Self arrival & Self guided
Paddle a calm mangrove lagoon at your own pace. Open year-round — flat water, real wildlife, no rush.
$22 / person
Schedule
Your kayak session runs 2 hours from your chosen start time.
Garadu Lagoon is a quiet, mangrove-lined lagoon a few minutes from Mirissa — protected from the surf and the road, so the water stays flat and the wildlife stays close. Paddle it yourself, or take a guide who’ll point out what you’d miss: kingfishers diving, monitor lizards basking, and — at dusk — thousands of fruit bats lifting off the trees at once, a sight guests describe as something out of a film. Calm enough for families and complete beginners; interesting enough that you won’t want to rush.
What’s included
- A kayak (single or double), paddle, life jacket and a dry bag for your belongings
- Mosquito repellent and refreshments
Not included
- A guide — you explore on your own on the self-guided variants
Good to know
Minimum age 6 when sharing a kayak with an adult. No experience or swimming certification needed.
Highlights
- Paddle a calm, protected mangrove lagoon — no surf, no crowds.
- Time it for wildlife: kingfishers and monitor lizards by day, thousands of flying foxes at dusk.
- Go self-guided or with a local guide.
- Open year-round — sunrise and sunset tours available.
Requirements
- Minimum age 6 when sharing a kayak with an adult. Life jackets provided for all ages; the lagoon is calm and family-safe.
- Children must be able to wear a life jacket correctly and follow basic safety instructions.
- No experience or swimming certification needed.
Programme & duration
Approximately 1.5–2 hours. Dawn and dusk are best for wildlife — choose your slot in the schedule above.
What to bring
- Swimwear, or clothes that can get wet
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Closed or strap-on footwear
- All safety gear and a wetpack are included; mosquito repellent is provided
Meeting & pick-up
- Arrive 30 minutes before your start time — for registration, briefing and equipment fitting.
- Meet at our kayak base at Garadu Lagoon. Tuk tuk pick-up within 12 km on the pick-up variants.
- Your confirmation email carries the exact meeting point and time.
Who it’s for
For: Families, beginners, wildlife-watchers, anyone wanting a calm hour or two on the water.
Not for: Not a whitewater or open-sea paddle — this is a flat, protected lagoon (which is the point).
Wildlife
Indian flying fox (fruit bat) in the hundreds at dusk; water monitor; kingfishers; non-venomous green vine snakes in the mangroves; parakeets, mynahs and bulbuls; herons, cormorants and fish eagles; crabs and small fish under the kayak in clear water.
Choose your date
August 2026
Select a date to see availability for Self arrival & Self guided.