Mile Isle Beachcomber Tour: Private Boat & Sandbar Hunt

A sandbar that exists for only a couple of hours, and you'll be there when it does.

A private two-and-a-half-hour boat tour on Hilton Head Island where your Master Naturalist captain guides up to six passengers through the Calibogue Sound to Mile Isle, a mile-long sandbar exposed only at falling tide. You'll beachcomb for sand dollars, seashells and shark's teeth, cruise past Harbour Town Lighthouse, watch for wild dolphins in the sound, and learn to identify shells and invertebrates from someone trained in Lowcountry ecology. The captain is licensed and the boat is yours alone. All fees and taxes are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private boat tour to Mile Isle

• Board private boat with Master Captain
• Cruise past Harbour Town Lighthouse
• Look for wild dolphins near Daufuskie Island
• Explore Mile Isle sandbar for shells and sand dollars
• Learn about island and salt marsh ecosystem

The experience

The tour starts when the tide is falling, which is the only window when Mile Isle emerges from the water. Your captain (a Master Naturalist licensed to operate the vessel) times the departure so you arrive at the sandbar during the hours it's exposed. On the way, you'll cruise past the red and white striped Harbour Town Lighthouse and down the beach line of Daufuskie Island, where the captain watches the water for wild dolphins moving through the sound. The boat holds up to six passengers, so there's a seat for everyone and room to move around without crowding.

Once at Mile Isle, you step down onto a shallow step and wade in two to six inches of water to reach the sandbar itself. This is where the beachcombing happens. You collect sand dollars, seashells and the occasional shark's tooth scattered across the mile-long stretch of sand. The captain stays with your group the whole time, identifying the shells, mollusks and other invertebrates you find, explaining what they are and where they fit into the salt marsh ecosystem. He shares information about the island and the Lowcountry environment as you move across the sandbar, so you're learning while you hunt.

The whole outing runs two and a half hours from start to finish. Because the boat is private and the captain knows the tides, you don't wait for a group to assemble or for a schedule to align. Your departure time is set around when the sandbar will actually be exposed. Infants can ride on an adult's lap, and the tour suits all fitness levels, though you do need to be able to step down and wade in shallow water to reach the sandbar itself.

What’s included

• Private vessel for your group of up to six passengers.
• licensed captain who is also a Lowcountry Master Naturalist, providing in-depth information about shells, mollusks, the salt marsh and the island ecosystem.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to Saturday7 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 14:30

Book up to1h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cross Island Cruises

Is this one for you?At two and a half hours, this tour leaves the rest of your day open. It's a morning or afternoon outing that doesn't consume your whole schedule. The private boat means you're not waiting for other groups or adjusting to someone else's pace. The captain coordinates the departure around the tide, so the logistics are already solved.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is Mile Isle and why does it only show up sometimes?

Mile Isle is a mile-long sandbar in the Calibogue Sound that's exposed only at falling tide for a couple of hours per day. The captain times your departure so you arrive when it's above water, giving you a window to walk across it and collect shells and sand dollars before the tide comes back in.

Will we actually see dolphins on this tour?

The captain looks for wild dolphins playing in the sound as you cruise down the beach line of Daufuskie Island on the way to Mile Isle. Dolphins are often in the area, but sightings aren't guaranteed. The captain will point them out if they appear.

How deep is the water when we wade out to the sandbar?

The water is two to six inches deep where you step down and wade to reach Mile Isle. You'll need to be able to step down onto a shallow step and walk through shallow water, but it's not a deep wade.

Is this tour just for experienced beachcombers, or can families with kids do it?

The tour is designed as an ideal outing for families and small groups. Kids can ride on an adult's lap if they're infants, and the beachcombing itself (collecting shells and sand dollars) is something anyone can do. The captain, a Master Naturalist, will help everyone identify what you find.

What's included in the price, and do I need to tip the captain?

The private boat, the licensed captain, all fees and taxes are included in the price. Gratuity for the captain is not included and is left to your discretion.