--- title: Castel Gandolfo Lake Kayak and Swim Tour lang: en type: tour city: Rome country: Italy price: 42 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.85 reviews: 716 duration_minutes: 180 languages: [en, it, es] free_cancellation: "true" guidekin_pick: Lake kayaking with a swim rank_in_category: 12 of 75 (Day Trips from Rome) schedule_checked: 2026-09-12 data_updated: 2026-10-03 canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/tours/castel-gandolfo-lake-kayak-and-swim-tour/ --- # Castel Gandolfo Lake Kayak and Swim Tour **Guidekin's take:** A kayak on Lake Albano below the Pope's summer palace, paddling past the ancient Roman ports, the naumachia site and the springboard the popes dived from, with a swim stop and snacks, and 716 reviews behind it. Guide and snacks are included at €42 per person, pickup is not. Bring a change of clothes, you will get splashed. In our comparison: #12 of 75 in Day Trips from Rome, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview With the kayak we will let you discover and tell you about ancient Roman ports, the naumachie (simulation of ancient Roman battles), the trampoline where the popes dived in the untouched lake waters, an ancient prehistoric village where kayak can still be see all the piles, and many other unique places immersed in nature. ## Before you book - Pickup differs by option: Hotel pickup only on 1 of 2 options (Morning Tour) - Starts 10:30, 15:30: 2 departures a day - Food included: see what is included - Age 8+: minimum age to join **Pickup:** Hotel pickup only on 1 of 2 options (Morning Tour) ## Key facts - Price: from €42 per person - Duration: 3h - Rating: 4.85/5 from 716 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: Canoa Kayak Academy - Group: Shared tour - Guide languages: English, Italian, Spanish - Start times: 10:30, 15:30 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-09-12 ## Reviews 4.85 from 716 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 97% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 697 of 716. - 5 stars: 647 (90%) - 4 stars: 50 (7%) - 3 stars: 7 (1%) - 2 stars: 7 (1%) - 1 star: 5 (1%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers enjoy the lake, swimming and patient guides; some find the paddling tiring. **Praised:** - Patient guides give clear kayaking instructions and share the lake's history - Quiet lake scenery offers a welcome break from Rome's crowds - Swimming stops in clear water help travellers cool off - Station pickups and return transfers make the lake easier to reach - Pizza breaks receive positive comments **Complaints:** - Some find paddling tiring, while others describe it as easy and relaxed - Some find English support limited, while others praise the guides' English Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2024-10-14 to 2026-09-28); last checked 2026-10-03. ## Tour options Prices are the operator's current list price for two travellers (whole euros); options sold only to bigger parties say so; pick the option on the booking page. | Option | Price | Guide languages | Details | |---|---|---|---| | Morning Tour | €42 / person | Spanish, Italian, English | this time is available all the days of the year Slice of Pizza Pickup included | | Afternoon Tour | €42 / person | Spanish, Italian, English | this time is only available in spring and summer | ## What's included - Local guide - Private tour - Snacks ## Not included - Hotel pickup - Remember to bring a change of your clothes, sometimes they might get a little wet with drops. ## Itinerary 1. **Lake Albano** (15m; admission included) - After a briefing on land, where we will give you the basics on kayaking technique and usage, we will head into the water and begin paddling for our tour. 2. **Giro del lago di Albano (anello)** (2h; admission included) - We will take a tour exploring the ancient village of Le Macine, the Pope's diving board, and the hermits' houses. Midway through the tour, we’ll take a break in the forest for swimming and diving, and we will offer you water and pizza. ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 10:30, 15:30 - Schedule last checked: 2026-09-12 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Meeting point The meeting point is at the Beach in front of Saroli Tennis Club Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJnQMg5NGFJRMRIow-hPXHW-s Ends: back at the meeting point ## Good to know - Public transportation options are available nearby - Suitable for all physical fitness levels - Children must be accompanied by an adult ## Compared with other Day Trips from Rome | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #12 of 75** | €42 | 3h | 4.85 (716) | shared | | [Premium Minivan Trip from Rome: Pompeii Tour & Lunch in Sorrento](/italy/rome/tours/premium-minivan-trip-from-rome-pompeii-tour-lunch-in-sorrento/?format=md) | €169 | 11h | 4.97 (402) | shared | | [Pompeii and Amalfi Coast Private Day Trip from Rome](/italy/rome/tours/pompeii-and-amalfi-coast-private-day-trip-from-rome/?format=md) | €550 | 12h | 4.98 (247) | private | | [Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio Full Day Private Tour from Rome](/italy/rome/tours/orvieto-and-civita-di-bagnoregio-full-day-private-tour-from-rome/?format=md) | €363 | 8h | 4.99 (163) | private | Ranked #12 of 75 in Day Trips from Rome by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €42 to €1020, median €200; typical length 11h. 27 of 75 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/day-trips-from-rome/?format=md ## More in Rome - All Rome tours: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/tours/castel-gandolfo-lake-kayak-and-swim-tour/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/?format=md