a confirmation email with all the pre-tour "need-to-knows." Whether their email never showed up in my inbox or it did and I accidentally deleted it, I'll never know. But lacking a proper confirmation, I emailed AKT explaining that I have not seen/read any confirmation info from them and would like one re-sent, to which Janice replied with a simple, "No worries, you're good!" and "We'll see you soon!" with no other details of what to expect. When we showed up at the scheduled time of 12:00PM, Janice greeted us with a reprimand "You should've been here at 11:30AM!" ...Why didn't she mention this in her email the previous day when I expressed concern over not knowing the specifics? "I ASSUMED someone in your group got the email" she said over and over. So we were inadvertently late. OK, all experienced kayakers, our group just wanted to get out on the water. Knowing there were eight of us, AKT should've had eight kayaks out and ready to go. Nope! We had to wait for Janice to count the kayaks...slowly... "one...two...three...four..." (gets distracted, starts over) "one...two...three...four...five...six...seven." Then count us: "one...two...three..." This goes on for a while, despite our plea "we just need one more boat!" Next comes a quick paddling lesson on the lawn and eventually, we launch. What's the plan? No one knows. Were any of us given options or shown a map? Nope! We don't know where we're going or if the two older gentleman who've been waiting in the water are also guides or if they're paying customers like us. To what should we be paddling towards? Can Janice offer some guidance or communication, please? A little history lesson would be nice, too... we ask about the mansion on the hill, she mumbles something about a German family owning it and then yells that there's a barge upriver and that we should avoid it. Well a-doyyy! We head towards Esopus Island. All are paddling well, with the exception of one of our friends who was given a kayak different from the rest of ours, ill-fitting to his 6'3" frame. Janice suggests he pull ashore the island to swap out with a smaller feller. We see what they're doing and all pull into the cove, too. "Don't get out here! Don't get out here!" she hollers. OK but are we gonna explore this island? "Paddle up the west side!" she insists without gesturing which way is west. Our group gets more and more spread out. Janice gets more and more panicked. We wondered if she was a substitute for a real instructor, or if this was her first day, or if she was on drugs. At one point she pushed off from shore but forgot her paddle. All this confusion lead to a mini-revolt among my friends. Without any kind of communication about the plan, the tall dude took off to another cove. Janice ordered a couple of us girls to stay put in a different cove. More confusion and micromanagement without communication. We would've been much, much happier had AKT simply rented us the gear and left the planning to us, but that option wasn't available. Instead, they charged us $60 a head to babysit us on a "tour" and for Janice to make excuses for poor planning and communication. I've met other guides at this company and they all seemed chill and eager to share their knowledge of kayaking and the history of the area. Janice however really missed the mark and left us all pretty disappointed with what was supposed to be the focus of the whole weekend and reason we camped at the adjoining state park in the first place. https://paddling.com/learn/10-tips-for-kayaking-with-a-group/ read more

Excellent people, and excellent service. Five of us did the Norrie Short Tour for 3 hours and it was fantastic. The guides were knowledgeable, skilled, and very accommodating. The tour was great because it truly is for all skill levels and one can go at his/her own pace, and there were plenty of guides on our tour that could stay behind. Got to see the Vanderbilt house, a bald eagle, and scenic treeline of the Hudson. Would do it again, and would def. recommend! read more

I really like this kayaking operation. They are quite more than a rental/tour company. I have been considering purchasing a kayak and need to learn how to manage river currents as we are on the Hudson. They are always adding suggestions and needed information. But having been on the tours several times now, I am quite fond of these guys and their other guides. Everyone is professional, low-key and very knowledgeable about aspects of the river, environment, flora/fauna, etc. They also guide tours up river and off the river. I look forward to doing one of their more advanced tours soon. They are both suitable for adults and family outings. I've done both. read more

Excellent afternoon! Spent a solid 2:45 kayaking south-north and across the Hudson on the Short Tour. As first-time kayakers (61 and 63), it was a bit challenging but so glad we did it! Bill, Janice and Mike couldn't have been more friendly, experienced or helpful. They were the perfect leaders for our group of 10 of mixed skills. Saw beautiful sights including a blue heron, ocean freighter and waterfront mansions. Highly recommend Atlantic Kayak for an excellent adventure, no matter your level. Tip: Wear sunscreen, a hat and bring water on the kayak. Enjoy! read more

We had an amazing time with the Janice and Bill (and Julie!) on the Norrie Short Tour. Our group of five adults had three beginners and it couldn't have been a better experience. In every aspect from instruction to equipment to length/pace of the tour we felt confident, safe and in expert hands. At one point the group split with Bill taking the more experienced people for a fast stretch while Janice and Julie led the newbie paddlers across the river--we met back up on a beach for a rest break. Everyone had the chance to feel successful and challenged regardless of level. It was an absolutely exhilarating experience and one I hope to repeat in the future! read more

I had my first kayaking instruction with this company and it was such a good experience I went back to take the next level course...and then the next. Easygoing and knowledgeable owners and staff provide a wide variety of instruction, guidance and inspiration. AND they keep it fun. I used my own equipment but they also have really good boats to try. The Norrie Pt. location is on a beautiful section of the Hudson--my out of town guests really enjoyed the "Norrie Short Tour" there. I'd recommend their classes and tours to first-timers as well as more experienced paddlers. read more

This is a great company! They use only the best boats (NDK, Valley, etc.). Norrie Point is beautiful. Paddle with Bill and Janice and Alan. They rock. read more

My wife and I took the Norrie Evening Tour and we thought it was just about perfect. Neither of us had ever been in a kayak before, but Bill made the whole experience enjoyable. He was friendly, easy-going, helpful, knowledgeable about the area, and clearly loves what he's doing. He even took photos of us out on the river which was great...especially since I'd probably have dropped my phone in the water if I tried to take my own pictures. read more

My two girls and I did the Norrie Short Tour. What an experience. The veteran guides, Bill and Mike, along with two experienced volunteers, Emily and Michael, guided our group down and across The Hudson River and then back again. I was appreciative that the guides were always in view and offering helpful tips. The weather that day offered an interesting and challenging twist. The guides took it in stride. The three hour tour was the perfect introduction to kayaking. You can't put a price on safety. The guides are professional, experienced and knowledgable about the surroundings. I would wear swim shoes and capris for my next trip. As an aside... The 12:00 to 3:00 really means be there at least 30 minutes prior as they drop the kayaks in the water at 12:00. The guides need time to make sure paperwork is in order, a proper fitting kayak, and instructions provided before take off. Bonus... We saw a bald eagle...what a surprise! Looking forward to signing up for other Atlantic Kayak Tours! read more

GREAT! I have been kayaking with AKT tours for a couple of years now. They have great boats and provide very good instruction and assistance on the tours. Their guides are experienced and attentive, and they offer a good client to guide ratio. I have tried a couple of other operators in the area to try other parts of the river. It helped me realize that AKT's tours are head and shoulders above the others while being slightly less expensive. read more

Janice and Bill are simply fantastic. Janice was so accommodating and helpful when setting up our kayaking adventure, which we had to keep changing because of travel changes/delays. Bill is an excellent guide, helping the inexperienced kayaker (me) get comfortable quickly, without slowing things down for the more experienced in our group. Once we got the hang of it, we were on our way, zooming up and down the gorgeous Hudson River for a relaxing and satisfying couple of hours, learning about the area and its history throughout. A perfect evening thanks to Bill and Janice - can't thank them enough. read more

What a great experience. We did the Norrie Short Tour with Bill and Mike. This company provided high quality guides, boats and all other gear in excellent condition and a lot of fun on the Hudson River. They helped us with our technique while never making the tour feel overly instructional. While we don't have kids, one family did and they treated the kids with respect but never made the adults present feel like it was only about the kids. Bill and Mike gave us time to see the various aspects of the Hudson including Blackwater Creek and Esopus Island plus we got in some great swim time. One of the best (if not the best) kayaking companies I have utilized. read more

Totally great trip and very reasonably priced. We did the Norrie Short Tour on July 4th and had a blast. The guides put safety first, with fun a close second, and instruction for those who need or want it. As a bonus, the guides take photos and send them to you afterwards. I would absolutely paddle with them again! read more

a great experience. great scenic location. great team - really lovely and knowledgeable people. great equipment. a perfect getaway for a few hours. read more

I had a wonderful experience with the Fundamentals Course this past weekend. Everything was top notch- the instruction, the kayaks, the day. The teaching was a great overview but then also individually tailored to goals and abilities. It was a lot of fun as well as educational. I am excited to practice my skills and hope to take another course and/or do a day trip with Atlantic Kayak Tours soon. I spent about 5 hours in the car for my 4 hours of kayaking and it was completely worth the trek up North! I recommend Atlantic Kayak Tours without reservation. read more