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Airboat and Plantations Tour with Gourmet Lunch from New Orleans

4.8 (1177)
Luling, US
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Airboat and Plantations Tour with Gourmet Lunch from New Orleans

4.8 (1177)
Luling, US
Share
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Experience the best of Cajun and Creole cultures on this small-group airboat and plantations tour from New Orleans. Start the day by driving through wild cypress swamps, over the Mississippi River, and along vast sugarcane fields while listening to fascinating stories of the Cajun people. Then, embark on a thrilling high-speed airboat ride through marshes and bayous, guided by a knowledgeable local who shares insights into the swamp's wildlife. After the ride, explore the picturesque swamp zoo and learn about healing plants and exotic birds. Visit the historic Laura Plantation and delve into the personal family saga of this 1804 Creole plantation. Discover how the work of West-African enslaved people influenced Creole culture in cuisine, music, traditions, and architecture. Lastly, indulge in a gourmet buffet lunch in the elegant dining room of Houmas House Plantation before strolling through the lush gardens and learning about the estate's rich history. This intimate tour guarantees a personal and unforgettable experience.

About this experience

  • Free Cancellation For a full refund cancel at least before the start of your booking
  • Admission Included
  • 9 hours
  • Suitable for 1-13 Participants
  • Private Tour, Small Group Tour
  • Guided Experience
  • Thrilling high-speed airboat ride through cypress swamps
  • Explore a picturesque swamp zoo on Bayou Boeuf
  • Discover the personal family saga of Laura Plantation
  • Seated lunch in the elegant dining room of Houmas House
  • Walk through 250 years of plantation history and beautiful gardens
  • Transport by 14-passenger air-conditioned van with live narration
  • Hotel pickup with exact pickup time provided
  • Fast and fun airboat tour
  • Tour of Houmas House and Laura Plantation
  • Gourmet, unlimited buffet lunch at Houmas House
  • Gratuities

Popular Hotels Closeby

More about this experience

Introduction

Discover the vibrant blend of Cajun and Creole cultures on the Small-Group Airboat and Plantations Tour with Gourmet Lunch from New Orleans. This captivating tour offers a unique opportunity to explore the enchanting cypress swamps, visit historical plantations, and indulge in a delicious gourmet lunch. Immerse yourself in the rich history, natural beauty, and mouthwatering cuisine of Louisiana as you embark on an unforgettable adventure.

What to expect?

During this tour, you can expect an exhilarating airboat ride through the wild cypress swamps, giving you the chance to witness the beauty of nature up close. Glide over marshes and into secluded bayous while your knowledgeable Cajun guide shares fascinating insights about reptiles, healing plants, and exotic birds. After the airboat ride, explore a picturesque swamp zoo, where you can encounter diverse wildlife.

Your journey also includes a visit to Laura Plantation, a Louisiana Creole heritage site. Dive into the personal family saga of Laura, an 1804 Creole Plantation, and learn how the lives of both enslaved individuals and plantation owners were deeply intertwined. The Laura's Slavery Museum Exhibit provides a powerful glimpse into their stories and the influence of Creole culture on Louisiana today.

To top it all off, enjoy an indulgent gourmet buffet lunch in the elegant dining room of Houmas House Plantation, surrounded by 38 acres of breathtaking gardens. As you feast on a delicious meal, soak in the 250-year history of this estate and discover how it evolved from a modest manor house to an impressive plantation.

Who is this for?

This tour is perfect for adventure seekers, history enthusiasts, and food lovers alike. Whether you're a solo traveler, a couple, or a group of friends, the small-group atmosphere ensures a personalized and immersive experience. It caters to anyone who wants to explore the unique Cajun and Creole cultures of Louisiana, delve into the history of plantations and slavery, and savor the exquisite flavors of the region. No matter your age or background, this tour promises to captivate and inspire.

Why book this?

Embark on this tour to go beyond the tourist hotspots and delve deep into the heart of Louisiana. From thrilling airboat rides to intimate cultural experiences at Laura Plantation, this tour offers a unique perspective on the region's history and natural beauty. Indulging in a gourmet lunch in the elegant dining room of Houmas House Plantation adds culinary delights to the adventure. With a small-group setting, knowledgeable guides, and a variety of intriguing activities, this tour ensures a memorable and authentic experience that brings the rich heritage and flavors of Louisiana to life.

Good to know

Be prepared for a full day of exploring and adventure, as the total duration of this tour is 540 minutes. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for walking and outdoor activities. Don't forget your camera to capture the stunning landscapes and captivating moments along the way.

Reviews

Travelers who have experienced the Small-Group Airboat and Plantations Tour with Gourmet Lunch rave about its captivating nature and educational value. They praise the knowledgeable guides who provide interesting insights into Cajun and Creole cultures, as well as the exceptional airboat ride that allows for close encounters with wildlife. The plantation visits, especially Laura Plantation, have impressed visitors with their informative exhibits and beautiful surroundings. The gourmet lunch at Houmas House Plantation receives glowing reviews, with travelers savoring the delicious food in a stunning setting. Overall, guests express their satisfaction with the tour's immersive experiences and highlight it as a must-do when visiting New Orleans.

How long before the event do I need to book?

  • You can book at any time before the event

Vouchers accepted in the following formats

  • Mobile

Is an adult required for the booking?

  • At least one adult or senior required per booking

Your Itinerary

Luling

(Pass by)

You'll start your day driving out to Cajun Country, where you'll go through wild cypress swamps, over the Mississippi River on an impressive suspended bridge, and along vast sugarcane fields, as the guide tells a unique story of the odyssey of the Cajun people. Next take a thrilling high-speed airboat ride as you comfortably glide over marshes and into deep, secluded bayous. Your Cajun guide, also an alligator hunter and fur trapper, will share his knowledge of the swamp including reptile habits, healing plants, and exotic birds. After your ride, explore his picturesque swamp zoo on Bayou Boeuf.

Laura Plantation: Louisiana's Creole Heritage Site

Discover Laura, an 1804 Creole Plantation and learn about Laura's personal family saga. See how the West-African enslaved's work influenced all segments of the Creole culture, best seen today in cuisine, music, family-centered traditions, architecture and life-style. At Laura's Slavery Museum Exhibit, hear personal stories of individual men, women and children who lived there, illustrating how the lives of the enslaved, both Créole and American, were intertwined with those of their owners.

Admission Included

Houmas House and Gardens

After a short drive from Laura Plantation, you'll settle into a seated lunch in Houmas House' elegant dining room. After lunch, walk through the 250 year history of this estate and how a succession of owners and the Mississippi River grew this modest manor house into the estate it is today. A collection of art, furniture, and antique artifacts help tell the story of plantation life. 38 acres of gardens surround the mansion.

Admission Included

Reviews

(1177)

4.8 (1177)

zhengyan_w

Gisele is a very nice guide, who’s both helpful and knowledgeable. We saw gators in the interesting airboat trip, knew the history in Laura and enjoyed a delicious lunch in Houma.

Beej1111

Isabelle is amazing! So knowledgeable about everything New Orleans. She took care of everything and was always available for questions and to let you know what was happening next. Highly recommend.

eric_l

Great tour - Giselle was awesome! All events just great, engaging guides. Houma House was beautiful. Lunch was a big disappointment - well below expectations and a waste of a meal in New Orleans - that was the only downside.

Maps67445428749

This tour was by far one of our favorite experiences while visiting NOLA! Isabelle arranged a perfect day and her communication about all of the details (pickup, what to bring, etc) was excellent. Rene was our guide for the day and provided so much wonderful local information about the history, culture, food, etc. The swamp tour was very fun and we saw several gators! Both of the plantation tours were excellent and provided different views of plantation life. The Laura Plantation tour guide, Pam is an incredible storyteller and her descriptive tale of the people who lived and worked there was very engaging. We appreciated hearing an unfiltered version of the plantation history and seeing all areas of the grounds including the slave quarters. We also thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Houmas House Plantation (lunch was delicious and the grounds are stunning), just be prepared for a much more romanticized version of plantation life that focuses more on the home and antiques with no mention of the slaves who worked it. On a side note - if you are movie buffs like we are, you'll appreciate all the places you'll get to see on the drive that have been used as filming locations as well as the "Bette Davis" room (from Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte) at the Houmas House. Many thanks to Tours by Isabelle for an incredible day - highly recommend this experience!

L7312OUkaris

It was a beautiful day! The airboat ride saw lots of gators, René was knowledgeable, funny and a great guide. The two plantations were very different and great experiences! I recommend Tours by Isabelle, it was great communication and service. An amazing day!!

Adventurer728224

Renee was a wonderful guide and super funny! He kept it interesting and entertaining the whole time! It was a very full day. About 9 hours all together!

Pakapikk8

We spent a wonderful day exploring the swamp and the two plantations with a lovely lunch in the middle. Our tour guide was John and he was a joy to be around and to hear all of his amazing recommendations and stories. We started the day with our swamp tour with our knowledgeable guide and saw three alligators basking in the sun. We then saw the Laura Plantation and Houmas House. This was the only day tour we could find that combined a swamp and two plantations and I was very happy with our choice and would recommend to others on a short trip to Louisiana.

Michelle_M

The last plantation was incredible with amazing grounds, great tour guide and very informative…highly recommend

janels903

Gisèle, our tour guide was wonderful! Our day was perfect from pick up at our condo to drop off. We learned so much and enjoyed every aspect of the thoughtful plantation tours, yummy lunch and exciting airboat ride. From my 80 year old parents to my 25 year old daughter- everyone enjoyed the day. We would all highly recommend Tours by Isabel - personal and professional. 10 out of 10!

Lauren_B

Great tour all around - our guide, Steve, was so knowledgeable! The food was delicious and it was very interesting to see 2 very different plantations. The boat tour was fun too - saw tons of alligators. Thanks for a great time!!
Collected by Evendo, Tripadvisor & Viator
2024-04-18 06:57