This was the best time together a family can have. Adventurist, scary at times, great weather, and fantastic tour guides. Never kayaked before, but learned quickly!





Classified as one of two Wild and Scenic Rivers in Arizona! The Verde River offers a truly spectacular way to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life! This is your chance to take a break from the mundane and treat yourself to an amazing journey on the beautiful Verde River! Our guided paddling trips are nothing short of breathtaking, offering up stunning views, unique wildlife encounters, and priceless memories. Paddling down the Verde River is an unforgettable experience that will be sure to take your breath away. The lush green riverbanks provide a perfect backdrop as you float past towering cliffs full of Native ruins. You might even encounter some local wildlife along the way - from fluffy river otters to majestic bald eagles gliding across the sky. Multiple tours daily and private tour options ensure we can accommodate all group sizes, large or small.
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
In demand: 20 of the next 90 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
RECENTLY VOTED ONE OF THE TOP 20 EXPERIENCES IN THE USA! Enjoy an adventurous and safe experience on Class I and II rapids while you explore the scenic Verde River on our most popular tour! Soak up the beautiful scenery and local history on a Guided Kayak Tour for about 2 hours on a 3 mile stretch of the Verde. Tandem or single inflatable high water kayaks available for safety, fun and comfort (high-capacity boats for larger/taller participants. Need to know: Notify us of special needs/medications Check in 45 minutes prior to tour time 4 persons minimum required for tour to launch. Tours not meeting minimums subject to no cost rescheduling. Water shoes required. No flip flops or backless shoes permitted. Children 12 and under must be in a tandem with an adult. Children must be 5 years old or 50 lbs to go on a guided tour. Bring it - Buy it - Rent it: If you don't have it, we do! What To Bring: • Clothing appropriate for the weather and the water • Water shoes. Footwear must be worn at all times. * Towel * Medications if needed ***Various sundries available for purchase or rental at boathouse • Water bottles/refill station, water shoes • Sunglasses and Sunscreen • Snacks/Apparel
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Excurgo comparison of 343 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Kayak Tour on the Verde River lasts about 2h 30min. The itinerary has 1 stop.
Prices start at $115 per person for this Sedona experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 2:00 PM.
Children aged 5–12 pay from $89, adults from $115.
It can: 20 of the next 90 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is CHECK IN AT OAC TOURS 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO LAUNCH TIME (10am tour = 915am check in. 2pm tour =115pm check in)551 N Main Street, Cottonwood AZ 86326. This is a group tour. Shuttle departs on the half hour. Late arrivals will need to reschedule. (Headed towards Old Town Cottonwood-ATVs parked roadside). Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 16 participants.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 689 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by OACTours.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
This was the best time together a family can have. Adventurist, scary at times, great weather, and fantastic tour guides. Never kayaked before, but learned quickly!
This was great. We had Nick and another gentleman (i forgot his name), they were both so informative of the area, animals, plant life, and history. They helped anyone that may have needed it and gave everyone encouragement. We really enjoyed ourselves and will definitely consider this again when we're in the area.
These folks are true professionals, and that is who you want with you on the river. Their equipment is top shelf. They know and explain everything you need. No matter your age or knowledge level, this is the experience you are looking for!
Super fun time kayaking on the river. Everything went smoothly and the trip was exactly as advertised. The guides and staff were fantastic.
Spent a fabulous morning kayaking on the Verde River. We cannot recognise these guys enough - really well organised getting everyone suitably ‘suited and booted’ prior to the drive to the river, friendly and informative chat on the way, and clear instructions and guidance before and during the trip. There is a bathroom, a couple of changing rooms, and lockers on site. All the equipment was in great condition and the water guns are a nice, fun touch. You generally are in individual inflated kayaks (tandems for the families) - they’re a lot of fun and are pretty robust. This is not a flat water trip, there are some category 1 and 2 rapids along the way but all manageable while adding in some excitement! And you do get wet from the waist down pretty much from the start so keep that in mind - and remember to bring with you and keep applying sunscreen, even if waterproof, you’re out for a good two hours and likely need a top up! Highly recommend!
We had a great time on the River. Maverick and Lawrence were our guides. They were very personable, had interesting stories to tell and made sure we had fun. We learned a lot about the area’s history, the land and wildlife. Maverick had a wealth of knowledge. We had an amazing time! Thank you guy!
I went in to this experience knowing I’d be pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and ended up wanting to do it again. Very well organized, the 3 guides were so supportive of the newbies, knowledgeable and entertaining, it was the perfect experience for someone who had never kayaked before. Highly recommend!!
This was such a fun experience - great way to see the area and Ken is an amazing guide - and he took lots of great pictures of us so we were all fully present! 10/10 and the rapids were much more fun than scary :)
We had a great morning on the river with Ken! He is a wonderful guide-and being a guide myself that is high praise! Great experience overall from the communication, information before heading to the river and the knowledge of the fauna and animals we saw along the way. I highly recommend!!
This an awesome trip for anyone that has kids. We took ours ages 9&12 and they it was awesome. They can’t stop talking about it
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kayak Tour on the Verde River | 2h 30min | 5.0 (689) | $115 | |
Verde Canyon Railroad Adventure Package | 3h 30min | 4.6 (3,326) | $186 | View |
Verde Valley Wine Tour - 4 Vineyards, Limo Style Bus, Charcuterie | 6–7 hours | 4.6 (813) | $109 | View |
Zip Line Tour at Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Sedona,Camp Verde | 2 hours | 4.9 (251) | $120 | View |
Sedona Horseback Rides At Dead Horse Ranch with River Crossing | 2 hours | 4.6 (189) | $119 | View |
Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad | 4 hours | 4.7 (140) | $186 | View |
Sip & Go: 2 Verde Valley Vineyard Wine Tasting w/ Charcuterie | 3 hours | 4.5 (2) | $79 | View |