A rare experience with nature you’ll never forget! Track the Wild Horses of Shackleford Banks with your experienced guide and collect North Carolina’s best shells!
Take a 25-minute ferry ride over to the pristine Outer Banks Island of Shackleford Banks, which is part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. There you will be introduced to the wild horses of Shackleford Banks. This free roaming herd is believed to have descended from horses that were brought here roughly 400 years ago and still survive as one of the last isolated groups of wild horses in the United States.
You will help your guide track the horses and see first-hand the fascinating behavior of horses in the wild, a rare experience with nature that you’ll never forget. Bring your camera for pictures that will forever remind you of this amazing place and its fascinating inhabitants.
After the tour, you will be directed to one of the best shelling beaches in all of North Carolina where you can spend some time on your own shelling your way down the beach with the Cape Lookout Lighthouse off in the distance. Shackleford is well known as one of the best shelling destinations on the East Coast. Among other things, you can find Conchs, Whelks, Queen’s Helmets, Scotch Bonnets, Olive Shells, Sand Dollars, and more.
This tour lasts approximately 1.5 hours. THIS IS A COMPLETE WALKING TOUR; NO VEHICLES ARE ON THE ISLAND!
Book your tour today! 252-838-1167
- Great for Families!
Join us for a ferry ride to Shackleford Banks, where you’ll spend time tracking and viewing wild horses on a guided walking tour, and shelling along the beautiful beaches!
Please arrive 30 minutes prior to departure time, this will give you time to park and get checked in with your tour guide. Boat does leave on time.
- 3 hours
- Daily
- 9 a.m.
Highly Rated by Guests on TripAdvisor
We have seen the horses on the Outer Banks a few times, but getting out and walking the dunes and seeing them was so much more personal. Our guide/naturalist was extraordinary. So knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and engaging. The tremendous abundance of shells was the icing on the cake. We have already told a great many people to book this trip. We will definitely return.
– Robert B. • TripAdvisor
When we arrived on the island there were 8 horses to welcome us, including the 2 1/2 month old Marley. The island is beautiful and the horses are fabulous. Our guide Ashley was so knowledgeable about the horses and the area. She was so pleasant. We were very pleased with the entire experience.
– Adele F. • TripAdvisor
Tour guide was awesome! We got tons of information about the wild horses and the hike through the middle part of the island was awesome and informative. We were able to find a couple of intact sand dollars and conch shells. Highly recommend this tour!
– Debbie S. • TripAdvisor
We took the guided tour to Shackleford Island and enjoyed every minute of it! Our guide, Ashley was very knowledgeable and we learned so much. This is one of the only wild herds of horses and they have been on the Island since the 1500's! Truly amazing.
– Tori G. • TripAdvisor
This trip was amazing and breathtaking. It was everything I hoped and wanted it to be. We took the ferry over, experienced the guided tour with a very knowledgeable young lady. We got to see all of the horses too!..This was an experience we'll never forget!
– Dana C. • TripAdvisorJoin Us for a Horse Safari!
Welcome to a rare experience with nature that you’ll never forget. After a quick and scenic ferry ride, you’ll have the opportunity to track the wild horses of Shackleford Banks with your experienced guide, then spend your free time collecting some of North Carolina’s best shells.
This unique safari provides the perfect morning entertainment and helps you connect more deeply with the wildlife and nature around you. Book your experience today!
