90-Minute Private Dolphin Tour in Hilton Head Island
Recommended by 100% of travelers
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Hilton Head Island, USA
- 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Get close-up views of dolphins in the wild on this boat tour around Hilton Head
- The private small-group tour offers an intimate wildlife experience
- The roughly 90-minute excursion allows ample time to watch dolphins frolic
- Learn all about the local ecology from a Lowcountry Master Naturalist
What's Included
- All Fees and Taxes
- Licensed Captain and Low Country Master Naturalist, providing an in-depth narrative for your group
- Private Vessel for your Family Tour
- Gratuity
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 68 Helmsman Way, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, USA
Enter the parking lot of Cross Island Boat Landing, just under the Cross Island Parkway. Plenty of parking available. Walk down to the docks to meet your Captain.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Harbour Town Lighthouse and Museum (Pass By)
Daufuskie Island (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Most travelers can participate
- Dog Friendly
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
William_S
Captain Mark was very knowledgeable. An exceptional tour guide with a bit of humor mixed in. Our whole family would highly recommend him.
Reviews
5.0
based on 576 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Colleen_F, Jul 2026
Captain Mark is fun, friendly and knowledgeable! We saw about a dozen dolphins and other sea creatures!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you, Colleen! So appreciate your kind words! It was great having you out on the water, and I look forward to seeing you again soon!
Abbie_C, Jun 2026
Mark was WONDERFUL! He was very knowledgeable and very respectful of the wildlife and other boaters. I would recommend him to anyone asking and will definitely rebook if we return to Hilton Head Island, SC!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you, Abbie! Really enjoyed having you all out on the water with me. I appreciate the kind words! Hope to see you again soon!
leslie_c, Jun 2026
Excellent experience! Captain Mark was fantastic and the wildlife did not disappoint. Would highly recommend and will also love to do this excursion again.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you, Leslie! Really appreciate you coming out on the water exploring with me. Looking forward to seeing you again!
Brian_S, Jun 2026
We had a great experience! Saw a bunch of dolphins and Mark was very friendly and knowledgeable of the wildlife around Hilton Head!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you, Brian! It was great getting the opportunity to meet the family and get you in front of some cool wildlife! Really appreciate the kind words and look forward to doing it again soon!
Nicole_R, Jun 2026
I cannot give enough praise about Captain Mark. He was knowledgeable and fun. My grandson is 11 and talks a lot! Mark was patient and engaging with him. Let him drive the boat and kept him entertained the entire trip. Will definitely book him again if we come back to Hilton Head.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the kind review, Nicole!
I had an absolute blast spending time with you all. One of the best parts of this job is seeing the waterways through the eyes of a curious kid, and he certainly kept me on my toes!
I'm glad he enjoyed getting a turn at the helm and that we were able to make the trip fun and engaging for him. Every tour is a little different, and I always enjoy answering questions, sharing stories, and helping young explorers connect with the wildlife and waterways around Hilton Head.
Reall appreciate you all coming out on the water with me, and I look forward to seeing you again soon!
Mary_K, Jun 2026
Captain Mark is a super nice, super knowledgeable captain. He made the trip fun for everyone. Aged 9-75. We saw dolphins up close, his crab pot and crab catch. Beautiful scenery. History of area. A side trip for kids to get shells. A very personal tour tailored to our group. Price is extremely reasonable. You’d pay the same price for a big impersonal tour in a boat that couldn’t go places Captain Marks boat can go. Highly recommend !
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Mary!
It was a pleasure spending time with your family and showing everyone a little bit of what makes Hilton Head's waterways so special. One of the things I enjoy most about private tours is being able to tailor the experience to each group rather than following a one-size-fits-all script. Whether it's wildlife, photography, history, shell collecting, or just enjoying the scenery, every trip ends up being a little different.
Thank you for recognizing the value of a small, personal experience. I truly appreciate your support and hope to see you back on the water the next time you're visiting!
Morgan_H, May 2026
Captain Mark is incredible. His knowledge of the area and how he speaks with children is wonderful. It has been the highlight of our trip. Would recommend to anyone!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you, Morgan! It was great getting the opportunity to get you all out on the water. I appreciate the kind words and look forward to seeing you again soon!
Rocco_P, May 2026
We wanted to try something different during our visit to Hilton Head Island, so we booked a dolphin excursion—and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. Captain Mark was fantastic from start to finish.
Our original tour was scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, but a couple of days beforehand, Captain Mark called to let us know the weather might be rough that morning. He offered to move us to Monday instead. Thank goodness we took his advice. Monday was gorgeous, while Tuesday turned out cold and windy. The switch made all the difference.
Once we got underway, Mark shared great insight about the area and the dolphins that gather there. We spotted several right away, including a few that came surprisingly close to the boat. We saw multiple small pods throughout the tour, and we always felt completely safe. Mark made the whole experience fun, relaxed, and memorable for everyone.
I highly recommend his tour—you won’t be disappointed.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you, Rocco! I really appreciate your kind words and your flexibility on getting out on the water. This week has been really up and down with the weather. Dolphins have been everywhere lately, making my job pretty easy! Really appreciate you guys coming out and look forward to seeing you all again soon!
Michele_M, May 2026
Captain Mark was amazing. He was so knowledgeable about Hilton Head and the wildlife. We had a great time. The private tour was perfect. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you, Michele! Really appreciate the kind words and I'm so glad everyone enjoyed themselves! Looking forward to seeing you again soon!
Rebecca_K, Apr 2026
Captain Mark was very personal, friendly, informative and went the extra mile to make it an enjoyable trip. We saw lots of dolphins!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you Rebecca! Really appreciate you being flexible with our scheduling this week. Couldn't have asked for a better morning on the water! Looking forward to seeing you again soon!
Lemeshia_M, Apr 2026
Such an amazing boat ride! The views were beautiful and so peaceful. The captain was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the experience even better.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you, Lemeshia! Really enjoyed getting the opportunity to show you guys around the water! Such a perfect day for it. Looking forward to seeing you all again soon!
Kelly_W, Apr 2026
Captain Mark provided my family a wonderful dolphin tour! He catered it to my young girls by not only showing them dolphins but also showing us a blue crab he caught in his personal trap and taking us to an island of shells. He is very knowledgeable of the area and dolphins. He also did a great job communicating ahead of time to reschedule us due to weather. He’s a great captain and we highly recommend his tours!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you, Kelly! It was wonderful getting the opportunity to get you guys out on the water this week. I really appreciate you all being flexible with the weather. I really enjoyed being able to show off some interesting areas of the water for the girls. Looking forward seeing you back again soon!
Johnny_R, Apr 2026
We had an amazing time on our private dolphin tour with Captain Mark! From start to finish, everything was smooth, relaxing, and so much fun. We saw dolphins up close, which was absolutely unforgettable.
One of the best parts—no motion sickness at all! Captain Mark made sure the ride was comfortable and enjoyable the entire time. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the experience feel special for all of us.
Highly recommend booking with him if you’re looking for a memorable and stress-free adventure on the water!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you, Johnny! The winds this week have definitely made our outings adventurous! Seeing dolphins up close never gets old, and I’m happy we were able to make it a smooth, comfortable ride for everyone (especially with no motion sickness, that’s always a win!). I appreciate the kind words and recommendation.
Hope to have you back out again for another adventure next time you’re in town!
Marie_G, Apr 2026
Lots of fun seeing nature! We saw many dolphins including mothers and babies. Our kids had a great experience. We felt safe the whole time. Captain Mark was very knowledgeable.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you, Marie! So glad to hear the kids enjoyed themselves. Really appreciate you guys choosing my tour, hope to see you again soon!
Michael_N, Mar 2026
We had an incredible time on the 90-Minute Private Dolphin Tour in Hilton Head Island. From the moment we got out on the water, it felt like a special experience. The captain was knowledgeable, friendly, and knew exactly where to go.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Michael! Couldn't have asked for a better day this time of year. Really enjoyed having you all onboard and look forward to seeing you again!
Matthew_B, Mar 2026
Captain Mark was awesome. Easy to communicate with and an overall great guide. Loved the narrative and discussion. He expertly guided us to different neighborhoods and also found plenty of dolphins. Couldn’t be happier with the choice. Definitely a repeat and way beats a standard tour.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Matthew! It was great meeting you and the entire family, really enjoyed getting the opportunity to show you guys around the water. Very glad the dolphins were cooperating! Looking forward to seeing you all again soon!
Margaret_K, Mar 2026
Capt Mark knows and loves this area! He gave interesting, in depth answers to all sorts of questions about the history, the creatures, geography, the ecosystems, the development of life on Hilton Head! All four of us found Mark and the trip a delight!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you, Margie! It was wonderful getting a chance to meet you all. Really enjoyed the questions and the dialog during the tour! Hope to see you all again in warmer weather!
Lisa_P, Dec 2025
Captain Mark was a great host, knowledgeable about local wildlife and ecosystem, and very personable. We would highly recommend 👌
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you, Lisa! It was great meeting you and your family and getting an opportunity to show you guys around the island's waters. Looking forward to seeing you next season!
Jeanelle_C, Nov 2025
We had a wonderful trip out with Mark to experience the dolphins, the waters and islands in the area. We took the 4;00 time slot which gave us an opportunity for a beautiful sunset too.
Mark navigated us well to ensure we saw plenty of dolphin, told us about their numbers, feeding and hunting habits. He answered lots of questions about the tide, salt marsh, and oyster shell shoreline.
We will donut again when we are back. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for coming out, Jeanelle! Really enjoyed getting the opportunity to show off the area to you all. Really appreciate including me into your family vacation plans. Looking forward to seeing you again soon!
Stephen_G, Nov 2025
A wonderful tour of the low country and dolphins!! Mark was an exceptional host and was very knowledgeable of the area.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you, Stephen! I really appreciate you including my tour into your vacation plans. Had a great time with you all and look forward to seeing you soon!
Joseph_P, Oct 2025
Captain Mark was awesome, and we had a great time! We saw about 20 dolphins, and learned some cool things about the animals and the island that we didn’t know. The kids had a blast! Will definitely book again when we come back!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you, Joseph! Awesome time out with the family. Love it when the dolphins are out in full display! Looking forward to seeing you again next season!
Matt_F, Sep 2025
This experience was wonderful. The captain was very nice and knowledgeable about the area. The boat was very clean and we saw what to be at least 50 dolphins on the tour. We also had a 9 month old baby with us and he loved the experience.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you, Matt! It was great meeting all of you and getting an opportunity to show you the waters around the island. Glad the dolphins were cooperating! Looking forward to seeing you again soon!
Jay_T, Sep 2025
Captain Mark is a great skipper. He knows where the dolphins are and has a vast knowledge of the wildlife in this part of the world. We had a blast and learned a lot about the dolphins.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you, Jay! I’m glad you had a great time out on the water and enjoyed learning about the dolphins and wildlife. It’s always a treat to share these amazing animals and this beautiful area with our guests. Hope to see you back again soon!
Heather_D, Aug 2025
Absolutely perfect family activity - peaceful, relaxing, scenic and kid friendly/educational. Skipper was amazing!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you, Heather! It was great meeting you and your family. Hope to see you all again soon!
Adrienne_G, Aug 2025
Captain Mark was amazing and knowledgeable. My kids said this was their favorite activity on the entire vacation. We spent the morning learning about the marsh, eco-system, alligators, oysters (including a visit to shell island that my daughter loved). My kids saw over 30 dolphins of all sizes/ages, and we saw ten different crabs of all sizes. He spent time sharing about the area, teaching my kids about wildlife, boats, and tides. Amazing experience that our family will definitely repeat!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much, Adrienne! I’m glad to hear the kids had such a great time and that the tour ended up being their favorite activity of the trip. Seeing so many dolphins, crabs, and exploring Shell Island always makes for an exciting adventure, and I’m happy I could share a little knowledge about the waters and wildlife along the way. Hope to see you all again very soon!
Jenna_W, Aug 2025
Our private dolphin tour was excellent! From the moment we stepped on board, Captain Mark made us feel welcome and comfortable, sharing fun facts about the area and the wildlife we might see. The boat was perfect for getting up close to the dolphins!
If you’re looking for an unforgettable, up-close dolphin experience with a relaxed and personal vibe, this is the one. We will be talking about Captain Mark for years to come!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much, Jenna! It was great meeting you all and getting the opportunity to get you out on the water! Really enjoyed the time we got to spend together and looking forward to doing it again soon!
Kelly_M, Aug 2025
Captain Mark is a Gem! He navigated the weather to make sure our kids had the perfect dolphin trip. He even threw in some crab and shell gathering for us. Highly recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words, Kelly! I’m glad we could work around the weather and still make it a great adventure for the kids. Finding dolphins, pulling up crab traps, and gathering shells is always a fun bonus! I truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you all again next time you’re on Hilton Head.
Frederick_J, Jul 2025
Outstanding morning on the Bay with family and a host of dolphin activity all around us! Beautiful sites and very relaxing. Captain Mark was great! Great communication and learned the history of area and fun facts too. It was a fantastic experience! Would highly recommend seeking out Captain Mark for this excursion.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you, Frederick! I’m so glad you and your family had such a great morning out on the water, and that the dolphins showed up in full force! It was a pleasure sharing the beauty and history of the area with you. I really appreciate you guys coming out and look forward to having you back again soon!
megan, Jul 2025
My family of 5 had such an amazing time on Capt. Mark's private dolphin tour! We were extremely fortunate to get to experience the rare dolphin feeding strategy of 'strand feeding" !! My whole family talked about this tour thr entire day! Capt. Mark was extremely knowledgeable, personable and friendly. I would definitely book one of his other tours on our next visit to HHI!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much, Megan! It was a treat having your family on board, and it's always exciting when we get to witness strand feeding. It’s one of the most incredible behaviors to see in the wild! I’m glad the experience made such an impression and truly appreciate your kind words. Looking forward to seeing you again soon!
Jamie_L, Jul 2025
Captain Mark was friendly and knowledgeable! We saw lots of dolphins and had so much fun! Will definitely do this again!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for coming out, Jamie! Really enjoyed having you guys out on the water. Look forward to seeing you again!
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From $289.00
per group (up to 6)up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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90-Minute Private Dolphin Tour in Hilton Head Island
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