Tour Schema
We limit our private tours to no more than four guests on each excursion; this is appreciated by our clients and encourages open dialogue.
Our tour itinerary has been coordinated with the State of Georgia's daily ferry schedules and are geared towards day trippers. The daily ferry schedule can be found at https://ugami.uga.edu/ferry/ Those staying overnight the tour hours are flexible.
The Ferry leaves the mainland approximately 30 minutes before the Sapelo tour begins.
Monday thru Friday: Arrival at the mainland Meridian Dock should be no later than 8:10 am, ferry leaves promptly at 8:30, as you will need to find parking at the Visitors Center approximately 200 yards west of the Ferry dock. There is a $5.00 (cash) ferry fee trip fee to Sapelo which will be collected by the Department of Natural Resources. The tour begins on Sapelo Island when the ferry arrives at the Sapelo dock, I will look for you then.
Details of the 3-hour tour: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Leaving the mainland at 8:30am you will arrive on Sapelo at approximately 8:50 am, the tour will commence when you arrive on Sapelo. First stop is to the South End Mansion and from there we will head to Nanny Goat Beach for a brief toe-dipping” in the Atlantic. Shortly afterwards we will travel to the oldest live oak tree known to exist and then the Sapelo Island Lighthouse. From there a quick pass through the University of Georgia’s Marine Biology Institute. After that we will head over to the Hog Hammock Community where the homes of the Gullah/Geechee and the other established residents. The tour will round out with short visits to several historical sites including one of the oldest US Post offices located inside a 200-year-old tabby building. While in the community, if you wish, we can also stop by the restaurant (Minnow Trap) and bar which also has an island gift shop. We will end the trip at approximately 11:45am to catch the noon ferry out.
3 hour Tour: Saturday. On Saturday the mainland side ferry leaves the Meridian dock 30 minutes later than on weekdays (9:00). We recommend you arrive no later than 8:40am. There is no 5-hour tour on Saturday because of late ferry schedule, unless you are staying overnight.
5-hour Tour: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. On these two days the ferry leaves the mainland dock promptly at 9:00 and leaves Sapelo at 2:30pm, two hours later which allows for a trip to Chocolate Plantation. The 5-hour excursion will have the same diversions as the 3-hour but with an additional trek to the north end of Sapelo which takes about 30 minutes to get the Chocolate Plantation. Sapelo now has a restaurant/bar (Minnow Trap) that’s open for lunch except on Sundays, so you can have lunch there or bring a sack lunch, drinks or snacks for a picnic on the north end.
5 hour Tour for Ferry Clients: Sunday. The 5-hour Sunday Tour is the only one available to those coming over on the ferry as it leaves the mainland at 9:00 and leaves Sapelo at 2:00. For guests staying on Sapelo overnight both the 3-hour and 5-hour tour is available.