What Coastal Expeditions does

Coastal Expeditions is a private, family-owned outdoor recreation and ecotourism company founded in 1992 and headquartered in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The company provides guided boat, kayak, and stand-up paddleboard tours across five outpost locations along the South Carolina coast — Shem Creek (Mount Pleasant), Kiawah River (Johns Island), Bulls Island / Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge (Awendaw), Beaufort / St. Helena Island, and Blackwater — plus After-School and summer-camp programming for children in grades K-5. Its principal physical assets are a fleet of custom-built, US Coast Guard-certified vessels (including the 49-passenger Heron covered catamaran and 18-20 person Carolina Skiffs) and the only authorized commercial ferry concession to Bulls Island, a 5,000-acre barrier island within the 66,000-acre Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.

The company generates revenue primarily through per-person tour pricing that ranges from $55 (Cape Romain By Moonlight) to $145 (Bulls Island Paddle & Hike), with a $695 multi-day overnight tier at the historic Dominick House. Revenue streams include guided tours, self-guided kayak/SUP rentals, private group charters (corporate events, weddings, school groups), the After-School Explorers program, gift cards, and foundation-linked conservation tours. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the company website via the Xola booking widget, phone/text reservations, and three physical retail outposts; group bookings and custom itineraries are sold via direct inquiry.

Adjacent to the operating company sits the Coastal Expeditions Foundation, a parallel nonprofit that partners with Boeing South Carolina, USFWS, SCDNR, Audubon South Carolina, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to raise over $40,000 annually for sea turtle nest protection, seabird conservation (Crab Bank restoration), and outdoor education. The Foundation operates as a brand and ecosystem differentiator rather than a revenue source, generating community goodwill, regulatory standing, and customer trust that convert back into bookings on the commercial side.

Name

Coastal Expeditions

Legal name

Coastal Expeditions

Website

https://coastalexpeditions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Coastal Expeditions is a private, family-owned ecotourism company founded in 1992, operating guided kayak, paddleboard, and boat tours across five South Carolina coastal outposts and holding the sole authorized ferry concession to Bulls Island in the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Recreation & Ecotourism Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Coastal Tours (THAAAIAF), Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Tours (Guided/Paddling Excursions) (THAJAJAF), Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA), Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)

Keywords

• Guided kayak tours
• Boat tour excursions
• Paddleboard rentals
• Ferry transportation
• Outdoor education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mount Pleasant

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Guided Tours: The company generates primary revenue from selling guided outdoor experiences including boat tours, kayak tours, paddleboard tours, and combination expeditions. Tours are priced per person with varying durations and price points from $55 to $145. Revenue is transaction-based, one-time per booking.
2. Equipment Rentals: Self-guided kayak and paddleboard rentals at multiple outpost locations along the South Carolina coast. Customers rent gear for independent exploration of tidal creeks and waterways.
3. Kids Programs: After-school and summer camp programs for children grades K-5, including monthly session bookings and per-class options. Programs feature outdoor education, boat tours, kayaking, and nature exploration.
4. Group Charters: Private group tours and charters for corporate events, wedding parties, family gatherings, scout groups, and school organizations. Custom itineraries created for each group type.
5. Conservation Fundraising Tours: Special fundraising expeditions where 100% of ticket proceeds support Coastal Expeditions Foundation conservation programs, including sea turtle patrols, seabird nesting island protection, and environmental education.
6. Gift Cards and Merchandise: Gift cards sold in any denomination, valid for one year toward any tour or rental. Also includes nest adoption donations at $35 per loggerhead sea turtle nest.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Coastal Expeditions operates guided boat, kayak, and stand-up paddleboard tours plus self-guided equipment rentals from five outpost locations along coastal South Carolina, including the only authorized ferry service to Bulls Island in the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. The company also runs outdoor education programs for children (after-school and summer camp), customized private group charters, multi-day overnight expeditions, and a non-profit foundation that funds sea turtle and seabird conservation.

Product overview

Coastal Expeditions is an outdoor recreation company offering guided kayak, paddleboard, and boat tours in South Carolina's Lowcountry region, operating since 1992. The core offering includes: (1) Kayak & SUP Tours & Rentals from five outpost locations (Shem Creek, Kiawah River, Bulls Island, Beaufort/St. Helena Island, Blackwater); (2) Boat Tours including the Bulls Island Ferry (the only authorized ferry to Bulls Island), specialized lighthouses tours, and full moon/stargazing cruises; (3) Kids Programs including After School Explorers for grades K-5; (4) the Dominick House multi-day overnight expedition on Bulls Island; and (5) the Coastal Expeditions Foundation supporting sea turtle and seabird conservation. The company operates a fleet of custom-built Coast Guard-certified vessels and partners with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for access to Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Guided Kayak & Paddleboard Tours Guided kayak and stand-up paddleboard tours departing from five outpost locations (Shem Creek, Kiawah River, Bulls Island, Beaufort/St. Helena Island, Blackwater) with sunrise, sunset, safari, fossil hunting, and birding experiences led by naturalist guides.
• Kayak & SUP Rentals

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 loggerhead sea turtle nests protected in 2024, representing nearly 50% of South Carolina's total nests.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• U.S. Army Corps of EngineersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Led the $31 million Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary restoration project through Charleston Harbor deepening. Partnered with SCDNR to rebuild the island using dredged material, creating 30+ acres of seabird nesting habitat.
• Boeing South CarolinacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBoeing South Carolina is the lead sponsor for the Cape Romain Sea Turtle Program operated by the Coastal Expeditions Foundation. Their sponsorship directly funds the seasonal wildlife technicians and interns who protect loggerhead sea turtle nests in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSFWS oversees Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge and provides direction and leadership for the Sea Turtle Nest Protection Program. Coastal Expeditions Foundation operates under USFWS guidance to protect nesting sea turtles and seabirds in the refuge. USFWS also provides direction for lighthouse island access tours.
• South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCDNR biologists monitor and manage Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary and other coastal bird nesting sites. SCDNR provides technical guidance on bird conservation and partnered with Coastal Expeditions to bring students to view restoration work. SCDNR manages the Bulls Island Ferry departure logistics and refuge access.
• Audubon South CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudubon South Carolina received grants for Crab Bank mapping and seabird conservation. Partnered with Coastal Expeditions Foundation on the Coastal Bird Conservation Fund and continues to support additional seabird nesting island conservation efforts including Deveaux Bank.
• Cape Romain Environmental Education Charter School (CREECS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoastal Expeditions Foundation partnered with CREECS to launch a five-part curriculum connecting students with coastal bird populations. Students participate in field trips, create awareness materials, attend town council meetings, and post signage on nesting islands.
• Easy Rider BikesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEasy Rider Bikes in Mount Pleasant donated a beach cruiser bicycle to the Sea Turtle Team to assist with daily tasks on Lighthouse Island, where erosion has made transport difficult. Part of broader community support for turtle conservation.
• Coastal Conservation LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary restoration project and ongoing seabird conservation efforts in South Carolina.
• Sewee OutpostminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Awendaw country store recommended as breakfast stop before Bulls Island Ferry departures. Part of the Awendaw community ecosystem that supports outdoor recreation tourism in the area.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Bulldog Tours: Charleston-based tour company primarily focused on walking and history tours, but operating in the same Charleston tourism ecosystem and competing for the same inbound visitor wallet share.
• Kayak Hilton Head (Outside Hilton Head): Hilton Head-area kayak, boat, and dolphin-tour operator; serves the same SC coastal tourism customer but in a different geography than Coastal Expeditions' Charleston/Beaufort footprint.

Others

• Audubon South Carolina: Conservation NGO partnering with Coastal Expeditions on Crab Bank and Deveaux Bank seabird work; an adjacent ecosystem participant and potential peer for the foundation/conservation-education portion of Coastal Expeditions' business.
• Wild Dunes Resort / Kiawah Island Golf Resort Recreation Programs: Large SC coastal resort operators offering on-property and partner-led water tours, kayak rentals, and nature excursions; compete with Coastal Expeditions for resort guest bookings and represent a key B2B distribution channel.

Direct peers

• Charleston Outdoor Adventures: Charleston-based operator offering guided kayak, paddleboard, and boat tours in the same SC Lowcountry market as Coastal Expeditions, with overlapping customer segments (tourists, families, groups) and similar pricing tiers.
• Botany Bay Eco Tours: Edisto Island, SC-based ecotour operator running guided marsh, beach, and barrier-island tours with similar naturalist-led, conservation-tinged positioning in the South Carolina coastal market.
• Captain Jack's Eco Tours: Kiawah/Seabrook Island-area operator offering dolphin watching, shelling, and barrier-island tours; competes for the same Kiawah/Johns Island tourist base that Coastal Expeditions serves from its Kiawah River outpost.

Emerging players

• Folly Beach Water Sports & Rentals: Folly Beach, SC operator renting kayaks, paddleboards, and small watercraft; competes with Coastal Expeditions' rental business for self-guided Charleston-area visitors, though without the refuge concession.

Broad incumbents

• City Cruises (formerly Hornblower Cruises): National sightseeing and dinner-cruise operator offering water-based experiences in multiple U.S. markets; relevant broader incumbent for benchmarking pricing, fleet operations, and tour-format innovation in the water-experience category.
• Charleston Water Taxi: Larger Charleston harbor water-transport operator running scheduled routes and harbor tours; overlaps with Coastal Expeditions' boat-tour and water-transport services in the Charleston market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/coastalex
• Facebookfacebook.com/coastal.expeditions
• Instagraminstagram.com/coastalexpeditions/?hl=en
• Pinterestbr.pinterest.com/coastalexpeditions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coastal-expeditions-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coastal Expeditions