Things to do in Hilton Head Island
The unmissables
Most booked
Hilton Head: Guided Kayak Nature Tour with Wildlife Sighting★ 4.92 (1,711) · 2h
Top rated
Hilton Head Island Dolphin Boat Cruise: Guaranteed Sightings★ 4.85 (1,666) · 1h 30m
Best value
Daufuskie Island: Guided History Tour & Boat Ride from Hilton Head★ 4.85 (1,172) · 4h 30m
Recommended (7)
Hilton Head Pirate Ship Adventure: Water Cannon Battle★ 4.87 (738) · 1h 30mUS$ 48View ›
Beaufort History Movie Tour by Golf Cart: 300 Years★ 4.88 (658) · 1hUS$ 38View ›
Hilton Head: Private Dolphin Tour & Calibogue Sound Wildlife★ 5.00 (606) · 1h 30mUS$ 289View ›
Beaufort City Minibus Tour: Historic District & Movie Sites★ 4.91 (600) · 1h 15mUS$ 37View ›
Hilton Head: America's Cup 12-Meter Yacht Sail & Crew Experience★ 4.61 (572) · 1h 30mUS$ 55View ›
Beaufort: Horse Carriage Tour of Historic District & The Point★ 4.91 (521) · 55mUS$ 38View ›
Hilton Head Island Guided Water Tour: Drive Your Own Creek Cat★ 4.80 (510) · 2hUS$ 145View ›Top rated (10)
Hilton Head: Private Mile Isle Beachcomber Tour & Dolphin SpottingYou’ll set out from Hilton Head on a private boat with your own Master Captain guiding you through Calibogue Sound. Comb Mile Isle’s rare sandbar for shells and shark teeth while spotting wild dolphins nearby. Your guide shares stories about local wildlife and helps identify your finds—plus there’s plenty of time to just wander barefoot on wet sand before heading back.
Hilton Head: Private Dolphin Cruise & Calibogue Sound ViewsYou’ll feel like part of Hilton Head as you cruise Calibogue Sound on your own private dolphin tour—watching playful pods up close, passing Harbour Town’s lighthouse, and soaking in stories from a local guide. With flexible timing and space for families or strollers, it’s an easygoing way to see dolphins in their home waters—and maybe catch yourself smiling at nothing in particular.
Hilton Head: Private Sunset Sailing & Dolphin Watching TourYou’ll drift past Hilton Head’s quieter side as sails catch the evening breeze, watch for dolphins near Pinckney Island, and share a laugh or two with your captain. This private sunset sailing tour includes drinks, wildlife spotting, and easy marina pickup—leaving you with more than just photos by dusk.
Hilton Head: Private Sunset Cruise with Dolphin Views & BYOBYou’ll board your own private boat right across from Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge for a two-hour sunset cruise around Hilton Head. With a local captain guiding you past Daufuskie Island and Harbourtown lighthouse, you’ll spot dolphins up close while sharing drinks from your BYOB cooler. Expect laughter, stories, and those golden moments families remember long after vacation ends.
Private Dolphin Sailing Tour Hilton Head: Steer the BoatA 2-hour private sailing tour on Hilton Head's Port Royal Sound aboard a monohull sailboat, where you choose how involved you get with the sailing itself. The boat heels over (a normal, thrilling tilt designed not to tip), and you can ask the captain to reduce it if you prefer a calmer ride. Soda and bottled water are included; the tour departs from the marina just minutes from the sailing grounds.Is it for me?Most Hilton Head sailing tours run on a set schedule with a crowd. This one is private—you book the boat and the captain for your group alone, so the pace and the sailing style fit what you want that afternoon, not what works for a dozen strangers.
Hilton Head Dolphin Watching Tour: Drive Your Own Mini BoatA guided mini boat tour of Hilton Head Island where you drive your own inflatable boat while a local guide leads you past Harbourtown, Daufuskie Island and quiet backwater creeks. The tour runs 2 hours and includes life jackets, bottled water and chances to spot Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, egrets, ospreys and pelicans. Drivers must be 21 with a valid license; passengers must be at least 5 years old. Arrive 20 minutes early.Is it for me?Take the wheel past Harbourtown and into quiet backwater creeks while your guide points out dolphins, historic sites, and local wildlife—each mini boat fits your group of 2-4 for a hands-on adventure.
Hilton Head Island Sunset Dolphin Tour: Guaranteed sightingsA 90-minute sunset dolphin tour on the waterways around Hilton Head Island with a live guide and guaranteed sightings of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat. The boat passes Harbourtown lighthouse, Daufuskie Island and Harbour Town Golf Links. Photos are taken on your device; drinks and snacks are available for purchase at check-in.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want the dolphins without the guesswork — the guarantee means you're not paying to search the water and hope. The fixed 90 minutes and the sunset timing are built in, so the day doesn't stretch or shift.
Beaufort: Kazoo Factory Tour & Make-Your-Own KazooYou’ll laugh your way through Beaufort’s Kazoo Factory as guides show you how these quirky instruments come to life—from assembly lines to antique displays—before you make your own kazoo to keep. Expect hands-on moments, local stories, and plenty of cheerful noise that sticks with you long after you leave.
Walking Tour in Beaufort: 500 Years of HistoryA guided walking tour of Beaufort's historic downtown covers 500 years of the city's past—Indian conflicts, piracy, slavery, the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, and the lives of the people who lived through them. The tour lasts about two hours and includes a live English-speaking guide; all surfaces are wheelchair accessible and the pace suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?Choose this if you want a guided walk that covers Beaufort's full sweep—from Native American history through the Civil War to modern day—rather than a themed deep-dive into one era.
Hilton Head: Dolphin & Nature Cruise with Naturalist GuideYou’ll glide through Hilton Head’s Broad Creek with a local naturalist captain, watch Atlantic bottlenose dolphins surface nearby, and learn quirky facts about salt marsh life. Binoculars come out for egrets and oyster beds while sunlight flickers across the water. Expect laughter, real stories, and that salty-sweet air lingering long after you’re back on land.
Lowest price (10)
Kayaking Hilton Head Island: Dolphins & Skull CreekGuided kayak tour on Skull Creek in Hilton Head Island, paddling through saltwater marshlands to spot dolphins, brown pelicans, egrets, herons, osprey and bald eagles with a naturalist guide. The 90-minute outing includes about 1 hour 15 minutes on the water after loading and unloading. Single and double kayaks are available, and no paddling experience is required; children from age 6 are welcome.Is it for me?Book this if you want to paddle on your own rather than watch from a boat—you operate the kayak and move at the pace the guide sets, which puts you close enough to dolphins and wading birds that you see them without binoculars. Families with children from age 6 find the shallow marshland and calm water manageable even without prior paddling experience.
Kayaking in Hilton Head Island marshes with guideKayak through the calm marshes around Broad Creek on Hilton Head Island with a trained guide leading groups of fewer than 10 kayaks. You get a short paddle clinic to build confidence, then 90 minutes exploring the local ecosystem—oysters, spartina grass, pluff mud, and the Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins that frequent the area. Life jacket, kayak and paddle are included; any skill level is welcome, and children from age 5 can participate. Choose between a tandem kayak or a single kayak at checkout.Is it for me?Book the tandem kayak if you're paddling with a child, a partner or someone who wants the stability of two seats; pick the single kayak if you want to paddle on your own pace and have kayaking experience or confidence in the water. The morning departure is what keeps the marsh calm and the guide focused on smaller groups—if you need a different time, check availability before booking.
Hilton Head: Shrimp Trawling Boat Cruise & Take-Home CatchYou’ll board a real working boat in Hilton Head, help sort through nets full of local sea life with friendly crew, learn about Lowcountry shrimping traditions, and maybe even take home your own fresh catch—all while soaking up salt air and those marsh views you won’t forget.
Hilton Head Dolphin Tour: Atlantic Bottlenose Year-RoundA 90-minute shared boat tour departing from Shelter Cove Marina in Hilton Head, exploring Broad Creek Wildlife Area, Calibogue Sound and nearby marshes to watch Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins year-round. Your USCG-licensed captain narrates the ecology and history of the region as the tour unfolds. The boat is stable and comfortable, and the tour suits families and all fitness levels.Is it for me?This is a shared tour, so you'll be on the boat with other guests—a good fit if you're comfortable in a group and want a captain's expertise without the cost of a private charter. The fixed 90-minute schedule and the captain's knowledge of where dolphins congregate make it the right choice if you want to see dolphins without spending the day planning the route yourself.
Hilton Head Island Dolphin Tour 90-Min from Broad Creek MarinaA 90-minute dolphin tour from Broad Creek Marina in central Hilton Head Island explores Broad Creek and Calibogue Sound aboard a custom tour boat with a USCG captain and live guide. The boat route changes based on tides and conditions to increase chances of spotting bottlenose dolphins, birds and other wildlife; you'll see Harbour Town Lighthouse, Daufuskie Island, Buck Island and Bull Island from the water. Children from age 1 are welcome, and all safety equipment is included.Is it for me?Book this tour if you're staying on Hilton Head without a car or don't want to arrange your own boat — the marina is central, the captain adjusts the route by tide to find dolphins, and you're on the water instead of searching the shore.
Pat Conroy's Beaufort Tour by Golf Cart: Literary LandmarksA 90-minute guided golf cart tour of Beaufort tracing Pat Conroy's life and the film locations of his novels, with stops at his boyhood home, Beaufort National Cemetery and the Pat Conroy Literary Center. The tour begins at the Downtown Marina and includes a live English-speaking guide; children from age 4 are welcome.Is it for me?Book this if you want a guide narrating the story live rather than reading plaques—you'll move by golf cart through film locations and Conroy's personal spots around town.
Hilton Head Morning Kayaking Tour: Dolphins & Broad CreekA guided morning kayak tour on Broad Creek near Hilton Head where you paddle through protected marsh waters with a trained guide, life jacket and paddle included. The early hour means quiet water and less boat traffic. You'll learn about the local ecosystem and wildlife while paddling, with good chances of seeing dolphins and wading birds. Choose between a tandem kayak (two paddlers) or a single kayak depending on your group.Is it for me?Book a tandem kayak if you want to paddle together as a couple or with a friend; choose a single kayak if you prefer paddling on your own and you're 14 or older. The early morning timing is what keeps the water calm and the wildlife active—if you're a first-time kayaker or you want the best chance of seeing dolphins, this is the hour that delivers both.
Kayak Hilton Head Island: Dolphin and Nature TourA 2-hour kayak tour through the Broad Creek Estuary on Hilton Head Island where you paddle among bottlenose dolphins, manatees, sea turtles and shorebirds in the salt marsh. The guide handles navigation and wildlife spotting while you paddle; all kayak gear is included. Children from age 3 are welcome, and the operator splits groups by age and experience level.Is it for me?You paddle the kayak yourself while the guide handles navigation and wildlife spotting, so you get the physical experience of paddling without building the route or worrying about where the dolphins are. This suits anyone who wants to be active on the water but prefers not to navigate or lead—families with kids, casual paddlers, or anyone who wants the guide to do the planning.
Hilton Head: Sunset Dolphin Cruise from Harbour Town LighthouseYou’ll set sail from Hilton Head’s Harbour Town Lighthouse as golden hour turns marshes pink and gold. Watch wild dolphins swim alongside your boat while your local captain shares Lowcountry stories—sometimes funny, sometimes quietly beautiful. With drinks available onboard and guaranteed dolphin sightings, this sunset cruise is equal parts relaxing and unexpectedly joyful.
Hilton Head Dolphin Tour: Bottlenose & Disappearing IslandA 2-hour dolphin tour departing Palmetto Bay Marina on Hilton Head Island combines boat-based wildlife watching with a 30-minute landing on Disappearing Island, an exposed sandbar accessible only at low tide. You'll search for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins along the way, observe shells, starfish and sand dollars on the island, and hear commentary from a USCG-licensed captain about the local ecosystem. The tour operates at your selected departure time.Is it for me?The tour is led in English by a USCG-licensed captain, so you'll follow the commentary about dolphins and the ecosystem without needing a separate translation. Book this one if you want to search for dolphins from the boat and then walk a real island instead of staying onboard the whole time.
