4 Must-Try Outdoor Activities in Hilton Head Island
One of the best ways to experience the Lowcountry is by getting out on the water that makes the area so special.
During a recent visit to Hilton Head Island, I had the opportunity to experience four activities offered by Outside Hilton Head that got me close to the water.
This post shares four of the outdoor offerings in Hilton Head Island that you should add to your itinerary and why Outside Hilton Head is my top recommendation.
A huge thank you to Outside Hilton Head for hosting Sam and myself on these activities. As always, all opinions are my own.
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About Outside Hilton Head
What do tours cost?
Tours with Outside Hilton Head vary depending on several factors including intensity of the activity, number of guides required, size of the group, and equipment involved.
Hourly kayak and paddleboard rentals start at $35 per hour while private tours can go up to over $700. I’d recommend budgeting $50 – $150 per person if you’re planning on a group activity.
Why book with Outside Hilton Head?
I’m not always huge on guided or group tours because I’ve found the guides can be very hit or miss, especially if they don’t enjoy their job. However, every single guide I had with Outside Hilton Head was incredible.
The guides took the time to learn the name of every single person on their tour and they gauged the interest of the group to best lead the tour.
I also really appreciated that Outside Hilton Head sends an email after booking that clearly outlines the excursion and what to expect, including what to bring and the intensity of the activity.
Even if you try a new activity that you don’t love, I guarantee your guide will make your excursion enjoyable, teach you something new, and answer any questions you have.
Are Tips Required?
I LOVE that the guides never once pressured guests for tips – we all know those tours where the guides mention their tip jar every other sentence. Instead, the guides handed out business cards at the end of every tour with a QR code to leave a review and a QR code to a virtual tip jar.
We brought cash for tipping and did tip each guide – they were all excellent and absolutely deserved it!
What to Bring on a Tour
- Camera – If you’re in the market for a new camera, I splurged on this one at the beginning of the year and love it!
- Phone
- Dry bag
- Chacos (water-proof sandals) – A must if on a kayak tour
- Water Bottle
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses – There are my affordable go-to sunglasses
- Tip Money – I suggest bringing some cash so you don’t have to think about it later, but you can Venmo money after-the-fact
Must-Do Tours in Hilton Head Island:
Sunset Dolphin Cruise
Price: From $55
Length: 1.5 Hours
Enjoying a Dolphin Cruise is the easiest and most family-friendly way to get on the water. I highly recommend the Sunset Dolphin Cruise because even if you don’t see any dolphins (never a guarantee), the sky is sure to impress as the sun sets.
The tour is 90 minutes in length and starts in Broad Creek before heading to the Calibogue Sound.
I enjoyed the tour late-April and we saw tons of dolphins throughout the entire tour. Our guide, Dean, stopped frequently so we could watch the majestic creatures surface. Of course, we saw plenty of coastal birds as well.
Expect your guide to take you to the best spot for a sunset photo before heading back to the dock, with the sun setting behind the boat. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a shot of a dolphin in the sunset.
Pedego Electric Bike Tour
Price: From $95
Length: 2 Hours
While this electric bike tour doesn’t get you on the water, it sure gets you close to it. Hilton Head Island has over 60 miles of bike paths throughout the entire island, making it the perfect mode of transportation to explore.
Outside Hilton Head’s two-hour e-bike tour starts with a brief lesson at their flagship retail store in Shelter Cove. You do not need any experience riding an electric bike, but you should be fairly comfortable on a bike. The tours are capped at 6 participants which is the perfect size for an enjoyable tour.
E-bikes are not complicated to use and they operate like a regular road bike, but they are significantly heavier which can be a little daunting if you haven’t been on a bike in awhile.
The tour itself takes you around Shelter Cove Community Park and the Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina, over boardwalks and past lagoons, and through local parks. Our guide, Lynn, was excellent and pointed out birds as we saw them, shared the history of the island, and gave delicious food and drink recommendations.
Guided Kayak Nature Tour
Price: From $45
Length: 2 Hours
To really experience the Lowcountry waters and learn about Hilton Head’s unique tides and sea life, book a guided kayak tour with Outside Hilton Head.
The excursion starts with a very brief instructional session where you put on your lifejackets and learn how to properly paddle the kayak.
My favorite part of this particular kayak tour is that they have a little kayak launch so you don’t have to worry about tipping over as you get in the boat. The wonderful guides also pull you back in at the end of the tour.
I did the kayak tour with Sam and his mom, and we all enjoyed exploring the area by kayak and learning about the water, birds, and plant life of the area. We saw tons of beautiful birds, jumping fish, and even a few dolphins.
Since none of us are frequent kayakers, we all agreed that two hours was the absolute max amount of time we’d want to spend on the water with a group tour. The guide led at a perfect pace, but we were definitely tired by the time we got back to the marina.
Outside Hilton Head also offers kayak rentals if you want to go explore on your own, but I’d highly recommend a guided tour, especially if it’s your first visit.
Daufuskie History and Artisans Tour
Cost: From $115
Length: 4.5 Hours
History buffs will love exploring Daufuskie Island with the expert tour guides from Outside Hilton Head. This almost 5-hour tour covers everything from the Gullah people who originally called the island home to the current uses of the island.
You’ll take an hour-long boat ride from Shelter Cove Marina to the boat ramp at Daufuskie Island, where you’ll transfer to golf carts. Vehicles are allowed on the island, but most visitors get around via golf carts, and it’s a fun way to explore.
The first half of the tour stops at iconic landmarks like the Schoolhouse, Church, and famous houses, and the second half stops at local businesses like a soap maker, indigo artist, and coffee shop.
Conclusion
Hilton Head Island is one of my favorite places to explore the outdoors, and I hope you find the area as charming as I do.
