10 Plantation Tours in New Orleans That Repay the Ticket

1.Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,303 reviews · 7 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $131Our pick

Travel by air-conditioned coach from the French Quarter to Oak Alley or Destrehan Plantation, then cruise Manchac Swamp on a covered pontoon boat. Local guides such as Dionne, Jane, Tom, and Captain Justin have led especially engaging tours, with alligators, raccoons, wild hogs, turtles, snakes, and birds possible along the way.

“The swamp trip was amazing. We saw so many alligators! I was surprised this late in the year. The scenery was also amazing.m! I will say though that I’m not a fan of feeding the wildlife. The tour to the plantation was good but if I could do it again, I wouldn’t go on a school day. Pirate Nation had a ton of kids there broken into groups of about 10 each and spread out across all the exhibits. The kids were just being kids but there was no escape and it did take away from the solemnity of the slave quarters and the quiet that you felt should be…”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Oak Alley Plantation Tour with Transportation from New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,747 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $89

Ride from the French Quarter to Oak Alley Plantation in an air-conditioned coach, with route commentary from drivers such as Alton, Robert, Melinda, or Dwayne. Tour the 1839 Greek Revival home, walk beneath 28 ancient oaks, and explore the grounds. An optional 90-minute pontoon swamp tour adds alligators and bayou scenery.

“Not enough time at plantation to walk around. Food options were too limited for the time of day that included the tour”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Whitney Plantation Tour with Transportation from New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,351 reviews · 5 hours 25 minutes (approx.) · from $89

Travel from the French Quarter to Whitney Plantation by air-conditioned bus, with admission and about two hours to explore. Use the official app or audio guide to see slave cabins, the Spanish Creole Big House, memorials, and first-person accounts. Drivers such as Robert and Nicholas often add useful Louisiana history along the way. A 90-minute swamp tour is available as an upgrade.

“Firstly, Robert was a great driver and provided a huge amount of information in an entertaining way. Whitney Plantation is very grim, of course, but tells a very important history lesson that has long been ignored. The self guided tour allows you to absorb the information at your own pace. The museum store has a fabulous collection of relevant history books, both past and present.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Bayou Swamp Tour and Oak Alley Plantation Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,147 reviews · 7h 30m · from $125

Spend a full day beyond New Orleans with Cajun Pride Swamp Tours. Ride a covered boat through Manchac Swamp to spot alligators, raccoons, wild pigs, turtles, and birds, then tour Oak Alley Plantation, known for its 28 live oaks and difficult past. Hotel pickup, transport, and entry are included.

“That was very good two tours and I love them both. Even if the weather was not perfect in the plantation, we did everything and I really enjoyed it, Bayou Swamp tour is must to do in Louisiana”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Oak Alley Plantation & Airboat Swamp Combo Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 906 reviews · 8h 30m · from $160

Travel from New Orleans to Oak Alley Plantation for a guided house tour, then ride an open airboat through Barataria Basin with a local captain. Expect Greek Revival architecture, 28 oak trees, slavery-era history, alligators, birds, and hotel pickup. Guides may include captains Ernie, Bobby, or Bee-Bop.

“Our Louisiana Tour Company's Swamp Airboat Tour was the highlight of our trip to New Orleans! Shout out to Donna who was our great motor coach driver! The Swamp Airboat Tour itself was amazing! Perfect length of time and our guide's knowledge of all things about the swamp (including alligators) was incredible! Seeing 9 alligators was a real plus too! I highly recommend this tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Whitney Plantation Tour with Transportation

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 619 reviews · 5 hours - 465 minutes · from $89

Travel from New Orleans to Whitney Plantation with an English-speaking Gray Line driver, then follow a self-guided audio route through memorials, restored buildings, and first-person accounts of enslaved people. You get about two hours on site. Add a 90-minute covered pontoon trip through Manchac Swamp for alligators and Cajun culture.

“The tour was excellent. Recommend to anyone who wants to learn the ugly truth of our history. I just wish I had booked this plus Oak Alley.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.From New Orleans: Oak Alley Plantation Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 443 reviews · 5h 30m · from $75

Travel from New Orleans to Oak Alley Plantation by coach, then tour the Greek Revival house with a costumed guide and explore the grounds at your own pace. You’ll see the famous oak avenue, antique farm machinery, slave quarters, and Mississippi River setting. Allow about five and a half hours, including the 70 to 75 minute drive each way.

“excelent tour... just standing under de the oak trees, it was worth all the trip and money”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Laura Creole Plantation Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 396 reviews · 1h 15m · from $32Best value

Walk through Laura Plantation’s 1805 raised house, three gardens, and original 1840s slave cabins on a 75-minute English or French tour. Guides such as Renee, Lindie, Pam, and James have been praised for clear storytelling. A self-guided slavery exhibit follows, with free parking and no hotel transport.

“The tour was good, got a lot of information. It's sad that slavery and everything really happened until 1977.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Swamp Boat Ride & Oak Alley Plantation Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 383 reviews · 7h 30m · from $131

Ride from New Orleans to Oak Alley Plantation and Manchac Swamp with an English-speaking guide. Explore the 1839 Big House, slavery exhibits, gardens, and oak-lined grounds, then cruise a private wildlife refuge by covered pontoon boat. Guides such as Dionne, Kate, and Brandon have earned praise for clear stories and Cajun humor.

“The tour was absolutely amazing! John was a fantastic tour guide! Dominique was an amazing driver!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Oak Alley Plantation Tour with Transportation

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 362 reviews · 315 - 465 minutes · from $89

Ride from New Orleans to Oak Alley with an English-speaking guide, then tour the 1839 Big House, reconstructed cabins, gardens, forge, and slavery exhibit. The grand oak avenue is the visual star, while the optional 90-minute Manchac Swamp cruise adds wildlife and Cajun culture. Guides such as Robert, Alton, and Melinda are known for lively commentary.

“This was an amazing tour. The plantation is beautiful”

Check availability →Read our full review