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Manchac Swamp Tour: Explore with a Local Naturalist
4.8
493 Ratings
New Orleans
Take a 2–3 hour kayak and canoe swamp tour through the historic Manchac swamp. A local Louisiana naturalist guides you through the historic Manchac Swamp explaining historic information and the native ecosystem. Please note that pickup times are 9AM and 12PM, one hour before the tour begins. Please read ticket after booking.
Take a 2–3 hour kayak and canoe swamp tour through the historic Manchac swamp. A local Louisiana naturalist guides you through the historic Manchac Swamp explaining historic information and the native ecosystem. Please note that pickup times are 9AM and 12PM, one hour before the tour begins. Please read ticket after booking.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Wild Louisiana Launch - You can be picked up at the historic St. Roch Market right outside of the French Quarter or drive yourself the short 30 min drive to the tour location. The group will convene at the trip starting point and an introductory lecture on kayaking the swamp will be given. You will then enter your kayak and follow your guide…
- Wild Louisiana Launch - You can be picked up at the historic St. Roch Market right outside of the French Quarter or drive yourself the short 30 min drive to the tour location. The group will convene at the trip starting point and an introductory lecture on kayaking the swamp will be given. You will then enter your kayak and follow your guide through the scenic Manchac Swamp, a slow-moving bayou that once was home to the destroyed logging ghost town of Ruddock, LA and served as a passage way for historic New Orleans explorers; Iberville, Biennville, and more.
Stops will be made along the way and your guide will teach you about the swamp’s history and wildlife. The tour duration is anywhere from 2-3hrs depending on the groups kayaking experience. Once you return to the launch site you will join the rest of the group to be transported back to the city. If you drive out yourself you can depart as soon as you return to the launch site.
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points
- 2-3 hour kayak swamp tour
- Professional guide
- Pickup and drop-off from designated meeting points
- 2-3 hour kayak swamp tour
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Gratuities
Additional Information
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- A maximum of 14 people per booking
- For transportation Uber is ok but not recommended
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- A maximum of 14 people per booking
- For transportation Uber is ok but not recommended
Location
732 N Rampart St
North Rampart Street
Guests shuttle instructions:
732 N Rampart St. New Orleans, LA
10:15AM tour - pickup is for 9AM
1PM tour - pickup is for 12:00PM
4PM tour - pickup is for 3PM
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(493 Ratings)
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Clinton11201
Dec 28, 2025
Great Family Activity - Great afternoon spent on the water. Terry was the perfect guide - knowledgable, laid back and funny. We saw alligators, many different birds, all sorts of plants. My two teenagers enjoyed it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Davidbi2895dr
Dec 23, 2025
Manchac swamp tour - We really enjoyed the swamp tour, beautiful scenery. Our guide Gerald was very knowledgeable and made it a fun afternoon.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Voyager758721
Nov 26, 2025
Great tour - Fantastic tour, exactly what I wanted, AJ is a great guide, was so nice drifting through the swamp seeing wildlife! Happy
Review provided by Tripadvisor
O3365jikeiths
Nov 9, 2025
Really enjoyable - Fabulous experience
Knowledgeable guide who made the trip very enjoyable. I was picked up in New Orleans and the drive out was pleasant and informative. On arrival we were given a good explanation for the kayaking.
Once out on the bayou we saw 7 alligators, 6 were about 5 or 6 feet long and the biggest was about 10/12 feet long. Plenty of turtles birds and a great view of an owl.
Easy kayaking, good equipment and guide and a great trip (about 4 1/2 hours with transport.
Thanks 👍
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elrosie
Nov 7, 2025
Great Tour--Highly Recommend! - This was a great tour--definitely one of the highlights of our visit to the NOLA area. AJ was a great tour leader--very knowledgeable, easy to communicate with, organized, and attentive. The whole vibe was very relaxed and enjoyable, and we got to see some really beautiful parts of the Louisiana swampland. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants an active but chill way to experience the swamp. We had so much fun, and learned a lot too! Thank you, AJ and Captain Josh!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christyhr
Nov 7, 2025
Amazing Tour - Gerald was our guide for the amazing Manchac kayak swamp tour, and he made the experience unforgettable! He’s a biologist, so he really knows his stuff—sharing fascinating info about the plants and wildlife while keeping things fun and relaxed. The tour starts with a short shuttle ride from New Orleans (about 30 minutes) and a quick stop along the way.
We were first-time kayakers and still had a blast—even when we got stuck in the swamp mud once! The small group made it feel personal and peaceful, a huge plus compared to the big pontoon tours. If you’re looking for a more private, nature-filled experience (and a little workout), this tour is totally worth it. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lauren_p
Oct 30, 2025
Totally worth it - If you've never kayaked before they give you extra time to learn the process which is really nice. You get to see many different species of local vegetation. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the different plants in the tour and made sure to let us know what they were. He also made sure we seen some type of wildlife along the way. I would recommend if you book the tour to have aj as your tour guide if you get a choice. He was very friendly, knowledgeable, and made our experience very enjoyable.
Review provided by Viator
Catherine_b
Oct 12, 2025
Definitely Do This - A.J. gave us a great day! Our first time on the bayou and it did not dissapoint. We saw an owl, bald eagle, smallish gator, green heron, baby blue heron, red bellied woodpecker, and a few blue crabs. A very relaxing way to spend the afternoon.
Review provided by Viator
Seanhf1594lr
Oct 4, 2025
Amazing Swamp Tour - 4 of us were in a small boat. Terry was great! He took us deep into the Swamp. He was very knowledgeable. The swamp was Amazing! Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nicolas_m
Oct 13, 2025
the organizer was really... - the organizer was really cool, answering questions. very helpful. the kayaking location was beautiful.
Review provided by Viator