PRIVATE CITY & PLANTATION TOURS
Join Charleston Insights for a look into Charleston's remarkable history and, equally important, its genteel and enlightened approach to life. An approach to life coined by Condé Nast as "Sophisticated Ease".
South Of Broad District Near The Battery
Private Historic District Tours
Combination Driving/Walking Tour - this tour combines both driving and walking so you can obtain an overview of America's largest historic district by car before focusing on points of interest by foot. This way, you will gain both insight into the city's social and cultural roots as well as an appreciation for its lovely homes and gardens - with special emphasis on Charleston's oldest area, the South of Broad District.

​This private tour can be tailored individually to the amount of driving versus walking that best suits you. This tour can also be combined with a plantation visit (described below) so you can gain a view of both Charleston city and country life on the same day.

Historic District Tour: minimum 2.5 Hours
Combined Historic District/Plantation Tour: 5 hours
Authorized Transportation
Charleston Insights is one of the few tour operators permitted by the Tourism Office to conduct tours by private vehicle. A City of Charleston placard will be displayed. Up to 4 guests can be accommodated. A licensed Sprinter van is needed for larger groups. 
Private Plantation Tours​
Ashley River Plantations
Middleton Place - ca. 1741
​Charleston's only plantation national landmark, Middleton Place offers perhaps the most exceptional plantation visit in the country. Your guide will lead you through its Versailles-inspired gardens - cited as the nation's loveliest by the Garden Club of America. Also offered is America's oldest house museum filled with Middleton treaures that provide an authentic look into how America's wealthiest colonial family lived.
Drayton Hall - ca. 1750
 A perfect complement to your excursion to Middleton Place, Drayton Hall is the oldest preserved plantation house in America and the finest example of Palladian architecture in the nation. Preserved rather than restored, Drayton Hall is seen at its core instead of being displayed with period furniture and heirlooms.

Please note: Drayton Hall is open six days a week (closed on Tuesdays).
East Of The Cooper River Plantation
Boone Hall - ca. 1790
Located east of the Cooper River, Boone Hall offers a look into life during slavery. The live Gullah theatre is especially interesting. Your guide will lead you to areas of interest, including the rare, brick slave cabins (ca. 1790). You will also see the impressive Avenue of Oaks (ca. 1843) that inspired Margaret Mitchell when writing Gone With The Wind.  ​

Plantation Tour Length (Including Travel Time)
Middleton Place: 3.5 hours
Middleton Place & Drayton Hall: 4.5 Hours
Boone Hall: 2.5 hours (Call) 

Private Charleston Lifestyle & Island Tours​
Charleston Race Week
​This private driving tour takes you beyond Charleston's historic district to sample contemporary Charleston and the different lifestyles enjoyed in the Lowcountry. ​You will see why so many are relocating here - with the metro population expected to exceed 1 million by 2028. Visit both historic sites and popular island communities reachable by the 500+ bridges that connect greater Charleston. This tour can include:

West Of City - Middleton Place, Kiawah Island, Charleston Tea Garden, and Angel Oak.
East of City - Boone Hall Plantation, Sullivans Island, I'on, and the Old Village.

Lifestyle & Island Tour Length:
Varies: 2.5 - 5 hours 

Private Savannah Tours​​
Savannah - Founded 1732
  A two-hour drive from Charleston, this private excursion takes you to Savannah - America's third Best City in Travel + Leisure polls. Founded in 1732, Savannah began as an opportunity for those held in debtor prisons in England to start a new life in America. More a large town than a city during its Colonial and early Antebellum periods, little remains from early Savannah due to the fires of 1796 and 1820.

What you see today is a historic district with lovely, Spanish Moss-draped squares surrounded by mansions and attached houses built from the middle Antebellum period onward. While Savannah's metro area and central historic district are not as substantial as what you find in Charleston, Savannah does offer its own unique vibe and a look into the past that is one of the most beautiful in the country - making it a highly desirable day trip (or next stop) from Charleston.

Savannah Tour Length:
Full-Day (Return To Charleston): 7 hours
Half-Day (Drop Off In Savannah): 4.5 hours
Recommended Stop In Historic Beaufort: Add 1 hour
​Fees (All Private Tours)​
Minimum 2.5 Hours
One Guest - $100/Hour
 Each Additional Guest - $10/Hour
Plantation And House Tour Admissions - Not Included
Guide's Authorized Vehicle (Up to 4 Guests) - No Charge
Licensed Sprinter Van (5-13 Guests) - Additional Charge
Please Note: City Driving Tours with 5+ guests can save money by opting to tour in smaller groups using the guide's complimentary vehicle rather than hiring a Sprinter van and touring together as one large group.
​Dedicated Service​
Please call, text, or email any questions.
We look forward to helping make your visit memorable!

Charleston Insights
Mobile/WhatsApp: 1 843 732-0107
Email: tours@charlestoninsights.com