Chincoteague & Assateague Sunset Boat Tour Island Colors

The islands look completely different from the water at sunset than they do from shore.

A small-group sunset boat tour along Chincoteague and Assateague Islands in Virginia, where you cruise the waterfront for about an hour to catch the light change across the islands. The tour includes parking and a live guide in English. Children from age 1 are welcome, and infants can sit on a parent's lap or ride in a stroller. Food and drink are not included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sunset boat cruise around islands

• Cruise along Chincoteague Island
• View sunset around Assateague Island

The experience

The boat leaves to catch the sunset window, so timing is tight. You're on the water for roughly an hour, positioned to watch the light shift across both islands as the day ends. The route stays close to the shoreline, which is where the color actually happens. A wider view from the water shows the islands' shapes and the way the light hits them differently than you'd see from land. A live guide in English narrates what you're looking at, so you're not just watching. You're learning what the islands are and why people come here.

Parking is handled as part of the booking, so you don't hunt for a spot or pay separately at the dock. Small children and infants are welcome. Infants sit on an adult's lap or can ride in a stroller if you bring one. The boat itself is built for small groups, which means the deck doesn't feel crowded and you can actually move around to find the angle you want for photos or just to stand where the light hits best.

Bring your own food and drink if you want them: the tour doesn't include either, so plan accordingly. The hour moves fast once the sun starts dropping, and by the time you're back at the dock, the light is nearly gone. It's the kind of tour that works as a single piece of an afternoon rather than as a full day out.

What’s included

• Parking fees.
• live guide in English.

Information

Lasts 1h, runs every day at 17:00, from US$ 89 per person, with a live guide in English and in groups of up to 6.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 17:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 62 private ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 90 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years)

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Assateague Tours

Is this one for you?An hour on the water fits easily into an afternoon without eating up the whole day, so it works well if you want to see the islands at their best light but still have time for other stops nearby. The small-group format means you're not packed in with a crowd, which matters when you're trying to find a good spot to watch the sunset happen.

Traveler reviews

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16 verified traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

How long is the sunset boat tour on Chincoteague and Assateague Islands?

The tour runs for about an hour on the water, timed to catch the sunset as it happens across the islands.

What's included in the price of the Chincoteague and Assateague sunset tour?

Parking fees and a live guide in English are included. Food and drink are not, so bring your own if you want them during the cruise.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to the boat dock?

Parking is included with the tour, so you drive to the departure point. The tour itself is the boat cruise along the islands.

What makes the sunset view from the boat different from watching it from the islands themselves?

From the water, you see the islands' shapes and shorelines lit by the changing light, and the boat stays close enough that you can see detail. A view you can't get from land.