Top South Carolina Private Sightseeing Tours

Hilton Head Island is known as one of North America’s best spots for watching dolphins in the wild. Get out on the water and take in amazing views of these intelligent, playful creatures during this private boat tour. With a Lowcountry Master Naturalist as your captain and guide, you’ll learn all about the ecology of Hilton Head while watching the dolphins along with other wildlife including rays, sharks, and sea turtles. Just your group (up to six passengers) cruising the waters, watching dolphins eating, playing, and socializing.

Our tour will take you through the city's National Historic Landmark District, showcasing beautiful historic homes, churches, and sites that have witnessed centuries of American history. You’ll see sites from the Filming of Forest Gump, hear stories of the civil war, Harriet Tubman, the Succession, the Jewish settlers, local history and so much more. Go at your own pace. Stop anytime and continue whenever you want. The tour is all outside, location aware, plays as you walk, and can be taken 24/7/365. It never expires.

You’re coming to Charleston and you want the best experience possible. You’re staying at a great hotel, you’ve made reservations at some of Charleston’s finest restraunts and you want to learn about this wonderful beautiful city, it’s rich history and you want to know what it’s like living here today. Historic Charleston Tours is a boutique tour guide company that specializes in small group and private tours. All of our guides are licensed by the city (no longer required in Charleston), but more importantly all of our guides live in the Old and Historic District. They can offer you interesting and amusing insights as to what it’s like living in this truly fascinating, historic neighborhood. Virtually no other tour guide company in Charleston can make such a claim. And if you have trouble walking or it's too hot we will drive you. Your choice. See why so many of Charleston’s finest hotels choose Historic Charleston Tours for their guests.

Charleston's past is alive and vibrant, waiting to be discovered around every corner. Go at your own pace, anytime, 24/7/365 on this smartphone guided (app/gps) walking tour. On this tour you’ll see Charleston’s historic downtown, including the famous Rainbow Row, The battery, multiple alley ways, hidden gems, a hidden entranceway to a famous graveyard, 2 parks, statues and so much more! Along the way you’ll learn the stories of the holy city, the people, the civil war, the battery, GW, Edgar Allan Poe, the history of the buildings, the streets, the fences and the city’s soul. If you like to wonder the streets and wonder what’s the history of this tour, then this tour is for you. Charlestonians are known for taking it slow, and so should you. This tour is designed to go at your own pace. Stop anytime to explore more and continue when you are ready. The tour never expires, and you can take it as many times as you want!

Your licensed tour guide is a 7th-generation Charlestonian resident with a lineage that extends back to the colonial era. A relator who brings extensive knowledge of the people, customs, and history of this one-of-a-kind American City. Learn about the details of all the fascinating buildings, parks, and historical monuments and the stories that surround them. Join us as we take you through the journey of Charleston like a true local.

Summer is the best time of the year to see pods of juvenile and baby dolphins. Join me on a private up to six guests, 2-2.5-hour boat tour through the local tidal creeks behind Folly Beach in search of our local dolphins. From the boat you will get to experience feeding techniques, socializing behaviors, and dolphins just having fun in their natural element. When spotted we will drift alongside them for great photo opportunities a get a little information about this wonderful creature. We’ll stop at Morris Island where you will have plenty of time to explore and take photos of the historic Morris Island Lighthouse. Our trips are designed for small groups up to 6 to give our guests a true Lowcountry experience on one of the most comfortable and easy to board tritoons available. 100% guarantee that you will see dolphins in their natural habitat.

Enjoy a spooky adventure and learn more about Charleston’s haunted history with this self-guided audio tour. Download the app and tour on your phone and start the tour whenever you want by heading to the Old Exchange. Walk past some of the city’s most haunted sites while learning about the ghostly stories connected to them, including the the Dock Street Theater, Pirates Courtyard, Circular Church Graveyard, and more.

Discover Charleston, South Carolina with the help of a local to guide you around town and share fun facts about the city’s storied past and vibrant present on this private tour. See popular attractions as well as hidden gems you might have missed without your guide to show you. Get around Charleston in a comfortable, air-conditioned car, and save your energy for sightseeing.

Embark on a delightful journey through the heart of Charleston with our exclusive private horse and carriage tour. Perfect for couples, families, or small groups, this personalized experience invites you to explore the city’s rich history and stunning architecture at a leisurely pace. As you settle into the cozy carriage, your certified guide will share captivating stories about Charleston’s storied past, from its colonial beginnings to its vibrant present. This Charleston horse and carriage tour is the perfect way to immerse yourself into Charleston’s vibrant culture. Begin your private tour of Charleston at the Big Red Barn, just one block off of Market Street in the heart of downtown. Our private horse and carriage tour is the ideal way to create lasting memories in this historic city. The tour concludes back at Palmetto Carriage Works' Big Red Barn. Please select (1) during checkout for the group pricing per carriage. Each carriage can accommodate 1-4 people per group.

Discover four centuries of history with a private walking tour of Charleston. Meet your guide for a private city stroll and set out to see striking architecture and the scenic waterfront. Check out several popular landmarks including Rainbow Row, the French Huguenot Church, and Joe Riley Waterfront Park during the walk. Finish the tour with a visit to Charleston City Market.

Savannah and Charleston are two of the most historic destinations in the American south, and the road connecting the two cities holds just as much history. This self-guided driving tour dives into the history and scenery of that route. Visit the haunting Old Sheldon Church Ruins, snap photos of the Angel Oak Tree, go birdwatching in the ACE Basin Wildlife Preserve, uncover stories of the Underground Railroad, see historic Drayton Hall, and so much more. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, entering your unique password, and accessing your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check opening hours before your visit.

CELEBRATE your milestone in a meaningful way. Plan a secret proposal, capture your engagement, honor your anniversary, honeymoon, babymoon, or simply document a special trip with the people you love. CUSTOMIZE your experience to match your vision. Choose from: historic downtown Charleston, Boone Hall, Isle of Palms, Cypress Gardens, Shem Creek. Together, we’ll create the perfect setting for your story. ENJOY a relaxed, private experience designed just for you. I’ll guide you through beautiful locations and help you with simple, natural posing so you always know where to stand and what to do, while I capture professional photographs along the way. CHERISH the memories long after your trip is over. Leave Charleston with timeless photographs that will remind you of this special chapter for years to come. At the moment, I don’t offer portrait sessions for a single person unless it’s for graduation or senior photos.

See the Charleston Harbor by boat with a leisurely sightseeing tour along the Cooper River to Fort Sumter National Monument. Leave the guidebook at home, because this fully-narrated tour focuses on Charleston, South Carolina's history from Civil War sites to antebellum houses and landmarks, passes under Cooper River bridges, and explores a waterfront that’s home to bottlenose dolphins and pelicans.

Set out on a 2-hour private cruise from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, in search of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Board your vessel and cruise past the Harbour Town Lighthouse and Daufuskie Island. While you sail, watch for playful dolphins and other local wildlife like bald eagles.

End your day in Hilton Head aboard a relaxing sunset cruise around the island and waterways. Board your private vessel and enjoy a calm ride on Calibogue Sound with views of Harbour Town and the area is awash in golden light. While you sail, keep your eyes peeled for several species of wildlife including the playful Atlantic bottlenose dolphin.

See Charleston from the water, and enjoy a luxurious way to admire the sights, with this private sailing charter. This flexible experience is tailored to your preferences: pick your own departure time, bring aboard a picnic and drinks (or upgrade for gourmet catering), and request a photographer if you want to capture the moment. As you go, circle the Charleston Harbor, see landmarks like Fort Sumter, and enjoy a relaxing ambiance.

If its dolphins and shelling you're looking for, you've come to the right place! We'll depart from and return to the Folly River Boat Ramp and enjoy a scenic boat ride through the salt marsh creeks of Folly Island to historic Morris Island. Once on Morris Island, you’ll have the opportunity to walk the beach in search of shells, shark teeth, and other fossils. From Morris Island you will also enjoy breathtaking up-close views of the historic Morris Island lighthouse. During your journey to and from the island, you will enjoy numerous sightings of Bottlenose Dolphins and other saltwater wildlife.

No more awkward selfies and no more dull walking tours. With this mini photoshoot package, your local guide takes you across Charleston’s most scenic spots, snapping great photos of your group along the way. You’ll get to see why Charleston is one of the prettiest cities in America—and get your crew looking even better than your backdrop.

Step into one of America’s last old-growth forests and explore Congaree National Park at your own pace. Walk shaded boardwalk trails surrounded by giant trees, hanging vines, and wildlife calls that fill the air. The audio guide shares stories about the park’s history, swamp ecosystem, and the people who once lived and worked here. Start your tour from the visitor center and follow the boardwalk or take side trails to see Weston Lake, Bluff Trail, and the Harry Hampton Visitor Center area. Stop to listen to frogs, birds, and the flowing Congaree River. Use GPS directions that work offline, follow local tips, and revisit anytime with lifetime access. Download the tour, bring water, and enjoy a peaceful walk through one of the South’s most beautiful and wild landscapes—your time, your path, your adventure. *Download the Shaka Guide app to access the purchased tours*

End another wonderful day on Hilton Head Island with a private sunset cruise around its waterways. Board your vessel at Broad Creek Marina and enjoy a relaxing cruise customized to your group's interests. Sail along Calibogue Sound and see the Harbour Town Lighthouse while watching for local wildlife.

Charleston is such a charming, laid-back city in South Carolina that you can’t help but slow your pace and enjoy the Southern weather. This walkable city is a perfect place to take a self-guided audio tour. Grab your smartphone, put your headphones on, and take a walk into Charleston’s past. As you stroll the streets, you’ll pass by historic buildings and hear stories dating back to the Revolutionary War.

Experience Charleston’s History on a Private Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour Discover the rich history of Charleston on a horse-drawn carriage tour through historic Downtown. As you ride through the charming streets of one of America’s oldest cities, your licensed tour guide will share fascinating stories of Charleston’s past, from its colonial beginnings to its role in shaping the nation. This personalized experience allows you to ask questions and tailor the tour to your interests, making it the perfect way to immerse yourself in the city’s culture. Begin your journey at the Big Red Barn, just one block off Market Street in the heart of downtown. From there, you’ll explore iconic landmarks, historic buildings, and beautiful streets lined with centuries-old architecture, all while enjoying a relaxing ride in an elegant carriage. The tour concludes back at the Big Red Barn, where your adventure began.

Discover the delights of the Charleston food scene on this walking tour. With a guide, you'll learn about the cuisine of the Lowcountry region as you explore this historic city and sample local food products such as stone-ground grits, pralines, collard greens, and South Carolina barbecue. Tour is limited to 12 people for a small-group experience.