Pair a guided plantation visit with a Manchac Swamp boat tour and convenient shuttle pickup
7–7.5 hrs
Shuttle, Swamp tour, Plantation
Explore Louisiana’s backcountry by boat, then step into the history of Oak Alley or St. Joseph Plantation. Learn about wetlands and wildlife on the Manchac Swamp, then join a guided plantation house tour and stroll the grounds.
Offered once daily with a 10:30–11:00 AM pickup window; shuttle times may vary with traffic. Lunch is not included; eat beforehand and bring snacks, with no eating or drinking on the shuttle and light snacks allowed on the boat. Photography is not allowed inside the mansion; proper attire is required and children must be supervised. When booking, be sure to include where you are staying in the notes section.
Is there an alligator on the boat? Why is there gauze around the alligator’s mouth and will it harm the alligator? Are children allowed to touch or hold live animals?
Live alligators and sometimes rescued animals may be presented. Loose athletic gauze is used around an alligator’s mouth for safety and does not harm the animal. At the captain’s discretion, young children must be seated or on a parent’s lap to touch or hold animals, and the captain has final say.
Direct bookings: full refund if canceled more than 24 hours in advance. Third-party bookings: full refund if canceled more than 48 hours in advance. Full refund for operator cancellation due to weather or unforeseen circumstances. Same-day reservations are non-refundable. No-shows are charged in full.
Discover what we've curated for you
When booking, be sure to include where you are staying in the notes section.
This swamp tour delivers exactly what you'd hope for: gators up close, entertaining captains, and a genuine Louisiana experience. The guides really make it special here. Captain Danny, Captain Dustin, and Justin all get called out by name for being funny, knowledgeable, and skilled at calling wildlife right up to the boat. Visitors love how the captains use special calls to bring alligators, raccoons, and even wild boar within viewing distance. The comfortable seating and relaxed pacing mean you're not rushed through the experience, and many people mention the sense of humor adding an extra layer of fun to the educational component. Most reviewers say this was a highlight of their Louisiana trip, whether they booked the standalone swamp tour or combined it with a plantation visit. The pickup service from New Orleans gets positive mentions for being on time with entertaining drivers. There's one strongly negative review from someone concerned about the wildlife interaction aspect, suggesting the animal feeding might not sit well with everyone who has strong conservation values. But overwhelmingly, people leave thrilled they booked it. Even one guest who completely missed their tour time praised the staff for being accommodating and helpful, which says something about the overall operation.
Such a fun tour!!! Saw so many gators!!! Fun fact: they LOVE marshmallows lol got to see raccoons and wild boars with their babies too! Very informative and Dustin was a great guide!! Highly recommend this tour!! I did one in Florida a few years ago and barely saw any gators. This one was SO WORTH IT!!!!
Amanda Ann
September 14, 2025
Such a fun tour!!! Saw so many gators!!! Fun fact: they LOVE marshmallows lol got to see raccoons and wild boars with their babies too! Very informative and Dustin was a great guide!! Highly recommend this tour!! I did one in Florida a few years ago and barely saw any gators. This one was SO WORTH IT!!!!
Amanda Ann
September 14, 2025