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Wild Pony Watching Boat Tour along Assateague Island

Wild Pony Watching Boat Tour along Assateague Island

Overview

Since 2001, Assateague Explorer boat tour has helped thousands of visitors to experience the wild ponies in their natural habitat. Locally owned and operated. Featured by ABC Good Morning America.

City: Virginia

Mon 23 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $59.00

Make a reservation

Mon 23 Dec

Starting at $59.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Narration (local knowledge of the island and its wildlife)

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons

What To Expect

Assateague Island NS-VA Unit

A 90-minute narrated boat tour along the shoreline of Assateague Island where wild ponies roam. A great chance of seeing wild ponies and other wildlife such as dolphins, eagles and shorebirds.

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

See the scenic parts of Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge by boat in search of wild ponies, eagles, dolphins, shorebirds and other wildlife. Enjoy the scenery and wildlife along the way on this 90-minute narrated tour with island history and wildlife facts.

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (22)

good4trav

Jul 2022

Although we generally enjoyed the tour and what we saw, it was what we didn't see, and the lack of candor about it, that leads us to give only an average review. The name of the tour says it all - the Wild Pony Watching Tour. What the tour operator failed to disclose when we booked our tour, however, was that the ponies were to be rounded up just before our tour to prepare them for the swim across the channel a few days later, and thus would not be available to be "watched" at all. When we called to book the tour, we had specifically asked whether there was a better or worse time to see the ponies, and the tour operator failed to disclose the roundup. What should have happened is that, knowing that the roundup would have occurred just prior to the cruise about which we were inquiring, he should have told us that fact so that we could make an informed decision about whether to take the cruise, indeed whether to make the trip to Chincoteague and Assateague, at all that day, instead of waiting for a better opportunity. While on the tour, the captain mentioned that perhaps a few ponies might have eluded the round up and still be able to be seen, but when we approached Assateague Island he made very little effort to see whether any ponies truly remained, preferring, along with his brother the tour guide, to remain in deep conversation with a passenger and largely ignoring the rest of the passengers and the possibility that any ponies might be seen. Compounding the problem is that, at the end of the cruise, when we voiced our displeasure, the captain simply shrugged it off, whereas a more astute businessperson would have offered, presumably at a discount, the ability to come back and take another cruise. Having said that, the cruise itself, absent the ability to see any ponies, was quite enjoyable, and we did see other very interesting wildlife, including abundant dolphins and a variety of birds (an eagle, pelicans, a loon and other shore birds). The captain did allot ample time to see this wildlife, and the tour guide provided some useful information, although perhaps not as much about the environment of Chincoteague and Assateague as we might have liked. For example, whether or not ponies could be seen, more information could have been provided about the ponies themselves, how they got to the island, etc. If you can take this tour at a time other than when the ponies are unavailable (and you don't rely upon the tour operator to inform you of this), it is recommended.

Jeffery S

Jul 2022

This tour description is very misleading. The boat doesn't look anything like the multicolored one in the picture. The boat we went on was showing it's age. It is not wheel chair assessable as we had someone on the tour have to walk down steps even though he was walking with a walker. We arrived 10 minutes early to find most people already on board with the guide also present. We noticed right away that the captain was not on board and the guide said he would be there shortly. He finally showed up 20 minutes late and gave no explanation for his late arrival. He just strolled on like nothing was at issue. The guide joked that he was on island time. Not a good joke. They then had some unpaid quests show up 25 minutes after the assigned time to leave and they delayed to allow them to board. They finally left and we did find two herds of ponies but we couldn't get very close. We were around the ponies for about 30 minutes and they had 3 pairs of binoculars to share with the guests. We then returned to the marina with a stop by some construction to watch seagulls. I think it was to waste time to show we were out for 90 minutes. The captain also seemed very interested in selling his photo's. No water was offered. I thought the guide tried to make it a good trip. She had some interesting comments on the ponies and local birds. We would not go back and I can't recommend this to anyone else.

CelBet

Jul 2022

Very informative and relaxing cruise. Both the captain and tour guide shared a lot of information about wildlife on the island. Also, we liked the small boat. The cruise was just long enough.