St. Simons Island Salt Marsh Tours & Ecotourism

With Captain Jeanne or Captain Jim

"As recommended by Conde Nast Traveller"

Travel scenic tidal creeks between St. Simons Island and Little St. Simons Island, Georgia,
while discovering unique features of our marsh ecosystem.

~ People often say this is the best thing they did while here ~

Call (912) 638-9354

- TOURS -
As featured on GPTV!

Our most popular boat ride is the Salt Marsh Nature Tour, an unusual trip through some narrow, winding tidal creeks. This is a 2-hour narrated exploration of the marsh. Topics include tides, the cord grass, food chain, vegetation, birds, mammals (including bottle-nosed dolphins), shellfish and finfish, whatever we see. Nesting birds along our route during the spring are Osprey and Great Blue Heron. Winter birds include cormorants, loons, grebes, and various ducks. We also discuss some history as we pass the sites of two former plantations at Hampton Point and Cannon's Point. Children are invited to steer the boat on any tour. Adults may also drive (a great photo opportunity!).
- $50 per person, $200 or 4-person minimum, 6-person maximum at $300 -

Our One Hour Boat Ride through the marsh is primarily an enjoyable boat ride which does not have as much narration or explanation as does the Salt Marsh Nature Tour. It covers part of the same route. Both boat rides go past large marsh-front houses on St. Simons Island, by the ruins of the Couper plantation house at Cannon's Point, and by little St. Simons Island. We usually see dolphins!
- $40 per person, $160 or 4-person minimum, 6-person maximum at $240 -
Another choice is the Dolphin Quest, a 2-hour boat ride through the marsh and to the ocean. We cannot promise dolphins, but we see them most of the time. They often swim with the boat and burst out of the water. During summer we may see an alligator. Another Two Hour Trip takes you down the Hampton River and a short distance offshore to Pelican Spit, where you can explore your own sand bar and look for shells. The spit is out of the water only at low tide.
- Two-Hour Rates: $50 per person, $200 or 4-person minimum, 6-person maximum at $300 -

The Dolphin Quest may be chartered for only 1 hour at $40 per person, $160 or 4-person minimum, 6-person maximum at $240.

A Three Hour Tour goes past the old Couper plantation, through Little St. Simons Island, between Sea Island and St. Simons Island and into Musgrove Plantation. This tour emphasizes sightseeing. We will discuss other aspects of the marsh according to your interests.
- 3 hours, $65 per person, $260 or 4-person minimum, 6-person maximum at $390 -

Sunset Cruises are also fun.
- $50 per person, $200 or 4-person minimum, 6-person maximum at $300 -

Special Birding Trips to the Altamaha River Delta and along Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge take place in September, October and November. The delta is one of 39 important birding areas in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network Site. One can see large numbers of American Oystercatchers, Red Knots, Wilson's Plovers, Sanderlings. The endangered Piping Plover winters here. This area is on the Atlantic Flyway. Large flocks of Black Skimmers, Curlews and numerous other species often appear.
- 3+ hours, 1-6 people, $390 per trip -
You may take your own private tour at any time. We will fit into your schedule. We have no set departure times, although we can recommend a time of the tide according to what you want to see or do.

Low tide is best to see birds and oysters, while high tide is best to have a view across the marsh. You may reserve a time to coincide with sunrise, sunset, lunch, cocktails, or any time, 7 days a week.

We recommend that you plan your tour for the early days of your visit so that you will have time to reschedule, if necessary. Mother Nature may not cooperate, sending rain instead of fair skies, on your last day here.

Homeschooling and our tours go well together. The Salt Marsh Nature Tour can be modified to introduce concepts or reinforce previous lessons. We will work with you to customize your tour.

You will ride on The Marsh Hen, a 26-foot pontoon boat with comfortable cushioned seats and a canopy which shades all seats on the boat. The deck is level with the floating dock for easy boarding.

The boat is accessible for those in wheel chairs. However, because of the necessary floating docks in this area, the ramp between the floating dock and the fixed dock is easier to negotiate at high tide.

You are welcome to take along food or drinks. We carry bottled spring water and a limited selection of soft drinks. We supply binoculars for each person, ponchos for summer rains and lined parkas for cooler weather.

We can take a maximum of 6 passengers. If your group is larger than 6, you may schedule several trips throughout the day or week, depending on the varying activities of members of the group. The boat is docked at The Hampton River Club in the Hampton River, St. Simons Island, Georgia.

If you have fewer than 4 people in your group and do not care to pay the minimum charge, we will do our best to find others to join you in order to make up the minimum number. To increase your chances of going on a tour, please let us know early in your stay that you need to share the cost.

- Captain Jeanne -

Capt. Jeanne is licensed by the U. S. Coast Guard. She is also accredited by the University of Georgia Marine Extension Service as a docent.

Jeanne has a Master of Education degree and began this special attraction in 1986. She has also completed seminars in bird biology through Cornell University.

Current charter rates effective January 1, 2006, are subject to change at any time.

Member of the St. Simons Island Chamber of Commerce since 1986.

Noted & Quoted:

"St. Simons Shines On"
"It's a little piece of heaven...some find...it during a marsh tour in the Hampton River...led by Capt. Jeanne Pleasants in her pontoon, The Marsh Hen."
Written by Paula Crouch Thasher after taking the Salt Marsh Nature Tour
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - August 24, 2003
"Southern Summer Scenery"
"When I visited the area as a kid, my interests lay predictable and exclusively with the beach. This time, thanks in part to our appropriately named guide, Jeanne Pleasants, who led us on a boat tour, I was far more intrigued by the surrounding tidal marshes. The shape of the coastline makes for unusually high tides, and in turn an unusually flexible ecology -- like grasses that have learned to sweat out salt..."
Written by Justin Pope, Associated Press
The Times-Union - July 27, 2002

Area Lodging:
Beach Bed & Breakfast, on St. Simons Island overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and beautiful Cumberland Island and Jekyll Island across the channel.
The King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort, St. Simons Island's largest full service oceanfront hotel, features seaside dining and accommodations.

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- Salt Marsh Nature Tours -
For Reservations Call
(912) 638-9354

- Captain Jeanne -

For Reservations Call (912) 638-9354

For Reservations Call
(912) 638-9354