The Driskill Austin Sunset & Bat Kayak Experience
An experience on Lady Bird Lake, tailored exclusively for guests of The Driskill.About the Experience
THE DRISKILL AUSTIN SUNSET & BAT KAYAK EXPERIENCE
Experience one of Austin's most remarkable evenings from the best seat in the city—the water.
Tailored especially for guests of The Driskill, your evening begins with a relaxed paddle along Lady Bird Lake as your Echos of Texas guide brings the city around you to life—from Austin's history and the ecology of the river to the remarkable story of the Mexican free-tailed bats.
As sunset approaches, we'll make our way beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge and settle in on the water. During peak season, as many as 1.5 million bats call the bridge home, forming the world's largest urban bat colony.
Then, as the city begins to light up around us, we'll paddle back through downtown Austin and return to the kayak shop.
After the emergence, we'll paddle beneath the downtown lights back to the kayak shop, where you'll have access to restrooms and anything you left securely stored before the tour.
THE DRISKILL GUEST EXPERIENCE
This experience has been tailored specifically for guests of The Driskill, with dedicated booking options and the choice to add round-trip transportation between the hotel and the kayak shop.
Choose:
• Tour Only — Meet us directly at the kayak shop on Lady Bird Lake.
• Tour + Transportation — Round-trip transportation between The Driskill and the kayak shop is included, so we'll take care of getting you there and back.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
• Approximately 2.5-hour guided kayak experience
• Kayak and paddle
• Life jacket
• Glow stick for the paddle back after sunset
• Complimentary bottled water
• Complimentary locker for valuables
• Photos from your experience
• Restroom access before, during, and after the tour
• Experienced Echos of Texas guide
• Optional round-trip transportation from The Driskill
WHAT TO BRING
Come dressed for an evening on the water. We recommend:
• Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing
• Shoes or sandals that can get wet
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• A hat, if desired
• A light layer on cooler evenings
You may get a little wet while kayaking, so avoid bringing anything onto the water that shouldn't get wet. Complimentary lockers are available at the kayak shop for phones, wallets, bags, hotel keys, and other valuables.
GOOD TO KNOW
No previous kayaking experience is required. This experience is beginner friendly, and your guide will help get everyone comfortable before heading onto the lake.
Restrooms are available before launching, during our time near the Congress Avenue Bridge, and again when we return to the kayak shop.
The return paddle takes place after sunset.
Bat emergence varies with season, weather, and other natural conditions. Because the bats are wild animals, the number of bats, exact emergence time, and visibility cannot be guaranteed.
Duration: Approximately 2.5 hours
Distance: Approximately 3 miles round trip
Experience Level: Beginner friendly
See the Austin everyone comes to visit—and discover the side of it you can only find from the water.
Beyond the guidebook.
Meet Your Host
Echos of Texas is an Austin-based outdoor experience company built around a simple idea: the best way to know Texas is to get out in it.
Our guides combine local knowledge, storytelling, natural history, and a genuine love for the outdoors to create experiences that go beyond sightseeing. We want you to understand a little more about the places you explore, notice things you might otherwise pass by, and leave with a great story to tell.
From Austin's waterways and wildlife to the wild places beyond the city, we're here to show you a side of Texas you won't find from a tour bus.
End Your Evening on the Water.
Choose your date and reserve your Driskill kayak experience.