Our Reviews
John Swinbank
18:03 02 Sep 22
A really magical trip! The bioluminescence was beautiful — much more striking than I had expected — and the whole... experience of being out on the lake at night was fantastic.The guides were professional and entertaining, and they really do assume no prior knowledge — kayaking is explained completely from scratch (so much so that we found it rather a slow start given that we've done a bit of kayaking before... but we soon forgot this once we were out on the water).The group was rather big — eight two-person kayaks, plus the two guides — which was fine, but did mean a bit of congestion out in the water. We spent a lot of time weaving between the other boats, especially when it got dark.Highly recommend this wonderful experience.read more
AnneMaria Morrin
23:30 16 Aug 22
Stunning location. The moon was up, we heard owls and a fox in the surrounding woods. The guides were professional and... as a novice on the water I felt very safe and comfortable. If you have the time, this is worth doing! Highly recommended.read more
ana collins
18:11 06 Aug 22
Our guide and assistant were punctual and organised. The evening was sunny. Once forms were filled in and waterproofs... were on we had some instructions on safety and technique. Our kayak around the lake was magical. It started at 9pm so it was bright. As the time went on the darkness enveloped us. The half moon and stars just added to the experience. Our guide would regularly stop to give us some history or science fact and also do a head count, he was very informative. On one side of the lake we were very sheltered from the moon so it was pitch dark, and the bioluminescent sparkling was utterly stunning here. Between looking up at the stars and down at the sparkling water I was in awe of what nature can look like when left alone. It was a most wonderful magical experience. Highly recommend it. Please keep Lough Ine clean, leave no trace of your visit behind. It's a special place.read more
alvara duggan
12:27 05 Aug 22
We did the night kayaking in lough Hyne it was an amazing experience!! The bioluminescence was like something from a... dream! Our guides were especially class Andrew & Sebi! I would recommend this experience to anyoneread more
St. Aäron
06:58 01 Aug 22
Amazing experience!Finally managed to do this while in Ireland as the previous 2 years it was fully booked for the... periods we were over!We arrived a few minutes late, but were reassured that it wasn't a problem and indeed, when we got there there was no fuss! We got equipped with waterproof pants and jacket straight away and joined the group for a short crash course on how to kayak! We both have quite a bit of experience, but it was still nice to see it all being explained as most rental companies don't, which results in lots of rotating kayaks.The guides were really friendly and chatty, with Guido having loads of knowledge about the lake and the ecosystem and just being a great storyteller!Weather conditions were pretty much perfect, with virtually no wind and a pleasant 18° 👌Going past the rapids in the dark sounded really cool and seeing the first pinprick sized flashes of white light in the water is something I'll remember for a long time!Normally you would hope for a completely dark night to experience the bioluminescence to the fullest but we got treated to another spectacular phenomenon in the form of a bright-as-day super-moon that came up after 2 hours or so, giving us plenty of time to experience the bio lightshow first!Seeing the moon rise like that over the hills was pretty unique though!The tour was over too soon, but soo worth the 2 year wait! 😁read more
Colm Farrell
17:58 18 Jul 22
I did the night kayaking on Lough Hyne in July 2022. It was a very enjoyable experience. It was well run, felt very... safe, was interesting and really fun. The bio luminesce was amazing! If you are in the area, don't miss it! It's not to be missed!read more
Wendy Hickey
13:35 12 Jul 22
We did the night kayaking on Lough Hyne last night and WOW!! What an amazing experience! Seeing the bioluminescent... Plankton light up with every touch to the surface of the lake, magical.The 2 guides we had were fantastic, Andrew & Sebi. They both were very professional and friendly and I felt very safe with them. Andrew with his calm way of explaining everything and his knowledge of the lake and it's history made for a very interesting trip.The water was so calm and the experience of kayaking in the night sky was surreal.I would highly recommend booking with Atlantic Sea Kayaking and experiencing it for yourself!Thank you lads for an amazing adventure and creating a space of calm, fun and feeling save, a space to allow the interest for kayaking to grow.read more
Helena Ronan
17:32 02 Jun 22
Great experience with Declan while kayaking on Lough Hyne! Gave us a wealth of knowledge about the marine and its rich... history. Would recommend!read more
Graham Smyth
09:10 21 May 22
Travelled from Dublin for this and it was amazing! The two guides (Guido and Tadgh) were fantastic, the stories,... history, facts were so interesting, they pointed out various constellations and the space station in the sky. They were witty, helpful - I can't compliment them enough. The kayaking itself was great fun and there are no words for the magic of the bioluminescence when the sun fully went down. Once in a lifetime experience. Do it!read more
Ken Collier
17:42 19 May 22
I drove several hours out of the way to go night kayaking, thinking it was going to be a wonderful, serene adventure.... Nope. A couple patrons decided to talk at high volume the WHOLE. TIME. Did the guides stop them, even after other patrons told the ladies to stop talking and constantly shushing them? Nope. Not a single word from the guides to the two possibly slightly intoxicated harpies who confused this excursion with a night club or pub.I did not $75 per person just for leadership to facilitate such an awful experience, and neither should. There are other companies that do the same thing (and for cheaper) go with them instead.read more
Donna Plunkett
10:17 14 Apr 22
Tyke and Ross were our guides for a wonderful evening kayak trip. Very knowledgeable and friendly. The stillness of the... lake was enhanced by their calm demeanor. It was a relaxing end to a busy day. Would recommend them again and again!!read more
Sinéad Loftus
10:38 24 Sep 21
Fantastic experience, knowledgeable and experienced guides and an incredible setting - would absolutely recommend to... everyone. We had never kayaked before and felt safe and comfortable, even confident by the end!read more
David Woods
08:13 06 Sep 21
We went on the Night Kayaking tour with the bioluminescence lake experience a few nights ago. What an amazing... experience. The lake was absolutely beautiful with the water sparkling and glowing with the glowing algae. The guides were fantastic and had so much context and history on the lake and area. When the skies cleared, we were also given a tour of the stars by one of the guides.Can't recommend this enough.read more
TheRollingDrone
16:32 15 Aug 21
One of the bestest things we did on our week long holiday to Cork. Peaceful setting, great history and folklore and... geographical and biological importance. We got a starry night which made it extra special. Highly recommend.read more
Seán Tack
17:51 29 Jul 21
Probably the best thing we’ve done in West Cork. Genuinely want to buy a kayak after it. Declan and Guido were... fantastic guides and made the whole excursion great fun. We saw the incredible bioluminescence and while that was amazing, we were lucky to get a clear night and saw a few billion stars in the night sky too. I will 100% be doing this again and highly recommend it if your thinking about it.read more
Grace Shalloo
21:18 15 Jul 21
Our night-time kayaking trip on Lough Hyne with Atlantic Sea Kayaking was so enjoyable. We felt very safe in the expert... care of our guides Declan and Darragh. Declan gave lots of information on the biodiversity of the lake as well as its history. Our trip was blessed with good weather and we loved seeing the bioluminescence. I would 100% recommend to anyone looking for a fun and unique activity in the Skibbereen/ Baltimore area. Looking forward to another kayaking trip with Atlantic Sea Kayaking in the future.read more
mazzer Mac
20:55 09 Jul 21
I've done three trips in the past and can't wait to do more, day time, night time, city or not, excellent ????
Sara Lamas
16:46 18 Oct 20
I cannot recommend this enough. We went night kayaking and it was by far the most amazing guided tour I have ever been... in! The bioluminescence, the lake at twilight, the astonishing nature, Declan's stories. I would do this a thousand times again, pure magic!read more
Isadora Fitzgerald
18:30 05 Sep 20
Just spent a fun-filled afternoon out kayaking with Declan and Tom, thank you very much for bringing us out showing us... the cave and islands and most importantly keeping us all safe. We had excellent weather for it. Throughly enjoyed the experience. I can 110% recommend Atlantic sea-kayaking ????read more
Paul O' Brien
20:14 31 Jul 20
I dont usually do reviews but this deserves all 5 stars and more.brilliant night out, great guide(Declan)this should... be on everyone's bucket list . Will definitely be backread more
Latest Trip Advisor Reviews
This trip was beautiful. Kieran and Ross were helpful, informative and fun. Great experience. I had to cancel last minute due to illness and the company very kindly gave me... read more
paulaDOctober 2, 2023
Exceeded expectations which were already high! Jim immediately put everyone at ease and filled us with confidence for the adventure ahead! We were so lucky with the weather and the... read more
OnefatladySeptember 8, 2023
Magical Experience - Our family recently got to experience the Night Kayaking Trip at Castlehaven Bay. It did not dissapoint, it was the most magical experience for us. It was our first time... read more
August 26, 2023
Well worth it - Had a great trip. Unfortunately only saw a tiny bit of bioluminescence but Declans knowledge, quips etc and the scenery and new experience of kayaking made it all worthwhile. ... read more
July 13, 2023
What a truly magical experience. We had a wonderful still and overcast night. Ciaran and Allen were wonderful hosts. The Lough in the dark is serene and beautiful.... read more
Marianne LJune 27, 2023
Night kayaking on lough hyne was really great. The bioluminescence was very obvious, better than expected but doesn't photograph well, I wouldn't both trying you'll only ruin your night vision.... read more
ruthk497June 12, 2023