Combine history and nature on a day trip from New Orleans with Louisiana Tour Company's journey to Destrehan Plantation and a covered swamp boat tour. Discover centuries-old oaks, historic plantation grounds, and Louisiana’s thriving wetlands.
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
6–7 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for all ages and fitness levels; expect mostly walking on flat plantation grounds and a relaxed boat ride.
Wildlife
History
Destrehan Plantation dates back to 1787 and is the oldest documented plantation home in the Mississippi River Valley, reflecting early colonial and antebellum history.
Conservation
The swamp tours promote respectful wildlife viewing and raise awareness for preserving Louisiana’s wetlands amid environmental pressures.
Louisiana Tour Company
Combine history and nature on a day trip from New Orleans with Louisiana Tour Company's journey to Destrehan Plantation and a covered swamp boat tour. Discover centuries-old oaks, historic plantation grounds, and Louisiana’s thriving wetlands.
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 reliable camera
Capture the historic architecture of the plantation and the rare wildlife glimpsed in the swamp.
Wear insect repellent
Swamp areas can have mosquitoes and biting insects, especially in warmer months.
Dress in layers
The boat's covered seating helps with weather, but temperatures can shift quickly on the water.
Arrive on time for pickup
Hotel pickup may span up to 30 minutes; punctuality helps keep your day on schedule.
Camera or smartphone with good zoom
To capture detailed images of wildlife and historic architecture.
Insect repellent
Protects against mosquitoes and other biting insects common near swamps.
spring|summer|fall
Lightweight rain jacket
Useful for sudden showers during warmer months.
spring|summer|fall
Comfortable walking shoes
Ideal for the plantation tour’s paved and dirt paths.