Edisto Island is perfectly situated as a base from which to explore the waterways of the lowcountry. From the St Helena Sound to the Edisto River to the smaller creeks that penetrate the interior of Edisto itself, its varied environments offer beautiful scenery and frequent opportunities to watch the dolphins and birds that call the South Carolina coast home.
Local tour companies provide a number of guided tours to introduce you to Edisto’s nature and wildlife, whether you prefer a relaxing boat tour or a more active excursion by kayak.
Edisto Island is not far from the blackwater swamp environments of the lower Edisto River, with several kayak tours exploring this unique southern ecosystem of massive cypress trees and calm, slow-moving water. Other tours visit the old rice fields of the interior coast, or the waters of St Helena Sound.
A boat tour offers more scope for seeing a wider variety of wildlife and scenery. Several boat excursions are available from Edisto, visiting the rivers and estuary that make up the protected ACE Basin; the waterways encircling Edisto; or an unusual little island half way to Beaufort that is home to thousands of monkeys.
See also:
– Visiting the Edisto Island Museum
– How To Get To Edisto Island
– Things to do near Charleston
Edisto River and Penny Creek Tour, 3hrs30 With Kayak Charleston. Tour of Penny Creek and the Edisto River, seeing forested creeks, marshes and an old rice field canal. $65 per person. Call 843-509-3037 for reservations. More details
Blackwater Kayak Tour, 6hrs With Coastal Expeditions. Wildlife tour of a blackwater creek in the ACE Basin. Adults $95, children (12 and under) $75. Can also be booked as a private tour, 6-person minimum. Call 843-884-7684 for reservations or book online. More details
Penny Creek Tour With Nature Adventures. Kayak tour of Penny Creek, a blackwater tributary to the Edisto River. Call 843-568-3222 for inquiries and reservations. More details
Edisto River Tour With Nature Adventures. Blackwater kayak tour of the Edisto River. Call 843-568-3222 for inquiries and reservations. More details
Ashepoo River Tour, 2hrs30 With Kayak Charleston. Tour of the ACE Basin’s Horseshoe Creek, seeing either tree-lined creeks or salt marsh and former rice fields. $40 per person. Call 843-509-3037 for reservations. More details
Kayak Tour, 2hrs With Edisto Watersports & Tackle. Nature-oriented kayak tour of the ACE Basin from Edisto. $40 per person. Call 843-869-0663 for reservations. More details
Dolphin Boat Ecotour (12 max) 1hr30 With Botany Bay Ecotours. Public dolphin-watching and ecology tour of St Helena Sound and the creeks near Edisto. Adults $54, children (4-12) $27. Private tours also available, $500 for up to 12 people. Call 843-869-2998 for reservations or book online. More details
Gullah Ecotour (12 max) 1hr15 With Botany Bay Ecotours. Gullah history and culture tour combined with a dolphin eco tour of Edisto, joined by local Gullah woman Sarah Burnell. Adults $54, children (4-12) $27. Private tour $500. Call 843-869-2998 for reservations or book online. More details
North Edisto River Tour (6 max) 2hrs With Charleston Fishing Company. Boat tour of Botany Bay, Seabrook, Rockville and other North Edisto River sights, from Steamboat Public Boat Landing. $250 for up to 6 people. Call 843-412-6811 for reservations or book online. More details
Botany Bay Island Tour (6 max) 2hrs With Charleston Fishing Company. Beach-combing tour to Botany Bay Island from Steamboat Public Boat Landing. $250 for up to 6 people. Call 843-412-6811 for reservations or book online. More details
Sunset Cruise (ages 10+) 1hr15 With Botany Bay Ecotours. Sunset boat tour out of Edisto Island. Public tours $54 per person, private tours $500 per party. Call 843-869-2998 for reservations or book online. More details
ACE Basin River Tour (12 max) 3hrs With Botany Bay Ecotours. Private tour of the ACE Basin. $320 for 1-2, $400 for 3-5, $475 for 6-9, $550 for 10-12. Call 843-869-2998 for reservations or book online. More details
ACE Basin, Dolphin, and Sunset River Tour, 2hrs With Edisto Watersports & Tackle. Scenic cruise of the St Helena Sound region, with wildlife watching in the river and marsh creeks, returning at sunset. Adults $45, children (10 and under) $25. Call 843-869-0663 for reservations. More details
Morgan Island Tour (12 max) With Botany Bay Ecotours. Private tour of the ACE Basin, also seeing Morgan Island where you may spot monkeys. $320 for 1-2, $400 for 3-5, $475 for 6-9, $550 for 10-12. Call 843-869-2998 for reservations or book online. More details
Shelling Excursion on Otter Island, 3hrs With Edisto Watersports & Tackle. Boat ride to Otter Island, in St Helena Sound, with 2.5 hours on the island to see the wildlife and look for shells. Adults $40, children (10 and under) $20. Call 843-869-0663 for reservations. More details
Edisto Beach Adventure (12 max) 3hrs With Charleston Fossil Adventures. Fossil hunting at Edisto Beach State Park. Adults $65.99, children (5-15) $49.99, young children (0-4) free. Family group discounts available. State Park admission is not included. Call 843-534-9099 for reservations or book online. More details