South Carolina

Kayak the Lowcountry

Program No. 12440RJ
Join experts for a relaxed kayaking adventure in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, where you’ll paddle historic waterways, learn about regional culture and enjoy home-cooked meals.

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
Activity Level: Outdoor: Spirited (3)
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Nov 3 - Nov 8, 2024
Starting at
1,799
Mar 30 - Apr 4, 2025
Starting at
1,899
Nov 9 - Nov 14, 2025
Starting at
1,899
Activity Level: Outdoor: Spirited (3)
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Nov 3 - Nov 8, 2024
Starting at
2,259
Mar 30 - Apr 4, 2025
Starting at
2,359
Nov 9 - Nov 14, 2025
Starting at
2,359
Activity Level: Outdoor: Challenging (3)
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Filling Fast!
Nov 10 - Nov 15, 2024
Starting at
1,799
Apr 6 - Apr 11, 2025
Starting at
1,899
Nov 16 - Nov 21, 2025
Starting at
1,899
Activity Level: Outdoor: Challenging (3)
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Filling Fast!
Nov 10 - Nov 15, 2024
Starting at
2,259
Apr 6 - Apr 11, 2025
Starting at
2,359
Nov 16 - Nov 21, 2025
Starting at
2,359

At a Glance

Discover the beauty and secrets of South Carolina’s Lowcountry waterways, home to Spanish moss, marsh grasses, blackwater and abundant wildlife. Paddle on salt creeks, freshwater rivers and venture into woodland swamps as you study the ecological and historical culture of the Lowcountry, observing species of birds and wildflowers visible only from the water.
Activity Level
Varies by date
Varies by date. OUTDOOR: SPIRITED Dates: Intended for beginner and intermediate paddlers. Kayak 4 miles daily (about 3 hours); lift kayaks and gear. OUTDOOR: CHALLENGING Dates: Experienced and fit paddlers receive advanced instruction that assumes knowledge of strokes and techniques. Paddling up to 12 miles daily; sitting in kayak up to 4 hours; carrying kayak and gear. Conditions may include wind and opposing currents. Please note all our kayaks are singles; if you have never paddled a kayak solo before, we recommend that you choose the “Outdoor: Spirited” version of this program.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Paddlers will explore history first-hand from the water, meandering through salt marshes, past cypress trees, or under stately live oaks.
  • Enjoy delicious contemporary takes on lowcountry fare like Lowcountry Boil or collards, prepared by a local chef!
  • Relax and learn during various evening activities: study SC by Map, meet a sweetgrass basket maker, or hear stories from the lowcountry--there's something different every night.

General Notes

The Retreat Difference: This unique, often basic and no-frills experience at a Road Scholar Retreat includes opportunities for light exercise, interaction with the local community, an authentic farm-to-table or locally sourced meal and evening entertainment on at least one night. Small group program limited to 13 participants. Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
April Childress
A native of South Carolina, April Childress has been sea kayaking for more than a decade. She is a popular instructor for Road Scholar programs, and she has kayaked in the Lower Exumas; rafted the Grand Canyon; served on a Mars Society research team in the Canadian High Arctic; and has photographed blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos Islands. April thinks there is no place in the world like South Carolina, and no better way to explore it than by water.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of April Childress
April Childress View biography
A native of South Carolina, April Childress has been sea kayaking for more than a decade. She is a popular instructor for Road Scholar programs, and she has kayaked in the Lower Exumas; rafted the Grand Canyon; served on a Mars Society research team in the Canadian High Arctic; and has photographed blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos Islands. April thinks there is no place in the world like South Carolina, and no better way to explore it than by water.
Profile Image of Andy Smith
Andy Smith View biography
Andy is a whitewater instructor, attorney, gardener and river trip leader who lives in Mountain Rest, South Carolina with his wife Cina. Their farmstead is three miles from the Chattooga River, where he has been hosting paddlers since 1979. As an attorney, Andy dedicated twenty years to environmental protection and conservation. He has shucked oysters at a jazz club in New Orleans, managed a rustic fly-in resort on Crooked Island in The Bahamas and currently works at the Airey Law Firm in Seneca, South Carolina.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
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