Top New Orleans Kayaking Tours

Embark on a private kayak and canoe small-group tour through Louisiana's historic Manchac Swamp. A local naturalist guides you, providing explanations of historical information and the native ecosystem. Paddle through this slow-moving bayou, once home to the ghost town of Ruddock, and a passage for historic New Orleans explorers. Discover the swamp's rich history and diverse wildlife, creating an immersive and educational outdoor experience.

Explore Louisiana’s bayou landscape–and avoid a basic, beginner-friendly itinerary–on this kayaking tour of Manchac Swamp, designed for experienced paddlers and including round-trip transfers from a central meeting point in New Orleans. Spend four hours on the water with a local naturalist guide, keep a lookout for wildlife, and learn about the local wetland ecosystem along the way.

Explore New Orleans’ diverse ecosystem along the Bayou Bienvenue by kayak for a unique and memorable experience in nature. See what makes the nature surrounding the Crescent City so special as you paddle through the swampy waterways surrounding the city. Keep your eyes peeled for birds, alligators, turtles, and more wildlife.

Experience the mysterious beauty of the Louisiana wetlands on a guided kayak tour through the legendary Maurepas Swamp. Voodoo Swamp Tours offers an immersive paddle through towering cypress trees, winding bayous, and one of the region’s most ecologically rich wetlands. This 1 hour and 15 minute guided kayak tour takes you deep into a landscape that feels untouched by time. Along the way, your guide will share stories of the swamp’s natural history, the people who once lived here, and the folklore that has earned the area its haunting reputation. Unlike other tours in the region, Voodoo Swamp Tours operates entirely on private property, allowing guests to explore quiet waterways rarely seen by the public. The result is a more peaceful, personal, and authentic swamp experience.

Immerse yourself in the rich culture and natural splendor of New Orleans’ mystifying swamps and wetlands on a New Orleans swamp tour and wetlands adventure. Relax in the luxurious interior of a New Orleans swamp tour boat as you cruise past cultural highlights like a Cajun cemetery, an Indian burial mound and a traditional fishing village. Scour the scenery for fascinating flora and fauna like snakes, turtles and alligators while listening to interesting commentary from your professional guide.

Enjoy an only-in-New-Orleans experience when you embark on a paddle-wheel boat tour of the mighty Mississippi River. In the evening, hop aboard the Steamboat Natchez or her sister vessel, the Riverboat City of New Orleans, and admire views of the city from the water's edge. This cost-saving package additionally includes a Creole‐inspired dinner (if option selected), plus live jazz music to set the mood.

Discover a different side of New Orleans—and admire a new perspective from the water's edge—on this steamboat tour down the Mississippi River. Board the historic riverboat—either the Steamboat Natchez or her sister vessel—for a morning or afternoon tour. Stroll the deck, admire the iconic paddlewheel, enjoy live music, and snap photos of the picturesque shoreline. This family‐friendly excursion offers an optional lunch (additional expense).

Discover historic New Orleans in an open‐top double‐decker bus on this hop‐on hop‐off sightseeing tour. With your 1-day ticket, design a personal itinerary with multiple stops, including the French Market, Jackson Square, and the Garden District. Enjoy unobstructed views and fun onboard commentary as you soak up The Big Easy.

Exploring New Orleans in the evening can seem like an intimidating quest on your own, but this ghost, voodoo, and vampire walking tour takes you to the city’s eeriest sights at night in the safety of a group led by a guide. Stop by top attractions such as the LaLaurie Mansion and New Orleans Pharmacy Museum while listening to your guide’s detailed stories of the paranormal and beyond.

Discover the natural landscape and history of Southern Louisiana on a combo tour to the Manchac Swamp and Whitney Plantation. In addition to navigating for you, your guide provides more information about the swamp and its ecosystem. Stop at B&C Seafood Restaurant for Cajun food (own expense), then finish off the day with a self-guided tour of the Whitney Plantation.

Experience New Orleans’ wild bayou country first-hand on an exciting, family‐friendly airboat ride. This boat tour winds through the mossy cypress swamp near Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, named for the 19th-century pirate and smuggler. While onboard, enjoy lively commentary from a local guide as you admire lush, forested shoreline and spot local wildlife. Gators appear most commonly in the summer months, so keep your eyes peeled.

Explore the rich culinary heritage of New Orleans' French Quarter on this half-day food tour. Sample traditional NOLA dishes such as gumbo, po-boys, jambalaya, and pralines while learning about the area's history. Your expert guide will lead you through local hotspots, offering cultural insights and tips on where to eat next. Upgrade to a small-group tour for a more intimate setting. Food offerings are subject to availability.

Get the full Louisiana dining experience during a fun and educational New Orleans cooking demonstration class. Take a seat amongst other foodies in a converted 19th-century molasses warehouse and get ready to learn and eat. Meet a lively local chef and learn the fundamentals of preparing classic Creole dishes such as gumbo, jambalaya, and pralines. Then dig into delicious samples complemented by local beer or a sweet ice tea.

Experience different sides of Louisiana and its complicated history on this plantation tour and swamp boat ride from New Orleans. On this full-day journey, visit Oak Alley Plantation or Destrehan Plantation (depending on the time chosen), where you learn about antebellum life. Next, head into the marshy swampland for a boat ride and some wildlife spotting. Enjoy guided commentary as you snap photos of alligators, raccoons, snakes, and native birds.

Visit the Whitney Plantation Museum—a former indigo and sugar plantation that is now dedicated to promoting an understanding of enslavement in Louisiana—on this hassle-free trip from New Orleans. Round-trip transit and admission tickets are included for your convenience. Upon arrival, learn about the brutal realities of plantation life through museum exhibits and an audio guide as you explore the site independently. You can also choose to upgrade your experience to include a 90-minute swamp tour.

See the spooky side of New Orleans and try out a few drinks while you're at it on this bar-hopping tour, which focuses on the haunted side of the city. You'll pass by the Lalaurie Mansion, believed to be the most haunted spot in town, and spend time in Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar, the oldest bar in the US, all with an engaging local guide to regale you with ghost stories.

Experience the grandeur of New Orleans’ antebellum south on a half-day tour of Oak Alley Plantation. Journey through time to the manicured estate and into the gorgeous home, built in 1839. View stunning architecture, oak-lined esplanades, and enduring sugar cane fields while learning about the plantation’s fascinating – and often somber – histories from local guides. Upgrade your experience to include a pontoon swamp tour.