Tours

Tours

Air Tours

Flying High Over Charleston provides aerial tours of the city and surrounding areas. Trips begin at $60 per person.

Boat Tours

Charleston Harbor Tours offers tours that give the history of the harbor; it's the oldest harbor tour boat company (since 1908) and gives a good narrated tour of the harbor (excluding Fort Sumter). Spiritline Cruises, which runs the ferry to Fort Sumter, also offers harbor tours and dinner cruises ($47 to $52). Sandlapper Tours has tours focused on regional history, coastal wildlife, and ghostly lore ($15 to $25); you must make reservations by phone in advance, since there is no ticket office where the harbour tours depart. On the authentic, 84-foot tall Schooner Pride (capacity 49 persons), you can enjoy a diesel-free sail and the natural sounds of Charleston harbor ($27 to $39).

Bus Tours

Adventure Sightseeing leads bus tours of the historic district. Associated Guides of Historic Charleston pairs local guides with visiting tour groups. Doin' the Charleston, a van tour, makes a stop at the Battery. Sites and Insights is a van tour that covers downtown and nearby islands. Gullah Tours focuses on sights significant to African-American culture. Chai Y'All shares stories and sights of Jewish interest.

Carriage Tours

Carriage tours are a great way to see Charleston. Carolina Polo & Carriage Company, Old South Carriage Company, and Palmetto Carriage Tours run horse- and mule-drawn carriage tours of the historic district. Each tour lasts about one hour. Most carriages queue up at North Market and Anson streets. Charleston Carriage and Polo picks up passengers at the Doubletree Guest Suites Historic Charleston on Church Street.

Ecotours

Barrier Island Ecotours, at the Isle of Palms Marina, runs three-hour pontoon-boat tours to a barrier island. Coastal Expeditions has half-day and full-day naturalist-led kayak tours on local rivers. Charleston Explorers leads educational boat tours that are great for kids.

Walking Tours

Walking tours on various topics—horticulture, slavery, or women's history—are given by Charleston Strolls and the Original Charleston Walks. Bulldog Tours has walks that explore the city's supernatural side. Listen to the infamous tales of lost souls with Ghosts of Charleston, which travel to historic graveyards. Military history buffs should consider Jack Thompson's Civil War Walking Tour. The food-oriented tours by Carolina Food Pros explore culinary strongholds—gourmet grocers, butcher shops, and restaurants, sampling all along the way.

Tour Essentials

Air Tour Contacts

Flying High Over Charleston (Mercury Air Center, W. Aviation Ave, North Charleston. 843/569-6148. www.flyinghighovercharleston.com).

Boat Tour Contacts

Charleston Harbor Tours (Charleston Maritime Center, 10 Wharfside St., Upper King. 843/722-1112, 800/979-3370, or 212/209-3370. www.charlestonharbortours.com). Sandlapper Tours (Charleston Maritime Center, 10 Wharfside St., Upper King. 843/849-8687. www.sandlappertours.com). Schooner Pride (Aquarium Wharf, Upper King. 843/559-9686 or 843/722-1112. www.schoonerpride.com). Spiritline Cruises (360 Concord St., [Aquarium Wharf], Upper King area. 843/881-7337 or 800/789-3678. www.spiritlinecruises.com).

Bus Tour Contacts

Adventure Sightseeing (843/762-0088 or 800/722-5394. www.touringcharleston.com). Associated Guides of Historic Charleston (843/724-6419. www.historiccharleston.org). Chai Y'All (843/556-0664). Doin' the Charleston (843/763-1233 or 800/647-4487. www.dointhecharlestontours.com). Gullah Tours (843/763-7551. www.gullahtours.com). Sites and Insights (843/762-0051. www.sitesandinsightstours.com).

Carriage Tour Contacts

Charleston Carriage & Polo Company (843/577-6767. www.cpcc.com). Old South Carriage Company (843/723-9712. www.oldsouthcarriagetours.com). Palmetto Carriage Tours (843/723-8145).

Ecotour Contacts

Barrier Island Ecotours (Isle of Palms Marina, off U.S. 17, Isle of Palms. 843/886-5000. www.nature-tours.com). Charleston Explorers (40 Patriots Point Rd., Mount Pleasant. 843/723-5656. www.charlestonexplorers.org). Coastal Expeditions (514-B Mill St., Mount Pleasant. 843/884-7684. www.coastalexpeditions.com).

Walking Tour Contacts

Bulldog Tours (40 N. Market St., Market area. 843/568-3315. www.cobblestonewalkingtours.com). Carolina Food Pros (701 E. Bay St., Market area. 843/723-3366. www.carolinafoodpros.com). Charleston Strolls (Charleston Pl., 130 Market St., Market area. 843/766-2080. www.charlestonstrolls.com). Ghosts of Charleston (184 E. Bay St., French Quarter. 843/723-1670 or 800/723-1670). Jack Thompson's Civil War Walking Tour (Mills House Hotel, 115 Meeting St., Market area. 843/722-7033). Original Charleston Walks (58½ Broad St., South of Broad. 843/577-3800 or 800/729-3420).