Ossabaw Island Foundation Tours

The Ossabaw Island Foundation offers two types of tour. Public tours, some with special themes or involving an overnight stay on the island, are offered several times per year, usually including round-trip boat transportation to Ossabaw. Tour prices vary, but start around $85 per person. Upcoming trips

Alternatively, groups which have obtained permission from the Foundation to visit the island can arrange to take a guided tour once there: either a walking tour of the North End Plantation ($180 for 6 people) or an extended tour that also visits Middle Place Plantation, the site of Ossabaw’s former Genesis Project ($250 for 6). Overnight visits can also be arranged. You will have to arrange your own transportation to the island. Tour details

Boat Trips To Ossabaw Island

Taking a boat tour is the easiest way to enjoy the nature and history of Ossabaw Island. Trips are available year-round, but day-to-day availability will vary according to tides. Advance reservations are recommended.

Some tours will include a visit to the interior of Ossabaw Island, generally a walking tour of its historical and cultural sights. Others will visit the public waterways around Ossabaw, often with a landing on the beach.

Several local boat charter companies explicitly offer excursions to Ossabaw Island (to the public areas on and around the island), and are listed below. Many other area charter companies will be willing to provide a similar trip upon request and may also arrange for access to the island itself on your behalf, please inquire directly.

The boat ride out to Ossabaw (and back) will take from around 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on the departure point and how “scenic” a route is taken. Fully guided tours of Ossabaw, whether of its interior cultural attractions or perimeter environments, will require a full day (6-8 hours). Excursion-type trips that involve a ride out to the island and then maybe some beach time can just about be fitted into a half day of around 4 hours.

Boat Tours To Ossabaw Island

Three local companies offer guided boat tours to Ossabaw Island, two of which include access to the island through the Ossabaw Island Foundation, and the other being a nature-oriented guided tour of its public areas only. All tours accommodate a maximum of six people.

Savannah Coastal EcoTours offers a 6-7 hour tour, departing from Isle of Hope (other pickup locations possible) and including a walking tour of Ossabaw’s historic and natural sights around its North End Plantation and an optional additional visit to the Middle Place Plantation site.

Trip fees are $560 for 1-4 people (which includes the Ossabaw Island Foundation’s $180 visitation fee) for the standard tour or $630 for the extended tour, plus $95 each for any additional passengers. Call 912-220-6092 or email [email protected] for availability and reservations. Tour details

Tybee Island Charters offers a day excursion departing from Tybee Island, with a leisurely exploration of the creeks and rivers along the way, a walking tour of the North End Plantation and interior Ossabaw, and some time on the beach.

Trip fees are from $100 per hour. Call 912-786-4801 or email [email protected] for further information and reservations. Tour details

Wilderness Southeast provides 4-hour or full day tours of Ossabaw, focusing on the ecology and nature of the island’s publicly-accessible areas.

Trip cost varies according to length and number of participants. A 4-hour trip for up to 2 people is $400, rising incrementally up to $500 for 6. The full day trip starts at $600 for 1-2 people, to a maximum of $760 for 6. Call 912-236-8115 or email [email protected] for availability, departure locations and reservations, or book online. Tour details

Excursions & Boat Charters

Many boat charter companies operate in the Savannah-Tybee Island area. Some explicitly offer a fixed-duration excursion to Ossabaw Island as one of their suggested itineraries, with others renting out captained boats on a per-hour or per-day basis to the destination(s) of your choice.

If you arrange a privately-chartered boat trip to Ossabaw, be sure to inquire as to what is included, such as whether it includes beach landing time if you want that or whether the company will be able to arrange for an inland tour via the Ossabaw Island Foundation on your behalf (and if so, whether the Foundation’s fee is included in the charter rate).

→ Boat charters in the Savannah area

Kayak Tours To Ossabaw Island

These are strenuous, full-day paddling tours which require kayaking experience and physical stamina. Alternative kayaking tours in the Savannah area appropriate for less experienced paddlers (including beginners) are available to Skidaway, Tybee Island and Little Tybee Island.

Due to the time constraints inherent to a paddling trip, these excursions do not include a tour of inland Ossabaw, but will usually visit the island’s beach and public waterways. Inquire directly with the tour providers for a more detailed itinerary. You will usually need to make your own way to the launch site.

Several local guiding companies currently offer trips to Ossabaw Island. Advance reservations are recommended.

Sea Kayak Georgia’s tour is 8 hours. Call 912-786-8732 for details and reservations. Tour details

Savannah Canoe and Kayak’s tour is also 8 hours, for $145 per person. Call 912-341-9502 or email [email protected] for times, dates and reservations. Tour details

Savannah Coastal EcoTours offers a customisable kayak tour lasting 5-7 hours, which can be adjusted to your group’s interests and skill level. $250 for up to 2 people, plus $125 for each additional person to a maximum of 6. Call 404-512-0040 for reservations. More details

See Also: Black History Sites In Savannah

– Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum
– Laurel Grove South Cemetery
– First African Baptist Church
– African-American Monument
– Haitian Monument
– Pin Point Heritage Museum

See also:
– Sapelo Island tours
– Fort Jackson
– Fort Pulaski
– Lowcountry seafood festivals
– Savannah events