Cap Mark and host Jenny / Jen were great. we had an amazing boat experience and we got lucky perfect great weather. - perfect family trip for large group to see wild ponies and dolphins! Highly recommended. read more

Great boat tour with Captain Mark and Jenny! Learned a lot about Chincoteague and Assateague, saw beautiful scenery, and the ponies were the best part of the tour! read more

Very informative and friendly crew on the little trip I took, fair pricing as well. I would definitely recommend.

Recommended! Was a delightful nice relaxing cruise. Shane is very knowledgeable and polite. Thank you Shane. read more

Assateague Explorer - Sunset - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Chincoteague Island, Virginia

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Great boat ride with Admiral Mark it was cool but couldn't get the hyper hover craft system to work lol

Our tour guide was awesome, gave us so much info, and the tour itself was super pleasant. We saw tons of horses and even a pony, so it was totally worth it! read more

Captain Leftie was wonderful. Very friendly and knowledgeable. He put us right on the ponies at the shoreline near where the swim takes place. read more

The staff was responsive to phone calls because I had to change our reservation 2 or 3 times. However, I asked for a sunset cruise and was scheduled at 1230 instead. We were there 5 minutes after our start time and everyone was already waiting for us- so come early. There are multiple signs on the boat requesting gratuities. We were off season and didn't have a good animal viewing experience. There was no fault of our captain or the company, but I think you might be better served scheduling a smaller or more responsive tour elsewhere. read more

Jay was an amazing guide. Took us to a great viewing area for the ponies. Told us about the birds we were seeing. Helped all kids when they had trouble. Excellent afternoon. read more

Assateague Explorer - The ponies. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Chincoteague Island, Virginia

Captains Mark and Steve were wonderful guides. We saw several amazing pods of dolphins up close and ponies from afar. Highly recommend them. read more

Amazing experience! Friendly people, clean boat, prompt, knowledgable and FUN! Id do it again in a heartbeat.

My family had an amazing time on our tour with captain Shane this afternoon. I booked the tour just a couple of hours before we arrived. The website was easy to navigate and they even had availability for my family of 6 with just a couple of hours notice. We have a 2 year old boy and 3 roundy older boys age ranging from 10 years down to 7 years. My 7 year old wanted to see dolphins and everyone else wanted to see horses . Thankfully Shane knew just where to go and we were able to see bottle nose dolphins and then a whole heard of wild ponies. Shane was super patient with our boys even though they were a little cranky and hungry. I definitely recommend brining a jacket and blanket. We even brought snacks as well. We thought from the pictures we would be on a big boat with other people. But we ended up being able to be on a private tour it was just the 6 of us plus Captain Shane. Shane was knowledgeable about different animals on the island and around the inlet. He told us stories about the horse and how they are taken care of etc. He also had lots of fun facts about the birds in the area. I highly recommend!! My husband didn't want to spend the money for the 6 of us to go. We were just going to go to Asstiague and see if we could see tje horses there... but when we got back to the car after the tour he said he was supper glad we did this. Definitely the highlight of our vacation! read more

Assateague Explorer - Horses on the island - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Chincoteague Island, Virginia

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FANTASTIC!!! Jay was awesome!!! He gave us solid instructions before the tounso that we were able to navigate the marsh. The winds were craaaaazy but we muscled through the channels. Jay was very knowledgeable of the wildlife, pointed out the various turtles, birds, oyster beds and landmarks, and horse hot spots. He answered all our questions...he suggested some great photography spots and we took some good scenic pictures. DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS TOUR!!! YEEEEE HAAAAA!!!! read more

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Great tour. From horses to dolphins, and some interesting birds. Captain Lefty strived to give a good tour. Nice way to see Chincoteague Island from the water. read more

The boat tour was great. Captain Shane was delightful and had lots of good sights so we saw lots of good stuff. Why did they get four stars? Captain Mark was very interesting on the phone, and I had trouble getting him off of the phone. Hours later while we were in the middle of dinner, he decided to call me and make sure that I would leave a review. The quality of the boat to itself is worth putting up with the nagging of Captain Mark, but just feel free to put him in his place and let him know that you're here to use his service and not to be his bestest buddy. read more

The tour leader (Mark) was terrible. Talking all the time about boring stuff. We saw a few dolphins but zero horses. Could by t wait fur it to be over. read more

This is the message I sent Assateague Explorer - they did not respond. I am writing to express my disappointment in my recent Pony Swim 2025 tour. I am doing this before I write a review on any of the popular sites, as I would like the chance to have this made right. I was on the boat with Captain Shane. When our boat approached the first (closest for viewing) side where boats could line up, the captain stopped a little way out and did nothing. There was no communication with the passengers but from what I could hear of conversation between the captain and Jen, they were trying to contact Captain Mark without success. In the meantime, multiple boats passed ours and found places in the row to view the horses. Eventually some of the passengers asked the captain why we weren't doing anything. Some of them were already getting upset at the lack of communication or decision making or action. The crew did not reply and our boat stayed where it was. After more time had passed we were told by Jen that we would go to the "other side" and that it would be "just as good". When we got to that other side, two of the three boats in the tour were tied together along with two people in a smaller private boat. Our captain proceeded to go to the side with the private boat and started tying to that boat, sandwiching it between two of our tour's three boats. Our boat was facing backwards and it also blocked the view of the people on the private boat. This resulted in a screaming match between Captain Shane and the man in the small boat. I know the people on all of the boats witnessed this, and that at least one woman on our boat recorded it. A law enforcement boat of some kind came over about this time, drawn by the spectacle. I heard our captain tell the people in the private boat that ne could go where he wanted as "a captain of charter boat". After law enforcement arrived, Captain Shane moved our boat to the other side of the other two boats, and tied on with our boat now facing forward. The promise that this side was just as good as the first was simply not true - we were much farther away from the swimming ponies. What a huge disappointment when we have paid around 8-9 times the price of a tour on any other day. This sounds like I am only complaining about Captain Shane, but this is also a complaint about leadership. Why was he unable to reach any one else by radio or cell phone? Why did he seem frozen and not able to make a decision? Were you requiring that all three boats be together? If so, why? They could have had three separate spots on the better side. Why did the crew not communicate with the passengers, even when asked a direct question? One last thing - the picture of the boat in website is a covered one. Two of the three boats in our tour were covered but ours was not, and it was very uncomfortable in the sun on the way back. I think I have a case for a substantial refund. This was not acceptable by anyone's standards. I will also send this to the company email with a screen shot showing how far we were from the ponies. Thank you for your time read more

The tour was great. Captain Steve was really knowledgeable and shared some interesting facts and stories. We got as close as possible to the shore without impacting the ponies and getting stuck in the low tide. It was a cold and dreary day and Steve was thoughtful abkut asking everyone what would help make them comfortable. Also had a great chat with Mark about wildlife in general. You have to appreciate people who appreciate nature and wildlife, outside of the business aspect of the work. read more

Assateague Explorer - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Chincoteague Island, Virginia

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Went today with my 2 teen sons and we loved it! Captain Steve was entertaining and informative despite having a family emergency and he continued the tour & was a consummate professional! We saw many ponies, pelican island, an eagle's nest and trip was worth every single penny!! Would gladly do it again next time we come to the area! read more

The sunset cruise was really nice. Captain Shane new all the history and was willing to answer all my questions. It was a small group so we didn't get the larger boat and the ride was a little rougher, but that didn't detract from the trip. I highly recommend a sunset cruise. Seeing the wildlife and especially the ponies was magical. read more

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We took the 8:30 kayak tour with Brian and 12:30 boat ride with Captain Mark. Both of them were very engaging and you were able to see all the wildlife. We saw wild horses and held horseshoe crabs. The guides were very knowledgeable and were in constant communication. I would recommend this tour for those with basic kayak skills. read more

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Great experience and loved that Captain Matk was a true local. Learned Anton of facts and we saw the horses pelicans and other wildlife. Unfortunately no dolphins but that's ok as they definitely tried to take their time so we might catch them. Wildlife is on their terms not ours. Definitely recommend this tour. We also loved the fact that they respected the distance from the horses read more

Great Day on Chincoteague Island Piny Tour, Capt. Mark and Jenny were very informative.

We enjoyed our boat tour to see the ponies on Assateague Island. Captain Shane was nice and answered our many questions. While we didn't get as close to the horses as we'd hoped, we had a good time and are glad we went. We went in early April and would recommend to others to dress in layers and be prepared for high wind. It got pretty chilly! read more

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Update: I was able to connect with Captain Mark via phone and clarify I was not the "Karen" he was referring to, nor did my email (which the business never responded to) mention anything about blackmail or even a discount, just "Please know that in the future, should I return to Chincoteague, I will be patronizing other businesses who charge less money for a better experience." Captain Mark did not acknowledge the concerns I raised on the call about the experience OUR boat had, instead telling me about positive feedback he'd received from other customers on different days in bigger boats with different captains, which does not change the details in my review or justify what happened. Original: I was on a $495 Per person "up close" experience on the hundredth anniversary of the pony swim. unfortunately, we were not able to see anything, were stuck in the hot sun without shade or a bathroom for six hours despite what was advertised, and the marine police needed to board our boat because our captain started a fight with someone else. We woke up at 3 AM for a sunrise takeoff on a boat that, despite what was advertised, did not have a bathroom or any shade cover in 95° weather for the next six hours. Not only was our captain Shane confrontational with another boater, necessitating a police response, he was incredibly dismissive of the concerns of the people on the boat who were unable to see the horses. As the boats began to arrive, we sat for at least 20 to 30 minutes, as we watched other company's boats pass around us and claim spots in the prime viewing area. As the group was questioning why we were not moving, the captain ignored our questions and made no apparent attempt to seek direction, other than his fellow guide, looking out with binoculars saying " I don't see what they're doing/I don't know where the other boats are." no one made any attempt to call anyone for instructions. The captain snapped at guests at least three times. Even once we finally moved, we were so far away from where the ponies were swimming and angled in such a bad direction that the majority of us could not even see. The guides told us to stand on the bow of the boat, which was impossible for some of the guests, most of whom were older women Including some with mobility issues. Again, The captain made no effort to turn the boat. I was fortunate enough to have binoculars, but there was no possible way that people could have had the viewing experience that they paid a LOT of money to secure in what we hoped would be a once in a lifetime experience. The lack of compassion was disgusting. If considering this company, please use someone else who will value your time and money. read more

This tour is so beautiful! Captain Marc is the best and our guide Jenn was so sweet. Both Capt. Marc and Jenn gave great information about the island and the local wildlife. Capt. Marc also knows how to take some great pictures and made sure to let us know when we had great phot opportunities. We got close up on some wild horses and got great photos of the lighthouse. Watching the sunset on this tour was absolutely gorgeous! Great weather, great Captain, great guide all in this beautiful island. This was a great excursion for our first time on Chincoteague Island! I can't wait to come back and book again with Assateague Explorer! read more

Recommend find another tour company. We went on a kayak tour to supposedly see horses up close. After an hour of paddling we finally saw some at least a half mile away still. Even though the guide apparently had a bad accident recently that's impaired his function, this company still sends him out alone on kayak tours. He's a nice guy, but couldn't really guide a tour- no safety briefing, a bit confused about the best place to see ponies, didn't really seem aware of changes to the weather, didn't seem to be able to work his phone beyond minimal communication. He mostly told slightly strange or off-topic stories and provided minimal info on wildlife. He was also almost completely deaf so when we asked questions he didn't hear most of them. We could tell he's an experienced local that knows the area and history well, but it's irresponsible to let him guide tours alone. He said his boss was in Hawaii so there wasn't any office I guess. Thankfully we were experienced kayakers so made it back to the launch dock paddling hard 30 min in a very stiff wind, but a family or less experienced kayakers might have been blown far downwind, with the guide paddling hard back to the dock all by himself. The kayaks, paddles and life vests were in OK condition and the scenery paddling in the marsh area was fairly interesting. read more

We had a very nice time. The boat captain was knowledgeable and friendly. We only had a small group on the boat so it was nice and roomy. We got to see numerous wild animals and we got to see the wild horses. Thanks again read more

Assateague Explorer - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Chincoteague Island, Virginia

Captain Shane was informative and entertaining. We saw quite a few ponies and were able to watch them for quite some time. I highly recommend this cruise!! read more

Such an excellent sunset tour! Captain Shane and Jennifer the naturalist tour guide were awesome! Plus, we saw the horses and a baby horse!! So adorbs! Book with them now, you'll also learn a ton from Jennifer's knowledge of the islands. read more

Assateague Explorer - Sunset Cruise - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Chincoteague Island, Virginia

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Fabulous trip and Captain Shane was Wonderful! We loved it and highly recommend this company!

Great tour guides to show you the ponies and other wildlife around Assateague Island. Highly recommend. read more

Assateague Explorer - Horses of Assateague Island in Chincoteague, VA - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Chincoteague Island, Virginia

We were looking for an almost guaranteed way to see ponies and we did! Shame was a great tour guide and excellent captain. The wind was whipping and he did his best to keep us dry while still navigating through the chop so that we could see the ponies. read more

The worst experience my family had to sit through. From the opening gate, Captain Mark gets on the boat and tries to up charge you on purchasing photography. Then we proceed to sail off to one cove where no horses in sight. Stays for about 10 min then leaves on back towards across the channel where he states dolphins would be sighted. No dolphins! Just birds. Then heads on back. Everyone was disappointed. It's a money grab SCAM!!! Doesn't offer to take anyone back out or even offer a partial refund. Do yourself a favor and Pay $10 drive through the preserve yourself off the main rd. It takes you to the same location and save yourself $200+ . Just looking out for the next person that thinks this is a good idea. read more

The Pony Nature Express Cruise cost $250. We learned a lot about birds. We did see dolphins. We made sure we were early because the company said they wouldn't wait for late arrivals, we waited 15 minutes for one family of four. The attached picture was the only ponies.... WAY OFF IN THE DISTANCE. The pictures in their website were misleading. read more

Assateague Explorer - So disappointing!!! The Pony Express Nature Cruise cost $250 and this was the only ponies we saw. Using my iPhone at full zoom. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Chincoteague Island, Virginia

A very disappointing experience! The captain never got the boat close enough to see the horses. There were horses present at the time but he just pointed out dots on the beach. We were so far away we couldn't even get a picture. If you look at their website they show the boats going right up to the beach. A friend went on Daisy Cruises and they went all the way up to the beach and had a great experience. I did reach out before posting a review but no one responded read more

Me and my family had a great time , and saw all sorts of cool wildlife and heard a lot of interesting stories from our host. I would highly recommend checking this business out if your ever around the area! read more

was told to meet at 445 AM for pony swim event. arrived at 350 AM only to find out he had overbooked and already left. In the process of disputing our money now. thankfully Daisy Island Cruises graciously took us on their boat. if you want an incredible experience defiantly book with Daisy Island Cruises read more

Took the small boat cruise with Shane Friday, May 14th. 6pm. We had a great time and saw a dozen of ponies by the beach. Shane shared some great facts about the island. Would recommend the cruise for anyone. We also took the special and went on a Kayak tour with Nate on Saturday 8:30am. This was fantastic. Nate also shared great facts and was able to get us close to Assateague Island and we saw a dozen adult ponies and six new foals. It was an amazing view. We kayaked through the salt marsh and saw dozen of birds. It was such a great trip. I'd recommend to anyone. My only regret is we didn't take cameras on this trip so don't have pictures of the ponies and foals. Note, you will get wet. read more

Assateague Explorer - Assateague Lighthouse - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Chincoteague Island, Virginia

Saw the ponies, turtles, birds, and a beautiful sunset. Great narration provided during the trip. read more

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