A wildlife refuge
A Pristine Coastal Escape
About Wassaw Island
Drift into nature to enjoy hiking and diverse wildlife.
Drift into nature at one of the few remaining wild islands on the Atlantic coast. Located near Savannah, GA, the Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge offers over 10,000 acres of salt marshes, rolling dunes, and ancient maritime forests.
As a designated National Natural Landmark, it remains one of the most pristine ecosystems on the Eastern Seaboard.
What to Expect: Wildlife & Landscape
Wassaw Island is a vital sanctuary among the 100+ sea islands stretching from South Carolina to Florida. The 10,053-acre island with 20 miles of dirt trails and untouched beaches is a premier destination for:
- Birding: Spot American oystercatchers, osprey, bald eagles, and painted buntings. Or, hit the season just right and take advantage of the Atlantic Flyway to see migratory shorebirds.
- Diverse Ecosystems: Explore 10,000+ acres of salt marsh and the interior maritime forest, which closely resemble Georgia’s pre-colonial landscape.
- Marine Life: The boat ride often offers sightings of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, and the island is home to a wealth of other marine life, including horseshoe crabs, stingrays, and periwinkle snails.
- Sea Turtle Conservation: The island is home to the Caretta Research Project, a world-renowned program dedicated to protecting loggerhead sea turtles.
Plan Your Wassaw Island Boat Trip
Wassaw is only accessible by boat, making it a secluded paradise for those seeking serenity. Our private charters provide a seamless way to reach this protected wilderness.
Quick Links
A Deeper History
The island’s history is as deep as its forests:
- Indigenous Roots: The name “Wassaw” itself comes from the Creek word for sassafras, a plant valued for trade and traditional medicine. Archaeologists have recovered artifacts on Wassaw dating back to roughly A.D. 500–600, evidence that indigenous peoples hunted, fished, and gathered shellfish here — likely leaving behind shell middens, the mounded deposits of oyster and clam shells common at Native camp and food-preparation sites across Georgia’s barrier islands.
- Military Significance: Home to Battery Morgan, a fortification built during the Spanish-American War to defend Savannah (can not be visited due to natural, shifting sands).
- Conservation Legacy: In 1969, the Parsons family and the Wassaw Island Trust ensured the island’s permanent protection by transferring it to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Why Low Country Drifters?
- Expert Guides: Private charter with captains passionate about the region’s ecology and history; all are Coastal Awareness & Responsible Ecotourism (CARE) certified.
- Scenic Routes: Navigate winding creeks, barrier islands, and untouched coastal landscapes.
- Personalized Experience: Private charters tailored to your interests, whether it’s toes in the sand, wildlife photography, history, shark tooth hunting, exploring, or pure relaxation.
- Outstanding Hospitality: Our crew is known for our big personalities and warm Southern hospitality.
Wassaw Island Gallery
Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin
Wassaw Island New Cut
High tide
Maritime Forest
Ancient maritime forest trail on Wassaw Island with live oaks, saw palmettos, and Spanish moss.
Crab Hole
White American Pelican
Eagle's Nest
Wassaw Island
Enjoying the Beach
Wood Stork
A Wood Stork roosting in the trees in Savannah
Roseate Spoonbill
Wassaw Island Trailhead
One of the island's hiking paths
Bald Eagle
Wassaw Island
American Oystercatcher
In the shell rakes
Horseshoe Crab
Wassaw Island
Sunday Funday at the Sandbar
Battery Morgan
Captain Bryan's sons in front of the Battery Morgan ruins on Aug. 15, 2016 before it started to disappear into the ocean less than two months later by Hurricane Matthew.
Gray Sea Star
Found in the Western Atlantic Ocean
White American Pelicans
One of the largest birds in North America
Sandpiper
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Wassaw Island
Snowy Egret
Roseate Spoonbills
Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Every Charter
- Reserved as a private experience for up to six guests.
- Children and pets are welcome (dogs are not allowed on all beaches, so please discuss with us)
- We provide a cooler with cold water and ice (accommodating additional beverages), as well as limited space for your personal belongings and snacks
- BYOB for ages 21+
- Includes a Coast Guard-licensed captain as your private guide, as well as fuel
Popular Activities, Destinations & Tours
See what our guests have to say about Low Country Drifters Boat Tours
My husband and two young boys had the absolute best time on the water today with Low Country Drifters!
We learned about the history of the Georgia & South Carolina low country, hunted for fossils, explored Daufuskie Island, and saw all the wildlife… crabs, dolphins, and a pair of bald eagles!
If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind adventure in Savannah, please consider supporting this veteran-owned small business.
Captain Bryan is the very best!
Lindsay T. – Woodstock, GA
November 2022
Low Country Drifters transported my friends and I to Daufuskie Island and back for my birthday weekend – they were amazing! Communication was excellent. Captain Matt and Captain Bryan were great and so helpful with getting all of our belongings to and from the cottage. We also got to see a good bit of wildlife on our trips!
Maggie B. – Savannah, GA
July 2025
Captain Bryan was great! He is a very safe operator. We had an amazing time while we were out on his boat. I highly recommend.
Christopher L. – Statesboro, GA
July 2022
What a gorgeous and fun day we had with Low Country Drifters!
Captain Bryan’s knowledge of the history of the area made the already beautiful scenery even more interesting. We rode their golf cart around Daufuskie, had a delicious lunch at The Distillery, then went back out on the boat to Shark Tooth Island to hunt for treasures.
We saw so much wildlife – eagles, egrets, cranes, alligators, and dolphins, to name a few. Would highly recommend to anyone!
Hayden L. – Statesboro, GA
March 2025
Matt was a terrific guide for our trip out into the marshes and creeks and islands! We saw lots of birds and we really enjoyed the relaxing trip through the creeks. We stopped and got to pick up shark teeth, which was really neat. We could not have asked for a better guide to take us out for the afternoon. I highly recommend this company – was fantastic!Low Country Drifters transported my friends and I to Daufuskie Island and back for my birthday weekend – they were amazing! Communication was excellent. Captain Matt and Captain Bryan were great and so helpful with getting all of our belongings to and from the cottage. We also got to see a good bit of wildlife on our trips!
Linda B. – Albany, NY
June 2025
This veteran-owned business provided the most memorable time we had during our vacation in Savannah!
We had an incredible day with Bryan! All of his insights and historical info enhanced the experience.
The day was full of excitement: found all kinds of fossils and shark teeth including pieces of Megaladon, followed a group of feeding dolphins, enjoyed delicious food, the wildlife, and a distillery on Daufuski Island. Bryan never rushed us to the next place; he allowed us to be fully in the moment.
With his reasonable prices, we definitely got more than we paid for!
Nicole G. – Hastings, NE
June 2024
Our charter with Captain Bryan was the best part of our whole trip by far!
We had such a fun time finding shark teeth and dinosaur bones and had an amazing lunch on Daufuskie Island!
Cannot recommend Low Country Drifters enough!:)
Courtney W. – Cedar Rapids, IA
April 2023
We had the best time on our charter with Captain Bryan! We explored a private little island and found sharks teeth, fossils, and crabs. Bryan has a wealth of knowledge and kept us all engaged. We had an absolute amazing time and will be booking future charters with Low Country Drifters!
This will be a memory we will treasure for years to come!
Thank you, Captain Bryan, for making this such a special day for us!Taryn N. – Orlando, FL
November 2022
Went on a tour last week. Fabulous.
Bryan is very knowledgeable. Stopped in Savannah for lunch. Saw lots of islands and inlets. Learned a lot about the history of the area. What a tour!
Rose N. – West Chester, PA
February 2023
Captain Bryan gave us a wonderful family adventure! Loved the shark tooth/fossil hunting experience with our grandson, and exploring the Intracoastal waterways. Enjoyed it all!
Nan T. – Savannah, GA
November 2022
Amazing experience. Captain Bryan is a true professional who knows his stuff. Historical facts, deserted islands, dinosaur bones, hidden distilleries, this tour has it all. 12/10 would do this every day! Great time with a truly great Professional.
Mike B. – Savannah, GA
September 2024
Captain Bryan of Low Country Drifters is an exceptionally knowledgeable boat captain, fossil hunter, and tour guide.
He took my wife and daughter out today to look for shark teeth, dinosaur bones, pottery shards, and other relics of ages past, and we were fully satisfied.
He gave us an ecological and historical tour of the Savannah ICW, brought us to Daufuskie Island in South Carolina for an excellent lunchtime meal, and made sure our photo opportunities were numerous and perfect.
10/10 would recommend to anyone wanting to tour the Savannah area!
Chris B. – Statesboro, GA
January 2023
I recently went on an incredible boat tour in Savannah, and it exceeded all my expectations!
We had the chance to see manatees, dolphins, and even ventured to Shark Island. To top it all off, we spotted some alligators along the way.
The entire experience was thrilling and memorable.Bryan, our guide, was the best – knowledgeable, friendly, and made sure everyone had a fantastic time.
Highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to explore the natural wonders of Savannah!Meagan L. – NYC
June 2024
What a great day out on the water and visiting Shark Tooth Island.
Highly recommend Captain Bryan and Low Country Drifters for a great experience.
Lisa B. – Gastonia, NC
March 2023
Spent the day on the water with Captain Bryan and had an amazing time!
He knew all the best spots in the area and made sure everyone in our group had a great experience.
Highly recommend!
Robert P. – Clarksville, TN
June 2022
We went on a private boat tour with Low Country Drifters, and it was an unforgettable experience!
Captain Bryan was so knowledgeable and friendly, sharing interesting facts about the history and ecology of the area.
We cruised past beautiful scenery, spotted dolphins playing in the water, found several shark teeth on the beach, and enjoyed a delicious lunch of burgers and patty melts from The Burger Boat.Since he does private tours, it was just the 3 of us, and we weren’t crammed into a boat with lots of people.
It also allowed Capt Bryan to provide a completely personalized tour.
Our experience was everything we wanted and more! It was a perfect way to spend our first day in Savannah!Avie C. – Conroe, TX
May 2024
Took a boat ride out with Low Country Drifters – Captain Bryan was outstanding!
Enjoyed cruising around Savannah and ended up at Shark Tooth Island 40 shark teeth, some cool dolphin bones and a pepsi cola bottle from the 1940s!
Kayli T. – Guyton, GA
March 2023
Capt. Bryan is the best of the best! Professional and knowledgeable! We have taken several trips with other companies and Capt. Bryan’s attention to detail exceeds over all others. He knows the lay of the land and picks the location that best suits your group. We will only be going fossil hunting with him!
Justin A. – Savannah, GA
June 2024
If you are visiting Savannah, this is a must! Great way to experience Savannah’s waterfront and surrounding marshlands.
Captain Bryan was very knowledgeable and very personable. We enjoyed every part of the trip. Do yourself a favor and book a trip with Captain Bryan.
You will be happy you booked with Captain Bryan.
Barbara F. – Summit, NJ
February 2023
My wife and I spent the day on the water with Low Country Drifters on Monday.
It was both exciting and relaxing at the time. Stopped at Tubby’s for lunch. Highly recommend.
Frank N. – West Chester, PA
February 2023
We had a fun day with Captain Bryan!
We explored a beach, found cool fossils, had a tasty lunch, and saw some dolphins.He also shared a lot about the history of the area. Captain Bryan took great care of us, and we had an amazing time.
Our trip was kid-approved – two thumbs up from our 4-year-old!
Highly recommended!
Larissa G. – Stonington, CT
June 2024
We booked a tour with Bryan, and it did not disappoint!
Bachelorette party of 5, plenty of room for us all and our things for the day. Bryan was an amazing guide, remained flexible to our adventures!
We got history, shark teeth, views of alligators/wildlife and overall amazing time. You will not regret booking this tour!
Amanda C. – Tollhouse, CA
March 2024
Couldn’t wait for a second trip- now looking forward to a third one!
This was our second trip with Low Country Drifters, and we have a third one planned!
This time, we went to Shark Tooth Island, where we found not only shark teeth but dolphin teeth and dinosaur bones!
There is nothing Captain Bryan doesn’t know about this island or its history!
He also is a wealth of information on the waterways and Daufuskie Island, where we also had a great tour…and a visit to the rookery where the birds were abundant!Highly, highly recommended for adults, families, you name it. You won’t be disappointed!
Lauren M. – Tybee Island, GA
June 2024
We had a fantastic experience on our half-day boat trip with Captain Matt. He brought us shark tooth hunting and then to Daufuskie Island where we got a great tour of the island on his golf cart and to a beautiful non busy beach. Matt was the perfect match for what we wanted in this experience. I highly recommend Low Country Drifters for anyone looking to experience a boat charter without going out in the main waters of the ocean.
Chloe B. –Tulsa, OK
August 2025
Captain Bryan is, by far, the most experienced in the business.
His expertise, contagious attitude, love of the area, and personable attitude are BY FAR above and beyond expectations.
I will DEFINITELY book with him again.
Jacqueline A. – Richmond Hill, GA
June 2022
Amazing experience for the entire family. Captain Bryan is the epitome of a true professional.
He made us all feel so comfortable; it was like being out on the water with a trusted family member. He is so knowledgeable and has so many interesting facts about the area. We had some really good finds on our shark tooth tour, but we enjoyed the rest of the experience just as much.
Already looking at the calendar so we can book another trip. Thank you, sir for the trip, and also your devoted service to our country.
Spahos Family – Statesboro, GA
April 2023
Who knew I was going to book a custom private boat experience and feel like I walked away with a new friend? Captain Bryan took charge and planned an amazing day, even picking up supplies I needed since my group was from out of town.
We saw local treasures off the beaten path, met some great locals at a few stops, and sang country music as we headed back in with cloudy skies… it was absolute perfection, and no one was going to rain on our parade that day. My only regret is that we didn’t have enough time with him.
Not only is he exceptionally skilled, he’s an interesting gentleman. If you’re looking for a unique and personalized day trip, you can end your search here. We will all miss you, Captain, and be assured we will be back!
Amy R. – St. Louis, MO
October 2024
Incredible charter experience! My wife and I took our 2-year-old daughter and her grandparents on a half-day trip and had an absolute blast.
Captain Bryan, the owner, arranged a fantastic trip touring the area and was extremely knowledgeable about the local history and ecology. We saw tons of wildlife, including dolphins and eagles, and visited The Wyld restaurant for lunch before heading back in.
We learned that Captain Bryan is a US Army veteran and it showed in his attention to safety and professionalism.
Amazing experience, totally recommend, especially for families!
Gregory L. – Ambler, PA
March 2023
Bryan is an absolute gentleman and the salt of the earth American …
He made sure we had an amazing experience and it was worth every penny …
highly recommend and when we come back will definitely book a full-day trip with him.
Gregg L. – NYC
June 2024
Great experience! We saw dolphins, a sea otter and even found a shark tooth, had a great lunch on Daufuskie Island…
Bryan was prepared as a captain and kept us informed every step of the trip, clean spacious boat, and overall A+ experience.
I will definitely be coming back!!!
Sean M. – Brooklet, GA
February 2023
Captain Bryan with Low Country Drifters was Great! He was very knowledgeable of the inter-coastal waters. You want to find shark’s teeth and fossils? He knows the spot. You want to see dolphins? He knows the spot. Want to catch a mess of fish? He knows the spot. His personality is easygoing and highly entertaining. Will be booking with Low Country Drifters again soon.
Justin H. – Savannah, GA
July 2022
Captain Bryan was great! He is a fun guy and a very safe operator. We saw several groups of porpoises and had an amazing time touring the salt marsh. I highly recommend!
Lance M. – Statesboro, GA
July 2022
Low Country Drifters is the best on the ICW!
Captain Bryan is an excellent captain and your guide. My boys loved “Shark tooth island”. We found multiple fossils and shark teeth, and my boys carried them around for weeks. Captain Bryan knew the best fishing and crabbing spots.
He was flexible with our wants and kept us entertained the entire time. We can’t wait to go out for another excursion!
Alex C. – Statesboro, GA
July 2022
10 out of 10 experience. I will be recommending him to all my friends and family!
We had an amazing time with Captain Bryan.
He was so welcoming and beyond knowledgeable about almost everything.He told us fascinating stories of Savannah history, information on the river and the sharks teeth, and about his own life.
The trip was so fun, the boat is very nice and fit all of our team comfortably. Whenever we needed anything, Captain Bryan was there to assist. Best trip!
Sarah I. – Savannah, GA
September 2024
