8 Horse-Drawn History Tours to Book Anywhere in the World

1.Charleston’s Old South Carriage Historic Horse & Carriage Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10,023 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $50Our pick

Set out from Old South Carriage Company on Anson Street for a narrated, one-hour ride through 30 blocks of Charleston. A certified guide such as Carol, Wendy, or Ro may lead the tour, while a Belgian or Percheron draft horse pulls the carriage. Routes vary by city-assigned zone, so each ride offers a different slice of the historic district.

“We thoroughly enjoyed this experience. We arrived early and met our horse, Aiken, who loved the attention he was getting! One of their employees explained their Belgium Draft horses come from the Amish when the Amish are done using them as work horses. Very interesting to talk to and learn about the horses. Happy to hear these horses are out on a farm when not pulling the carriage and they are limited to the number if times they do their routes. Very knowledgeable tour guides. Will do this again next time we’re in Charleston!”

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2.Charleston Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour: Explore Historic Charleston

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,561 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $49

Ride through Charleston’s historic district in a covered, open-sided carriage with a certified guide. Starting at the Big Red Barn near City Market, you’ll pass old homes, churches, gardens, and landmarks while hearing stories of pirates, wars, plantations, and Reconstruction. Routes vary by city lottery, so sights are not guaranteed.

“Brianna was excellent and the staff was friendly and professional. Brianna was knowledgeable on the history of Downtown and her delivery was great. Multiple tours are required to see it all. Highly recommended.”

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3.Historical Downtown Tour by Horse-drawn Carriage

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,009 reviews · 1 hour · from $50

Spend an hour in historic Charleston aboard a custom-built horse-drawn carriage. An English-speaking guide such as Carol, Mike, or Christina explains the city’s 350-year story as you pass Rainbow Row, King Street, White Point Gardens, the Battery, and the harbor. The city assigns the route, so each ride can show a different slice of downtown.

“We loved frances and dusty!!! What a great experience and even with the rainy weather towards the beginning of our tour. Saw the beautiful houses of charleston and learned cool history !”

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4.Beaufort’s #1 Horse & Carriage History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 913 reviews · from $35Best value

Settle into a small horse-drawn carriage for a 50 to 55 minute tour of Beaufort’s historic district. Your guide points out Civil War sites, old churches, movie locations, and handsome homes while the horse handles the streets. Guides such as Laura and Nicole have earned praise for lively storytelling, and the ride ends with a chocolate stop before returning to Bay Street.

“We had a very knowledgeable person for our tour. Tha park surrounding the area was absolutely beautiful. Would recommend this to everyone.”

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5.Charleston’s Historic Residential Horse and Carriage Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 668 reviews · from $50

Meet the horses at 20 Anson Street, then ride two to three miles through Charleston’s residential Historic District in a custom carriage. A city-licensed guide handles the storytelling, while departures every 30 minutes make scheduling easy. Groups are limited to 10, though carriages can hold up to 16.

“Excellent ride through streets. Seeing beautiful architecture and gardens. Horses are well cared for.”

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6.Charleston Horse & Carriage Historic Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 460 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $45

Ride with a professional guide through Charleston’s historic district in a horse-drawn carriage. Guides such as Caroline, Daniel, and Ricky bring the city’s stories to life, while horses including Amigo, Grayman, Chico, and Ironsides may be available for photos. Routes vary by city assignment, so expect a pleasant overview rather than a fixed landmark checklist.

“This was our first time visiting Charleston,SC, it’s beautiful here we would come back. I think fall would be better for the ones that don’t like heat. The food is great, the people was very nice. Every activity we did was great, however some was a little pricey. Some was affordable.”

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7.#1 Historical Horse Drawn Carriage Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 454 reviews · 55 minutes (approx.)

Set out from 1002 Bay St in Beaufort for a 55-minute horse-drawn carriage ride through the Old Point and historic districts. Your guide covers colonial Beaufort, plantation life, the Civil War, Reconstruction, churches, famous homes, and movie stories. Carriages hold up to 16 people, and guides such as Charlotte, Annie, Tyler, and Anastasia bring their own style.

“Was our 4th carriage and each guide has their own way of giving the information so it doesn’t feel like a repeat. Anyone visiting Beaufort should take this tour.”

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8.Private Historic Horse & Carriage Tour of Charleston

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 103 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.) · from $300

Meet near Charleston City Market for a 50-minute private carriage ride through the historic district. Your driver-guide chooses the route on the day, sharing stories about architecture, families, the old jail, and Charleston’s past. Carriages hold up to four people, with guides such as Daniel, Kiki, Ricky, and Dr. Tim frequently praised for their humor and personal attention.

“Tour was great. Our guide was very knowledgeable and answered anything we asked. Horse was also well taken care of in the heat.”

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