Thornton was a terrific captain and guide through the rivers behind Hunting Island in search of dolphins and other wildlife. He found pods of dolphins for us to observe, a few birds (it was high tide). A very capable pilot, Thornton was at his best as a wildlife interpreter of the tidal wetland ecology and its conservation. A fabulous tour! read more

Rented 4 tandem kayaks for our family with kiddos, and everything was easy and fun! Information and equipment were great, and assistance with putting in and coming off the water was super smooth. Staff were very friendly and helpful, and we love that they're conscientious about protecting the natural habitat and wildlife, as well. We had a blast paddling out to the harbor and then back in and up the peaceful little creek just off the mouth of Shem Creek. Will return! read more

Great Kayak trip out of Kiawah. Simple and chill. The guide was good and we'd do it again.

We had such a beautiful day on the water today!! We did a special trip focusing on fossils on the island. My first hunt ... found creature bones, shark teeth, turtle shells... all very very old. It was delightful on such a gorgeous day!! The two guides, Jackie and paleontologist Mike were wonderful guides. read more

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We had a great time on our sunset kayak tour with Olivia. We saw multiple dolphins, learned a lot about the area and animals, saw dolphins a few times, and the clouds and wind calmed down just before we started, giving a wonderful sunset. read more

Coastal Expeditions - Great sunset on the water - Tours Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

The safari boat tour with Albo was INCREDIBLE! If you want to learn about the Kiawah river, the oysters, the dolphins, the birds and/or anything else about the area HE is your man! Decades of boat experience and a great sense of humor! Thank you Albo!! read more

My school came here today (May 21, 2026) and we had a great time! We went to Drum Island and before that, we went kayaking, both times I've had an amazing experience! 5 stars! read more

I booked a sunrise kayak tour with our 12 staff members and had an absolutely INCREDIBLE time! Madison and Miles were our tour guides and were so kind, fun, and helpful, and they had abundant information about the history, animals, and ecological systems of the area. And we saw dolphins!! The booking process and communication leading up to the tour was seamless, thorough and detailed. I could not recommend this tour enough!! read more

We just had the BEST Natural Trek Tour at the Dunlin with our guide Abbi! She is so knowledgeable about so many species of trees, plants, animals & water foul! We saw a beautiful eagles nest & a Glass Lizard ( which is the only lizard with no legs or feet- but because of its eyelids and ears it is not a snake). Nature is so underestimated but this tour proves that wrong. So much beauty to see if you really look! read more

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My mother and I did the Fullmoon Shem creek kayak tour in February. It started at 5:15pm and ended around 7:40 pm, which was the perfect amount of time. In February at night, it was kind of cold but still beautiful and worth going. It went at a moderate pace. I was not naturally skilled at kayaking so I felt I missed most of everything the tour guide said because I couldn't hear him. However, I understand that he has to present to the majority of people. I felt we were waiting around for a bit for the sunset, but then had no time to take pictures of the Fullmoon. I also wish we slowed down when rowing by the boats to give me a chance to catch up considering we just hung out for 15-20 minutes at the midpoint. I didn't get to take any pictures until that point. Overall, good experience and I would recommend it. Our tour guide was positive, informative, and friendly. I think if the tour guide could work on timing a little bit to give people time to catch up and take photos then it would be perfect! read more

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Seamless rental experience! The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable about tide conditions. read more

Coastal Expeditions - Rental Kayak - Tours Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

We had a great sunset dolphin cruise with Dolp. He was the perfect level of informative and quiet and was such a sweet helpful man. It was the 2-hour option and we brought one fun drinks and enjoyed this perfect activity for September. It's a great way to see the waterways and sunset around Charleston. If you choose the private option you'll have a lot more flexibility too! We did it for the final night as a bachelorette weekend and it was the best ending. It was a favorite part to the weekend for everyone. The shop has some cute items and water for any last minute needs. read more

Coastal Expeditions - Tours Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

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I spent 5 hours searching for (and finding) sharks teeth and fossils with Mike Stoller, Jackie, and Captain Nick. The trip was fantastic! The knowledge and passion of each member of the tour team made this a valuable and fun trip. I'm looking forward to my next event with Coastal Expeditions - they're all great. I've visited Bulls Island, taken kayad tours, and taken several boat tours. If you're looking for a new way to explore the Lowcountry and learn lots, this is the company for you! read more

Trip to Bird Key Stono to see the pelicans was awesome! I highly recommend it. The captain was very knowledgeable and entertaining. read more

Coastal Expeditions - Bird Key Stono - Tours Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

I am new to the Charleston area and had not had a chance to kayak all season. My friend found this tour on Facebook and we both ended up booking the expedition. Our tour highlighted the Rosetta Spoonbill - We saw one! There were also sightings of: a bald eagle, Bonnet head shark and herons. Kiawah - Location Our guides were so knowledgable about the area, vegetation and wildlife I learned a lot. And not to forget - safety. I felt very safe the whole time. The group was given a very good welcome and how to session. We ascended and descended from the water fast but orderly. Safety vests were provided and mandatory to wear. The group was also a nice blend. All works of life and friendly. Highly recommended. read more

Coastal Expeditions - Tours Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

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Coastal Expeditions does it all right. Super friendly, helpful staff that ensures you have a great time. In fact, we've used Coastal Expeditions twice now for our kayak rentals in Shem Creek and it was a perfect experience both times. If you're looking for a little adventure while visiting Charleston, this is the place. And go to lunch at Shem Creek after you get done...wonderful day! read more

Coastal Expeditions - Tours Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Wambaw Creek Kayak tour with Chance as our guide Knowledgeable and helpful every step of the way. Wambaw Creek tour read more

Top notch tour with a friendly, knowledgeable staff! I don't know what else to say. The tour exceeded my expectations and was a highlight of my trip to Charleston. Thanks to all the good people at Coastal Expeditions! read more

The entire staff is so friendly and knowledgeable, especially Jackie. I have used several tour companies in the past, and Coastal Expeditions is head and shoulders above the rest, I recommend them to anyone looking to go shark tooth hunting! :) read more

Coastal Expeditions - Angustiden tooth from Morris Island - Tours Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Shem kayaking with Nathan was amazing! He was super knowledgeable and was able to adapt to the varying skill levels of the group. Everyone at a coastal was kind and accommodating. I went early so parking wasn't an issue for me but I can see how it could be problematic later in the day. Will be back for more kayaking and a trip to Bulls! read more

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Annie and Nick our guides were amazing! They were friendly and very informative. The process of booking the tour and meeting the boat went smoothly. read more

3rd time we have used these guys and they continue to excel. Great private kayak tour today with MC our guide who did a great job making the experience both informative and entertaining. These guys are well worth a visit - tailored to the group and making it really enjoyable and really easy to get to from downtown Charleston. Thanks again. read more

Always a great adventure! The staff is very knowledgeable and passionate about the wildlife. read more

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Logan was our tour guide for our 3 hour kayak tour on Shem Creek. We were captivated the entire time with all the sights, facts about the wildlife, and an enjoyable experience! The kayaks were very easy to use, even for beginners like us, and the staff were quick to explain and help when needed. Very good quality equipment, and knowledgeable staff. Huge shoutout to Logan for a wonderful tour. Will definitely be back for the sunrise trip! read more

Coastal Expeditions - Tours Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

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We did the cape romain lighthouse tour and it was horrible. There was an optional talk prior to the boat tour that half of us didn't do. They showed up a half our late so instead of a 3 hour tour we got 2 1/2 hours. Getting to the lighthouse was very muddy and lots of mosquitoes. There was only a tiny area you could explore so except for looking at the lighthouse there was nothing more to do. I wrote to the company about how bad the experience was and they didn't bother to reach out to me to apologize. For $75 a person it was a big ripoff. Do not go on this tour! read more

We have been on multiple kayak tours with Coastal Expeditions in last few years. Today we did another 2 hr guided tour w/ Morgan...she was fantastic....knew her stuff inside and out from the ecosystem to all the various species and fun facts! Highly recommended...quality, quality, quality! Worth every dollar! read more

Coastal Expeditions - Tours Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

The sunset kayak trip is very fun and cool to experience. The staff (Jackie and Wes) are very nice and tell you interesting things about the animals and environment. read more

2 hr kayak adventure up Shem creek into the harbor was just right. Smallish group size with very capable and friendly guide. Saw dolphins on the creek and learned a bit about the ecology. I was a bit nervous about the long kayak with peddle controlled rudder, but they did a nice job with safety training and fitting equipment before we took off so all went well. Highly recommend. Unpretentious and friendly. read more

We just went on our second ferry expedition to Bulls Island . Having recently moved here from Vermont, we have found the Coastal Expeditions excursion to be the perfect day trip for our steady rotation of visitors . The tour guides are VERY personable , educators , and entertaining . We learned so much from them and will likely learn more with each voyage . Special big shout out to Cody who was the epitome of outgoing , patient , personable , and informative . At the helm was Richard who steered us expertly through the maze to Bull's Island . NOTE : once on the island , remember what your guide tells you and don't go on unmarked trails . For whatever reason it's like a time warp out there and it takes longer to get back than you think . There is so much to see , time goes by quickly . It is a pristine and beautiful protected area and we have already booked our next trip . Maybe I will be a deck hand in the future .. it's SO much fun !! read more

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Did the Morris Island Shark Tooth expedition, and had a great time. We found about a half dozen 2" fossil shark teeth, so well worth the time and money. read more

I booked an expedition to Morris Island for my daughter and I to go and hunt shark teeth. We arrived around 6:15am for the 6:30am tour. We were greeted by Mike in the lobby, who checked us in and announced that he'd be our island guide and first mate on the vessel. The credit card that was used to hold our reservation is not needed at this time. They charge your card on the boat during the return trip. No payment = a long swim back. Just kidding. The captain of the vessel was very friendly (I forgot her name but she reminds me of Sarah Cameron from Outer Banks). She was very conversational and knowledgeable while we made our way out to the island. Upon arriving at the island, everyone disembarked and sprinted down the beach to take advantage of the solitude of the island. My daughter and I chose the slow and steady method. We had so much beach to explore because the tide was low upon our arrival. We walked and stopped and walked and stopped, and eventually made it down to the stone boulder jetty, where there were thousands of shells deposited from the recent tide. We stayed there for the remainder of the trip and found so many shark teeth and other fossils in this area alone. One tooth that I found was about the size of the palm of my hand. If I had a boat, I'd be out here all the time exploring, but I really enjoyed this trip. Mike was really knowledgeable regarding shark teeth and was able to ID most of the teeth that people pulled out of their pockets for show and tell. We were even lucky enough to witness a bald eagle attacking an osprey that had a fish in its talons. The osprey dropped the fish, and then nobody had breakfast that morning. Coastal Expeditions offers many other tours too, not just Morris Island. I plan on taking advantage of another one in the very near future. read more

Coastal Expeditions - Tours Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

This is my second time going out with my son. This trip was with Laing Middle School Marine Science class and very informative and patient. The guides did a great job keeping all the students interested and engaged in learning about our ecosystem. read more

Coastal Expeditions - Tours Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Mike Stoller was great, he was so patient and informative not only for the kids but adults as well. Tips: bring hand wipes, a good container(s) for picking up treasures, sunscreen and water. There are good sand dollars here, just make sure they are not alive, your guide can show you if you are unsure. They are so fragile so get a container that won't crush them (I made this mistake). We had a blast and learned a lot! read more

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We did the paddle boarding experience with Cody, and I cannot recommend not only Cody and this experience but the company and its entirety. They support the conservation of the oceans, educate you with measures and fun facts on your tour, but also cater to you if the new/experienced, etc... We had an AMAZING time here and cannot recommend enough!!!! read more

Great tour. Organized very well. Checked us in quickly, went over safety and how to use kayak effectively. Three hour tour was perfect to get everything in - we saw dolphins, birds and etc. learned about the ecosystem as well. Highly recommend read more

My parents came into town and I thought it would be fun to take them to Shem Creek. Husband and I chose to paddle board (SUP) while parents chose to tandem kayak. The guys at the desk were friendly and paperwork and payment was super easy when we arrived. The guides gave us instructions and got us into the water with no problem. We were out for about 3 hours. When we got back, we were assisted out of the water and we headed out. Easy peasy! We will definitely do it again! read more

Coastal Expeditions - Tours Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Nathan is the best!!! We had a picture perfect kayak tour of Shem Creek. It was the best way to see Charleston.. can't say enough about it. Nathan made it fun and we always felt safe and informed. I don't have the greatest upper body strength and was concerned it might be too much. Nope, I kayaked about 2 hours and felt great. The staff were really helpful in helping me figure out which tour to do. Just an amazing experience! read more

Coastal Expeditions - Tours Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

I had a great experience with Coastal Expeditions. We've been feeling cooped up trying to social distance to our best ability, so we figured getting out on the water was a great way to get outside and be active! I noticed on their website that they highlighted how their staff was wearing a mask, which made me extra confident that this was a safe place to rent from. I rented a single kayak for $45 for 4 hours. We didn't use it for the full 4 hours, but I felt it was a fair price. Heads up if you're looking to just launch a kayak (my bf already has one), they do have a $10 fee for that as well. I've kayaked before so we didn't need much instruction and we were quickly out on the water. We explored the waterways of Shem Creek and you could go really far back there and see all the beautiful marsh and houses. Definitely a great way to explore and soak up some sun. After paddling around for a while we headed back and I noticed they were sanitizing all the equipment (paddles, life jackets, etc). They really made us feel safe in renting from them! Definitely recommend if you're looking for a way to get out of the house and don't want to spend hours looking for a parking spot at the beach. read more

Very friendly staff. A great, chill atmosphere that makes you feel like a local. I've been paddle boarding and kayaking with their equipment and have always seen lots of dolphins and other local wildlife. They have a reusable water bottle full of cold water for only $4. Get it. *Also, someone on here complained about tipping. Dude, if you owned your own board (at least $500) you'd have to put it on your car, tie it down with a belt-crank system( $750), drive to the water, take it off the car, and walk it to the water (or buy a $5mil waterfront property) so I think it's worth it to thank the kids who carry it to the dock and get you safely on the water so you can spend your energy on paddling past the dolphins and manatees. There has never been pressure to tip. It's the same credit card system all small businesses have. Tip your barista. Thank your pilot. Be cool. See you guys soon. ‍ read more

Today's guided of Shem Creek was great! Big thanks to our guide, Mike. He was patient and knowledgeable. Everyone in the group seemed to enjoy the outing! I am including a couple of pics taken from the crab bar (I hope I am remembering the name correctly). read more

Coastal Expeditions - Mike and others looking for sharks teeth! - Tours Near Me - Mount Pleasant, South Carolina