Mile Isle Beachcomber Tour: Private Dolphin Sightings
5.0
71 Ratings
Hilton Head Island
Embark on a private dolphin sighting adventure on the Mile Isle Beachcomber Tour. Collect sand dollars, sea shells, and even sharks teeth while exploring the mile-long sandbar. Perfect for families and small groups.
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Harbour Town Lighthouse and Museum - On the way to the Mile Isle, we’ll cruise past the iconic red and white striped lighthouse.

The Harbour Town Lighthouse is a lighthouse at the Harbour Town Marina at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. It was privately built and is a private aid to navigation.

  • Daufuskie Island - We’ll continue down the beach line of Daufuskie, looking for wild dolphins as we go.

Daufuskie Island, located between Hilton Head Island and Savannah, is the southernmost inhabited sea island in South Carolina. It is 5 miles long by almost 2.5 miles wide

  • approximate surface area of 8 square miles.
What's Included
  • Expert narration by a Licensed Captain and Master Naturalist
  • All fees and taxes included
  • Exclusive private vessel for your family tour
What's Not Included
  • Gratuity
Additional Information

Take pleasure in two and a half hour escapade on your exclusive boat. Your expert Captain will safely direct you through the Calibogue during the ebbing tide right to the Mile Isle. This mile-length sandbar is visible only for few hours each day, offering wanderers the opportunity to gather sand dollars, sea shells, and the random shark’s tooth.

On the journey, we will pause to watch for wild dolphins frolicking in the sound. We will impart knowledge about the island, the salt marsh, and the encompassing ecosystem. Being a Low Country Master Naturalist, your Captain will aid you in recognizing different shells, mollusks, and other invertebrates during this excursion!

This trip is perfect for families and small gatherings. With a maximum capacity of 6 passengers, there is ample space on board and a cozy seat for all.

  • This trip does require some level of mobility, as it involves stepping down onto a step and wading in two to six inches of water
Location
68 Helmsman Way
Helmsman Way
Enter the parking lot of Cross Island Boat Landing, just under the Cross Island Parkway. Plenty of parking available. Walk down to the docks to meet your Captain.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(71 Ratings)
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Regina_a
Apr 9, 2024
Best tour, with the best Captain - Captain Mark was very informative along our tour to the sandbar. He gave us history of the area, shared with us about the sea life, and birds that we saw along the way. It was a very enjoyable, relaxing trip. Once at the sandbar he helped us find sand dollars and identify shells, jelly fish, and crabs. My family and I had a fantastic time, and we will do this again.
Review provided by Viator
N4816iukaties
Apr 9, 2024
Wonderful tour! - Great tour! Absolutely beautiful area. Captain Mark was full of great information. Found some great shells and had a breathtaking boat ride. The experience was enjoyed by the whole family! Definitely want to do this again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Faceplantr
Nov 9, 2023
Great Time with Captain Mark - At the end of October 2023, our family took the Vanishing Isle Tour and the Sunset Dolphin Tour, on two different days. They were both spectacular, and Captain Mark was wonderful. The entire group loved both tours, but all were especially impressed with the Vanishing Isle Tour. If either or both interest you, I would highly recommend them. Captain Mark was incredibly knowledgable and made the entire process a delight. We would absolutely do both tours again, if we are in the area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Denise_p
Aug 30, 2023
Vanishing Island but Forever Memories! - Captain Mark’s tour was the best part of our trip to Hilton Head. My adult children and grandkids were constantly squealing with excitement. We learned a lot of facts about the ocean on our way to see dolphins. Being on a tour with six people made it an experience we shared as a family. We went to our own corner of the vanishing island and didn’t have to share our experience with all the other people across the way. The two older grandkids love science and had a lot of questions which he answered. He showed the kids how to look for starfish and they each found a whole sand dollar they could take home. When it was time to go back my granddaughter told him how she reads every book she can about dolphins. He then took us to see if we could find them strand feeding. When we got back to shore the kids said it was the very best part of vacation and could we please go again the next day. Had it not been a hurricane today if he had availability I would have scheduled another trip. Today he texted us pictures and a video he took of us and thanked us for choosing his tour. The kids can’t wait to go home and tell their friends about their trip to the vanishing island! Book it now!!
Review provided by Viator
Dream65362166998
Aug 30, 2023
Best part of our vacation!! - The kids asked if we could do that every day of vacation..that says it all! Captain Mark told us all about what we were seeing and then patiently answered the grandkids questions. He made sure we saw lots of dolphins and when he heard our granddaughter loves to read and study about dolphins he took us to try to observe strand feeding if they were doing it. On the island he helped the kids learn about the creatures they were seeing and helped them each find a sand dollar they could bring home. This tour is limited to six people and we were taken to a separate area of the island from the boats bringing many more people. He is responsive to messages and wants each person to have a good experience. If we weren’t having a hurricane today and he had an opening for a group, I would take the grandkids again today. They can’t wait to get back to school to tell their friends all about it and show them the pictures Captain Mark sent them.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gibbobriggo
Aug 29, 2023
Vanishing island and strand feeding dolphins. - I was lucky enough to find Captain Mark via a recommendation, and the trip totally exceeded our expectations. Our party (2 adults, 2 children) took the private tour to the Vanishing Mile Island. We saw sand dollars, sea stars, crabs, shells, and lots of Dolphins accompanying us to the island! Captain Mark was very knowledgeable and taught us about the eco system around HHI. Returning to the dock, Captain Mark took us to some tidal mud flats first, where we saw dolphins strand feeding, amazing experience. We highly recommend Capt. Mark.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bikespidey
Aug 10, 2023
Best Boat Tour - A trip with many highlights had Mark’s tour near or at the top! He made us feel right at home on his boat and offered his extensive knowledge freely. We learned a lot and had even more fun. Highly recommended! Thanks, Mark!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Meridith
Aug 4, 2023
Great visit - Mark was very knowledgeable and polite. His boat was comfortable and clean. We had an amazing trip! We even got to see some dolphins on the way to the sandbar island. A+ trip
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W3685bumichaelc
Aug 1, 2023
Great tour - Our family took the private tour with Captain Mark. He took us to the Vanishing Mile Isle to look for sea creatures and shells. We found both! We saw sand dollars, sea stars, crabs, rays and a big horseshoe crab! Captain Mark was very knowledgeable and taught us about the eco system are HHI. We got to the sandbar early so we got to explore before EVERYONE else showed up. On our way back we saw several dolphins. They hung around our boat so we could watch them. . Our family covers many age groups and all of us enjoyed the tour very much. We highly recommend Capt. Mark.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bethanym293
Jul 20, 2023
Excellent Outing! - Excellent! Our group had a great time on the vanishing mile island trip. It was fun to walk around in the middle of the sound and find shells, sand dollars, and star fish. We had three adults and three kids (6,7 and 10) and everyone had a good time. Definitely recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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May 2024
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