See Venice From Above And Below

Venice: the romance, the glamour… the paddling? There’s no doubt that this magical, water-based city is full of majestic cathedrals, beautiful squares, culture, carnivals and top notch cuisine, but what about the all-important canals? Well, now is your chance to experience the city in a brand new way . If you're not fond of a gondola, or would rather be in your own boat going at your own pace, kayaking is the activity for you. On our Venice experience, not only will you see the historical city from the ground and the air (heli tour, anyone?), but you’ll spend a fascinating three days kayaking through the canals, waterways and marshes exploring the unexplored nooks and crannies which most visitors miss.

Your Venitian palace

Staying at the super-stylish Ca Pisani hotel in the heart of the city’s artistic centre, you will be just a stone’s throw from the Accademia art gallery and bridge, and a short stroll from incredible sights, restaurants and ice-cream parlours of the city. A short vaporetto ride away lies the Venice lido, and your all-important kayak base. The perfect starting point for your Venice adventure, the Ca Pisani doubles up as an art gallery and a design hotspot – a sleek haven in the busy city to set the scene for your cutting-edge break.

Paddle the waterways

On the first morning, after a glamorous evening settling in, make your way to San Nicolò on the Lido di Venezia and hop in your kayak for day 1 of your grand waterways tour. Master the knack of paddling effectively before hitting the main waterways to glide past gondolas, vaporettos and water taxis. You have three days on the water but they don’t have to be taken consecutively, so if you fancy a bit of dry land, or to give your paddling arms a rest, we are more than happy to plan your trip around that. When you hit the water we’ll supply everything your need, from your expert guide to kayaks, paddles, life vest, paddling jackets and even a drybag for a change of clothes and valuables. Paddling round the city you’ll get a unique perspective on Venice’s epic islands, buildings, homes, churches, and monasteries. And each islands in the lagoon tells a story, whether it’s religious (think Franciscan and Benedictine monks), medical (San Servolo’s ex-lunatic asylum), artistic (you’ll see a lot of glass-blowing) or simply structurally and artistically beautiful, and your guide will fill you in on everything. Lunch times will be filled with land-based visits such as Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari and Santi Giovanni e Paolo. Each trip will be tailored to your skill and needs, so take a gentle paddle around the central lido, stop for long lunches, or, if you’re feeling energetic, push across to our favourite hidden gem, the brightly coloured fishing village on Burano island.

Birds’ eye view

Away from the water and up into the air: we definitely recommend a helicopter tour of the city. For a bird’s eye view of the UNESCO world heritage site, you’ll soar over the 18 small islands in the marshy lagoon which make up the city, and see the sandbars, bridges and traditional buildings from a totally new perspective. Simply amazing.

The grand finale

The best bit? You’ll still have time to see the incredible sights on land which give Venice its name as the Queen of the Adriatic. We can arrange comprehensive city tours with expert historians, but if you’re after something really special, we can also get you behind the scenes and into places no-one else can reach. Ask us about private houses and collections not open to the public, as well as after-hours trips to the Basilica di San Marco and the Ducal Palace. The real cream of the crop.