This thesis interrogates the intersections of gender and emotional labour in an exploratory study of guided kayak tours. The kayak tour is a socially produced location where guides hold the double role of entertainer and protector of their clients. The social space of the tour not only constructs and markets to particular clients (which impact guide-clients interactions), but also constructs particular gender locations for guides. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were conducted to produce rich qualitative data, and were supplemented by fieldwork and examination of promotional materials. Guides’ stories offer detailed accounts of the emotional labour in which they engage as they produce a tour experience for clients. They also reveal the ways in which this labour is intertwined with their gender projects. As kayaking is unexamined within sociological literature, this thesis contributes to an understanding of the social world and furthers knowledge on the complexities of gender and emotional labour. / viii, 112 leaves ; 29 cm