Mississippi River Plantations: Small-Group Tour from New Orleans
4.6
351 Ratings
New Orleans
Experience the grandeur of Louisiana's Mississippi River plantations on this small-group tour from New Orleans. Visit St. Joseph, Oak Alley, and Laura Plantations for a personalized and immersive journey into the history and culture of these iconic landmarks.
Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Lake Pontchartrain - Your trip back in time to the Antebellum South begins with pickup from your New Orleans hotel. Travel with your small group by van along the shores of Lake Ponchartrain as your guide shares facts and stories about plantation culture.
  • St. Joseph Plantation - Arrive at St. Joseph Plantation, a Creole style, family-owned working sugar cane plantation since 1877. The one-hour tour gives you a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the many interesting people who have called this plantation ‘home.’ Many tours are guided by family members themselves. It is a relaxed, intimate visit to an ancestral home, grounds, and dependencies (including original slave cabins). The movie 12 Years A Slave was filmed there.
  • Oak Alley Plantation - Stop for a photo in front of Oak Alley’s famous oak-lined esplanade.
  • Laura Plantation: Louisiana’s Creole Heritage Site - A short ride through sugar cane fields brings you to Laura, a Creole Plantation with historic slave quarters surrounded by sugar cane fields. The guided tour transports you with dramatic detail into the charmed yet tragic lives of four generations of Creole owners and their slaves.
What's Included
  • Guided tour of Laura Plantation
  • Live narration by driver-guide
  • Air-conditioned transport in 14-passenger van
  • Pick up time provided
  • Guided tour of St. Joseph Plantation
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks
Additional Information

Step outside of New Orleans to explore two splendid Louisiana estates situated along the Mississippi River. Begin your journey at St. Joseph Plantation, an operational sugar cane plantation run by a Creole family. Follow with a brief trip down the Great River Road, witnessing other estates from a distance and uncovering their distinct histories. Pause to capture a snapshot in front of the renowned oak-lined walkway of Oak Alley Plantation before arriving at your final destination, Laura Plantation. Listen to individual narratives of past residents, and delve into its extensive sugarcane fields and historical slave quarters. This tour is restricted to a small group to guarantee more personalized interaction with your guide.

  • Child rate applies to all children and infants
  • Service animals are permitted. Please advise at time of booking to arrange accommodations
  • Tour cannot accommodate wheelchairs of any kind
Location
Lake Pontchartrain
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.6
(351 Ratings)
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Carriel123
May 17, 2024
5 Stars and René is Awesome! - The tour of Laura and Whitney Plantations was amazing. I learned so much about the culture and complex history of the area. Our tour guide at Laura was incredibly knowledgeable and came from a French family that had lived in the area for generations. Our driver, Rene, was the best - so smart and entertaining - and was also a 5th generation Native of New Orleans. On the way to the plantations, he taught us SO much about the history of Louisiana, New Orleans, slavery, the geography, and even gave us tips on where to eat and see music in NOLA. I definitely recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kraxmo
May 14, 2024
A visit to Sugar Cane plantations and slavery realities - The visits to both Whitney and Laura Plantations were very educational and helpful in understanding the cause and effects of the Louisiana Suger Cane slave Trade. Our guide Renee was super special.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Victoria_m
May 12, 2024
Informative and important tour - This was a really good tour. The guide we had around the Whitney Plantation (I think I have that the right way round) was amazing. She knew so much about the history of the area. Yes, it is hard to hear, but really important. I was shocked by how recently people were living there.
Review provided by Viator
Jacque
May 4, 2024
John really cared about giving his guests the best experience. Very enjoyable, comfortable and accommodating. - John was prompt and very knowledgeable about the area. He shared many facts and pointed out other interesting plantations.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
G8248gzchristianb
Apr 23, 2024
A perfect day on the German Coast - Highly recommended. Small group, punctual pick-up with no waiting time. Great tour guide. Visit to Laura Plantation and Whitney. Good history lessons on the guided tours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
B2583kcdonaldw
Apr 5, 2024
Learned a lot about plantation life - Driver Rene is great. Very knowledgeable. Went the extra mile to complement the plantation tours. Whitney was self guided with audio. Excellent. Laura provided a live guide. She is very knowledgeable; at times a bit verbose. We have no regrets about either tour.
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Beth_c
Mar 25, 2024
Everyone should go on these tours they were enlightening! - Perfect tour to do solo, you can really hear and learn about the plantations real history schools do not teach!
Review provided by Viator
Gregg_b
Mar 14, 2024
Interesting experience - The plantations were thought-provoking the guide Renee was fabulous. Isabella was helpful and was prompt to return any messages
Review provided by Viator
Nmbvoyage
Mar 14, 2024
Excellent tour - This was an excellent small group tour of two plantations - Laura and Whitney. Our guide, René Brunot, was an excellent driver and guide. We appreciated that both plantations addressed the reality of the lives of the enslaved and didn't just focus on the lives of the plantations owners or the houses.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pooiy639
May 10, 2024
Not fully as advertised - I enjoyed the self-guided tour at Whitney and the guided tour at Laura. However, I was under the impression that we would be a small group all the way. Unfortunately, that was not so at Laura. The tour was provided by Laura Plantation and we were about 20+ in that group. However, I am disappointed in the fact that when I booked the tour, the description said "Pass in front of Evergreen, St Joseph, Felicity & Oak Alley Plantations". I emailed Isabelle before booking and she confirmed that we would pass by Oak Alley, and that we will stop at Evergreen Plantation to take photos. None of that happened. I don't think we passed St Joseph and Felicity either. I even asked the driver about it, but he said we're not going to Oak Alley, it's 4 miles away. That left me feeling disappointed. Basically this "tour" was more like a transport because I should've rented a car and could've done Whitney and Laura on my own and gotten the same experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 13 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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