A kayak is one of the easiest ways to get started on the water - you need no course and no gear of your own, just a well-chosen route and a few things sorted out in advance. Most of what goes wrong on a first trip comes not from a lack of skill but from a lack of preparation: too long a stretch, water too cold, no change of clothes. Below I take you through it in order - from choosing the route to getting back to the car.
Start with a route that fits the group
For your first time, choose a short stretch of a calm, lowland river with no awkward portages - ten to fifteen kilometres is plenty for a few hours. You match the route to the least experienced person in the group, and when children are coming along or someone is sitting in a kayak for the first time, a two-person kayak is better, because it is steadier and more forgiving than a single. How to read a trail description and what to watch for when choosing, I set out in the guide on how to choose a kayak route.
Check the water level and weather before you go
Even an easy route can let you down when the water is wrong. Too low a level exposes rocks and shallows, too high a level speeds up the current and floods the places where you portage. The day before you set off, check the current water level at the nearest gauge - the data comes from the state hydrological service IMGW-PIB - and the weather forecast, especially wind and rainfall. On a small river a day or two of heavy rain can change the conditions, and on a lake it is the strength of the wind that decides your safety. Checking your equipment and getting a sense of the conditions on the route before you start are, in any case, required of the person in charge of the kayak by the water-tourism regulations themselves.
The buoyancy aid: what the law says, and what common sense says
A good deal of confusion has grown up around the buoyancy aid, so it is worth separating two things. The law does not require every kayaker who can swim to wear one - it does require the kayak to be equipped with buoyancy aids, one for each person on board. There is one exception, though: a person who cannot swim must wear a buoyancy aid at all times on the water. Whatever the letter of the law, common sense rules otherwise - you put the buoyancy aid on at the start and wear it for the whole trip, because it helps only when it is on you, not when it is lying in the bottom of the kayak. Most rentals hand it out with the gear anyway and expect it to be worn.
Cold water is more dangerous than it seems
On a warm, sunny day it is easy to dress for the air temperature and forget the temperature of the water - and it is the water that decides your safety if you capsize. Water draws heat from the body many times faster than air, which is why in spring and autumn, when it can be cold, even a short immersion quickly saps your strength. The moment you go in there is an involuntary, sharp gasp and the first moments of panic - and that is exactly when a buoyancy aid you are wearing matters most, keeping you at the surface. Hence the simple rule kayakers repeat: dress for the temperature of the water, not the air.
How to dress for your first trip
In summer, when the water is warm, a quick-drying shirt, shorts, water shoes, a cap and sunglasses on a strap are enough. Avoid cotton - once wet it stays wet and cold for a long time. Outside high summer, when the water is cool, add a warm layer of wool or fleece, and for genuinely cold water a neoprene wetsuit. Always bring a dry change of clothes in a dry bag - after an accidental dip it can save the rest of the day. The whole business of dressing for the season and the water temperature I set out in the guide on how to dress for kayaking.
What to pack
For a few hours you take little, but pack it wisely: a supply of drinking water, something to eat, sunscreen, a charged phone in a waterproof case and a small first-aid kit. Anything that cannot get wet, pack in a dry bag and carry inside the kayak, not loose on deck, because in a capsize it will float off with the current. The full list for a day trip and for longer, I have gathered in the guide on what to take on a kayak trip.
The basics on the water and what to do if you capsize
On a calm river there is no secret to paddling - the kayak goes with the current, and you use the paddle to correct your line. Stay with the group and don't stray far from the others, especially at the start. If you capsize, don't panic: in a buoyancy aid you will stay at the surface, and the main thing is to hold on to the kayak and paddle and calmly swim or wade to the bank. In a shallow, lowland river the bottom is often within reach of your feet. The remaining safety rules - weirs, cold water, weather - I have gathered in the guide on staying safe on a kayak trip.
Logistics: start, finish and getting back
River trails are usually linear, so think through your return before you set off. The simplest thing is to rent a kayak on the spot - rentals will usually bring the gear to the start and collect it from the finish, so you don't have to juggle a car or paddle back upstream. If you are going in your own kayak, arrange for someone to pick you up. It is best to book the gear in advance, especially at weekends and in the holidays.
In short: your first trip step by step
Choose a short, calm stretch to suit the group's strength and book a kayak from a rental that will bring it to the start and collect it from the finish. The day before, check the water level and weather. Dress for the temperature of the water, pack a dry change and your bits and pieces in a dry bag, and put the buoyancy aid on at the start and keep it on to the end. On the water, stay with the group and paddle calmly - the rest will come by itself.