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Daufuskie Island: Guided History Tour Experience
4.9
967 Ratings
Hilton Head Island
Discover the hidden history of Daufuskie Island on a guided tour. Explore the island’s rich heritage, visit local artisans, and learn about Native Americans, European settlers, the cotton trade, and the Gullah culture.
Discover the hidden history of Daufuskie Island on a guided tour. Explore the island’s rich heritage, visit local artisans, and learn about Native Americans, European settlers, the cotton trade, and the Gullah culture.
Duration:
4 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Daufuskie Island - The adventure begins with a boat journey from Shelter Cove Marina to the secluded side of Daufuskie Island. This ride is a key highlight of the tour! During the trip, there will be opportunities to pause and observe dolphins and other wildlife, as well as to view and discuss the landmarks on Daufuskie and the nearby islands,…
- Daufuskie Island - The adventure begins with a boat journey from Shelter Cove Marina to the secluded side of Daufuskie Island. This ride is a key highlight of the tour! During the trip, there will be opportunities to pause and observe dolphins and other wildlife, as well as to view and discuss the landmarks on Daufuskie and the nearby islands, which are best appreciated from the water. Upon arrival on Daufuskie, participants will hop onto golf carts for a tour of the island’s historic, untouched areas. The tour includes stops at all the notable historic sites and artisan shops on Daufuskie.
What's Included
- Boat ride round trip
- Professional historian onboard
- Golf cart transportation included
- Knowledgeable tour guide
- Boat ride round trip
- Professional historian onboard
- Golf cart transportation included
- Knowledgeable tour guide
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Lunch
Additional Information
Nestled between Hilton Head Island and Savannah, and reachable only by boat, Daufuskie Island is a true treasure. This 4.5-hour Daufuskie Island tour offers a peek into an intriguing chapter of Lowcountry history on the island’s untouched side. Discover the rich history of the Native Americans, European settlers, the cotton trade, and the Gullah…
Nestled between Hilton Head Island and Savannah, and reachable only by boat, Daufuskie Island is a true treasure. This 4.5-hour Daufuskie Island tour offers a peek into an intriguing chapter of Lowcountry history on the island’s untouched side. Discover the rich history of the Native Americans, European settlers, the cotton trade, and the Gullah culture. Participants are encouraged to wear weather-appropriate clothing and bring water, snacks, and sunscreen.
-Please note: Our tour is fully structured and does not include a lunch stop.
Location
Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina
Shelter Cove Lane
Departure Point: This trip departs from our kiosk desk at Shelter Cove Marina.
Address: 1 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(967 Ratings)
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Christin_b
Jul 15, 2025
Amazing experience rich in culture and beauty - Every ounce of this tour was a treasure! Our group of 4 included myself, husband, and our twin teenage boys. And we all thoroughly enjoyed this tour from the moment we stepped onto the boat until our final return. Our guide, Captain Pete, was absolutely phenomenal. He was extremely knowledgeable and empathetic to the Gullah people. We all learned so much history, and how their culture continues to have influence today. We spotted dolphins on the boat going and coming back, and learned so much about the current area, in addition to past. I’m so grateful we had this experience and highly recommend!
The tour does include a bottle of water and there is a stop to purchase additional cold beverages. I would recommend taking the morning time slot, as it does get hot.
Review provided by Viator
Pioneer285029
Jul 13, 2025
Best tour and guide ever - This trip was amazing. We had Captain Pete for our guide and he was a living encyclopedia with the added bonus of being a seasoned charter captain. The boat ride was fun and pleasant (about 45' with bottled water provided) We saw dolphins, egrets, pelicans, osprey. The captain pointed out wildlife, sights, landmarks and was able to answer any question. The golf cart tour of Daufuskie was amazing and again we learned so much (Gullah history and culture, Pat Conroy's time there, Sallie Ann Robinson and her cookbooks) We stopped at the Daufuskie soap company (opportunity but not obligation to buy lotions, soaps, t-shirts, lip balm), school house (contains coffee shop, 2 art studios and bathroom), cemetery and church. My only regret was not having an apple for the Marsh Tacky horse!! Bathrooms are also located at the docks when you get off the boat. No snack/eating opportunities, except drinks at the coffee shop, but it's only a short excursion so we were fine. If you go and are lucky enough to get Captain Pete, bring a granola bar or other horse friendly snack for Brownie😊
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Peggy_j
Jul 12, 2025
Daufuskie adventure - The excursion was fun and educational. Great mix of land and sea Captain Pete was a great navigator and very knowledgeable
Review provided by Viator
Smile567
Jul 2, 2025
A superb visit to Daufuskie Island with Captain Pete - I’m a native Floridian with many years of experience boating, enjoying water sports and nature. This was my first trip to Hilton Head Island and I was excited to visit Daufuskie island after watching the movie, “The Water Wide”. Our boat captain, Pete Barbano provided an experience of a lifetime sharing his knowledge of the waterways along with the history and culture of the Gullah people. He is a true gem!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michelle71179
Jul 2, 2025
Captain Pete 5 ⭐️ - Captain Pete was by far the best tour guide. He was funny and very knowledgeable. We learned so much about the Gullah culture.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tyler
Jun 30, 2025
Great experience. Beautiful island. Captain Pete was fantastic! - Captain Pete Barbano was an excellent tour guide. We had great weather and it was very informative. Highly recommend. Never felt rushed and left with a lot of knowledge of the history of the island.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chipa788
Jun 28, 2025
Great Experience w/Captain Pete! - Captain Pete was excellent! Extremely knowledgeable and made us feel safe and welcomed. Enjoyed our day with him on the island!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kati_c
Jun 28, 2025
So, so great! - I’m so happy I went on this adventure! I enjoyed the entire trip. The boat ride to the island was informative and entertaining. The island was completely different than I imagined but I loved it all. We even saw Prophet from the book.
Review provided by Viator
Sightseer66151193347
Jun 27, 2025
Fun outdoor family tour - Captain Dean was fantastic! We thoroughly enjoyed the historical tour of Daufuskie Island. The boat ride was a bit bumpy, but it only added to the excitement of the adventure. We were lucky enough to see several groups of dolphins both going to and coming back from the island. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a fun and informative outing!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Deborah_a
Jul 19, 2025
The boat ride and tour of... - The boat ride and tour of daufuskie was interesting and educational. We enjoyed the tour guide for the first third of the tour but then he seemed to get frustrated with some of our questions of which we never got answers to. After a while we did not feel comfortable asking questions. That was disappointing.
Review provided by Viator
