Take a break from the beaches and entertainment of Hilton Head and get closer to nature on a guided kayak tours. In a small group of no more than 15, glide through the waters of Skull Creek, paddle through the rich ecosystem of the saltwater marshlands, and spot such wildlife as brown pelicans, egrets, herons, osprey, bald eagles, and Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.

Experience the natural surroundings of Hilton Head Island by kayak
Small-group tour (maximum 15): Ensures a more personal experience
Learn about local wildlife and ecology from your guide
Spot numerous different bird species, as well as Atlantic bottlenose dolphins

What's Included

Guided tour

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

43 Jenkins Rd
43 Jenkins Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926, USA
We are located at Hilton Head Harbor. You will check in before your tour, then get on the water. Our check in desk is located in the yellow building, there is a sign that says Island Head.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Operated by Island Head

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

about cancellations.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Meagan_T

So much fun, really great tour guide. Highly recommend for something fun to do while visiting Hilton Head and we saw dolphins!

Reviews

4.5

90 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 90 reviews

The weather was very...

Angel_O, Jun 2023

The weather was very windy and the water was down so we couldn’t go into the places they wanted but the guides were very nice and it was a fun experience!

Great experience

Rahul_S, Apr 2023

The guided kayak tour was great. We had two kids with us and got a couple of two person kayaks. We kayaked around the marshes and the tour guide provided some amazing insights about the island and the local ecosystem. The water was very calm with very few boats. If you are looking for a peaceful activity on the water then this is a great option.

Fantastic Time

Meagan_T, Apr 2023

So much fun, really great tour guide. Highly recommend for something fun to do while visiting Hilton Head and we saw dolphins!

See nature up close

Chloe_T, Sep 2022

We were kayaking and a pod of dolphins came right up to us. Our guide, John, was great and let us take in the moment. It was amazing!

90 Minutes Well Spent!

Joe_H, Aug 2022

Beautiful location. Great guide. Excellent weather. Would do this again. Our guide was knowledgeable and very personable.

Seeing all of the animals...

Trudi_T, Aug 2022

Seeing all of the animals was very fun! William was very helpful! Winds were a little tough at first but it made it easier on the way back!

Your guide was friendly...

Melissa_T, Aug 2022

Your guide was friendly and welcoming we had so much fun. Beautiful atmosphere and fun for all levels.

couldn't find the place,...

Joseph_L, Aug 2022

couldn't find the place, no directions given and no phone number to call; missed our tour and requesting a refund

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Unfortunately this is not true, our address and phone number are posted online and when you book with our company you receive multiple emails with this information. Before our trip 15 minutes before departure our crew calls any groups that have not arrived and we could not get a response from your group. We called the number on file with no answer. We have 15,000 customers move through this location every year and have never had this issue.

Amazing

Peter_T, Aug 2022

We got to see dolphins up close and a sea turtle. Much more wildlife such as birds and jellyfishes too. Loved the tour guide. William was great at acknowledging the wildlife and its environment. We had great laughs and memories! Thank you!

Just kayaking, no “tour”

Allison_R, Jul 2022

As other reviewers said, this was a kayak trip and no more. We got no details of the wildlife or area. We simply kayaked. There was one bird but no other wildlife to see (I know that’s not the guide or company’s fault). The guide was kind but didn’t say hardly anything at all and most of the time was no where near us. He told us where to paddle to, and we sat there until he gave us the next direction. We can’t upload pictures bc none were taken. Other kayak tours we’ve taken in other places, the guides take pictures of you along the way…not this trip! It was relaxing, but if you are looking to expand your knowledge of the area, this is not the trip for you. This was an anniversary trip without our kids. We will not be doing it on our return trip with our kids in the future.

Dolphin sightings

Elizabeth_B, Jul 2022

We had a great time kayaking! It was safe and easy going for our young daughters. We saw many types of birds, dolphins, and even a stingray!

Bach trip Kayaking!

Emily_k, Jul 2022

Our tour guide was great! We saw so many dolphins and they got super close to the kayak, but we did not get our whole 1.5 hours of water time because the other group that was coming out at the same as us was late 🙄

Boring

Noco_G, Jul 2022

Let me begin by saying that I have never written a review before but this trip really deserves the effort. The guide did not offer any information about the area, marine life or surroundings. He only directed us “ go straight, veer left” etc. I guess that’s what a guide is supposed to do? Maybe the guides were subs? Would not recommend

There won’t be dolphins

Katherine_S, Jul 2022

Our guide Joseph was really sweet. He told us about the area and ecosystem. The tour description is misleading though because it says there’s a chance for dolphin sightings, which we found out doesn’t really happen at that time of day. I would recommend a different excursion if you want to see a lot of nature.

Great Experience!

Robby_S, Jun 2022

Our guide was great told us a lot of cool facts and was very friendly! She was also great with my kids and keeping them involved! And my boys loved the race at the end of trip we did!

Would definitely recommend!

Mirinda_W, Jun 2022

We had a great experience. Will was our guide and was very knowledgeable and entertaining. Would definitely recommend!

1 traveler found this review helpful

Was an Awesome...

Tamera_W, Jun 2022

Was an Awesome experience. Parker was my guide and he was a pleasure Saw wildlife and enjoyed the views

Nice paddle

Lori_J, Jun 2022

Great tour, enjoyed the experience and learning about the area. Highly recommended, Great guides and morning.

Nature Kayak Tour

Terese_M, Jun 2022

Observing Daulphins, egrets, and nature on HHI. Our Tour guides William, Joseph, William were great. They were very informative; provided excellent customer service, and catered to our needs, safety, and interests.

Beautiful afternoon on the water - with the dolphins

Greg_H, May 2022

We had a great trip with Island Head for the 1.5 hour kayak tour. The 5 pm start was a great time, and we say rays, dolphins, birds, fish, and had a nice trip around the grass flats and bridge. Will and Rachel were great guides and company on the trip!

Fun for families and for a relaxed paddle

Kyle_P, Apr 2022

Joseph was an awesome guide. My son nervous and Joseph tried to help him relax and have fun. Our group had lots of different skill levels and he tried to accommodate everyone. Recommended.

Disappointed

Peter_E, Apr 2022

Inefficient, equipment was sub par, basically kayaked on our own for the trip. No information from guide, no interesting sites

What a fun kayak trip....

Melanie_K, Jan 2022

What a fun kayak trip. Our guide, Tim, couldn't have been nicer. One of our group was a first timer...he had a blast as did the rest of us. Tim must be a dolphin whisperer as he found them & quieted us down to ensure they stuck around for a bit. Great trip! Loved the way we entered the kayak on the dock & got back out on the dock...no chance of spilling out into the water. Also the kayaks were great..great assorted foot holds & very comfy backs to seats. We'll be back@

We loved our Kayak...

Kirk_A, Oct 2021

We loved our Kayak adventure. Tim provided a great experience with so many interesting stories and history.

Very nice

Tracie_D, Sep 2021

Was easy to book. Had a great time. Saw dolphins, osprey and cranes. Beautiful location! Glad we did it!

Kayak

lita, Aug 2021

Our tour guide was good. He gave us a good history lesson. We were greeted with kindness. I would recommend if you enjoy scenery and chill atmosphere.

Beautiful experience

Tammy_H, Aug 2021

Brandon did a great job of giving us time to take in the sites...and taking us to spaces to see the wildlife up close

Response from Host, Feb 2022

Thank you for kayaking with Island Head!

Great time on the water.

Sheila_B, Aug 2021

Being out on the water felt wonderful! Very free and calming. Never dreamed we would actually see dolphins but we saw four! A bit too pricey.

Response from Host, Feb 2022

Thank you for kayaking with Island Head! Can not beat it when you get dolphins in the mix. Hope to see you again on your next Hilton Head visit!

Beautiful, but a little unorganized

Nichelle_K, Jul 2021

A great experience for our family. The tour guide, Hake, was great, but there was some miscommunication from the office. There were not enough oars because the office overbooked. He handled the situation well though.

Response from Host, Feb 2022

Thank you so much for choosing Island Head for you Hilton Head Island Kayaking. We appreciate the business and time to write a great review. We had some adjusting to do with the great demand of our 2021 tourism, but we are ready for it in 2022. Thanks again!

First time and was great father/son experience

Thomas_M, Jul 2021

Guide was great! He really made the whole thing a relaxed and pleasant experience. This was my a first for me and my son and both agree to bring mom and his sister to experience it .

Response from Host, Feb 2022

Thank you for kayaking with Island Head. We appreciate the business and the time taken to write review.