Lake Tahoe is a vast body of water. It is so big that it is difficult to understand. You can watch it from the shore. You can watch it from the top of the gondola ride at Heavenly. You can drive all the way around it. They are all great ways to see Lake Tahoe, but nothing is like being in a boat in the middle of all those beautiful, clear cobalt blue waters, looking at the mountains. In fact, the best way to get around Lake Tahoe is to get out in the middle of it.
If you don’t have a boat or don’t want to charter one, the best way to do that is to take a Lake Tahoe cruise. Here’s what you need to know about them.
Reasons to get around Lake Tahoe on a boat cruise
In case it’s not obvious, here are some of the reasons you’ll want to take a Lake Tahoe boat tour:
The view of the lake is not the same as when you are driving or walking along the shore. The way you experience it is also different. You cannot get an idea of the size of the lake or its surroundings until you are in the middle.
If you stay on shore, you will never see the lake’s water color change from aquamarine to cobalt as it grows deeper below you.
A Lake Tahoe cruise is also an easy way to see Emerald Bay , where Vikingsholm Castle crowns a fjord-like scene. On the bay’s tiny Fannette Island, Vikingsholm owner Lora Knight’s abandoned teahouse breeds over 300-year-old bonsai, naturally.
On a Lake Tahoe cruise, you get a better view of the bowl-shaped mountainous terrain that surrounds the lake.
Lake Tahoe Cruising Practice
Book your Lake Tahoe cruise in advance if the area is busy, especially in the summer and on vacation weekends.
From inside the ship’s cabin, the views look like scenes from a movie. To fully enjoy the experience, step outside and feel the wind, sun, and splashes.
Wear A LOT of high-potency sunscreen. The fine air along with the reflection of the water will cause your skin to burn much faster than normal. And because of reflection, this is a place where even the wide-brimmed hat won’t help much.
North Lake Tahoe Boat Tour Empresas
Tahoe Gal is a rowboat that departs from Tahoe City on the north side of the lake. It looks like one of those boats you might have seen on the Mississippi River in Huck Finn’s time. They offer lunch and brunch cruises, along with sunset and happy hour tours and some special event tours that include 4th of July fireworks.
Wild Goose II is a new ship inspired by the classics of the golden age. It’s available for charter, but they also do cocktail cruises from Tahoe Vista on the north shore a couple nights a week from mid-June to mid-September.
Action Watersports in Incline Village operates the Sierra Cloud, a catamaran that operates out of the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe Boat Tour Empresas
MS Dixie II is a Mississippi River style paddle wheel and the largest ship operating on the lake. It departs from the Zephyr Cove Resort on the southeast side of the lake.
Tahoe Bleu Wave is a luxury yacht that departs from Round Hill Pine Beach, a little south of Zephyr Cove on the southeast coast. They offer tours to Emerald Bay, lunch cruises, and night tours in the summer.
Tahoe Cruises takes you on a tour on the Safari Rose, an elegant and classic 1950s motor yacht. Their tours include a barbecue lunch in Emerald Bay, along with happy hour and sunset trips. They depart from Round Hill Pines Resort on the southeast side of the lake. Your free shuttle will pick you up at many locations around the lake.
Camp Richardson Marina is home to the Rum Runner, which will take you on a short cruise from Camp Richardson to Emerald Bay (summer only).
Action Watersports at Timber Cove Marina in South Lake Tahoe also operates the Tahoe Thunder high speed boat ride and the Windsong Sailing Yacht.
Tahoe Lake Tours offers private tours on a 26 foot yacht departing from the Tahoe Keys Marina. You pay by the hour, two to four hours per trip, and the ship can carry six passengers.
