Daily Tours and Rentals
Charleston South Carolina offers a wonderful variety of outdoor attractions and areas to explore that are perfect for both kayaking and canoeing. Nature Adventures is the closest outfitter to downtown Charleston, but we also offer tours in the creeks of the Francis Marion National forest and waters surrounding the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.
Kayak or Canoe and Paddleboard rentals are available for those who want to explore on their own while tours are just right for a memorable family vacation. Beginners and ages 4 and up are always welcome.
Daily tours of 2 hour, 3 hour or full day as well as overnight expeditions are available. Expedition style and day touring sea kayaks available - with or without rudders - your choice! Canoes are fine on calm days in the marshes or anytime in the blackwater creeks and swamps.
Blackwater Tours
Explore The Blackwater Tours Here
Just 35-50 minutes from Charleston you can explore cool and shaded blackwater swamps, rivers and historic rice plantations. Paddle through a flooded forest in a protected wilderness area in the National Forest and see 1,000 year old cypress trees or see a 300 year old church overlooking thousands of acres of rice fields where eagles nest, full of wetland wildflowers. Wildlife includes the shy and elusive alligator, turtles, wetland wading birds, woodpeckers and sometimes river otters!
Saltwater Tours
Explore the Saltwater Tours Here
Just 3 minutes to 35 minutes surrounding Charleston, the saltwater tours include a variety of habitats that include shallow bays with historic harbor views, sandy beaches with barrier islands, or saltwater marsh creeks. Paddle to 4,000 year old Indian ruins in the National Forest and journey back in time! Wildlife includes dolphin and nesting colonies of thousands of Eastern Shorebirds. Manatees and Sea Turtles are seasonal and are seen about 10-20% of the time during summer months. Our Shem Creek & Crab Bank Island tour has the most wildlife and chance for seeing dolphin, but you’re welcome to also explore the waters surrounding the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge just up the coast.
Rentals & Equipment
We have Carbon Infused Paddles and High End kayaks & Canoes! No other outfitter compares! We have over 100 kayaks and canoes to choose from!
We rent sea and recreation kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.
Rentals are available at Shem Creek Saltwater location 8 am to 7 pm, 7 days a week!
Walk up Rentals are welcomed at our Shem Creek location any time if they are available, however, advance reservations will guarantee your kayaks for you.Walk up Tours may be available, but it’s best to call ahead of time for a reservation.
At our Blackwater Locations a 24 hour advance reservation for both Rentals and Tours is required.
Upcoming Special Events
Fathers Day Cookout & Fun Paddle
Sunday, June 16th
Get outdoors and do something different that dad will enjoy. The day will start with a luncheon cookout at Hampton Plantation with Hamburgers, Hotdogs and more. While there, enjoy the plantation trails and mansion tour. After lunch we’ll embark on a family fun paddle down Wambaw Creek to the Santee River along the banks of Hampton Island. We can anticipate seeing alligators and turtles from a safe distance all the while enjoying the great outdoors in a safe, creek environment.
Led by University Degreed and Master Naturalist Nature Adventures Guides. * Extra fee for the cookout food.
Meet at 11:00 / 11:30 a.m. for the cookout and mansion tour, followed by a 1:00 p.m. 2 hour paddle, returning by 3 p.m.
ACA Essentials of Kayak Touring Class
Saturday, June 22nd
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
$95
$85 for Tri-county Residents
Itinerary
Course Objectives:
To teach beginner paddlers to safely and enjoyably kayak on lakes, calm protected ocean environments, and other flatwater settings.
Course Duration:
Eight hours
Course Location:
Calm, protected flatwater, within swimming distance of shore.
Learn More“Summer Blues and Plantation Barbeque” Paddle and Cookout.
Saturday, July 13th
Cool off in the shade of the giant live oak trees at the plantation and along the banks of Wambaw Creek as we celebrate Summer. On the paddle we’ll discover rich cultural history with rice gate trunks and hand dug canals along the way. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy Barbeque and Blues music by local musicians. *Extra fee for the barbeque.
Meet at 9:30 a.m. for the paddle at Echaw 204 Bridge, returning at 12 noon, then 12:30 until 3:00 for the music and barbeque at the Plantation.
Costa Rica Adult Retreat
August 3rd-10th, 2013
Only $1400 for 7 days of
Lodging, Activities, Food and Fun!
- Waterfalls
- Horseback Riding
- Volcano Exploration
- Ziplining
- Sea Turtle Nesting by moonlight
“Plantation Pictures & Paddle”
Saturday, August 17th
Get inspired and bring your camera along! On this paddle we’ll be joined by the famous “duo” of professional photographer Seldon B. Hill and William P. Baldwin who wrote the book “The Unpainted South”- Carolinas Vanishing World.
The authors will share with us their incredible knowledge of plantation life and history in this book, both on the grounds and on the paddle. Autographed books will available afterwards for purchase through the gift shop.
Meet at 9:00 a.m. for the paddle at Echaw 204 Bridge, returning at 11:30 a.m.; then 12 noon – 2 p.m. Meet the authors at the plantation and enjoy the mansion tour.
“Rivers and Rice Plantation Paddle”
Saturday, September 21st
On this paddle we’ll journey through the fresh and brackish marsh creeks of Hampton Plantation where we’ll see the abandoned rice fields along the way. Afterwards, we’ll get to see the Carolina Gold Rice grown on the plantation at the mansion and will hear about this rich and incredible history that once thrived.
Meet at 9:00 a.m. for the paddle at Echaw 204 Bridge, returning at 11:30 a.m.; then onto the plantation for the Mansion Tour and Carolina Gold Rice Presentation
Why Choose Us?
Nature Adventures Outfitters gives proceeds back to environmental organizations and causes. Environmental organizations like the National Sierra Club ask us to lead their South Carolina tours. When you paddle with us you are helping to save the land and animals around us. See the list of organizations Nature Adventures Outfitters supports.
Client Testimony:
"Went on an amazing kayaking tour of Shem Creek Shrimping Village and Crab Bank Island Preserve. It was my first time ever kayaking and I would recommend it to anyone who loves to do things you don't always have a chance to do. And if the guides are as interesting and knowledgeable as ours you will have a blast. Thank you Kelsy. Learned a good bit of new things about Charleston and some of the animals. It helped to make for a blessed last day. "
-Dustin Jones
Our Mission
Nature Adventures Outfitters is dedicated to providing quality experiences to all of our customers which includes excellent customer care. Our Professional Master Naturalist guides are also personable and friendly and many are certified ACA Coastal Kayak Instructors. We strive to make each customer leave with a lasting memory of an amazing experience Nature Adventures mission is to provide tours for the preservation of the environment.
Environmental organizations ask us to lead their tours. Our testimonials from clients are wonderful and we have been quoted as having "Outstanding Guide Services” by Canoe and Kayak Magazine and we are the “Recommended Area Outfitter” by National Geographic Adventure Magazine! We are also dedicated naturalist who care deeply for the environment and we contribute time, energy and money to environmental causes in an effort to help protect these precious resources. To see more of what we are doing please visit our Awareness Counts! page
Video Blog
These videos were filmed and edited by one of our guides, Dakota Walker and others. View All Videos.
Where To?
Weather
Quick Info
Open 7 Days a Week
Seasonal Hours
November thru April
Open 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
2 hour tours offered at 10 a.m and 4 p.m.
3 hour tours offered at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Rentals on the hour or half hour all day long
May thru October
Open 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
2 hour tours 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
3 hour tours 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Rentals on the hour or half hour all day long
Walk Ups are accepted: however, for confimed tours please make a reservation by calling us at:
843-568-3222
or
800-673-0679
or contact us online at nao@att.net
Or book online now!
Please Note: There is a 50% cancelation fee charged if you cancel the same day of your reservation if no emergency is confirmed.
Check out our Sister company:
Edisto River Adventures at
www.EdistoRiverAdventures.com
In the News
NAO helps raise thousands of dollars each year by providing benefit kayak and canoe paddles for non profit organizations.2010 organizations included The Mount Pleasant Land Conservancy, Keeper of the Wild and for Kayak for the Kure for MS. Giving back to environmental and humanitarian causes is our mission.
Paddle for free with us!
NAO has started the first ever Women’s kayaking group in Charleston Come join us one and all on our once a month adventures!
Charleston Kayak Adventure Women’s Meetup Group
NAO Gold Level
Recognization for Sustainable Tourism
Nature Adventures receives a "Gold Level" Recognition by the South Carolina Nature-Based Tourism Association by implementing a variety of sustainable practices in helping preserve, promote and protect South Carolina’s Heritage and Environment in the Nature Based Tourism Industry.
BBB Rating
Nature Adventures has an A+ rating with the BBB!
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