Lake Tahoe · California, USA
Things to Do in Lake Tahoe: Tours, Cruises & Day Trips
The best things to do in Lake Tahoe, ranked by real traveller reviews: sail or cruise into Emerald Bay, paddle a clear kayak over the boulders of Sand Harbor, cycle the East Shore Trail, hike to Eagle Falls and Vikingsholm, ride the Heavenly gondola, drive the 72-mile loop around the lake and, in winter, ski Palisades, Heavenly and Northstar. Compare tours, tickets and day trips side by side — most with free cancellation.
174 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in Lake Tahoe
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Lake Tahoe
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
Explore Lake Tahoe by interest
Whatever brings you to Lake Tahoe — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
What to see
Top attractions in Lake Tahoe
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Emerald Bay
Jewel-green cove.
20 toursView tours
Sand Harbor
Clear kayaking.
20 toursView tours
Sierra Trails
Alpine hikes.
15 toursView tours
The Lake
Scenic cruises.
20 toursView tours
East Shore
Scenic tours.
15 toursView tours
South Lake
Watersports.
10 toursView tours
Sunset Lake
Wine cruises.
15 toursView tours
Crystal Water
Kayak & paddle.
20 toursView tours
West shore awayEmerald Bay
Jewel-green cove.
from $60View trips
East shore awaySand Harbor
Clear kayaking.
from $65View trips
Basin awaySierra Trails
Alpine hikes.
from $55View trips
Lake awaySunset Lake
Wine cruises.
from $75View trips
Lakeside awayEast Shore
Scenic tours.
from $50View trips
South shore awaySouth Lake
Watersports.
from $70View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Lake Tahoe visitor asks before booking.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
Warm and sunny — peak season for the lake.
Autumn (Oct)
Crisp air and golden aspens, fewer crowds.
Winter (Dec–Mar)
Snowy and cold — world-class skiing.
Spring (Apr–May)
Melting snow and quiet shoulder season.
For the water
Summer is best for cruises and kayaking.
Best overall
June to September for lake activities.
One day
An Emerald Bay cruise and a kayak.
Two days
Add a hike and a wine cruise.
Three days
Add adventure, charters and more trails.
For the water
Cruises, kayaking and charters.
For nature
Hiking and scenic tours.
For adventure
Jet skis and off-road tours.
By car
A car is best for circling the lake and trailheads.
By boat
Cruises and charters explore the water.
Tours & shuttles
Scenic tours and shuttles link the shores.
By e-bike
The East Shore trail is great by e-bike.
Where to stay
Stay in South Lake Tahoe or Tahoe City.
US dollar
The USA uses the dollar; cards widely accepted.
Emerald Bay
Take a cruise for the best views of the cove.
Clear kayaks
Paddle Sand Harbor for the clearest water.
Hiking
Start early to beat the midday sun.
Sunset cruise
Book a wine cruise for a golden evening.
Sun & altitude
The high elevation intensifies the sun — bring SPF.
Layers
Mountain weather changes fast — pack layers.
Emerald Bay cruises
Popular cruises sell out — book ahead.
Kayak tours
Clear-kayak tours fill up — reserve early.
Sunset cruises
Wine cruises fill up — book ahead.
Boat charters
Private charters fill up — reserve early.
Watersports
Jet skis and adventures fill up — book ahead.
Summer season
July and August are busiest — book ahead.
Emerald Bay cruise
Around $60–110 for an Emerald Bay cruise.
Kayak tour
About $65–110 for a clear-kayak tour.
Scenic tour
Roughly $50–90 for a scenic lake tour.
Sunset cruise
Around $75–130 for a wine sunset cruise.
Boat charter
About $400–800 for a private boat charter.
How to save
Join group cruises to save over private charters.
When to visit
Lake Tahoe through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
Jun–Sep
- Best for
- Lake & cruises.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak.
Autumn (Oct)
Oct
- Best for
- Fall colours.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Quiet.
Winter (Dec–Mar)
Dec–Mar
- Best for
- Skiing.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Snowy.
Spring (Apr–May)
Apr–May
- Best for
- Quiet shoulder.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cool.
People also ask
Lake Tahoe travel FAQ
What are the top 10 things to do in Lake Tahoe?
Ranked by traveller reviews: 1) a two-hour sailing cruise from Tahoe City or the South Shore, 2) the Emerald Bay scenic cruise past Fannette Island, 3) the East Shore Trail by e-bike, 4) a clear-kayak tour of Sand Harbor, 5) a sunset or dinner cruise, 6) an Emerald Bay helicopter flight, 7) the Lake Tahoe 101 full-lake tour, 8) the hike to Eagle Falls and Vikingsholm, 9) the Heavenly gondola and observation deck and 10) the Wild West day trip to Virginia City.
How many days do you need in Lake Tahoe?
Plan three to four days. Day one: drive to Inspiration Point early, hike to Vikingsholm and Eagle Falls, take an afternoon Emerald Bay cruise and ride the Heavenly gondola at sunset. Day two: Sand Harbor first thing (the lot fills by 9am in summer) for a clear-kayak tour, then the East Shore Trail by bike. Day three: the circle drive — Tahoe City, the Truckee River, Kings Beach, Incline Village and the Mount Rose lookout. Day four: parasailing, a Rim Trail hike or Virginia City.
What to do in Lake Tahoe for free?
Inspiration Point and the Emerald Bay overlook, the Eagle Falls trail, Vikingsholm’s beach (castle tours cost extra), the East Shore Trail bike path, Kings Beach and Commons Beach, Taylor Creek’s underwater viewing chamber and Kokanee salmon in October, the Tallac Historic Site, Cave Rock and the boulders at Bonsai Rock and Chimney Beach, sunrise at Sand Harbor before the gate opens, the Van Sickle waterfall trail and Donner Memorial State Park’s shore in Truckee. Parking is the main cost at most trailheads.
What are the best day trips from Lake Tahoe?
Virginia City’s Wild West main street and the V&T steam train (one hour; tours from about $80), Truckee’s historic downtown and Donner Lake (30 minutes), Reno (one hour), Carson City and Genoa (45 minutes), the Mount Rose summit trail (30 minutes from Incline Village), Hope Valley and Carson Pass for wildflowers and autumn aspens (45 minutes) and, for a very long day, Yosemite (four hours each way; 15-hour tours from South Lake Tahoe cost about $270).
What to do in Lake Tahoe at night?
A sunset or dinner cruise, the casinos and shows at Stateline (Harrah’s, Harveys, Bally’s), Heavenly Village’s bars, ice rink and cinema, stargazing on Sand Harbor or Baldwin Beach — Tahoe’s skies are exceptionally dark — the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival on the beach at Sand Harbor in July and August, live music at the Crystal Bay Club on the North Shore, the Alex Ramon magic show and, in winter, night skiing at Heavenly.
What is there to do in Lake Tahoe in winter?
Ski or snowboard at Heavenly, Palisades Tahoe, Northstar, Kirkwood, Mount Rose and a dozen smaller hills, snowshoe to Emerald Bay’s overlook, sled at Adventure Mountain, ride the Heavenly gondola for the snowy-lake view, skate at Heavenly Village or Northstar, take a sleigh ride in Hope Valley and warm up in the Stateline casinos. Boat cruises pause or run limited winter schedules; SnowFest in Tahoe City fills late February with parades and polar plunges.
What are the best things to do in Lake Tahoe with kids?
The Emerald Bay cruise, Sand Harbor’s shallow coves, the Heavenly gondola and Epic Discovery’s mountain coaster and ziplines, kayak or pedal-boat hire at Kings Beach and Tahoe City, the Taylor Creek stream profile chamber, the Vikingsholm castle tour, Kiva Beach, the Tallac Historic Site, the V&T train in Virginia City, sledding and beginner ski lessons in winter, and the High Camp pool at Palisades Tahoe in summer.
When is the best time to visit Lake Tahoe?
July to September for the water — August is warmest, September quietest and still warm. June has snowmelt waterfalls but a cold lake; October brings golden aspens and salmon. December to March is ski season, with the biggest snow in January and February. Late spring (April–May) is muddy shoulder season with many businesses closed.
Is the Emerald Bay cruise worth it?
Yes — Emerald Bay is the most photographed place in Tahoe, and only from the water do you see Fannette Island, the Vikingsholm castle and the bay’s turquoise shallows together; the two-hour cruises and sailing trips are the highest-rated experiences on the lake. Choose a morning departure for the calmest water and the clearest colour, or the sunset sail for the light on the peaks.
174 Lake Tahoe experiencesfrom $45 · free cancellation
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