New Orleans

Oak Alley Plantation and Small Airboat Tour from New Orleans

Badge of ExcellenceNew Orleans, USA
Combo Oak Alley Plantation and 6 Passenger Airboat Tour
  • 8 hours
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

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Overview

Explore Louisiana wildlife and culture outside of the Big Easy on this full-day trip from New Orleans to the country town of Vacherie. Zoom across a swamp on a 6 or 9-passenger open-air speedboat with ample opportunities for viewing wild animals in their natural habitat, and then tour an antebellum plantation home with a classic alley of oaks when you return to shore.
  • Full-day trip to the country town of Vacherie from New Orleans
  • View native animals from an open-air speedboat
  • Tour Oak Alley Plantation, a historic home
  • Round-trip transportation from New Orleans hotels

What's Included

  • Driver/guide
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Oak Alley Plantation
  • Airboat ride
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks
  • Lunch

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Pickup from any major downtown New Orleans hotel. For pickups, there will be a 30 minute window. Pickup will be between 8:15 AM and about 8:45 AM for the 8:15 AM option. Pickup will be between 10:45 AM and about 11:15 AM for the 10:45 AM option. Please be on the lookout for a bus that says Alert Transportation.

What To Expect

Meet your guide at your hotel in New Orleans and drive 35 minutes into the countryside to reach Oak Alley Plantation. Step on board a 6 or 9 passenger airboat with graduated stadium-style seating to begin the first part of your tour.

Travel through shallow waters at up to 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour), while you learn about the surrounding wildlife from a guide with extensive knowledge about the local ecosystem. Zoom through marsh, swamp, and lake waters en route to alligator habitats where you can see these ancient reptiles up close and learn about their lives. Look up periodically to catch sight of the bird species that also call the area home, including bald eagles, pelicans, ospreys, and owls.

At the end of the boat tour, return to shore to tour the 19th-century Oak Alley Plantation, a typical antebellum plantation house. Walk down a classic alley of live oaks hung with Spanish moss on your way to the house, and then meet your docent for a guided tour inside. Afterward, spend a free hour wandering the 25-acre property or eating at the restaurant and café on site (own expense). The tour will conclude when your driver takes you back to your hotel in New Orleans.

Barataria Preserve

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Oak Alley Plantation

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • Confirmation received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Must be 48 inches tall to ride airboats
  • Most travelers can participate
  • The order of the activities depends on the tour time chosen at checkout. If the 10:45am departure is chosen, the swamp our portion will be first.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 9 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

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Featured review
lisa_b
We are still buzzing from our visit. This excursion is highly recommended. The plantation brought me to tears. A beautiful house with awful stories. The swamp was on another level. From being top of my husbands bucket list, the airboat ride was both thrilling and interesting. Trey our captain was knowledgeable, funny and really cares about the Gators. We hoped to see one and ended up seeing about 50! Who knew they'd like marshmallows 😆

Reviews

4.5
154 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 154 reviews
A dream come true!!
lisa_b, Apr 2024
We are still buzzing from our visit. This excursion is highly recommended. The plantation brought me to tears. A beautiful house with awful stories. The swamp was on another level. From being top of my husbands bucket list, the airboat ride was both thrilling and interesting. Trey our captain was knowledgeable, funny and really cares about the Gators. We hoped to see one and ended up seeing about 50! Who knew they'd like marshmallows 😆
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for the five-star review, Lisa!
Plantation and Boat tour.
Kuliha, Apr 2024
We had a great adventure today .I would highly recommend it. Thanks so much. We would di this again or another tour with you guys.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for the five-star review, Kuliha!
Must do tour, New Orleans.
Marc_H, Apr 2024
Plantation Tour was very informative and presented a piece of history only known from distance. The Swamp Boat Tour via Airboat, only way to do it and you get up very close and personal with the alligators.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Thank you for the five-star review, Marc!
Airboat Alligators Plantation Fun
Franco_O, Mar 2024
The airboat was fast & loud, definitely the best part of the trip. So many alligators to see, they come right up to the boat. The plantation was also good but too quick, not enough time for the visit.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you for the five-star review, Franco!
Astonishing!!!
Ashley_R, Mar 2024
Out Tour guide at Oak Alley was very knowledgeable and considerate. It is sad due to the circumstances. Something you would never want to forget. However, the small airboat ride was amazing! He drove fast! I forgot his name but he had ear gauges/plugs. Shared many fun facts! Was saw many alligators, some would come to our boat. I recommend the small airboat due to less people. We very much enjoyed swamp tour! Would definitely do this again!
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you for the five-star review, Ashley!
Highly recommend
Blackopals, Mar 2024
We went on the Oak Alley Airboat Swamp tour on Thursday 14th March 2024, it was my second time going and first time for my daughter. Last time the bus driver was giving us lots of information on the trip to the plantation, so it was a bit disappointing not to have this experience, also when he was talking, it was hard to hear him as he was not speaking to the bus, but to the front window. The tour of Oak Alley was great and informative. The airboat ride was great and getting very close to alligators. It was great going really fast in the boats as well. Our tour guide was Trey he was very informative and funny. I would highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you for the positive feedback!
Amazing
Mycelia_C, Mar 2024
The plantation tour was very informative and the people there did a nice job teaching us how conditions and life were like for the people that were forced to live there. The airboat was extremely fun. We had a great tour guide named Trey and he did an amazing job answering questions and keeping the whole group excited. Definitely recommend a small airboat as it was a lot more intimate.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you for the five-star review!
Nice day out
David_A, Mar 2024
Most enjoyed the air boat ride through the bayous, marshes and canals. Quite a rich diversity of nature and wildlife! Found the Oak Alley visit fairly underwhelming. 30 minute tour of the “Big House” was interesting but not really worthy of the hour trip out there. Not a particularly immersive experience.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you for the positive feedback, David!
Great tour!
SAM_D, Feb 2024
Great combo excursion! Tour was well timed and driver, Greg, from Louisiana Tours was helpful and courteous! Entire experience was fantastic!
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Thank you for the positive feedback, Sam!
Good activities for WARM weather
Yan_S, Jan 2024
A bit cold thus not seeing alligator A bit messed up/delay during passenger pickup as well But its nice to see both places in one day
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Thank you for the positive review, Yan!
Full day of fun and learning
Julianne_L, Dec 2023
We were picked up along the St. Charles streetcar line, which was quite convenient. We learned that the small group tour was for the airboat, not the whole day. Not an issue, but something of which to be aware. So thankful for the small group airboat tour, though! MUCH more fun than the large group boat style. We even got to hold a baby alligator! For the plantation, the tour was exactly as described. We had about 40 minutes in the big house, learning about the original Roman family, the replacing Stewart family, the Civil War, and the war's impact on the families and former slaves. We even learned about the origins of today's popular pecan -- modified by a former slave! After the mansion, we were free to tour the slave quarters and the grounds. Stunning oaks! There is a deli in the gift shop we opted for instead of the restaurant in order to enjoy more time on the plantation grounds. The deli was perfect for our lunch between the plantation and the swamp tour. Heads up: the road from the plantation to the swamp is VERY bumpy (thanks Hurricane Ida). Finish your beverages before you leave the plantation ;).
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Thank you for the five-star review, Juliann!
Skip the plantation, go for the swamp airboat ride
Anne_N, Nov 2023
The plantation tour was an absolute miss and the boat tour was an absolute must. Plantation tour: one and half drive (with driver who did not for a second stop talking about his uninteresting and uninformed self!) to have a hurried and packed 20 minutes tour all inside the house. Airboat ride was fantastic! Almost two hours through the bayou. Beautiful landscape, and plenty animal life: birds and several alligators. Alternance of fast riding and floating in the silence of alligators and trees. The boat captain was also an excellent guide.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Thank you for your feedback. We do not have ownership over Oak Alley as we only provide the transportation portion, but we will forward your feedback. We are glad to know that you enjoyed the swamp tour!
Great combo tour
Marilyn_B, Oct 2023
Enjoyed local LA plantation tour and are small boat tour. Pick up at our hotel was easy, and the bus was comfortable. Loved the small airboat ride with Capt Dewey. He was very informative and had a great sense of humor. He made the ride so enjoyable!
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Thank you for the five-star review, Marilyn!
Enjoyable Day Outside the City
James_G, Oct 2023
We thoroughly enjoyed our day. Our driver, Barbara, was so enjoyable and informative as we road out to the plantation. The guided tour at the plantation was shorter which allowed a good amount of time to explore the grounds on your own (with a mint julep in hand if you choose). The airboat ride was a lot of fun. Not only did we get to speed around the water, we slowed down in areas to see alligators. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Thank you for the five-star review, James!
Great experience
Margaret_R, Sep 2023
Party of 6, we all had the most amazing time, plantation was good and interesting, our guide was loud and clear. The airboat was a great experience and our guide was great and good fun, would recommend.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Thank you for the five-star review!
Great day out to see a bit more of Louisiana
Julie_K, Aug 2023
Absolutely loved the air boat tour and enjoyed the oak plantation although the groups going through the house at one time were a little too big and made it difficult to see the exhibits. The whole trip is still a great experience however and would recommend
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Thank you for the positive review, Julie!
Awesome fun and educational excursion
David_K, Jul 2023
The history presented for both the swamps and the oak alley. Also holding a baby gator was exciting. The airboat was thrilling and fun.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Thank you for the five-star review, David!
Unforgettable experience
Craig_N, Jun 2023
Darren the bus driver was excellent, planned everything to a T with his information and music and had fun with it too. The plantation itself was fascinating although it was quite distasteful to hear they do weddings at the venue. Also seemed to focus more on the white masters than the slaves who felt like a bit of an afterthought. Swamp tour was amazing, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Highly recommend the small airboat for a more thrilling and intimate experience. Incredible to get to touch a fully grown gator (Knothead) while feeding him and then get to hold a baby gator. A truly unforgettable experience.
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Thank you for the five-star review, Craig!
A must do!
Steven_T, Jun 2023
This tour was outstanding! The plantation tour & grounds were interesting & beautiful but the airboat part of the tour stole the show. Captain Jason on the small airboat was so interesting & passionate about environmental conservation you couldn’t help but feel the same. Saw so many gators & so much wild life. Do yourself a favor & don’t miss this tour, interesting & so much fun!
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Thank you for the five-star review, Steven!
Skip Oak Alley Plantation and just do airboat tour
Kammy_H, Jun 2023
The airboat tour was awesome. We had toured the Houma House Plantation the day before which was outstanding and we're very disappointed in the tour of Oak Alley Plantation. Wish we had saved the money and just went on the airboat tour.
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Thank you for the positive feedback, Kammy!
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From $180.00

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

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