Vanishing Mile Isle Beachcomber Tour

Overview

Enjoy a two-and-a-half-hour adventure on your own private boat. Your Master Captain will guide you safely through the Calibogue on a falling tide to the isle. This mile long sandbar is exposed for only a couple of hours per day, allowing beachcombers the chance to collect sand dollars, seashells and the occasional shark's tooth.

We’ll stop along the way to look for wild dolphins playing in the sound. We’ll share information about the island, the salt marsh and the surrounding ecosystem. Your Captain is also a Lowcountry Master Naturalist, and will assist you in identifying the various shells, mollusks and other invertebrates to be found on this tour!

This is an ideal outing for families and small groups. With up to 6 passengers, there’s plenty of room onboard and a comfortable seat for everyone.

City: Hilton Head Island

Wed 11 Mar

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $429.00

Make a reservation

Wed 11 Mar

Starting at $429.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Licensed Captain and Low Country Master Naturalist, providing an in-depth narrative for your group

All Fees and Taxes

Private vessel for your family tour

Additional Info

Service animals allowed
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This trip does require some level of mobility, as it involves stepping down onto a step and wading in two to six inches of water

What To Expect

Harbour Town Lighthouse and Museum

On the way to the Mile Isle, we’ll cruise past the iconic red and white striped lighthouse. The Harbour Town Lighthouse is a lighthouse at the Harbour Town Marina at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. It was privately built and is a private aid to navigation.

Daufuskie Island

We’ll continue down the beach line of Daufuskie, looking for wild dolphins as we go. Daufuskie Island, located between Hilton Head Island and Savannah, is the southernmost inhabited sea island in South Carolina. It is 5 miles long by almost 2.5 miles wide – approximate surface area of 8 square miles.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (83)

Lee M

Jun 2024

Captain Mark was an incredible Captain and guide for our private tour. We booked about three months in advance to make sure we were able to have this experience with our two young children. Mark communicated a few days in advance to make sure that we knew where to meet him, what the trip would be like, the weather, and to bring a bag for shells. He was easily accessible for questions and genuinely wanted to make sure that we had a good experience. The vanishing island is a touristy spot but Mark got us there first before it got busy (and it does get busy). We checked the area for shells, got a few pictures, and then left for some exploration in the saltwater marshes. We saw dolphins up close, checked a crab pot, and learned about the local ecosystem. After a stop for some extra shells, we headed back. The tour is fun and informative. Mark is phenomenal and was a hit with our kids. The whole time it felt less like tour and more like family friends going out on the boat.

Response from Host

Jul 2024

Thank you so much, Lee! Really appreciate the detailed review. One of the reasons I love this tour so much is the flexibility of time that it gives. I do try to get down to the sandbar before the rest of the tour operators arrive, especially when boats are dropping off 15-50 people right on top of you. Knowing we can get down there quickly with our fast boats, explore the bar while it's empty and then go off to discover more places in the marsh gives this tour a well-rounded experience of our area. Really enjoyed having you guys out with me on this trip. Looking forward to doing it again soon!

879danad

Jun 2024

We did the Vanishing Mile Isle Tour and Private Dolphin Tour with Captain Mark this week and both were amazing. We had a four year old and two six year olds and Captain Mark was so patient and engaging with them it really made the trip that much better. We had a fantastic time. We can't go to HHI now without seeing Captain Mark!

Response from Host

Jun 2024

Thank you, Dana! Really enjoyed the adventures with you and the family. The kids were great and asked some fun questions! Looking forward to having you out again soon!

F1022QCtamaraw

Jun 2024

This was the most interesting cruise I have ever been on. The captain was so friendly and informative. We saw so many dolphins, I learned more about dolphins than ever, and we are from Florida! If you want to experience an island full of starfish and sand dollars, Captain Mark will get you there first, before the crowds. Choose Captian Mark, you will be happy you did!

Response from Host

Jun 2024

Thank you, Tamara! I really enjoyed having you guys on the boat and getting a chance to show you around. Our waters are a bit murkier than you're used to, but the biodiversity along our coast is second to none! Thank you for coming out and hope to see you again soon!