Nafplio: Sea Kayak Medieval Castles Tour & Fortress Views

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/18

Duration4h

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Kayak past Bourtzi Island castle and beneath Palamidi’s cliffs with local stories

You’ll paddle along Nafplio’s coastline with a small group, circling Bourtzi Island Castle and gliding beneath ancient fortresses while your local guide shares stories from Greek and Venetian times. Expect salty air, simple snacks under a tarp, laughter over tricky Greek words, and time to float quietly with views you won’t forget soon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sea kayak tour of Nafplio fortresses

See Bourtzi Island Castle from lighthouse
Discuss port defenses and take photos
Paddle around Acronafplia Fortress walls
View headland and watchtower from below
Paddle below Palamidi Fortress cliffs
Admire Palamidi Fortress architecture

The Experience

We slid our kayaks into the water just below Nafplio’s old town, paddles clinking a little as we got used to the rhythm. Our guide, Dimitris, had this habit of pausing mid-story to point out a detail on the fortress walls — like a cannon port or a weird bit of stonework. The sea was calm but tasted sharp, salty on my lips. I could smell sunscreen and that faint tang of seaweed as we drifted closer to Bourtzi Island Castle. It looks tiny from shore but up close it’s all thick walls and odd angles. I tried to imagine being stuck out there guarding the port in winter — not for me.

Paddling around Acronafplia Fortress was quieter than I expected; you just hear your own breathing and the slap of water against stone. Dimitris asked if we wanted to try saying “Acronafplia” in Greek — Li laughed when I tried (probably butchered it). The cliffs looked almost golden in the late morning sun, and sometimes you’d catch a whiff of wild thyme drifting down from above. We stopped for snacks under a makeshift shade tarp stretched between two kayaks — nothing fancy, but after paddling it tasted perfect.

The craziest part for me was gliding right under Palamidi Fortress. You look up and it’s just sheer rock with this crown of walls on top, 280 meters above you. It made me feel small in a good way. Dimitris told us about how soldiers used to run up those steps — I can barely climb them now without stopping for breath. On the way back, we floated quietly for a while; nobody talked much, just watching gulls circle over the water. I still think about that view sometimes when I’m stuck at my desk.

What’s included

Your day includes all kayak safety gear plus first aid equipment carried by guides, use of snorkels and masks if you want to swim or float near shore, bottled water and simple snacks under shade tarps during breaks, use of a camera for your own snaps (with photos sent afterward), personal insurance coverage throughout the trip, plus transfer back to Nafplio if your route finishes away from town so you don’t have to worry about logistics.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by PanExpeditions