Yes, you read that correctly.

Kayaking.

Wine.

A kayaking wine tour.

I’ve been on a lot of wine tours during my travels, but the kayaking wine tour with Hoodoo Adventures pretty much trumps the rest.

After a delicious breakfast the Bench Market, we headed down to the Lakeshore on foot and met up with the team at Hoodoo Adventures. They prepped us, matched us with our kayaks and gave us the low-down on kayaking in Okanagan Lake.

Before I knew it, I was in a bright red one-person kayak, paddling my way out of the harbour. I started out a little nervous, as I was given the longest kayak with a curved bottom (and therefore most likely to rock in the water), but our guide ensured me that I would be just fine.

She was right.

Hammock at Three Mile Point Beach

Our kayaking trip took us from Penticton to Three Mile Point, along the Naramata Bench, over a distance of (you guessed it) three miles.

We traced the edge of the lake, around a couple of bends and navigated past floating house boats and paddleboarders. I swerved in and out of formation with my group, as I explored the open spaces and relished in little moments of solitude on the open water.

Just as I thought my untrained arms might have contemplated giving out, our guide announced that we were there. It was the perfect distance.

As we paddled into shore, I caught a flicker of white netting hanging from a tree by the water. Immediately I knew what it was. My hammock addiction kicked into overdrive and I took off for the beach, pulling my kayak out of the water and quickly running over to the hammock.

I didn’t want to go any further.

I wanted to hang there for the rest of the day.

For the rest of my life.

Wine, vines & bathing suits at Ruby Blues Winery

Eventually, I managed to pull myself from the lakeside bliss and climbed into a van that took us to our first winery, which was Ruby Blues Winery.

Still dripping wet, we pulled up in our bathing suits and kayak gear.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the scene, as we lined up in front of the otherwise classy wine bar, looking like we had literally just climbed out of the lake, and yet the winemaker didn’t bat an eyelash. I loved everything about it.

Ruby Blues was another quintessential Okanagan vineyard setting, with a patio and vines overlooking the entire surrounding valley and glistening lake below. Along with an adorable winery pup and its very own line of custom heels, it was a great first stop on the kayaking wine tour.

The rest of the tour was much the same.

Casual attitude and classy adventure.

I’d say that the entire morning was my favourite one, and included 2 of my top 10 favourite things in the Okanagan Valley.

Those BC locals really know how to get creative.

Here are some of my favourite photos from the trip:

This trip was made possible by Destination BC.
All thoughts & opinions are my own.

What’s the coolest wine tour you’ve been on?