Guided Whale Boat Tours

Guided Kanaka Boat Tours

Fill your heart & soul with the richness of nature in Los Carneros. This one-of-a-kind guided, gunkholing expedition explores narrow waterways through protected wetlands in Napa Valley's champagne region. Sip fine wine with loved ones aboard beautifully crafted wooden kanaka boats modeled after those that carried early settlers to the Napa Valley from arriving ships in the San Francisco Bay.

Fagan Slough Round Trip – Wetlands

Glide through the delicate wetlands of Los Carneros, offering an excellent vantage point from Fagan Preserve, where Napa-Sonoma marshlands merge with the mouth of the Napa River Valley. As you paddle through the region, enjoy an exclusive glimpse of various wine appellations and ecological zones in the nearby hills of Mt. Veeder, Atlas Peak and Carneros. *Requires morning or evening high tide

Ask us about our surf & terroir package! Experience the region by water and then revisit that same terroir in your wine glass after the tour. Tasting is held on the patio of our private river cottage. Guests will enjoy a taste of 3 growing regions visible in the nearby mountains.

Ticket Fares

Fagan Slough Round Trip – Wetlands: $379/boat *seats 4

Add Wine On The River $199

Note: Harpooning a whale may cost extra!

ABOUT US

OUR WHALE BOAT

Napa Valley Paddle introduced the Kanaka Whale Boat Tour to the Los Carneros region in 2022 with great success. Our boats provide family, friends, romantics and eco-tourists the ability to experience the Napa River and surrounding wetlands together in one boat. These beautiful, handcrafted wooden boats are designed by Mike Smith and built locally in collaboration with NVP exhibiting the quality and craftsmanship of the wines that made Napa Valley famous.

The Kanaka Whale Boats are also historically significant to the region and will help introduce lesser known piece of history: Hawaiian surf riders contribution to the settlement of the Bay Area. Early pioneers such as George Yount, John Sutter and General Vallejo used kanaka boats to hunt fish, game and move people, provisions and information throughout Napa, Sacramento and San Francisco.

MICROWINERY

The signature boutique wines served to the guests are produced or sourced from the Andrew Lane Winery, owned by the Dickson Family. The Dickson’s have over 40 years of winemaking history in the Napa Valley region.

HISTORY

In the early 1970s, Dave Dickson, a San Diego state surfing champion, partnered with Rex Geitner, a known Napa vineyard manager, to establish a ‘garagiste’ winery. In less than five years, the winery was crafting award-winning wines. Dave named the winery after his two sons, Andrew (Drew) and Lane. In 2002, Andrew Lane Winery was established as a fully-licensed commercial winery at the base of Howell Mountain. Sadly, the winery was lost in the recent Glass Fire.

In 2012, Drew Dickson, who inherited his father’s passion and winemaking legacy, introduced guided paddle board trips for the wine club members to showcase a Gamay Beaujolais-Styled wine they paired riverside with barbecued oysters. The wine, along with the Andrew Lane Cabernet and Old Italian Field Blend, received numerous accolades, including Wall Street Journal, Gourmet and Food & Wine Magazine.

Wine on Napa River is Drew’s latest offering. It aims to create a launch pad for locals and active travelers to experience Napa Valley as a wine destination. It is a perfect weekend getaway for adventure seekers to unwind and try water-based activities in nature.

ADVENTURE IS JUST A PADDLE AWAY