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Nantucket Island Tours

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NANTUCKET ISLAND TOURS - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Nantucket Island Tours

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Nantucket Island Tours - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

Ara's Tours

Location & Hours

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Nantucket, MA 02554

Serving Nantucket Area

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This tour was developed for those who wanted MORE from a tour than just a DRIVE thru. We actually STOP and get out of the vehicle for photographs at Brant Point Lighthouse, Sankaty Head Lighthouse, and the village of 'Sconset when the roses are blooming, or a coastline during a storm, or the Windmill built in 1746, or a cranberry bog when it is ready to harvest. The more agile visitor enjoys it more; but, it has been labeled "The Tour for All Ages" by my customers who want MORE! The tour last between 1.5-2 hours depending on how many photographs are taken. For those with limited time, I can put BRANT POINT at the end of the tour and return in 1.5 hours then continue the tour for the rest of the group. Private charters ARE available. …

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If I could give less than one star I would. This was the worst tour I've ever been on and a terrible waste of my limited time on Nantucket. Ara was rude to all of us, snapped at us when we asked questions, and worst of all, was so rude to our wonderful driver that it made us incredibly uncomfortable. I cringed each time she yelled at him. Her imperious, harsh tone was so uncalled for and really ruined the tour. All she could talk about was which billionaire bought which house and when we asked questions about history she snapped at us and refused to answer. I rarely complain, but this was just terrible.

Our experience today was similar from the one nine days ago. Wish we'd read the reviews first. In first grade they tell you there are no dumb questions', but Ara apparently never internalized that lesson. Our questions were treated as if we were disturbing her soliloquies. Sounded like Ara had a script to follow. Her new Volvo hybrid windows were not larger enough to get a sufficient view of the her points of interest. Would not recommend.

Ara extended much-needed hospitality and generosity when our car broke down and had to be towed. Ara was driving the other way and offered us a ride home, free of charge. We tried to pay her for helping us, but she insisted it was no big deal. A few hours later, we run into Ara again when we were shopping downtown and happened to need a ride to dinner 30 minutes away (still without car.) We arranged to meet. Not only is Ara incredibly honest and willing to lend a helping hand, her pricing is extremely reasonable for the services she provide- sharing tidbits of local history as we drove, even offering to stop and take our picture at various photo-worthy locations. Ara is very authentic, reliable, and extremely knowledgeable, armed fascinating Nantucket tidbits you'd otherwise never know. Her passion about what she does genuinely shows. We arranged with three trips with her we enjoyed her service and company so much. Top, top notch! Couldn't recommend her more. You will not be disappointed!

Oct 27, 2021

Hi Brooke, Thank you for appreciating the EXTRAS. When your vehicle needed to be towed, I sympathized with you and did the neighborly thing to do: Offer you a ride. It was my effort to add some SUNSHINE to your day. It was my pleasure meeting you. Great photographs BTW! Ars

Horrible woman! She used aggressive force on my 3yo and almost harmed him badly and said it was my fault for having children! Do not use this company.

Hi Holly, With an extensive educational background in early childhood education and psychology, I do NOT understand WHY you would write such a comment. May your days be full of happiness, sunshine and good health with your son: Children should be cherished. Ara

I contacted Ara twice by email to book a private tour. Once in Dec 2020 and once again in Jan 2021. No response. Not sure if she is still in business as her website doesn't look like it's been updated in years. Don't do business with someone so unprofessional and rude.

Annie, Yes. We are still operating ARA’S NANTUCKET TRANSPORTATION AND TOURS. My apologies for our email system NOT meeting your expectations. It was DOWN earlier this year and the AUTO RESPONSE would have directed you to TEXT 508.228.1951 call. Yes, when back UP, I even answered the requests that had been sent to SPAM. Is it possible that you sent your requests to another company? Or typed the email address incorrectly? Just leaving off ONE of the “s” in arastours will catapult the email into email SPACE! I have experienced that myself! Happy and safe travels. Ara In fact we now operate a WHITE RAM PRO-MASTER with a high roof, a center isle, and individual seats which has been very well received. We ARE striving to create ... a Nantucket Experience from which memories are made....

Deceptive practices. Quoted $60 per person when booking over the phone but at end of the tour Ara said it was $70. Rude and condescending to us, wouldn't answer questions and just hateful to the poor driver. Very much an unpleasant experience overall.

Strangest tour experience ever. Showed up and were told we had to drive our own tour vehicle. An attempt was made to blame us and say we were aware of this which we most certainly were not.

We visited Nantucket Island today and booked a tour with Ara based on reviews from multiple sites. She responded quickly to my text and even remembered my name from an email exchange several months ago! Ara was prompt, friendly, and very knowledgeable about Nantucket, having lived there since the '70's. She was passionate, a little quirky and fun (which I love!) and gave an ongoing dialogue about the island's history. She was also very personable and asked questions about where we were from etc. She stopped and gave us multiple photo ops we would not have had otherwise. My husband and I enjoyed Ara's tour very much. If you are looking for a personal tour with a guide who is passionate and knowledgeable, and a little quirky and fun, then Ara's Tours are for you!

See all photos from Jennifer E. for Ara's Tours

Thank YOU, Jennifer, for writing such a glowing review. Ara’s Tours strives to create ...a Nantucket Experience from which Memories are made.... It sounds like we were successful with you! Loved the photos. Ars

Are was just phenomenal in her knowledge of Nantucket history and whereabouts. My friend and I throughly enjoyed the tour. Dan the bus driver was very courteous and made sure followed instructions from Ara. I would highly recommend this tour.

Awful! When we went to meet her at her van, we asked if there was a bathroom nearby for our teenage daughter, and she told us our daughter should have gone to the bathroom before! Our daughter is autistic, and it was so mean and hurtful. My husband was furious too. Even though I told her on the phone that I get carsick and I needed to sit in front, she put her dog on the front seat. Can you imagine, where would the dog go if I had asked to sit there? When I wrote a review on google about it, she retaliated by implying that my three teenage kids were my "grandkids" and that I was "barking" at my kids when I told them to put their phones down so they could enjoy the view. She was trying so hard to insult me. Whatever you do, don't use this mean old lady!

Phyllis, It was obviously a bad day for you. It must be quite frustrating for you traveling with so much baggage. We only use the front seat next to the driver for TRANSPORTS. It is a SAFETY ISSUE. The first seat behind the driver was available for you. Your children chose NOT to sit with you. Generally when individuals want the TOUR to focus on their INDIVIDUAL needs they opt for a private charter rather than a group tour. Ara

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Nantucket Island Tours

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Nantucket Island Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

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BY CATEGORY

celebrating 25 years of

Nantucket adventures.

choose your cruise

Welcome to Nantucket By Water, a local family-run company dedicated to providing unique tours and cruises to individuals and families of all age groups. From small kids to grandparents, we have trips that cater to your needs and taste for adventure.

Whether you take a leisurely tour around Nantucket Harbor, or a longer adventure exploring the wildlife sanctuary of Coatue or visiting the unique 5th Bend Oyster Farm, we promise you an exceptional experience.

FOR THE ADULTS

FOR THE family

FOR THE ADventurers

shanty singers

Tuesday nights | june 18 - sept 10.

envisioning something different?

Customize your experience with a private charter!

Don't know which trip is best for you or want us to build a completely custom experience for you? Contact us today for a tailormade trip and experience.

DON'T HESISTATE TO BOOK

We did a chartered sunset cruise with our family. It was great! Captain, crew, and bartender were perfect for us. We had the whole Shearwater boat. We played music via Bluetooth. Had food from Bartlett’s Farm brought in. And we danced on the bow for almost the whole cruise.

glorious harbor tour

Our family had a glorious ride around the harbor on the Shearwater Ice Cream tour!

Captain Max was very helpful. Rachael, who organizes the tours, was very sweet explaining available ice creams to the young ones. Kids say it was the highlight of their visit. 

chef's kiss

Don't miss this! Not only was the sunset incredible, but cruising around Nantucket Harbor was delightful. We did this on the first night of our trip and it was the best way to kick off a great weekend. Rachael and her team were so easy and helpful to work with in planning the trip, and Max was a great sailor, leaving us with great recommendations on what not to miss on island.

join the adventure

@nantucketbywater.

Nantucket Island Tours

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Nantucket Island Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Gail's Tours, Inc.

Information

Voted Best of Nantucket for more than 20 Years!

Continuing a family tradition of hospitality unique, in-depth tour of Nantucket, 7th generation native. Convenient… effortlessly view Nantucket.

In-town pick-up, 1 3/4 hour tour Pullovers for photo opportunities. Tour van holds up to 14 guests

Departures daily 10am, 1pm, & 3pm

Value… in the thrifty Nantucket tradition

Gail Nickerson Johnson

your guide to the real Nantucket!

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Contact Info

• 508-257-6557

Is this your business?

© 2022 Yesterday's Island, Inc. | PO Box 626 | Nantucket, MA 02554

Nantucket Island Tours

Ready to book your nantucket bus tour click here, nantucket’s premiere transportation company, add a little local flavor with a nantucket bus tour.

Sightseeing tours of Nantucket Island

While visiting this beautiful island full of so much to enjoy, take some time and treat yourself to a tour of the breathtaking island of Nantucket in the comfort of our luxury busses.

Get a feel for the true Nantucket as we take you away from downtown and allow you to enjoy the natural & historical beauty of our island! See the Old Mill, Sconset Village, Sankaty Head Lighthouse, and much more on this one-hour & 15 minute tour.

Available through October 23rd at 11:15am, 1:00pm & 2:45pm. $35 per person

Want to see even more of Nantucket without access to a bike or car? We’ve got you covered with this new, longer tour!

The Westender tour will visit sites on the west end of the island and include some of the historic things we show during our regular tour as well. These are places you really cannot walk to, such as beautiful Madaket, Mr Rogers history on Nantucket, the famed “Madaket Millie”, and stops at Bartlett Farm and Cisco Brewers.

In the same beautiful climate controlled buses as our regular tour with the friendly faces of our awesome tour guides, this tour is a must for anyone looking to get deeper into the more remote parts of the island of Nantucket.

With plenty of photo opportunities, and lots to see this 2.5 hour tour will be fun for all!

Available through October 23rd at 11:30am. $65 per person

Helpful Hints 🙂

Busses depart from 10 Washington Street, Nantucket Tours are not recommended for young children No food or drink allowed on Signature Tour Please arrive and check in inside Greyhound Station 15 minutes prior to boarding time There are no restroom breaks during the Signature Tour

• Signature Bus Tour
• The Westender Bus Tour
• Wedding Transportation
• Group Charters

Signature Tour

Enjoy a tour of the breathtaking island of Nantucket in the comfort of our climate controlled busses!

Our friendly island tour guides take you away from downtown, and allow you to enjoy the natural beauty Nantucket has to offer, in a safe and comfortable way! During the tour you will enjoy the Old Mill, Sconset Village, Sankaty Head Lighthouse, the Oldest House, or the Jethro Coffin house, and much more! With plenty of photo opportunities, and lots to see this 1 hour and 15 minute tour will be fun for all!

May 24 – October 11, 2024

Departing at

$45 per passenger

If you would like to book your bus tour tickets with your Hy-Line ferry tickets please make your reservation by clicking here or call our toll-free number for separate reservations and more information: 508-228-0334.

Things You Should Know!

We STRONGLY recommend booking ONLINE as seats are limited.

This tour is not recommended for young children

No Food or Drinks allowed on Bus

Bus Tour leaves from 10 Washington St., Nantucket, MA 02554

Please arrive 15 minutes Prior To Boarding Time

There are NO Restroom breaks during Tour

Testimonials

Wonderful Trip

“Visiting from New York, we didn’t have a car to explore the island for our day trip. Nantucket Island Tours’ tour was exactly what we hoped for! We got to see all the sights, learn a lot from our really friendly tour guide, and all in the comfort of air conditioning (a MUST in the summer heat). So glad we chose to spend an hour with you!”

Well Worth the Time

“I feel like we really got a feel for Nantucket on the tour, while not being to long for our teenage son. Perfect way to get our bearings and see all the sights without needing to bike or walk.”

Beautiful Island!

“I cannot believe how beautiful Nantucket is! I  never would have made it to Siasconset and I am so glad I did! This is a must for any trip to Nantucket”

Local News | Tiger shark washes up on Nantucket; Atlantic…

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• Massachusetts

Local News | Tiger shark washes up on Nantucket; Atlantic White Shark Conservancy reports new detection data

‘this is really, really unique’.

The dead shark, estimated to be around 8 feet long, was swept out to sea at Tom Nevers Beach before the apex predator could be secured by beachgoers.

If anyone sees the tiger shark again, researcher John Chisholm wants to know .

“We want to find this shark to do a necropsy and figure out what happened to it,” Chisholm, who’s with the New England Aquarium and confirms shark sightings for the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, told the Herald.

“Did someone offshore catch it and release it? Did it travel north in a warm water eddy and then succumb to the cold waters?” he asked.

Juvenile tiger sharks have been spotted along Nantucket later in the season in past years, Chisholm said. It’s quite rare to see a larger tiger shark on the island, especially this time of the year, he added.

“This is really, really unique,” Chisholm said. “The bigger ones are usually down off the (Northeast) Canyons where the water is warmer in July and August.”

Recent research has found that tiger sharks are migrating farther north each year because of warmer oceans , he noted.

While waters off the Northeast have historically been too cold for tiger sharks, temps have warmed significantly in recent years and are now suitable for tiger sharks, according to researchers.

“They’re definitely on my radar due to the increasing water temperatures,” Chisholm said.

An unusual & sad sight on the south shore this week. A tiger shark washed up dead on Tuesday. It is relatively rare to see a tiger shark in the waters around Nantucket, and especially in spring when water temperatures are still low. pic.twitter.com/WpKNVtOYua — Nantucket Current (@ACKCurrent) June 7, 2024

Beachgoers at the Nantucket beach tried to bring the tiger shark up on the beach, but the surf washed it back out.

“Try to secure it if you can,” Chisholm said. “Always be careful. I don’t want anyone getting hurt.

“Get it up above the high water line, so it doesn’t wash away,” he added.

Chisholm can be notified via his social media account on X: @MA_Sharks. He also advised people to contact the local harbormaster if they find the shark.

New white shark data 

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy has updated its “ White Shark Logbook ” with last year’s detection data for white sharks along Massachusetts.

The most white shark detections yet again were recorded on the Atlantic-facing beaches along the Outer Cape.

“Because that’s where most of the seals are located,” said Megan Winton of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. “In Cape Cod Bay, the highest detections were off Manomet Point where seals typically hang out.”

Chatham’s Monomoy Island, where there are massive seal populations, had the most detections last year.

Overall, 128 white sharks were detected off the coast last year, which was slightly down from 134 great whites in 2022.

Total detections dropped to 145,260 compared to 194,779 in the previous year.

“Every year is different, and the ocean is a rapidly changing place,” Winton said. “We see fluctuations in shark activity every year.

“It’s important to continue monitoring the population to understand why things vary year to year, and month to month,” she added.

The top month for detections was in October, a change from the previous year when the peak month was August. November was also a strong month for detections last year.

“It could be related to the variation in the water temperature from year to year,” Winton said.

The top detection months last year were October (40,322 detections), August (29,837), September (25,559), November (24,382), and July (17,073).

Acoustic receivers are underwater listening stations that record “pings” from acoustic transmitters that have been deployed on more than 300 white sharks by the state Division of Marine Fisheries since its tagging program began in 2010.

The receiver array is deployed from the late spring into the winter of each year to monitor the occurrence and habitat use of white sharks in Massachusetts state waters.

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