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 kayak paddle along Lady Bird Lake. Along the way, your Echos of Texas guide shares Austin’s history, the ecology of the river, and the remarkable story of the Mexican free-tailed bats.

As sunset approaches, we’ll make our way toward the Congress Avenue Bridge and settle in on the water to watch for Austin’s famous bat emergence.

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 offers dedicated booking options for guests of The Driskill, with the choice to meet us at the shop or include round-trip transportation.

The standard booking is a shared experience. Your outing may include guests outside The Driskill and run concurrently with another scheduled tour. To reserve the guided experience exclusively for your party, add the Private Tour upgrade when booking.

Choose Your Tickets

• Tour Only — One ticket per guest. Meet us directly at Live Love Paddle on Lady Bird Lake.

• Tour + Transportation — One ticket per guest, including round-trip transportation between The Driskill and Live Love Paddle.

For transportation bookings, 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.

Make It Private

Purchase one Private Tour upgrade for your entire group, in addition to a tour ticket for every guest. The upgrade reserves your guided tour exclusively for your party; it does not include guest tickets or transportation.

For example, a private booking for four guests requires:

• Without transportation: 4 Tour Only tickets + 1 Private Tour upgrade.

• With transportation: 4 Tour + Transportation tickets + 1 Private Tour upgrade.

The kayak shop, launch area, and lake remain shared spaces and may be busy, even when you book a private experience.

WHEN AND WHERE TO MEET

Meet at Live Love Paddle 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time, unless we communicate a different arrival time. Departure times change with the season, so please check your booking details.

If you selected transportation, your hotel pickup time will be provided separately and will be earlier than the tour meeting time.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Approximately 2.5-hour guided kayak experience

• Kayak and paddle

• Life jacket and required safety equipment

• Glow stick for the paddle back after sunset

• Complimentary bottled water

• Individual storage locker at the kayak shop

• Restroom access before, during, and after the tour

• An experienced Echos of Texas guide sharing local history, wildlife, and bat information

• One guaranteed group photo per booking party

• Access to additional tour photos and videos, when available, through a shared Google Drive

• Round-trip transportation when selected at booking

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The route is approximately 3 miles round trip on the flat water of Lady Bird Lake. No previous kayaking experience is required. Your guide will explain the basics and help you get comfortable before launching.

Participants must be comfortable around water and prepared to paddle both directions. Wind can make the return paddle more challenging.

The return takes place after sunset. Bat emergence varies with the season, weather, and other natural conditions. Their timing, numbers, and visibility cannot be guaranteed.

Cancellations and rescheduling: Requests must be made at least 48 hours before the tour’s meeting time. 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.

WHAT TO BRING

Come dressed comfortably for an evening on the water. You may get wet while kayaking, so we recommend:

• Comfortable, quick-dry clothing

• Water-friendly shoes or sandals

• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat

• Insect repellent

• A light layer for cooler evenings

• A change of clothes and towel to leave in your locker

• A dry bag or waterproof phone bag if bringing belongings onto the water

Complimentary lockers are available at the shop for bags, wallets, hotel keys, and anything you’d prefer to leave ashore. Phones, cameras, and other belongings taken onto the water are at your own risk.

BEFORE BOOKING

We’re here for a great evening, plenty of smiles, and memories worth taking home. Like any outdoor water activity, kayaking also carries risks, including injury, death, and loss of personal property.

Each participant must sign a liability waiver before taking part in the experience. 

We’ll see you on the water.

Beyond the guidebook,
Echos of Texas