Located roughly an hour southwest of our Reno homes for sale, Lake Tahoe is one of the most stunning freshwater lakes in the country. With glass-smooth water and towering mountain peaks looming over the shore, it's no surprise that this is a popular spot for luxury boat tours and sightseeing cruises.

Since our real estate agents have been on almost all of these cruises and tours at one point or another, we thought we'd ask them which ones they'd recommend to folks who have never had the pleasure. Take a look at our list of top Lake Tahoe boat tours and get ready to set sail this summer.

Lake Tahoe's Best Scenic Boat Tours and Cruises for Summer 

M.S. Dixie II - Zephyr Cove, NV 

Address: 760 US Highway 50, Zephyr Cove, NV 89448 

The Zephyr Cove resort's M.S. Dixie II boat tour was voted the "Best Cruise in Nevada" by readers of Nevada Magazine, offering a look at some of Emerald Bay's most beautiful sights. Passengers get to see marvels like: 

• Fannette Island, the bay's only island and home to some picturesque stone teahouse ruins 
• Eagle Falls, a magnificent cascade of water on a rocky slope that drops straight into the lake 
• Vikingsholm, a Scandinavian-style estate built in 1929

The daytime version of the cruise lasts 2.25 hours and costs $99 for adults or $55 for kids aged 3 to 11. Lunch and snacks are available for purchase but are not included with your ticket.

Tahoe Gal - Tahoe City, CA 

Address: 952 N. Lake Blvd. Tahoe City, CA 96145 

Tahoe Gal is a historic paddle-wheeler departing from Tahoe City on the North Shore. Hop on board any day of the week to enjoy one of these standard cruises:

• The Emerald Bay Cruise, a 3.5-hour trip across the scenic inlet  
• The Morning Sightseeing Cruise, a 1.5-hour morning trip around the lake with an optional chef-prepared brunch  
• The Sunset Cruise, a longer 2.5-hour experience with an enchanting view of the sun setting over the water, and a delicious fine dining dinner menu to order from 

Adult tickets cost as little as $70 for the Happy Hour Cruise. Check their website for departure times and ticket prices for the tour you're most excited about.  

Lake Tahoe Bleu Wave - South Lake Tahoe, CA 

Address: 2435 Venice Drive E., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 

Lake Tahoe Bleu Wave runs three types of public cruises from the Tahoe Keys Marina and Yacht Club near our South Lake Tahoe homes for sale. These include: 

• The Emerald Bay Sightseeing Cruise, a 2-hour afternoon trip into the bay to see the usual sights and get a sneak peek at the luxury homes on the lake's east shore 
• The Emerald Bay Happy Hour Cruise, a late afternoon tour that follows the same route as the earlier cruise but offers an expanded drink selection 
• The Emerald Bay Sunset Cruise, an evening version of the sightseeing cruise set against the backdrop of the setting sun 

Tickets for all three are $137.50 per person and include non-alcoholic drinks and snacks, plus one free alcoholic drink of your choice.   

Tahoe Cruises - South Lake Tahoe, CA 

Address: 900 Ski Run Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 

Tahoe Cruises has two large passenger boats operating on the lake:  

• The Spirit of Tahoe, an 80-foot tour boat with two levels used for their Emerald Bay Day Cruises, Happy Hour Cruises, and Sunset Champagne Cruises with bottomless champagne 
• The Safari Rose, a more luxurious 80-foot yacht used for premium cruises like their 5 o'Clock Happy Hour Cocktails & Mocktails Cruise, Wednesday Wine Cruise, and Historic Glenbrook East Shore Brunch Cruise 

Tahoe Cruises typically offers daily departures, with schedules and pricing varying by cruise.  

Tahoe Sailing Charters - Tahoe City, CA 

Address: 700 N. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA 96145 

Tahoe Sailing Charters offers four types of public cruises on Lake Tahoe during the summer months: 

• Scenic Shoreline cruises, 1.5-hour voyages through calm morning or mid-day waters
• Afternoon cruises, 2-hour tours given every day from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (drinks included) 
• Moonrise Twilight cruises, a special version of the evening cruises only offered on full moon nights 

Adult Scenic Shoreline tickets cost just $90 while Moonrise Twilight cruise tickets cost $150 each, with prices for the other two experiences falling somewhere in between.   

Clearly Tahoe - South Lake Tahoe, CA, Zephyr Cove, NV, and Incline Village, NV 

Address: Varies by tour location 

Clearly Tahoe does things a little differently from the other tour companies we've talked about today. Instead of passively sailing on a tour boat, you'll be paddling your own kayak or canoe on their guided tours. They offer four kinds of experiences:  

• Eco Canoe Tours, 2.5-hour journeys along the marshes of the Truckee River on the northwestern side of the lake
• Clear Kayak Tours, 4-hour guided tours in fully transparent kayaks that let you see all the rocks, plants, and fish in the water below 
• Explorer Tours, a 4-hour trip out to the middle of the lake in a tritoon explorer, equipped with clear kayaks you can launch from the larger boat 
• LED Night Kayak Tours, shorter nighttime experiences that let you paddle around under the stars in a brightly lit, glowing kayak 

Prices depend on the type of tour you book, how many people you're bringing along, whether they're adults or children, and how many of you will be sharing a canoe or kayak. 

Enjoy Endless Lakeside Leisure This Summer 

Even the longest lake cruises only last a few hours. Living near a lake gives you all the time in the world for boating, fishing, swimming, and just relaxing by the water. Your new home near Lake Tahoe is waiting for you. Contact us today and let us help you find it.