Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans
Description
This combination tour combines the best of the best! The best swamp tour with the best plantations along River Road. See a variety of wildlife on a swamp boat ride and explore an authentic southern plantation on this tour from New Orleans. See alligators, egrets, raccoons and snakes during your ride around a private Louisiana swamp. 9am and 11am departure times tour Oak Alley Plantation and are 7 hours and 45 minutes in length returning to New Orleans at 4:45pm and 6:45pm respectively. 1pm departure time tours Destrehan Plantation and is 5 hours and 30 minutes in length returning to New Orleans at 6:30pm.
Tour Options
Itinerary
9am & 11am Departures - 7 1/2 Hour Tour Your 1.5 hour Oak Alley experience will include a docent guided tour of the plantation home, a self guided tour of the grounds and many photo opportunities along the way. Save room for a Mint Julep or refreshment from the snack bar.
Although called a lake, this is actually a large lagoon and brackish estuary fed by fresh water rivers and connected to the Gulf of Mexico. Covering 630 square miles (1600 km2) it is one of the largest wetlands in North America.
View the spillway, a flood control operation in the Lower Mississippi west of New Orleans. The spillway, when open, allows floodwaters from the Mississippi River to flow into Lake Pontchartrain and thence into the Gulf of Mexico.
This privately owned wildlife refuge ensures that you won’t encounter any other boats during your peaceful journey into the swamp. Local Cajun captains share personal tales of their own swamp explorations and fascinating information on the plants and wildlife you'll encounter. The primitive beauty of moss draped cypress tress and abundant wildlife guarantees some amazing pictures! Enjoy a beverage and snack from the open air pavilion.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- In order to help protect the French Quarter from vehicular traffic, it is requested that you please walk, if possible, to the convenient tour departure point -- just a short stroll from most downtown hotels.
- Alternate Routes: Due to uneven and narrow paths, alternate routes may be necessary for guests traveling in wheelchairs.
- 9am & 11am = Oak Alley Plantation
- 1pm = Destrehan Plantation
- Oak Alley Plantation is a Smoke Free Facility
Reviews(3,463)
had a very nice and informative operator. I want others to know that there was an hour and 40 minute drive to the first stop. Had I known that I would’ve never booked it. I only had a couple days in New Orleans and that’s not how I wanted to spend it. Oak Alley was cool, but just not enough time to explore. Then we were off to the swamp tour. I would never recommend it to anyone. We got a middle seat in the middle. The operator did not enforce the no standing rule and we could not see a single thing the whole time. I was really looking forward to this and felt like I threw my money away. There are signs all over the boat that they don’t stand so why don’t they enforce this rule so everyone who’s paid the same price can see? Just not worth the travel time for this tour.
Tour guide was excellent . Bus ride was smooth and comfortable. The tour at Oak Alley and the swamp boat tour was awesome. I would recommend it to everyone.
Always enjoy history and the birth of our nation. Very informative about the families and their backgrounds and what they produced on the Plantation. The swamp tour was one of the best I have been on. It had rained so much activity in the swamp. Our guide was very knowledgeable and genuine. This is definitely a must do.
10/10 would recommend. Gray Line staff are wonderful. Oak Alley was beautiful and peaceful while at the same time being truthful about representing human oppression. The exhibits highlighted the juxtaposition between what was achieved by the enslaved population vs those that took credit for and the profit from their labor. Cajun Pride swamp boat ride did NOT disappoint! lots of gators and other critters and our guide was hilarious while being extremely informative.
Outstanding experience. We toured Oak Alley, beautiful plantation and had a great lunch on property. Next was a swamp boat ride. The captain went out of his way to show us wildlife. The Grayline tour lady was very friendly and knowledgeable! She made the bus ride enjoyable.
Lots of fun facts about the area and the different plantations. Swamp tour was great for the kids and others who haven’t been around the swamp!!
Our tour guide was super knowledgeable and made the drive to the plantation (almost 2hrs) full of knowledge of the city, and the history of slavery. The plantation (we went to Oak Alley) was more glorified than I thought it would be, if I had to change anything about this trip I would’ve chosen to go to Whitney instead, learn more about the experience of the slaves, learn their stories.
The schedule was very well-organized, the guide kept telling us historical information, and the captain of the swamp tour boat was really entertaining.
We saw lots of wildlife on our tour. Our guide made sure each side of the boat had a view. He had lots of stories to share with us.
Very good trip, you won’t regret it. It is well organized and the plantation and the swamp tour are so interesting.
