NATURALIST GUIDED ECOVENTURE
KAYAK TOURS SINCE 1994
PERSONS OF ALL AGES ...
with a spirit of adventure and an appreciation of nature and history will enjoy paddling the slow moving waters of the Tidelands of South Carolina. Moderate physical ability but no prior experience is necessary to participate. First-timers will have no trouble paddling our stable river kayaks with our instruction. No age limits, but children under age 13 must ride in a tandem kayak with parents.
NATURALIST GUIDED KAYAK TOURS ...
Regularly scheduled Half Day and Summer Full Moon tours are about 3-4 hours on the water with a midway stop on shore. Summer Monday Huntington Beach State Park is about 2 hours. Summer Evening Harbor tours are about 1½ hours. Full Day tours of 6-8 hours may be scheduled by special request if equipment and guides are available. All tours are by stable river touring kayaks, either solo (for one person) or tandem (for two persons). A safety talk and introductory lesson by a trained guide are included. All necessary equipment is provided.
TOUR LOCATIONS ...
vary weekly depending upon the time of the tides. These are some of our favorites ...
BLACK RIVER CYPRESS - TUPELO SWAMP
The Black River is the ancient road of colonial commerce that has served plantations since the 1700's. Paddle the clear black waters that ebb and flow through wilderness cypress-tupelo swamps over sandbars and spreading through creeks to the hidden ponds of the 1300 acre Black River Nature Preserve owned by The Nature Conservancy. Eventually the river joins with waters of the Sampit, Pee Dee, and Waccamaw Rivers to form Winyah Bay ... the third largest estuarine system on the East Coast of North America. Watch for ducks, owls, beavers and otters, alligators, kingfishers, deer, spider lilies, ibis and wood storks, swallow-tail kites, wild turkeys, and swamp canaries. (Half Day Kayak Tours, Schedule)
HUNTINGTON BEACH SALT MARSH CREEKS
Paddle through spartina cord grass marshes and saltwater creeks from the sandy dunes of Huntington Beach State Park at Murrells Inlet, past mysterious Drunken Jack Island, reputed to hold the treasures of the pirate Black Beard, and to a fresh water lagoon with alligators basking in the sun. See bald eagles, sea turtles, wading shore birds, oyster catchers, maybe even porpoises and sting rays that inhabit the ecotone between sand dunes and maritime forest. (Half Day, Summer Monday Two-Hour, Summer Full Moon Kayak Tours, Schedule)
THE HISTORIC HARBOR AND SEAPORT OF GEORGETOWN
An important port of trade since 1732, Georgetown boasts more than 50 buildings and sites on the National Register of Historic Places. Live oaks draped with Spanish Moss and centuries old plantation homes recall a rich Southern Heritage. View the magnificent Fyfe and Kaminski Houses and Rice Museum's Clock Tower while paddling along the shores of Goat Island. Shrimp boats and the Tall Ship Jolly Rover share the harbor with visiting yachts from around the world. Relax afterwards with dinner and refreshments at one of Harborwalk's waterfront restaurants. (Summer Evening Kayak Tours, Schedule)
SANDY ISLAND NATURE PRESERVE
Managed by The Nature Conservancy, Sandy Island is the largest undeveloped fresh water island on the East Coast and home to an indigenous population descended from plantation slaves. Paddle to this isolated island that lies adjacent to Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge and walk through part of the preserve's diverse 9000 acres of scrub oak sand ridges, Carolina Bays, and long leaf yellow pine forests that provide habitat for foxes and bobcats, deer, black bears, migratory ducks, and endangered red cockaded woodpeckers. (Half Day and Summer Full Moon Kayak Tours, Schedule)
CHICORA WOOD PLANTATION
On the way to Chicora Wood, visit the mysterious remains of the antebellum Prince Frederick Church before paddling the creeks and hand-dug canals that interlace the Great Pee Dee and Waccamaw Rivers. Lined by the dikes and trunk gates that flooded the impoundments, these vast plantations grew indigo and Carolina Gold rice that sustained an aristocratic society beginning in the 1600's until the War Between the States. Colorful songbirds, alligators, and turtles now find refuge in these quiet waters and marshes. (Half Day Kayak Tours, Schedule)
WHEN ...
Half Day tours are scheduled year round in the mornings. Summer Full Moon tours are scheduled the week preceeding full moon. Evening Harbor tours are scheduled mid-April through mid-September. Summer Monday Two-Hour Huntington Beach State Park tours are scheduled May through mid-October. (See our Tour Calendar for a current schedule.)
HOW MUCH ...
Half Day and Summer Full Moon tours are only $55 per person (children under age 13 accompanied by parents are $35). Organized group discount rates available for eight or more adults. Summer Monday Huntington Beach State Park are $30 per person. Evening Harbor tours are $35 per person. (Prices subject to change.)
WHERE TO MEET ...
We meet at different locations other than our Outfitter Store for some tours, so get directions when you call the store to make reservations. You can print directions for the tour as you review the Tour Calendar. (Or see the Area Map for directions and drive times.)
WHAT TO BRING ...
Sunglasses with a strap, sunscreen, bug repellant, waterproof or disposable camera in a zip lock bag, a sack lunch or snacks, and plenty of liquids to drink such as bottled water. There is room for a soft-sided or small 6-pack type cooler in your kayak. Be sure to bring any personal emergency medications, such as for allergies, that you may require. Leave valuables that you do not want to risk dropping into the water locked up in your car or at home.
WHAT TO WEAR ...
Brimmed hat, cap, or sunvisor and footwear that you do not mind getting wet (sneakers, sandals, surf slippers). You may want to be prepared to swim in warmer months. If cooler Weather in the morning, then dress in layers since it can warm up rapidly during the day. If cold and windy, gloves and a windbreaker are a good idea.
RESERVATIONS ...
are required for guided kayak tours at least a day in advance. (We need to plan for equipment and personnel utilization.) During the summer, tours often fill up. So as soon as you are ready to make a commitment, please call the Outfitter Store 9:00am-5:30pm Monday through Saturday at (843) 546-4840 (closed Sunday...please call back during regular store hours). We need to ask you some specific questions and collect information. Calling will go much faster than swapping emails back and forth over several days. A VISA or MC card # is required to hold your reservation, otherwise prepayment by cash or check is accepted. Then on the day of the tour you can present your VISA or MC card for processing, or pay with cash or check.
CANCELLATION POLICY ...
Your cancellation must be made at least 24 hours in advance to avoid being charged (we plan for the number of guides and boats needed based on advance reservations and may turn away people if the tour fills up). Please do not sign up members of your party if you do not think that they will attend. We may cancel tours at our discretion with no charge to you in the event of bad weather or other circumstances. (Special cancellation policies apply to private groups. Call for details.)
CANOE AND KAYAK RENTALS...
Rent or purchase our touring, surf, and beach kayaks and canoes. Rentals include PFD's, paddles, cartop carriers. Multi-day rental discounts and delivery available. Sorry, we are not located on the water, but there are many fresh and salt water paddling locations within a 15-45 minute drive including five river systems, Winyah Bay, Pawleys Island, Cape Romain Nat. Wildlife Refuge, and Francis Marion Nat. Forest. Plan your own exploration ... we have maps and paddling guide books! Walk-ins for rentals are encouraged since we usually have plenty of boats and equipment available. Or call to make advance reservations, especially for week long rentals and deliveries.
GIFT CERTIFICATES ...
for tours or to be used toward a purchase are available and make a great birthday or holiday present. Stop by the Outfitter Store 9:00am-5:30pm Monday through Saturday to purchase or call (843) 546-4840 during store hours with a VISA or MC card # and we can mail it to you or the recipient. There is no expiration date for purchased Gift Certificates, and the recipient can use it at any time.
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