7
Whitney Plantation
Edward is amazing! Funny and knowledgeable. A great tour.
Operator response
Thank you so much.
Whitney Plantation Tour with Transportation from New Orleans
+17 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 5h 25min
- Price from
- $89 / person
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 · 1,448 reviews
- Languages
- DE, CMN, EN, EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 55
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Meeting point
- Departs from the Gray Line Lighthouse Ticket Office at Toulouse St. and the Mississippi River, just one block from Jackson Square in the French Quarter. Please arrive 15 minutes before boarding.
- Confirmation
- Instant
Prices checked on Sep 11, 2026Things to do in New Orleans
Description
Visit the Whitney Plantation of New Orleans and step back in time as you explore the 18th-century plantation museum, the only one of its kind in Louisiana. On this 5-hour tour (including travel time from New Orleans,) you’ll see museum exhibits, memorial artwork, and restored buildings. Learn about an important part of American history as recorded from first-person slave narratives. The Whitney Plantation is a self-guided audio tour experience. Please make sure to download the Whitney Plantation app on your cell phone, tablet, or iPad to listen to an audio tour. You can also upgrade your experience to include a 90-minute swamp tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Start the tour at the designated meeting point in New Orleans and journey to the historic Whitney Plantation, one of the antebellum estates located along the Mississippi River. You'll cross the Bonnet Carre Spillway, a flood outlet for the river, and see a panoramic view of Lake Pontchartrain on your way to the plantation. Pass by the Evergreen, Felicity and St. Joseph plantations, where rich crops of sugar cane, cotton, and indigo from these fertile lands once traveled to various ports of trade.
Arrive at the Whitney Plantation, which dates back more than 260 years and is now a working museum dedicated to the understanding of slavery in the American South. Visit museum exhibits and restored buildings including historical slave cabins, some of which remain from the original 22 on-site. See the Big House, which is one of the finest surviving examples of Spanish Creole architecture in Louisiana, and learn about the daily life of former slaves at Whitney as recorded by the Federal Writers' Project. Tour at your own pace, and if you choose, download the Whitney Plantation app for the self-guided tour of the plantation. At the end of your experience, you're returned to central New Orleans.
Highlights
Round-trip transport from central New Orleans
2 hours to spend touring Whitney Plantation
90-minute pontoon swamp tour (if option chosen)
Audio Tour Via Whitney Plantation App
Air-conditioned vehicle
What's included
Included
Round-trip transport from central New Orleans
2 hours to spend touring Whitney Plantation
90-minute pontoon swamp tour (if option chosen)
Audio Tour Via Whitney Plantation App
Air-conditioned vehicle
Not included
Food and drinks (available for purchase)
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Traveller Ratings
4.6
1,448 reviews
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Check-in is 15 minutes prior to start time.
- If the guest needs a wheelchair lift equipped bus, then special arrangements need to be made with the supplier. This must be arranged 48 hours prior to tour date. Contact details will be on your voucher.
- Guests visiting Whitney using a wheelchair will have access to the gift shop, restrooms, and museum. The plantation grounds are accessible; however, there are uneven gravel paths. The main house tour is not accessible to guest traveling in wheelchairs and is not required to be modified as it is a historic home; however, the first floor is accessible. Guests would be able to view the slave quarters, but would not have access to enter.
- Tour at Whitney Plantation is self-guided and available in 6 languages. Swamp tour is English only.
- This tour includes 2 hours dedicated to exploring the grounds of Whitney Plantation. The remaining time consists of travel to and from the destination.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Whitney Plantation Tour with Transportation from New Orleans take?
Whitney Plantation Tour with Transportation from New Orleans lasts about 5h 25min. The itinerary has 2 stops.
How much does Whitney Plantation Tour with Transportation from New Orleans cost?
Prices start at $89 per person for this New Orleans experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Whitney Plantation Tour with Transportation from New Orleans for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Departs from the Gray Line Lighthouse Ticket Office at Toulouse St. and the Mississippi River, just one block from Jackson Square in the French Quarter. Please arrive 15 minutes before boarding.. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Whitney Plantation Tour with Transportation from New Orleans offered in?
The experience is available in DE, CMN, EN, EN, IT, FR, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 55 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible If the guest needs a wheelchair lift equipped bus, then special arrangements need to be made with the supplier. This must be arranged 48 hours prior to tour date. Contact details will be on your voucher. Guests visiting Whitney using a wheelchair will have access to the gift shop, restrooms, and museum. The plantation grounds are accessible; however, there are uneven gravel paths. The main house tour is not accessible to guest traveling in wheelchairs and is not required to be modified as it is a historic home; however, the first floor is accessible. Guests would be able to view the slave quarters, but would not have access to enter.
Reviews(1,448)
L
Informative visit to Whitney Plantation
We selected Whitney plantation due to the amount of research they had conducted on the enslaved lives who had lived and worked here. Our tour guide led us through the social history and gave us an insight into life on the plantation.
Operator response
Lesley, we are pleased that you joined us on this insightful tour of our history through the lives of those who lived on the Whitney Plantation.
L
Rich in History
Rich in history and self led tour. I really enjoyed being able to move at my own pace, though a few in my group expressed they might have preferred an actual tour guide. While that aspect of the tour is personal preference, we all agreed that the staff, the bus driver, and every aspect of this experience was truly exceptional
Operator response
It is a pleasure to read your review and no that no matter the presentation process, everyone was pleased with the presentation and staff that share this experience with our guests.
P
Excellent museum -...
Excellent museum - however two hours is NOT enough to visit this place and to fully experience. I felt rushed and in need to meet back for the bus pickup. You cannot fully experience this museum in less than 2 hours. Unfortunate, recommend getting tickets but not part of Viator package unless they change.
Operator response
Peter, we certainly appreciate your review. Some guests want more time and some would like less. We make a sincere effort to make this an unforgettable look into this emotional past.
K
It was well organized and...
It was well organized and well done. Time worked out great. The bus driver and tour guide was informative amd entertaining.
Operator response
What a great overall review. We find that organization helps all our guests be informed and entertained. Thank you.
A
Loved it!
I came to New Orleans for my birthday weekend and wanted to be immersed in history. This tour did just that. From the moment you board the bus Kate H talks you through New Orleans history. It’s topped off by experiencing history through the perspective of the enslaved and a swamp tour
Operator response
Wishes for many more wonderful birthday weekends. Thank you for sharing some of that celebration with us.
P
Whitney tour
We had a great experience on our tour , it was self guided the grounds were lovely, lots of history to take in very informative.
Operator response
Thank you so much for deciding to tour the grounds of this unique plantation. It is an important lesson for all to learn.
M
A must-do
A must-do if you are in Louisiana! A deeply moving place that tells the history of slavery from the perspective of the enslaved people. Here, the victims of the slave trade and plantation exploitation regain an identity: names, ages, stories... The steles and memorials are particularly poignant. They allow you to concretely measure the scale of this tragedy and pay tribute to those whose history has too often been erased. I absolutely recommend the tour in French with Émeline. Originally from Pau, she knows Louisiana remarkably well and conveys the history with a great deal of knowledge, sensitivity, and humanity. An essential visit to understand an essential part of Louisiana's history. Not to be missed.
Operator response
Nous sommes ravis de figurer parmi les sites incontournables de la Louisiane ! L'équipe de la Whitney Plantation a entrepris de raconter l'histoire de l'esclavage du point de vue des personnes réduites en esclavage elles-mêmes. Nous ne manquerons pas de transmettre vos chaleureuses recommandations concernant la visite en français à Émeline. Cette visite est essentielle pour comprendre un pan crucial de l'histoire de la Louisiane.
Z
Just book it!
The overall experience was so amazing. It was the perfect amount of time to learn about it all and still take some time to just enjoy the experience. The guide was lovely! I felt very safe and very welcomed.
Operator response
We are pleased to know that this experience was a learning experience and one that made you feel safe and welcomed.
T
Plantation tour
Educational and enlightening. We had a great time and enjoyed seeing everything up close and personal.
Operator response
Thank you so much for touring with us.
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