Swamp Boat Ride and Whitney Plantation Tour from New Orleans
Description
This tour combines the private Manchac Swamp with Whitney Plantation. A decade ago Whitney Plantation, circa 1752, opened its doors to the public for the first time in its history as the only plantation museum in Louisiana completely dedicated to the history of slavery. The experience at Whitney is a self-paced audio tour. Visitors to Whitney will gain a unique perspective on the enslaved people who lived and worked here through museum exhibits, restored historic outbuildings, and hundreds of first-person narratives. Then it's a short ride to a privately-owned wildlife refuge within the Manchac Swamp, where homegrown Cajun captains will take you on a journey back to the early days of swamp exploration. They'll guide the covered pontoon boat through the mystical cypress swamp while showing off the American Alligator and abundant wildlife. Learn the history of the town of Frenier and the Cajun culture of fishing, hunting, and trapping. Get the camera ready gators leaping up for a snack!
Tour Options
Itinerary
9am & 11am Departures - 7 1/2 Hour Tour Your Whitney Plantation experience will include an audio tour of the grounds.
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
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(31)
Very kind steamboat company; given my inability to take the tour on the scheduled day, they made proposals to reschedule the booking. Punctual, means of transport, bus, clean and comfortable, guide available and pleasant in her storytelling. Everything well organized
È stato un piacere poter adattare l'esperienza ai vostri orari e condividere con voi la nostra cultura. Speriamo che in futuro tornerete a trovarci con amici e familiari.
Jane and Donald were a great guide and driver duo. Whitney plantation was informational and sobering so it paired well with the fun experience of the swamp ride. We saw lots of gators, pigs, raccoons and turtles.
A full day in southeastern Louisiana - complete with history, and wild animals as well.
Family with 2 teenagers. We enjoyed the Whitney Plantstion tour very much. It was moving and very educational for all of us. We absolutely LOVED the swamp boat tour with Captain Dan. It was pouring rain at first and that added to the magic. The swamp was beautiful, relaxing and teeming with interesting creatures. We saw alligators, raccoon, wild pigs and a variety of birds. It was magical.
Thank you so much for enjoying this tour with your teens. It is history that brings another lifetime to light, and then an adventure into the "wild side" of southeast Louisiana.
Captain Dustin was great, funny and has a great play list by the way. He is really entertaining if you have a sense of humor this is your captain to get.
Captain Dustin shows how much he enjoys touring with our visitors.
Thomas was EXCELLENT! He was so knowledgeable and seemed genuinely happy explain the "circle of life" in the swamp us. This man not only loves what he does, he LIVES it!!! Truly a treasure.
We believe he is a swamp treasure as well. Thank you.
What a great experience. Our guides were amazing and so full of knowledge. Kimberly and Dominique are the dynamic duo! 10/10 recommend
Love the 10/10 rating. Thank you.
iv just returned from a full day tour of whitney plantation and swamp tour great combination the trip was made even better by the very informative,super friendly tour guide robert s what a guy he was superb and driver anton was excellent definitely recommend this tour 100 percent and try to get on with robert s thanks guys
Thank you from Robert and Alton and our entire crew.
They fill the bus so if traveling with someone or a group get there early. The driver and guide were great. Captain Dustin was amazing for the boat ride
Good advice on arriving with your group, Dustin. We appreciate your review on Captain Dustin, swamp guide extraordinaire.
The plantation and swamp tours were great and we learned a lot, but I’m docking one star due to poor communication about lunch. We were only told upon reaching Whitney, when the guide casually asked if the group was okay skipping lunch. After 1–2 people said yes, it was assumed everyone agreed, with no real option or warning beforehand. We spent the full 9–5 day in sweltering heat with only chips and chocolate, which made the experience much harder than it should have been. Food is important on a full-day tour, and better arrangements or clearer communication should be in place.
Although we do not include lunch in the tour description, we can understand that the guide's comments may have been interrupted differently. Thank you for the input.
Great day easy to find starting point Lovely tour guide and bus driver self guided tour at the plantation amazing funny boat guide on the swamp got to see gators being fed and to hold a baby gator amazing day
This a great 5 star review. Thank you.
