1000 Islands Kayaking

What 1000 Islands Kayaking does

1000 Islands Kayaking is a private Canadian outdoor recreation company founded in 2011 and headquartered at the historic Pumphouse on Gananoque's waterfront in Ontario. It offers sea kayaking experiences in the 1000 Islands region, operating seasonally from approximately May 9 through October 12. The company serves individual tourists, experienced paddlers, corporate groups, youth and school groups, and social organizations seeking guided or self-guided paddling experiences, certifications, and related water-based recreation.

The core offering comprises guided half-day, full-day, and multi-day camping kayak tours, alongside self-guided kayak rentals ranging from two-hour sessions to multi-day expeditions. Equipment packages include touring, tandem, youth, and recreational kayaks with all required safety gear, detailed navigation maps, and National Park beaching permits. The company also delivers Paddle Canada certified courses (Basic Skills, Level 1, Level 2) and rolling clinics, sells Boreal brand sea kayaks (new and used), and provides complementary power boat services including zoned shuttle transport and private sightseeing pontoon tours.

Revenue is generated on a unit-pricing, pay-as-you-go basis across multiple SKUs, with bookings processed directly via the company's website (integrated with the Peek booking platform), phone, and walk-in inquiries. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer, supported by organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram), TripAdvisor visibility, and a curated regional accommodations directory. Operational moats derive from Parks Canada permit access, Paddle Canada authorization, the Gananoque waterfront location, and a small team of nationally certified guides.

Name

1000 Islands Kayaking

Legal name

1000 Islands Kayaking

Website

https://1000islandskayaking.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

1000 Islands Kayaking is a private Canadian outdoor recreation company based in Gananoque, Ontario, offering guided kayak tours, self-guided rentals, Paddle Canada certification courses, kayak sales, and boat shuttle and sightseeing services to tourists, paddlers, and group customers in the 1000 Islands region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Tourism

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Marinas (713930), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other (487990)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)

akta.pro primary industry

Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Tours (Guided/Paddling Excursions) (THAJAJAF), Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Coastal Tours (THAAAIAF), Whitewater & Paddle Sports Centers (Rafting, Kayak, SUP, Canoe) (THAAAKAF), Marine Recreation Rentals & Tours Retail Counter (On-site Sales) (CRAMAIAM)

Keywords

• Guided kayak tours
• Kayak rental services
• Paddle canada certification
• Sea kayaking experiences
• Outdoor adventure tourism

Headquarters

HQ city

Gananoque

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Guided Kayak Tours: Revenue from guided half-day and full-day kayak tours for individuals and groups. Tours include equipment, certified guides, instruction, and safety gear. Pricing varies by duration (3-hour half-day vs 7-hour full-day) and age category (adult/youth).
2. Kayak Rentals: Self-guided kayak rentals ranging from 2-hour morning/evening sessions to multi-day expedition packages. Includes touring, tandem, youth, and recreational kayaks with full equipment. Additional revenue from camping equipment rentals.
3. Kayaking Courses and Certification: Paddle Canada certified courses including Basic Kayaking Skills, Level 1 Certification, Level 2 Certification, and Rolling Clinics. Multi-day intensive programs with professional coaching.
4. Kayak Sales: Sales of new and used Boreal brand kayaks (Epsilon P200, Muktuk, Kasko models) with free test paddles or rental discounts.
5. Power Boat Services: Boat shuttle services transporting customers to islands, sightseeing boat tours, and gear transportation. Hourly tour rates and zone-based shuttle pricing.
6. Guided Camping Tours: Multi-day guided camping trips including meals, equipment, kayaking, and island camping experiences in 1000 Islands National Park.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

1000 Islands Kayaking delivers sea kayaking experiences from its Gananoque, Ontario waterfront base, offering guided half-day, full-day, and multi-day camping tours; self-guided kayak rentals with all-inclusive equipment packages; Paddle Canada certified kayaking skills courses and rolling clinics; power boat shuttle and sightseeing services to National Park islands; and direct sales of Boreal brand sea kayaks. The company serves tourists, casual visitors, experienced paddlers, and specialty groups such as corporate teams, school groups, and social organizations.

Product overview

1000 Islands Kayaking operates as a single-location outdoor recreation company offering sea kayaking experiences in Gananoque, Ontario. The core offering consists of guided kayak tours (half-day, full-day, and multi-day camping trips) and self-guided kayak rentals, supplemented by power boat services (shuttle and sightseeing tours), professional kayaking courses (basic skills, Paddle Canada Level 1 and Level 2 certifications, rolling clinics), kayak sales (Boreal brand), and specialty group experiences. The company also maintains an accommodations directory. All tours and rentals operate from the 1000 Islands National Park area, with equipment, certified guides, and safety gear included in most packages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Guided Half-day Tours

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Parks CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner1000 Islands Kayaking works with Parks Canada to provide access to Thousand Islands National Park islands. The company includes National Park beaching permits with rentals and coordinates camping reservations through Parks Canada's system. This partnership enables exclusive access to park islands for customers.
• Paddle CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner1000 Islands Kayaking delivers Paddle Canada certified courses and uses Paddle Canada curriculum, waiver forms, and certification standards. The company is an authorized Paddle Canada training provider offering Basic Skills, Level 1, and Level 2 certification programs.

Scale indicators2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Paddle Canada: National paddling governing body that certifies instructors and curriculums. 1000 Islands Kayaking is an authorized training provider, making Paddle Canada a critical ecosystem enabler rather than a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• REI Co-op (Adventure Trips & Outdoor School): National outdoor retailer running guided trips and outdoor schools across paddling disciplines. Competes for the same instruction-seeking customer, but as part of a much broader retail and experiences portfolio.
• Nantahala Outdoor Center: Large, established U.S. paddling outfitter offering guided rafting, kayaking and instruction courses across multiple locations. A broader incumbent demonstrating the scaled version of the same guiding + instruction + rentals playbook.

Direct peers

• Gananoque Boat Line: Operator of sightseeing cruises departing from the Gananoque waterfront directly adjacent to 1000 Islands Kayaking. Competes for the same tourist visitor pool on the St. Lawrence River but uses larger passenger vessels rather than kayaks.
• White Squall Paddling Centre: Ontario-based paddling outfitter offering sea kayak tours, rentals, instruction and certifications near Georgian Bay. Closest direct analogue: similar DTC outdoor recreation model, multi-day guided trips, certification-adjacent curriculum, and comparable price points.
• Rockport Cruise Lines: 1000 Islands sightseeing boat tour operator offering short cruises and lunch/dinner options. Targets the same leisure tourist segment as 1000 Islands Kayaking's boat tour and shuttle products in the same regional corridor.

Regional players

• Bon Echo Provincial Park Outfitters: Paddling outfitters servicing Ontario provincial park destinations with kayak/canoe rentals and guided tours. Comparable business model and target market (Ontario outdoor recreation tourists), though anchored to a different park ecosystem.
• Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve: Large Ontario outdoor recreation property offering canoe, kayak and guided wilderness experiences. Comparable in service mix (rentals, courses, guided trips) but operates in a distinct geography (Haliburton Highlands vs. 1000 Islands).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/1000islandskayaking
• Instagraminstagram.com/1000islandskayaking
• Xx.com/1000ikc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1000islandskayak

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 1000 Islands Kayaking