Speed through Louisiana’s cypress swamps on a small airboat, then step back in time with a guided visit to Oak Alley Plantation. This 9-hour combo tour from New Orleans offers a perfect blend of nature and history.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
Hang tight — photos are loading
This usually takes just a second.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
approximately 9 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most fitness levels; involves light walking and sitting during the boat ride
Wildlife
History
Oak Alley Plantation dates to the early 1800s and highlights the intertwined history of plantation agriculture and enslaved labor.
Conservation
The swamp tours emphasize respecting fragile wetland ecosystems and adhere to sustainable practices to protect wildlife and water quality.
Louisiana Tour Company
Speed through Louisiana’s cypress swamps on a small airboat, then step back in time with a guided visit to Oak Alley Plantation. This 9-hour combo tour from New Orleans offers a perfect blend of nature and history.
Louisiana Tour Company, based in Marrero, Louisiana, operates guided swamp and walking tours that showcase the region’s wildlife, history, and plantation heritage. The company offers a range of experiences including airboat swamp tours (small and large, pickup and drive-out), a narrated tourboat swamp trip with hotel pickup, a combined Afternoon Small Airboat Swamp Tour + Oak Alley Plantation, and 2-hour Haunted Ghost Tours in New Orleans. Airboat options include nine-passenger small boats powered by a Chevy engine that reach speeds up to 35 mph and larger airboats with stadium-style seating for up to 16 passengers. Tour formats include pickup from hotels near New Orleans and drive-out departures from Marrero, providing flexible access for visitors. Swamp tours emphasize close wildlife viewing—alligators and native birds—through areas inaccessible to traditional boats, while the Oak Alley portion includes a guided house tour plus time for self-guided exploration of the grounds. The narrated tourboat option features local captains who provide regional context and natural history on a comfortable, well-equipped boat roughly 35 minutes from New Orleans. Haunted Ghost Tours are led by Master Storytellers in small groups, focusing on historic and chilling narratives in the French Quarter. Louisiana Tour Company presents unscripted, locally led experiences that combine excitement, education, and cultural context, with options suitable for different group sizes and preferences.
Pickup and drive-out options accommodate varied schedules, and the tours encourage photography and close-up wildlife observation in shallow water habitats. Reservations are available for groups and individual travelers seeking authentic regional experiences today.
Tours Offered
7
Varied swamp and walking tours.
Trip Length
2–9 hours
Short to full-day options.
Boat Capacity
9–16 passengers
Small and large airboats.
Guides
Local Captains
Master Storytellers lead ghost tours.
Secure pickup or drive-out departures from Marrero — limited seats on airboats and narrated tourboat trips, reserve ahead for preferred dates.
Bring a camera with a zoom lens
Wildlife sightings can be fleeting; a zoom helps capture alligator, bird, and turtle movements without disturbing them.
Wear layers and sun protection
The swamp tour can be cool and breezy on the water but exposed during the plantation visit; sunscreen and a hat are must-haves.
Prepare for variable tour order
The sequence of swamp and plantation visits may change depending on weather and availability—pack accordingly for both environments.
Book early to secure seats
These small group tours fill quickly, especially during peak seasons, so reservations ahead of time are recommended.
Water-resistant camera or phone case
Protects your gear from water spray and humidity during the swamp portion.
Insect repellent
Helpful for comfort while on the swamp boat and walking plantation grounds.
spring|summer|fall
Lightweight sun hat
Keeps you shaded during exposed parts of the tour and reduces sunburn risk.
spring|summer|fall
Comfortable walking shoes
Needed for self-guided plantation exploration over varied terrain.