Best Plantation Tours in Charleston

Among the things to do in Charleston you should not miss a tour of its plantations. If you like nature, these places are ideal for you. Many of them have magical gardens that look like something out of a fairy tale, but have a lot of history.

In addition to admiring the beauty of nature, your private guide will tell you the history of these iconic historical sites. Plantations used to be the places where slaves lived and worked in colonial times. Although it is a sad side of history, it is worth knowing the details.

The Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is one of Charleston's most beautiful. Its natural beauty has been maintained over time.

In fact it was the only one of the Ashley River Plantations to survive the American Revolution and the Civil War. The tour to this plantation lasts approximately 5 hours and costs an average of €70.

This tour includes transportation to and from the meeting point to the plantation. When you arrive at the plantation you can take a narrated tram ride through Audubon's swamp gardens, slave cabins and rice fields.

This tour lasts approximately 40 minutes and serves as a reflection on the slave-owning past in the American South.

Do you like romantic plans? Then this is the option for you. During the tour you will have a guided walk through the large romantic garden. While you are there, I invite you to admire the wildlife that consists of alligators, herons, turtles, egrets and other animals that live throughout the plantation.

If you are interested in more plans for couples, I recommend visiting Charleston in February as you will find many romantic Valentine's Day activities.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately €70
• Duration: about 5 hours.
• Means of transport: air-conditioned bus and a tram inside the plantation for part of the tour.
• Advantages of this option: it is a fairly large plantation that allows you to learn about the culture and history of the plantation, as well as experience nature and its beautiful scenery.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you travel on a rainy day, the tour may not be the best and the walking tour of the garden may not be possible. Make sure the tour company takes precautions and reschedules the trip in case of bad weather.

Middleton Place is one of the most popular plantations in Charleston. Although it is one of the best destinations, it is difficult to get there if you don't have a private vehicle. The best option is to hire a private tour.

These usually cost around €100 if lunch is included. They usually last for at least 5 hours.

For this guided tour, the meeting point is usually in downtown Charleston. A comfortable, air-conditioned van will be waiting for you there. From here you will drive to Middleton Place, a National Historic Landmark. Upon arrival, you'll watch an introductory video tour of the site before beginning the tour.

After the introduction, your guide will take you to the old gardens and the House Museum which houses the possessions of Henry Middleton, the original owner of the plantation and signer of the Declaration of Independence. This part of the tour lasts at least 40 minutes.

The next part of the tour is the Low Country style lunch. You will have several options to choose from at the restaurant located inside the plantation.

When you have finished your meal, you will continue your tour through the gardens and grounds of the plantation. You can also stop by the chapel, the museum shop and the courtyards where farm animals live.

Details of interest

• Price: about €100.
• Duration: about 5 hours.
• Means of transport: private air-conditioned van.
• Advantages of this option: it is one of the most comfortable options for travel and includes lunch for a better experience.
• Disadvantages of this option: If you are travelling to Charleston for a day, this may not be the best option as the journey can take many hours.

Boone Hall & Gardens Plantation is one of the oldest plantations in the United States and was founded in 1681.

The tour to the plantation includes round-trip transportation aboard an air-conditioned bus. In addition, this tour also includes a narration about the gardens and other sites within the plantation.

The tour lasts approximately 5 hours and costs an average of €60. When you enter the site, you will notice that the plantation still offers crops.

You can also take a tour of the mansions and even a tractor tour of the plantation. This service may not be included in the tour and lasts 30-40 minutes.

You will also have the opportunity to see the period costumes that are stored on the plantation. You will also pass through the slave quarters as you listen to their history and learn what they are used for today.

You will also learn about the Gullah culture, an African-American ethnic group who even have their own language, through song, dance and more, performed by the Gullah people who work there.

These tours are usually conducted in small groups of up to 15 people. They can usually take place at any time in the morning or afternoon. Choose the time that suits you best.

Details of interest

• Price: around 60 €.
• Duration: approximately 4 hours.
• Means of transport: air-conditioned bus.
• Advantages of this option: the guided tour includes an air-conditioned bus and a guide who will narrate the history of the plantation.
• Disadvantages of this option: as it is a private service, the schedule is stricter and you will have to stick to the planned programme. If you go on your own, you can enjoy some areas for longer.

The Charleston Tea Plantation is a plantation just outside Charleston that is home to South Carolina's finest teas and wines.

The tour lasts approximately 5 hours and costs an average of €150 per person. It also includes private transportation from a central location in the city of Charleston to the plantation.

To welcome you, you'll sample the plantation's signature tea, either hot or cold. The next stop will be at Deep Water Vineyard, where you can sample the plantation's finest wines. Please note that you must be over 21 years of age to participate in this tour, otherwise you will not be able to enjoy the wine.

In addition to wine and tea, you can interact with the farm animals at the plantation. You can observe them in their habitat or approach and pet the animals that the guide will show you. I do not recommend approaching them by surprise or without prior instruction from the tour guides. Remember that not all animals like to interact with humans.

Finally you will travel by tram for 40 minutes as you tour and observe all the green hectares of this plantation. On this part of the tour you will hear about the history of tea and the plantation's founder, Bill Hall.

This is definitely one of the best things to do in Charleston if you are travelling for 4 days.

Details of Interest

• Price: around 150 €.
• Duration: approximately 5 hours.
• Means of transport: private air-conditioned van.
• Advantages of this option: you can sample the tea and wine unique to this plantation.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tour can be very long and does not include lunch, so I recommend you bring snacks or ask where the closest restaurant to the plantation is located.

Although you can visit Middleton and Magnolia Plantation separately, each of these tours takes about 4 hours. If you're travelling to Charleston for just 1 day and want to see more than one plantation, visiting them in a combined tour is best.

Note that the average cost of a private tour like this is €500, which includes lunch and a private vehicle.

Your tour will start at the meeting point agreed by the company. This is usually somewhere in the centre of Charleston.

From there you will travel in an air-conditioned van to the first stop: Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. I invite you to make the most of this place, as it is one of the most beautiful plantations in Charleston.

Next stop is Middleton. Here you can tour the stables and learn about the history of rice farming and phosphate mining which were the main economic activities of the colonial era. You will also have the opportunity to see the blacksmith, pottery and textile shops.

You can pause in the middle of the two plantations to enjoy your lunch. Lunch is prepared in a Lunch Box that you can enjoy in one of the two plantations. Please note that this tour does not include entrance fees to the plantations, but does include private transport for two adults and lunch for both.

Details of interest

• Price: around 500 €.
• Duration: approximately 4 hours.
• Means of transport: private air-conditioned vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: You can travel at your own pace and explore one of Charleston's most popular plantations at your leisure.
• Disadvantages of this option: It is one of the most expensive tours and does not include entrance to the plantations. If you have more time to explore Charleston, you may be better off choosing one of the other options mentioned above.

Drayton Hall is the oldest plantation in the United States that has been preserved in good condition and is still open to the public.

To give you an idea of how old it is, the site was founded in 1738. I invite you to travel back in time on a two-hour guided tour through this plantation. The price of the tour is around 40 €.

The tour guide will take you to explore the grounds of Drayton Hall and visit the galleries of the plantation. Here you will find antique artefacts that have been well preserved over the years. You will also see the 18th century African-American cemetery.

This tour does not include transportation to and from the plantation, you will only meet the interpreter guide at the plantation. This person will be in charge of translating everything that the plantation guides narrate.

The tour usually starts with an orientation video and then you will walk around the plantation, admiring the panoramic views of the Ashley River and the wildlife of nature.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately €40.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: you must get your own transport. You can hire an Uber to get to the plantation.
• Advantages of this option: if you don't speak English, this is a good option as the interpreter won't let you miss a single detail of the tour.
• Disadvantages of this option: If you are just passing through Charleston it may be difficult to get a ride to the plantation. I recommend booking your trip in advance to avoid any last minute hassles.

Traveller Tip

When visiting a plantation you should wear comfortable clothing and sturdy, ergonomic shoes. Keep in mind that these tours are often long and you'll be on your feet for most of the time. Some companies include water bottles and some don't, so it's best to bring your own supplies.

The plantations are open natural sites. This means that you will be in contact with nature, the sun and wild animals. My first tip is to be prepared with comfortable clothes.

Don't wear dresses, skirts or jeans. It is best to wear clothes that allow you to move freely, remember that the tours are up to 5 hours long and you will generally be walking.

For this reason I recommend that you wear sturdy, ergonomic shoes. This is the only way you will be able to walk all day without worrying about sore feet.

Besides that, I recommend you to bring sunscreen and an umbrella to protect you from the sun or rain in case it rains unexpectedly.

In these plantations I am sure you will find beautiful places. That's why it's best to bring a camera or have your smartphone camera ready.

Don't miss the opportunity to have a nice souvenir of this experience. If you travel to Charleston in autumn, you will find beautiful landscapes in orange and yellow colours that you will love to preserve in your photographs.

One last piece of advice is to always be on schedule. Don't fall behind on the sites you visit.

Remember that each of the activities has a limited time limit so that you can make the most of your day. If you want to see more of the city afterwards, I invite you to take a sightseeing bus tour of Charleston.

Generally, the plantations have tours and excursions that the sites themselves plan. However, these generally do not include transportation from a site near the hotel where you are staying. Therefore, it is best to hire a guided tour service that includes private transportation.

If you are a tourist in Charleston you should consider how much of your budget you will spend on transportation to the places you want to visit. While you can order a taxi or hire a car for €50 a day from sites such as KAYAK, this will be an expense you can save if you get tours that include private transport.

In addition, some of these tours also include lunch. This is a big plus as it allows you to replenish your energy for the rest of the tour and sample the local food.

Another important factor is that on these tours the guides will tell you the history of all the sites you visit. These tours are great activities to do with children in Charleston.

On the other hand, travelling on a tour will help you choose the ideal time of the year to visit the plantation. My advice is that if you are travelling to Charleston in the winter, don't go to the plantations unless you have no problem with the cold.

There are other activities that are more worthwhile during the cold season, as the plantations are not green and lush at that time of year.