Top 15 Tours in Hilton Head Island

1.2-Hour Hilton Head Guided Kayak Nature Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,620 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $47Our pick

Launch from Shelter Cove Marina for a gentle, two-hour paddle through Broad Creek’s salt marshes, tidal rivers, and creeks. Your guide leads a short safety lesson, then points out birds, dolphins, plants, and local history. Guides such as Wayne, Shannon, Paddy, and Miles are praised for making beginners feel safe and welcome.

“We had a great experience on our Friday morning (10am) kayak tour! Our guide, Madison, was very knowledgeable and ensured everyone on the trip could hear and see her. The roundtrip was leisurely and our two novice teenagers really enjoyed the single kayaks. We spotted a manatee swimming alongside our group! The boat staff were friendly and efficient getting us in and out of the water quickly for more time to float. Highly recommend booking this 2 hour tour!”

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2.Hilton Head Island Dolphin Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,424 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $39

Cruise Broad Creek from Palmetto Bay Marina for about 90 minutes with a Coast Guard licensed captain and local guide. Guides such as Captain Kate, Captain Pete, Wendy, Kim, and Jamie share facts about dolphins, marsh life, birds, and Hilton Head Island. The boat holds up to 45 people, and dolphin sightings are guaranteed.

“It was very informative and Captain Pete and Wendy did an exceptional job. Their knowledge and service were awesome.”

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3.Daufuskie Island Guided History Tour from Hilton Head

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,046 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $115

Travel by boat from Shelter Cove Marina to remote Daufuskie Island, then explore its historic side by golf cart with guides such as Dean, Andy, Pete, Boo, and Bayard. Expect about 4.5 hours of island stories, wildlife watching, historic churches and schools, artisan stops, and round-trip transport. Bring a light jacket and a snack.

“Captain Dean was wonderful. His love and knowledge of the Island made the trip. Lots of history, fun interaction with us. Took the time to spot Dolphins a long the way. Highly recommend taking this tour with Capt Dean!”

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4.Beaufort’s #1 Horse & Carriage History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 913 reviews · from $35

Meet Sea Island Carriage Company at 1010 Bay St. for a 50 to 55 minute ride through Beaufort’s historic district. Your guide, perhaps Laura or Nicole, shares stories of the Antebellum South, Civil War sites, churches, homes, and movie locations while your horse carries up to 16 people through town. The ride ends where it begins.

“This trip is very informative and provides a lot of history about Beaufort and America in General. This was a real history lesson in 2 hours”

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5.Hilton Head Island: Daytime Dolphin Watching Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 700 reviews · 1h 30m · from $39

Join Lowcountry Watersports for a 90-minute, English-language cruise from Palmetto Bay Marina. A Coast Guard licensed captain and local guide, including popular crew members such as Wendy, Kate, Pete, and Kim, lead you through Hilton Head waters in search of bottlenose dolphins. Expect covered seating, local history, wildlife, and views toward Harbour Town and Daufuskie Island.

“Loved this experience! We are able to see many dolphins fairly close during the tour. Our guide Wendy was entertaining and answered all our questions. My son was thrilled to drive the boat under Captain Wyatt’s watch / assistance. Overall, it was a wonderful family event we all enjoyed!”

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6.Hilton Head Pirate Ship Adventure Sail aboard the Black Dagger

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 668 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $47

Board the Black Dagger at Harbour Town for a 90-minute family cruise led by costumed pirates such as Scurvy and Stinky Pete. Kids receive pirate names, face paint, tattoos, costumes, and a treasure map, then help defeat Stinky Pete with water cannons before collecting real take-home treasure.

“All actors were so great with the kids and super patient with them, as well. My son had an absolute blast and is still talking about it weeks later.”

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7.History and Movie Tour of Beaufort by Golf Cart

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 562 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $38

See Beaufort’s historic homes, Civil War landmarks, Robert Smalls’ grave, and filming sites from Forrest Gump, The Great Santini, and Something to Talk About. Your guide narrates the hour-long ride by eight-passenger Yamaha golf cart, with guides such as Kathy, Gina, KC, and Penny praised for lively local detail. Headsets help you hear every story.

“Very informative, great guide, so much history, beautiful homes. I highly recommend and would take it again.”

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8.Beaufort City Minibus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 521 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $37

Ride through Beaufort with a local guide such as Heather, Octavia, or Kelly, hearing stories about historic homes, Robert Smalls, Civil War-era life, movie locations, and the Beaufort National Cemetery. The air-conditioned minibus holds no more than 14 people, but this is mainly a narrated drive, not a hop-on, hop-off tour.

“Excellent tour. It exceeded expectations. Heather was so informative and passionate on sharing her love for Beaufort”

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9.90-Minute Private Dolphin Tour in Hilton Head Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 516 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)

Set out from Hilton Head with Captain Mark on a private 90-minute cruise for up to six people. Watch wild dolphins, explore the marsh near Cooper River and Daufuskie Island, and pause for lighthouse photos when conditions allow. As a Low Country Master Naturalist, Mark adds helpful context about tides, oysters, crabs, birds, and the island ecosystem.

“My wife and I took the last cruise the day after Thanksgiving and thoroughly enjoyed it! Captain Mark was proactive in contacting me before arriving to the dock to make sure we were dressed warmly and to inform me of the exact location to park. During the cruise, he was incredibly knowledgeable concerning the dolphins and other wildlife, as well as Hilton Head and surrounding islands! And we had the opportunity to see a beautiful sunset, a nice surprise after a rather dreary day!”

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10.Hilton Head to Savannah Round-Trip Ferry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 507 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $88

Board Vagabond Cruise’s Spirit at Harbour Town for a 1-hour-45-minute ride to Savannah. Sit inside in air conditioning or outside under cover, buy drinks and snacks, and enjoy about four hours downtown. The captain points out wildlife and landmarks, while trolley tickets are available onboard.

“Trip more for adults, not small children. Had an enjoyable boat ride. Narration by our day’s captain was very informative. Staff onboard very helpful.”

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11.America’s Cup 12-Meter Yacht Afternoon Sail from Hilton Head

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 504 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55

Join Captain Peter and the crew of Stars & Stripes for a 90-minute afternoon sail from Harbour Town. You can help raise the mainsail, try the wheel, and watch for dolphins along Hilton Head’s coast and Intracoastal Waterway. Seating is on deck cushions, drinks cost extra, and the boat carries no more than 20 people.

“Crew and captain were very friendly and entertaining. Definitely a great and fun experience. The only thing I would like to see changed is the seating. You sit on the deck with a thin cushion which gets uncomfortable after about 30 minutes. I would like to see thicker cushions for comfort.”

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12.#1 Historical Horse Drawn Carriage Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 454 reviews · 55 minutes (approx.)

Settle into a blue horse-drawn carriage for a 55-minute tour through Beaufort’s Old Point and historic district. Your guide covers colonial settlement, the Civil War, movie tales, churches, and notable homes while gentle horses such as Link, Wyatt, or Bandit do the pulling. Groups are capped at 16, with tours led by guides including Anastasia, Charlotte, Tyler, Annie, and Kristin.

“We totally enjoyed the experience. Our driver was funny and very knowledgeable about the area. Our horse Bandit was very knowledgeable about the direction we were going, and we very happy about how well he was treated as we are animal lovers. We will definitely recommend it to others”

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13.Hilton Head Island Guided Water Tour by Creek Cat Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 444 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $145

Spend two hours driving a Creek Cat through Hilton Head’s creeks and sounds, following guides such as Greg, Mason, or Jack past Harbour Town, Daufuskie Island, dolphins, birds, and oyster beds. Expect a lively, wet ride with local history, safety coaching, and the chance to switch boats if weather, current, or weight limits require it.

“Absolutely a blast. We got to see oysters, a few pelicans, and a lone dolphin. We learned a lot of history about Hilton Head and its beginnings. The boats were so fun once I learned how to maneuver them around and then I learned I would not flip it over.”

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14.Hilton Head Island: Sunset Dolphin Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 412 reviews · 1h 30m · from $50

Board Vagabond at Harbour Town Pier for a 90-minute cruise toward open water, where Atlantic bottlenose dolphins are guaranteed. Your English-speaking captain, sometimes Justin, John, or Wyatt, explains local wildlife before sailing up Bull Creek near Daufuskie Island for sunset. Drinks and snacks cost extra.

“We saw quite a few dolphins and the captain did a marvelous job of narrating and maneuvering the boat to keep us within viewing distance. The crew was excellent. A nice way to spend an hour and a half in the evening.”

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15.Hilton Head Island Ocean Dolphin Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 395 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $39

Cruise Calibogue Sound aboard the Vagabond from Harbour Town Lighthouse. Your captain narrates local wildlife and history as you look for wild dolphins, egrets, herons, and pelicans near Hilton Head, Daufuskie Island, and Haig Point Lighthouse. Snacks, soft drinks, beer, and wine are sold onboard. The cruise returns to its starting point.

“The crew was great! It was very hot that day, but the crew made the best of it. Saw a lot of dolphins.”

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