4-Hour Guided Daufuskie Island Tour From Hilton Head
Cruise by boat to Daufuskie Island for history, local sites, and art studios
Duration
4 hours
Ideal For
Up to 12 people
Includes
Boat cruise, guide, golf cart
Highlights
Explore the undeveloped side of Daufuskie Island on a 4-hour guided tour from Hilton Head Island. Ride by golf cart and visit historic landmarks, including the First African Baptist Church.
- Cruise by boat from Hilton Head Island to remote Daufuskie Island
- Visit the First African Baptist Church and the Praise House
- See Mary Fields School, noted in Pat Conroy’s "The Water is Wide"
- Stop at the site of the Bloody Point Lighthouse
- Tour The Iron Fish studio, home to Chase Allen
- Learn about Gullah culture, the cotton trade, and island history with your guide
What's Included
- Boat cruise from Hilton Head Island
- United States Coast Guard (USCG) licensed captain
- Interpretive naturalist/historian guide
- Golf cart
Things to know
Gratuity for your guide and/or captain is not included.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel up to 48 hours before your scheduled tour time. Cancellations after that are charged the full amount. Weather cancellations are at the sole discretion of Outside; if they cancel due to weather there will be no charge or they will issue a credit for any payments made.
FAQs
Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time.
Wear clothing that feels comfortable for a walk on the beach that day. Choose closed-toe shoes since you’ll travel by golf cart on unpaved roads.
Bring sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen) and a bottle of water for each person. In spring and fall mornings and evenings, you may also want bug spray.
Meeting details
This activity departs from Shelter Cove Marina. We are located at the southwest corner of the marina next to the Ship Store and Ela's Grille.
More about the First African Baptist Church
The First African Baptist Church on Daufuskie Island stands as one of the most moving stops on this guided history tour from Hilton Head, a simple wooden sanctuary that has anchored the island's Gullah community since 1881. Built by formerly enslaved people and their descendants, the First African Baptist Church tells a story that goes far beyond its weathered clapboard walls. On Daufuskie, where paved roads give way to dirt lanes and live oaks drip with Spanish moss, this small church remains a living symbol of faith, freedom, and the resilience of the Gullah people who shaped this corner of the Lowcountry.
As your guide brings you to the First African Baptist Church, you will step into a space where wooden pews, hand-built details, and quiet light through plain windows speak louder than any museum exhibit. The tour weaves the church into the broader Daufuskie story, connecting it to the island's one-room schoolhouse, the Mary Field Cemetery, and the old praise houses where Gullah traditions were preserved through song and worship. Standing inside, you can almost hear the spirituals that once filled the room, and your guide shares the customs, language, and family histories that make the First African Baptist Church such a meaningful place. The contrast with bustling Hilton Head, just a short boat ride away, makes the stillness here feel even more profound.
This experience is ideal for history lovers, culturally curious travelers, and families who want a deeper understanding of the Sea Islands beyond the beaches and resorts. Couples looking for a thoughtful day trip and photographers drawn to authentic Southern landscapes will also find the First African Baptist Church unforgettable. If you want to leave Daufuskie with a real sense of the people who built this island and the faith that sustained them, the First African Baptist Church is the heart of the journey.
