Mobile Alabama Tours: Trolley, Walking, Bus, Boat Or Hop On Hop Off

What kind of tours and where can I find information about tours in the Mobile, Alabama area?

The Mobile, Alabama area has vast selection of tours from bus, walking, boat, trolley or a hop on hop off tour for your group or family.  Either on land or on the water checking out the history of Mobile where four flags have flown over the city or finding out about the ecosystem on the delta, find what you need here.

Here you will find a detailed listing of all the tours, locations and details and how you can get involved in finding out about the history and the surrounding water ecosystem of the 

Airboat Express

Tour the Mobile delta with an exhilarating ride on an airboat.  These boats will seat up to six persons and depart from the Original Oyster House restaurant on the Causeway in the Spanish Fort area.

Tour guides will take you on an excursion to see the wildlife in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta area.  These flat bottom, air powered boats allow the guides to take you where normal boats can’t go.

Reservations and a four person minimum is required for each tour.  This company has an excellent safety record and fully insured.

Airboat Express offers four touring options:

• One Hour Eco Tour – tour guide will show off the local plants, trees, flowers, birds and yes, the alligators.  A highly educational tour for anyone interested in learning about the native, natural wildlife of the Mobile Delta and photographers.
• Half Hour Fun Run – This tour is all out!  An ½ hour of fast turns and wild rides. You’ll still get a peek at the alligators, but fast enough not to get caught by them.
• One Hour Sunset Tour  – Perfect for photographer’s.  Just like the One Hour Eco Tour, but at sunset at 7pm during the summer months.  This however requires a minimum of 6 passengers.
• Half Hour Night Tour – Also called the “Alligator Adventure” because this is the time you’ll be guaranteed to see some big ones!  Alligators feed at night, so open water is the best place to see them. You’ll see their eyes light up at night. However, this tour is extremely seasonal and is dependent on the weather, temperature and wind conditions.  So, call in first to see if it’s available.

Tours are held between 10am and 4pm in the Spring and Fall months.  Summer times are 8am to 11am (it’s hot here). Sunset and Night tours vary, so call for details.  Night tours start 30 minutes before sunset.

Pricing is as follows:

Taxes are not included and children pricing is based on 12 years old or younger.  Cancellation requires a 48 hour time frame. All cancellations after 48 hours will be charged full price.

They are closed from November 15th to February 1st each year.  It is recommended that you make your reservations 24 hours in advance.  Groups smaller than the recommended per each tour above will be combined with other groups when available.

An online shop is available to purchase T-shirts and gift souvenirs and gift cards are available online.

Contact Airboat Express at 251-370-7089 or visit the website for additional details.

Tour Categories:

Guided, Tour, Boat, Interactive (no you don’t swim with the alligators, but you can take pictures).

Wild Native Tours

Here is another service with multiple tour options that also shows off the Tensaw Delta region around Mobile Alabama.

Wild Native Tours offers launch points at three different areas.  Two near Mobile and one in the Gulf Shores area.

• The Delta Wildlife Kayak Tour launches in Spanish Fort, AL at the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center at Bartram Landing.  This is about 10 minutes from downtown Mobile and 
• The Secretly Awesome Tour departs from Cooper Riverside Park which is just minutes away from the hotels in the Mobile downtown area. 
• The Dolphins & Wildlife Kayak Experience departs from Happy Harbor Oyster Bay at 4159 County Road 6 in Gulf Shores, AL 36542

The Delta Wildlife Kayak Tour

Launches about 10 minutes from downtown Mobile Alabama and provides amazing scenic views of wildlife and beautiful sunsets.  

Pricing: Cost is $49 dollars for adults and $41 dollars for children under 18.

Time: It lasts about 2 hours and is a yearly.  Times can change due to the season you visit.

The Secretly Awesome Tour

This is a boat tour on a fully enclosed, handicap accessible vessel with restrooms on board.  You can bring along a meal and drinks including your camera and binoculars for viewing the wildlife and historic scenes.

You will see the Port of Mobile, which is the 10th busiest port in the US and the 4th largest estuary which is Mobile Bay.

Pricing:  Cost is $28 dollars for adults with Seniors, military and children under 18 for $22 dollars.

Time: This tour lasts about 2 hours and required advance reservations.  It is open year around except for major holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Special Notes: Contact 251-272-4088 or info@wildnativetours.com for private group charters or book online.  Cancellations must happen 3 days in advance with no cancellation fee.  See the full cancellation and disclaimer policy below. Tipping is not required, but accepted if you so choose to give.

The Dolphins & Wildlife Kayak Experience

This tour includes a kayak rental, life jacket, paddle, bottled water, a guide and gear transport.  Make sure you have comfortable clothing and can keep your camera and/or binoculars secure. Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses wouldn’t hurt either.

NOTE: Be sure to bring that signed waiver too.

While you are not guaranteed to see them, the bottlenose dolphin is the star of this show.  You will learn about the feeding habits, their history and the intelligence they have.

Pricing:  Cost is $65 dollars for adults children under 18 for $52 dollars.

Time: This tour lasts about 3 hours and required advance reservations.  Time frame varies from season to season. Suggest calling to confirm.

Wild Native Tours also holds:

• Seasonal Tours
• Rentals
• Private Group Tours
• Educational Group Tours
• And Birthday Experience

Group or Individual Memberships Available

You can buy an individual plan and get unlimited “Delta Wildlife Boat Eco Tour” for one year, Special Member Only Tours, 10% off any tour, charter, rental, birthday package or merchandise.  They start at $49 per year for adults and $39 for children under 21, seniors and military personnel.

Corporate packages range from Employee of the Month program, Silver Corporate and Gold Corporate Memberships.

Purchase memberships here and see additional details and restrictions.

Their Cancellation Policy and Disclaimers – 

For reservations cancelled 3 or more calendar days in advance, there will be no cancellation fee.

Cancellations 2 calendar days in advance will be charged a 50% cancellation fee.

Cancellations within 1 calendar day of event will be charged a 100% cancellation fee.

If tour is cancelled by tour operator due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or refund. Guests will be notified in the event of a weather related cancellation. Due to rapidly changing weather along the Gulf Coast, most weather related cancellations will not be made until day of event.

All tours depart at scheduled departure time. Boats and tours will not be held due to late arrivals. No reschedules or refunds will be issued for late arrivals.

Website And Links

Tour Categories: Guided, Tour, Boat, Kayak, Walking, Interactive (no you don’t swim with the alligators, but you can take pictures).

Dora Franklin Finley African-Amercian Heritage Trail

Experience the rich history of Mobile’s past and how the African-American community contributed to enriching the community and history of this great city.

This organization has four different tour options to choose from:

• Step On Bus Tours where your group charters a bus and their tour guide joins you, narrating the trip with a map for your driver.
• Self-Guided Tours can be taken on your own.  The official website has detailed maps and audio clips of the different history locations where you can complete a self-guided tour.  NOTE: The website is not mobile optimized, but you can zoom in and click on the different history locations and then click the audio file to hear detailed information about each site.
• School Bus Tours work like the Step On Bus Tours, but are for 4th grade classes in the Mobile County area.
• Downtown Walking Tours meet in Cathedral Square in downtown Mobile.  Contact the office for detailed information on these tours or to schedule one.  The walking tours cost $20 per person or $10 of Senior citizens and students.

A downloadable brochure guide and map is available online.

Connection Details:

Eric Finley at 251-725-2236 or email him for reservations or additional details.

Tour Categories: Bus, Walking, Guide, Tour, School, Self-Guided

Bay City Tours

This company has several tour packages, but they can create a personalized tour for you, your family or business.

Here are the basic tour packages found at Bay City Tours

Historic Mobile Alabama Tour

This is a four day tour designed for your group on your bus.  Your group will arrive and check in at your hotel where your personal guide will meet your group on your touring bus. This tour will take in the historic garden districts of Mobile Alabama and a city managed museum.  Refreshments will be served at one of the antebellum homes on the route. Your group will then enjoy dinner at one of Mobile’s fantastic restaurants and then returning to your hotel. This tour is 7 hours long and ranges from about 1pm to 10pm at night.

Day 2 is a 12 tour from about 9am to 9pm where you enjoy breakfast at your hotel before departing.  On this day, you will tour several private homes that are open ot the public and then lunch at one of the area’s restaurants.  You’ll then take a self-guided walk thru the famous Bellingrath Gardens and Home. Then back to your hotel to have dinner at another outstanding Mobile restaurant.

Day 3 involves putting on your walking shoes and taking in breakfast on one of the most awarded USS WWII battleships – The USS Alabama.  You will see the Captain’s Quarters, galley, radio room and sick bay. 5 rarely seen private historic homes will be opened up for your tour group and then back to your hotel for a Madi Gras style dinner with masks and beads.

Day 4  will have a custom tour design especially for you and your group to fit within the time frame you have before embarking on your trip back home.

Or, plan one of the other tour options for your group:

• Festival Of Flowers Tour – 3 Day tour during the last weekend of March featuring Bellingrath Gardens, Eastern Shore and Historic Homes of Mobile AL.
• Wonders Of The Water Tour – 3 Day tour featuring a boat tour of Mobile Bay and Bayou La Batre and Dauphin Island, AL.
• Antebellum South Tour – 3 Day tour featuring a tour of the USS Alabama, Bellingrath Gardens and then over to the Eastern Shore.
• Mardi Gras Tour – 5 Day tour between the first of February and the end of February featuring the coronation of the Queen of Mardi Gras, Bellingrath Gardens and then over to the Eastern Shore.
• Happy Holiday Tour – 4 Day touring event featuring old Mobile Historic Homes, USS Alabama, and a trip over to the Eastern Shore.

You can also take in personal, family or small group 1 Day tours for:

Historic Mobile – One Hour Tour

• Monday through Saturday 10:30am and 2pm
• Sunday 2pm
• $16 per person with two person minimum
• Departure from City of Mobile’s Welcome Center at 111 South Royal Street
• Reservations are required

USS Alabama Memorial Park – Three Hour Tour

• Monday through Saturday 10:30am and 2pm
• Sunday 2pm
• $25 per person with two person minimum
• Departure from City of Mobile’s Welcome Center at 111 South Royal Street
• Reservations are required

Mobile’s Own Ghost Stories Tour – One Hour Tour

• Monday through Friday – Depends on the season – When it gets dark
• Available on weekends with advanced reservations
• $20 per person with six person minimum
• Departure from City of Mobile’s Welcome Center at 111 South Royal Street
• Reservations are required

Contact Bay City Convention & Tours to plan your customized tour or fill out the online contact form.

Bay City Convention & Tours

PO Box 304, Mobile, AL 36601

Phone: 251.479.9970

Toll-Free: 1.800.338.5597

Fax: 251.479.9918

Tour Categories: Bus (your motorcoach), Walking, Guide, Tour

Personal Guided Tours

If you want to tour Mobile on one-on-one basis and skip the bus or big crowd scene, then get a tour by a local tour guide to see all the sites up close and personal.

Here are two personal guides that will show you the history and grandeur that is Mobile Alabama.

Shanon performs personal guided tours in the Mobile Alabama area and has experience as a Concierge for some of the more prominent hotels in the Atlanta area like Embassy Suites and Sheraton.

A wonderful insiders look at old Mobile and an intro to Mardi Gras. Our time with Sharon was like spending time with someone we’ve known all our lives. I am sure we saw places you won’t get on any other tour. Next time we go to Mobile we will be sure to have Sharon show us more. We debated on doing a self guided tour on a trolley. Glad we chose to do the tour with Sharon instead. A fantastic lady. Thank you Sharon. 

Donna Krise

Sharon’s Tour Options

Private Concierge Architectural Tour

Sharon will take you on a guided tour in her vehicle to visit the six historic districts of Mobile where you will see homes that survived for about 250 years.

Departure starts at either the airport, your hotel, cruise ship terminal or an address of your choosing in the Mobile area.  You’ll end up back where you started.

This tour is $175.00 for up to 4 individuals and lasts about 2-½ hours.  Sparkling and still water including snacks are provided. Bring about $20 each if you want to stop for lunch and English is the only language available on these tours.

You will need to provide funds for personal expenditures and any souvenirs you may want to purchase.

Private Bellingrath Gardens & Home Including Dauphin Island and Bayou La Batre

Your private guide will whisk you off to the awarding winning Bellingrath Gardens & Home then through the hometown of Forrest Gump and Bubba Blue.  You’ll also tour through the barrier island of Dauphin Island and stop in for a late lunch at one of the fabulous hometown restaurants.

Departure starts at either the airport, your hotel, cruise ship terminal or an address of your choosing in the Mobile area.  You’ll end up back where you started.

This tour pricing is $325 for 3 individuals and lasts about 6 hours.  Sparkling and still water are included with snacks. Lunch is provided either at one of Dauphin Island’s great restaurants or at the Lighthouse in Irvington, AL.  Admission to all areas are included.

You will need to provide funds for personal expenditures and any souvenirs you may want to purchase.

Special Note: The tour vehicle is not wheelchair accessible.  You will need to enter and exit the vehicle on your own. Wheelchairs are available at Bellingrath Gardens & Home.

Private Concierge Tour

This will be an in depth historical tour of downtown Mobile Alabama.

You will see where banana boats use to drop off their cargo over to where the original Mardi Gras floats throw out the beads and moon pies.

From Bienville Square to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

Departure starts at either the airport, your hotel, cruise ship terminal or an address of your choosing in the Mobile area.  You’ll end up back where you started.

This tour pricing is $200 for up to 8 individuals and lasts about 3 hours.  Sparkling and still water are included with snacks. Lunch is provided either at one of Dauphin Island’s great restaurants or at the Lighthouse in Irvington, AL.  Admission to all areas are included.

You will need to provide funds for personal expenditures and any souvenirs you may want to purchase plus any snacks or food you might want along the way.

Historic Trolley Tours Of Downtown Mobile Alabama

A 90 minute tour of historic Mobile Alabama in a climate controlled trolley.

This tour departs from 111 South Royal Street in Mobile and cost $15 per person with kids under 12 free.  If you have a group of 15 or more, call the office for a discounted rate at 251-633-0560.

A second pickup location is available on Tuesday and Thursday at 11:05am and 1:05pm from the USS Alabama Memorial Park.

Note: Please check out the website of call the main office to make sure trolley tours are scheduled for the day and time you desire.  Weather, road and traffic conditions can hamper the tour schedules.

Book online here.

The general trolley schedule is as follows:

What Locations Does This Trolley Tour Visit?

Stops on this riding along trolley tour include the Fort at Colonial Mobile, Church Street Cemetery, Callaghan’s Irish Social Club, the Oakleigh Historic Home area, Carnival Museum, GulfQuest National Maritime Museum, National African American Archives and Museum, USS Alabama Memorial Park, Bienville Square and more!

Spot Of Tea’s Segway Tours & Rentals Self Guided Tour

Want to go it alone?  Try out the segway’s tour from the Spot Of Tea on Dauphin Street.

This tour features about 25 different historical sites around the downtown Mobile Alabama area from the resting place of Joe Cain, one of the founders of Mobile that played a key role in the starting of Mardi Gras.

Visit 310 Dauphin Street, call 251-433-9009 or visit their website for additional details.

Tour times at 7am to 2pm Monday through Friday and 7am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday.

No matter what type of tour you decide on, Mobile Alabama has a history, attractions and restaurants that will satisfy every interest you can have.

This melting pot of French, British, Spanish and American culture has an interest all unique on its on.

Have Fun!