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 to watch for the emergence of Austin’s famous bat colony.

Afterward, 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 your experience:

• Shared Experience — Join a guided outing that may include other guests and run alongside another scheduled tour.

• Private Experience — Enjoy a dedicated guide and a tour reserved exclusively for your party. The kayak shop, launch area, and lake remain shared spaces and may be busy.

Choose your transportation:

• Tour Only — Meet us directly at the kayak shop on Lady Bird Lake.

• Tour + Transportation — We arrange round-trip transportation between The Driskill and the kayak shop. Groups of fewer than four guests travel through Uber, using Uber Comfort or Uber Black when available. Groups of four or more travel by passenger bus through Fetii or Aux. Pickup instructions and vehicle details will be communicated on the day of your tour.

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

• Round-trip transportation from The Driskill when selected at booking

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 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.

The kayak shop is an active outfitter serving other visitors. Check-in and launch areas can be busy, particularly on weekends, even when you book a private experience.

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.

Participants must cancel at least 48 hours before the tour’s meeting time to receive a refund. Cancellations within 48 hours and no-shows are nonrefundable. If we cancel because of weather, you’ll receive a refund or have the option to reschedule.

See the Austin everyone comes to visit—and discover the side of it you can only find from the water.

Beyond the guidebook.