Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
New Orleans, USA
- 7 hours 45 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Experience two different sides of New Orleans with one simple booking
- Take a short coach ride across the mighty Mississippi River
- A great experience for history buffs and nature lovers
- Convenient meeting location and transfer from the French Quarter
What's Included
- Swamp Boat Tour
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Narrated by a local guide
- Round trip transportation
- Tour of either Oak Alley or Destrehan Plantation
- Hotel Pick-up and Drop-off
- Food & Drink (Available for Purchase)
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Gray Line New Orleans400 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Departs from the Gray Line Lighthouse at Toulouse St. and the Mississippi River (at the Steamboat Natchez Dock), just one block from Jackson Square in the French Quarter. Please arrive 15 minutes before boarding to check in.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Your tour offers a morning or afternoon start time. You’ll start by boarding your air‐conditioned coach in the French Quarter. Admire the scenery of the Lake Pontchartrain shoreline as you head first to either Oak Alley Plantation or Destrehan Plantation. Oak Alley is one of the most beautiful plantation homes in the lower Mississippi Valley. As you marvel at the unbelievable alley of 28 magnificent Oak trees, your guide will reveal the fascinating stories of the home and its history. If you choose to visit Destrehan, you'll learn the history of this famous plantation that was once a major producer of indigo and sugarcane.
After your plantation tour, return north by coach to Lake Pontchartrain and Manchac Swamp, where you’ll board an open‐sided, covered boat – good for touring during any season. This privately‐owned swamp is a great venue for uninterrupted wildlife spotting. Glide along the water, viewing the lush greenery and with abundant local wildlife, including alligators, egrets, raccoons, snakes and giant nutria. Get great photos and gain insight about local history and wetland preservation from your local guides.
This tour returns you by coach to the French Quarter.
After your plantation tour, return north by coach to Lake Pontchartrain and Manchac Swamp, where you’ll board an open‐sided, covered boat – good for touring during any season. This privately‐owned swamp is a great venue for uninterrupted wildlife spotting. Glide along the water, viewing the lush greenery and with abundant local wildlife, including alligators, egrets, raccoons, snakes and giant nutria. Get great photos and gain insight about local history and wetland preservation from your local guides.
This tour returns you by coach to the French Quarter.
1
Oak Alley Plantation
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Lake Pontchartrain (Pass By)
I-10 Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge (Pass By)
2
Cajun Pride Swamp Tours
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- 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
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 28 travelers
Supplied by
Frequently Asked Questions (9)
Q:What is the departure point for the Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans?
A:The tour begins at the Gray Line "Lighthouse" Ticket Office in the French Quarter at Toulouse Street & the Mississippi River - at the Steamboat Natchez Dock (400 Toulouse Street.)
Jun 2021
The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 3,452 reviews
Carra_h, Jun 2026
Great educational tour of the Oak Alley Plantation and swamp boat tour. Dustin was a great tour guide and had a lot of knowledge about the swamp
Alejandra_V, May 2026
This tour was one of the highlights of our trip to New Orleans. The plantation was beautiful and full of interesting history, and the swamp tour gave us the chance to see local wildlife and learn more about the area. Our guide was personable, funny, and kept everyone engaged throughout the day. Even though I can’t remember his name, he did a fantastic job making the experience enjoyable and informative. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting New Orleans!
Carrie_S, May 2026
The plantation tour was underwhelming, except for the trees. The swamp tour was AWESOME! I won’t say any more because I don’t want to write any spoilers.
Sara_K, May 2026
Jane and Dwayne were awesome! Jane provided interesting facts during the bus rides. The plantation was absolutely beautiful and the swamp tour was so much fun. Dustin was hilarious. He also gave us a lot of information and kept the ride very interactive. Highly recommend both!
Sweta_C, May 2026
What a tour!!! Jane was incredible and her knowledge was beyond amazing. She had beautiful stories and not boring at all. Very kind. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour. If you’re visiting New Orleans you must book this tour if you’re a history buff. Oak alley plantation was incredible and we had many sightings of the gators during swamp ride. Amazing experience!! Highly recommend Jane!
Roxana, May 2026
The best swamp tour to date! Great guide! Daniel was so informative and we saw so many animals! Highly recommend!
Lauren_M, May 2026
Plenty of time to explore, take the tour, and have lunch! The boat was covered which was nice because it poured! Both the plantation and alligator tour were great!
Anne_B, May 2026
This tour was well worth the time and money. Seeing the plantation and hearing about its history was an amazing experience. The boat tour in the swamp was very cool. We saw a lot of the wildlife and some alligators up close. One of the highlights was our tour guide Robert who made the most of the time on the bus with awesome New Orleans history. Would highly recommend.
jane_a, May 2026
This was the best thing we did in New Orleans. Our guide in the bus was great. She gave us lots of information and made travel fun. The. Us was very comfortable and had AC (and a toilet if needed.) we enjoyed the information and beauty of the plantation despite the difficult topic of slavery. Captain Robertson gave us an amazing swamp tour. We saw alligators, boars, raccoons, birds, and a turtle! We got to hold a small alligator. He was daring to feed the wildlife. (Chicken and marshmallows-- should be called swampmallows lol) It was beautiful in the swamp and his music added a nice touch. I highly recommend this tour. Getting both done in a day is wonderful!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for sharing your full day with us. Oak Alley shares a past that needs to be remembered, to avoid being repeated. Captain Robinson loves to relay the lore of the swamp and the tales of those who inhabitat the wetlands.
incalgary, May 2026
Very informative. Tons of information shared by our local tour guide. The Oak Alley Plantation is a short guided visit. The swamp tour was excellent! We were glad we booked this full day tour. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, May 2026
Your high recommendation to friends, family, and even on line readers, will enable is to provide this experience to many more.
Dorothy_S, May 2026
Fun and educational. I forgot the name of our tour guide but she was very good and knowledgeable about the history of New Orleans. And the swamp tour was excellent, fun and the captain was entertaining. Highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for raing this a high recommendation. It covers two distinct cultures of southeast Louisiana.
Dawn_B, May 2026
House and oak drive & grounds beautiful. Swamp tour excellent saw lots alligators, wild pigs & babies & racoons and Justin our boat driver made it lots of fun. Dionne tour guide was lovely and very informative and our bus driver was very competent and lovely.
Response from Host, May 2026
This is a combo review that hits so many high point. On behalf of all our staff, thank you.
Brenda_K, May 2026
Wonderful tour package and we found it to be well worth the money. Our guide, Kimberly, was super knowledgeable about all things New Orleans. She was informative, fun and very engaging. Oak Alley included a guided tour of the home and self tour of the grounds. We enjoyed a wonderful gumbo lunch at the restaurant onsite and enjoyed the shopping and amenities. The swamp tour was a lot of fun and we saw lots of critters, including alligators, raccoon, pigs, Great Blue Heron, and egrets. The boat captain was engaging and we learned and saw a lot. Tour started and ended on time and was a great way to see the outskirts of New Orleans.
Response from Host, May 2026
This was an awesome review. It covered your tour staff, delicious gumbo to the home tour and home to our Louisiana critters.
siddant7hotmailcom, May 2026
A day trip that’s worth taking! The combination of the plantation and the swamp tour is great because they’re completely different expierences and don’t make the day feel so tiring. The plantation was beautiful though you are restrictred with the time and then during the swamp tour they made sure we saw lots of animals from up close. We just wish we had planned better in terms of bringing water and snacks because there isn’t a lot of time to sit and eat. It’s a long day because of the drive so that’s something to keep in mind.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for the great review of the Plantation/Swamp Tour. It is always good to share helpful hints with readers of your review and those taking the tour.
Amanda_K, May 2026
Oak Alley Plantation was fantastic! But the swamp tour is in a private swamp with them feeding marshmallows to raccoons and alegators. The plantation should be 5 stars, a d the swamp tour 1.
Response from Host, May 2026
We are pleased that you enjoyed the plantation. The swamp and its inhabitants are protected by those who care for that property. We can assure you that the animals are not mistreated in any way.
Sharon_C, Apr 2026
Our hosts, Jane and Otis (driver) were amazing all day!! The plantation was gorgeous and the tour was very educational!!
The swamp tour was truly the best I’ve been on, our captain was just amazing!!!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for the wonderful review of the tour and your hosts, Jane and Otis. The Swamp Captain will be thrilled to read this as well, he is proud of the area he calls home.
Pedro_B, Apr 2026
Great experience. Excelent tour guide, very informative. The plantation visit provided a good insight on living conditions at he time.
The swamp biatvride was a memorabke experience. Steongly recommend.
Response from Host, May 2026
Your strong recommendation is appreciated. It helps us share our region with so many visitors. Thank you.
Margie_R, Apr 2026
This is a wonderful tour. The only reason I could not give it 4 stars was because of our tour guide, Robert. While he was certainly knowledgeable, he was arrogant and condescending. He spoke to us like we were 5 years old. He reprimanded a passenger in front of the entire bus when she arrived late to the bus. When we arrived at the plantation, he told us that we better be back in the bus at 1:00 or the bus would leave without you and you’ll have to find your own way back. This man should not be dealing with tourists. He is not a positive representative for the tour company.
The tour of Oak Alley Plantation was very interesting. You got to see where the enslaved workers lived and learned about their rolls in the plantation. You also learned about the family who owned the Plantation and their personal enslaved individuals and their family. . The grounds are beautiful.
The swamp tour was awesome. Our boat captain was Captain Dustin. He had a very special relationship with the animals we met in the swamp, he was very personable and entertaining. If you get a choice I highly recommend you request to be on his boat tour.
Response from Host, May 2026
Your feedback is incredibly valuable, and we’re addressing these concerns with our team to ensure future guests have a better experience. Although we know that your bus guide did not mean to offend, we will certainly follow up. Captain Dustin loves his land you could hear that in his presentation. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
warren_a, Apr 2026
Plantation tour was informative. Dan was great fun on the swamp tour. Dione...not sure how to spell it....filled us with alot of info on the bus.
Response from Host, May 2026
We are glad we made your day full of information and fun.
Cathy_G, Apr 2026
We had a great time on this tour! The plantation was beautiful and informative. The swamp ride was exciting! Our guide even fed the alligators up close and personal! A definite tour to go on!
Response from Host, May 2026
Be sure to come to visit us again soon!
Barbara_S, Apr 2026
Nice Blend of Activities for a Family. Plantation nice, the stately oaks beautiful. Tour guide was somewhat funny. Yuengling Brewery was founded in 1829, not 1928. Swamp tour was a bit juvenile.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for sharing Louisiana cultures with your family.
Maureen_M, Apr 2026
The tour guide was very knowledgeable of the history of Louisiana. The plantation was very beautiful and the swamp tour was very entertaining . So glad I booked this tour.
Response from Host, May 2026
We are also glad that you booked this tour with us!
Sherri_I, Apr 2026
The Plantation was kind of “meh” but the swamp tour was well worth it. Authentic guide and alligators galore!
The bus guide was a little too history focused and serious. Didn’t even ask the usual “where’s everybody from?” ice breaker. We had to raise our hand to speak. But on the way home, she shared her Katrina experience which was most interesting.
Response from Host, May 2026
Making memories through history and storytelling is essential to a good tour. Our drivers and guides have set that high bar. They know each guest has goals when taking a tour, and they love to help them accomplish them. If they fell short on the bus tour we will be sure they are aware for future tours.
Terri_D, Apr 2026
The plantation and swamp tour were very good. The God on the bus was terrible. He knew a lot of information, but he would go off on tangent and he talked continuously when we were on the bus most of what he said was irrelevant .I would never want to be on another tour with him. However, the two places were very nice and it was very organized. He needs to be told to quit talking so much.
Response from Host, May 2026
It would be helpful to learn what tour you were on, or the guide's name. We help our guides become even better when they have input from guests.
David_D, Apr 2026
Great tour. Our guide and a teacher with a lot of knowledge and experience. Easy to follow along and understand.
The swamp part of the tour was very good as we saw and learned about how the critters showed themselves. Alligators, boars, raccoons, egrets, etc.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your 5-star review! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear that your experience at was so meaningful. The guides will be delighted to know that their performance had such a positive impact on your visit. Our entire team takes pride in creating an educational and enjoyable environment, and we’re so grateful for your kind words. We can’t wait to welcome you back to our city and our company!
Gwendolyn_L, Apr 2026
The plantation was beautiful and well worth the visit. We could not believe the number of animals we saw on the swamp tour. Captain Tom was both knowledgeable and funny.
Response from Host, May 2026
Isn't it great to see what lies outside the city? Thank you for the review.
Shelby_P, Apr 2026
Wonderful tours with very knowledgeable tour guides. Coach bus was comfortable and air conditioned. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much!
Elizabeth_H, Apr 2026
What a fun day getting out of downtown New Orleans and exploring the bayou. It was a beautiful day out on the water in the swamp boat tour. Our driver, Malcom, was wonderful and our tour guide, Kate, kept us engaged all day with her insightful tour and interesting stories of New Orleans and beyond. The swamp boat tour was especially enjoyed by my sons and is a great family activity to explore the bayou and view wildlife like alligators up close!
Response from Host, May 2026
It is great to see families enjoy some Louisiana Life outside the city. The Swamp Boat Cruise & Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans is an all-day adventure and one your guide and driver are known for their knowledge and personalities. The swamp boat captain is a local who enjoys sharing his way of life. Thank you for bringing your family.
Chona_R, Apr 2026
The tour guide was a pleasure - knowledgeable, and also genuinely funny. The bus driver drove comfortably.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thanks for the great review.
Joseph_H, Apr 2026
The plantation tour was great but we really enjoyed the swamp tour! It was our favorite part of our trip to New Orleans. Our tour guide John was awesome and Dustin at the swamp tour was awesome as well. Highly recommend this trip!
Response from Host, May 2026
Your high recommendation will enable us to share this adventure with many guests in the future.
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up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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