Sea Kayak Rental: What You Need to Know Before Contacting Us
In this article, I aim to clarify several key aspects of our sea kayak rental service, as we frequently receive messages with recurring questions.
Crete has an extensive coastline of over 1,000 kilometers, which means logistics matter.
We do not offer one-day rentals unless you are located very close to our base.
This includes the area around Heraklion town or if you’re able to pick up the kayaks directly from our base at Ilingas beach, near Chora Sfakion in the southwest.
In most other cases, the driving distance and associated costs often exceed the price of joining one of our guided trips.
If you’re interested in delivery and pickup, please refer to our kayak rental page for pricing.
If you collect and return the kayak at Ilingas beach, there is no extra cost, assuming availability.
However, for advance bookings, you must factor in transport fees as we may need to bring additional kayaks just for your trip.
Do not assume delivery and pickup is free — email us first.
Large rentals require transporting extra boats from our warehouse (6+ hours of driving).
We do not rent to inexperienced paddlers.
For a day rental, you must be proficient in assisted rescues.
For multi-day rentals, Eskimo roll proficiency is mandatory.
This is for your safety, and to protect the integrity of our kayaks.
Crete’s weather changes rapidly — calm conditions can become Force 5–6 winds in 30 minutes.
Proper experience is essential.
When renting, you are responsible for all logistics:
- Route planning
- Weather assessments
- Transportation
- Safety equipment
- Contingencies
I cannot provide full planning support by email due to guiding commitments.
If you cannot confidently organize your trip independently, consider a guided adventure instead.
I am happy to answer short questions at the time of delivery, and I can briefly review your plan if needed.
Boat availability is generally not an issue thanks to our large fleet, but delivery/pickup logistics can be — especially if I’m guiding on your rental dates.
The busiest months are May, June, September, October.
For these periods, book at least two months in advance.
Important:
Once the rental period has started, no refunds are issued for days lost due to weather or early returns.
We reserve boats and dates specifically for you, often turning down other clients.
Please make sure you’ve read our full rental terms, which are always up to date.