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Which New Orleans Plantation Tours Are Best?

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This post reviews the top plantation tours near New Orleans and a review of the tour operators that can transport you there in comfort. 

This guide includes overviews of plantations, provides you tips on how to save money with discounted entries, whether a tour includes hotel pickup and much more.

We've organized this post by plantation. Let's dive in.

LAURA PLANTATION

Known as a top travel attraction in Louisiana, Laura Plantation will educate guests on the traditional Creole plantation.

Built in 1805 and a working plantation for over 180 years, you will see the inside of this practical home that was run by four generations of Creole women.  

Read below to learn more about Gray Line's Laura Plantation Tour

The “Tales of Br’er Rabbit”, a famous American folktale, were based on folklore told by the West African freedmen working on the Laura Plantation in the 1870s.  

You will get to tour the “Big House” of this sugarcane plantation, the tropical gardens, and also the slaves quarters that are still included in the property.

Below are our 3 recommended tour companies. All prices included admission to Laura Plantation.

Click here for information on visiting on your own.

CAJUN ENCOUNTERS 

(Laura Plantation + Oak Alley Plantation)

You’ll cover a lot of ground with the Cajun Encounters combo tour! See Laura AND Oak Alley Plantations on this combination tour. 

There won’t be much time to roam the grounds, as the tour guides use as much available time as they have to show you all that these locations have to offer.  

While their price may seem high, keep in mind that it is the price for two plantations.  

Bonus: Cajun Encounters offers hotel pick-up. Read about all Cajun Encounters tours.

Dates/Times: Daily. 8:30 am and 11:45 am pickup times

Duration: 6 hours, 30 minutes (including travel time; paired with Oak Alley Plantation.)

Tour Price:

Much like their competitors, Cajun Encounters also enjoys a 4 ½ out of 5 stars rating on TripAdvisor.

Cajun Pride Tours

If you’d rather spend more time exploring one location, this company offers a half-day tour focused entirely on Laura Plantation with New Orleans hotel pick-up.

A tour guide will narrate the experience, explaining some of the historical significance of this beautiful old home.

Each trip includes transportation and admission to the plantation house.

Ticket prices are lower than similarly structured tours in the area, so this might be one of the most affordable options on our list.

They also offer combo deals for anyone interested in both plantation and swamp tours.  Read our detailed post reviewing all of Cajun Pride's tours.   

Dates/Times: Daily. 12:30 pm departures from New Orleans

Destinations: Laura or Oak Alley Plantations

Duration: 5-6 hours

Tour Price:

  • $62 - Adult 
  • $40 - Child (3-12 years old)
  • Tour Not Currently Available

Cajun Pride has earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide.

GRAY LINE TOURS

Gray Line is a trusted name in the bus tour industry, so you can rest easy knowing that you’ll be treated well. 

Gray Line does not offer hotel pick-up, but the buses will depart on time, and you won't wait to pick up other guests at area hotels.

NOTE: Gray Line is currently only offering tours of Oak Alley and Whitney Plantation. We'll let you know when they start offering tours to Laura Plantation once again.

Dates/Times: Daily. 12 pm departures from New Orleans

Duration: 5 hours (including travel time)

Plantation Life (Choose 2 of 3 plantations - including Whitney)

  • 9 am on Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat
  • 7.25 hours (including travel time)
  • $89 - Adults
  • $60 - Child (6-12)
  • $83.50 Seniors 65+
  • Returning Soon, but not available as of October 2022

Gray Line has received a rating of 4 ½ out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor.

OTHER LAURA PLANTATION TOURS

If you're looking for even more options, there are a few other tour companies that currently offer tours of Laura Plantation.

N'awlins Luxury Tours

Crescent City Tours

Southern Style Tours

Before you buy… The Laura Plantation offers their own tour with admission price, should you travel on your own to the site (taxis/Ubers do not travel here).

No self-guiding is permitted, but the tour guides have excellent reviews for their engaging history anecdotes.

Laura Plantation Admission/Tour costs for self-travel:

Dates/Times: Daily 10 am to 4 pm

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Tour Price:

  • Adult (18+) $25.00
  • Youth (13 - 17 years old) $15.00
  • Child (6 - 12 years old) $10.00
  • Infant (0 - 5 years old) FREE
  • Purchase tickets here.

OAK ALLEY PLANTATION

Oak Alley, originally called Bon Sejour (pleasant sojourn), is another elaborate home you can tour.

It is famous for its 28 live oak trees that make up a quarter-mile of the property.

Many guests recognize it as being the location of several scenes from the iconic film Interview With a Vampire.  

The Greek Revival home is one of the most impressive in the Southern United States.  

Read more on our full post dedicated to Oak Alley Plantation.

This tour is great for families, your children will learn about the customs of the Southern part of the United States while adults will appreciate the impressive grounds and architecture.

See the Blacksmith Shop, Civil War Encampment, “Slavery at Oak Alley” exhibit, and over a dozen more!

They also have breakfast and lunch dining options.  

Pro tip: Have a car? You can drive to this plantation on your own! Free parking available onsite. See below for admission costs/tour information.

Read our post dedicated to Oak Alley Plantation. 

Popular Tour Companies for the Oak Alley Plantation:

GRAY LINE TOURS

Time will fly by as you are guided by knowledgeable, friendly staff members at the Oak Alley Plantation. Great for families, groups, or the individual.

Gray Line does not offer hotel pick-up, but the buses will depart on time, so you won't wait to pick up other guests at area hotels.

Dates/Times: Daily. 12 pm departure from New Orleans

Duration: 5 hours (including travel time)

Tour Price:

As we previously mentioned, Gray Line has received a rating of 4 ½ out of 5 on TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide (read the reviews).

CAJUN ENCOUNTERS 

(Laura Plantation or + Whitney Plantation)

Cajun Encounters offers several options for Oak Alley, a stand-alone visit, or combine Oak Alley with either Laura or Whitney Plantations.

There won’t be much time to roam the grounds, as the tour guides use as much available time as they have to show you all these locations have to offer.  While their price seems high, keep in mind that it is the price for two plantations.  

Bonus: Cajun Encounters offers hotel pick-up.  Read our post reviewing all of Cajun Encounters offerings.

Dates/Times: Daily. 8:30 am, 11:45 am pickup times

Duration:  5.5 hours for Oak Alley only or 6.5 hours for combinations (includes travel time)

Tour Prices:

Oak Alley (Stand-alone)

Oak Alley + Laura Plantation

Cajun Encounters has received mostly excellent reviews for their Oak Alley Plantation Tour.

Cajun Pride Tours

Much like their Laura Plantation Tour, this tour is also a half-day trip to one of the most historic homes in Louisiana.

This excursion includes transportation and admission to Oak Alley Plantation with hotel pick-up.

Rather than cramming a visit to two separate plantations in one day, Cajun Pride finds that their customers prefer having more time to explore the grounds of just one location.

Their tour guides provide a plethora of interesting information along the way, making the experience much more educational.

With ticket prices lower than some of their competitors, this could be one of the more affordable plantation tours on the list.  

Dates/Times: Daily. 12:30 pm departures from New Orleans

Destinations: Laura or Oak Alley Plantations

Duration: 5-6 hours

Tour Price:

OTHER OAK ALLEY PLANTATION TOURS

In addition to all the other companies offering outings to Oak Alley Plantation, these services are also available from other tour operators.

N'awlins Luxury Tours

Louisiana Tour Company

Southern Style Tours

Legendary Tours

Crescent City Tours

Before you buy… The Oak Alley Plantation offers their own tour with admission price, should you travel on your own to the site (taxis/Ubers do not travel here). No self-guiding is permitted without admission.

Oak Alley Admission/Tour costs for self-travel:

Dates/Times: Daily. 9 am - 5 pm (exception: M-F closes at 4:30 pm Nov-Feb). Tours offered every half hour beginning at 9:30 am.

Duration: Times vary. Guided tour of the Big House. Self-guided tour of grounds.

Tour Price:

  • $25 - Adults (19 yrs & older)
  • $10 - Youth (13 to 18 yrs old)
  • $7 - Children (6 to 12 yrs old)
  • Learn more.

TIP: AAA Members, Military, and Seniors all receive a 10% discount on tickets.

Read our detailed post reviewing all of Cajun Pride tours.  

WHITNEY PLANTATION

Opened in 2014, the Whitney Plantation is unlike any other experience you will find in Louisiana.

Focusing on the history of slavery, you’ll get a personal look at the life and conditions of slaves at this plantation museum.

In addition to the architecture and newly restored spaces, there are exhibits, artwork, narratives, and more than describe first-hand experiences at Whitney.

Pro tip: Have a car? You can drive to this plantation on your own! Free parking is available onsite. See below for admission costs/tour information.  

Popular Tour Companies for the Whitney Plantation:

GRAY LINE TOURS

You can visit Whitney Plantation on its own or through Gray Line's Plantation Tour which includes Whitney and a choice of one other plantation. 

Whitney Plantation

  • Daily at 12:00 pm
  • 5 hours (including travel time)
  • Adult $71
  • Child (6-12) $35
  • Groups of 10+ $63.90
  • Click here to book.

Plantation Life (Whitney + Laura or Oak plantations)

  • 9 am Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat
  • 7.25 hours (including travel time)
  • Adults $89 
  • Child (6-12) $60 
  • Seniors (65+)  $83.50
  • Click here to book.
  • Not Currently Available. Returning Soon.

Gray Line is not currently offering their Plantation Life tickets as of October 2022. We do not know when this service will be offered again. Their separate tours of of Whitney Plantation and Oak Alley are still available.

We recommend checking their website to see if the tour is available, because it could be added back onto their itinerary at any point in time.

Reviews for this Whitney Plantation tour are pretty impressive. 

CAJUN ENCOUNTERS

As we mentioned above, Cajun Encounters offers a combination of Oak Alley and Whitney Plantations every day at 12:30 pm.

NOTE: As of 2022, this company cannot currently offer tours to Whitney Plantation. This may change in the future. We'll be sure to let you know when we have more information.

OTHER WHITNEY PLANTATION TOURS

A lot of the major companies that typically offer tours to Whitney Plantation are not providing service at the moment (as of October 2022), but there are some other tour operators who are offering this outing at the moment.

N'awlins Luxury Tours

Tours By Isabelle

Crescent City Tours

Legendary Tours

2nd Line Tours

Whitney Plantation Admission/Tour costs for self-travel:

Dates/Times: Daily. 9:30 am - 4:30 pm every day but Tuesday. Tours are given every hour between 10 am and 3 pm.

Tour Price:

  • $22.79 - Adult
  • $20.97 - Seniors, Students, Military Personnel
  • $10.03 - Youth (6-12)
  • $13.67 - St. James Parish Residents
  • Learn more.

Reviews for the tours provided by Whitney Plantation are surprisingly good.

Although they have received a few negative comments from unhappy customers, most people really enjoy this closer look at the plantation.

Some visitors felt that the information provided by their tour guide was a bit too opinionated, but an overwhelming majority of guests were very impressed with the friendly and helpful attitude of the staff. 

OTHER LOUISIANA PLANTATION TOURS 

HOUMAS HOUSE PLANTATION AND GARDENS

The Crown Jewel of River Road, Houmas House reflects the history of the original Houmas Indian landowners through the Louisiana purchase, when it was largely known for its sugar production, and onwards through the Civil War.

This gorgeous property is filled with history and offers much to see and learn within the property limits.  

We also offer a more in-depth review of Houmas House.

Houmas House Daily Tours

For visitors with vehicles, Houmas House staff provides a tour to their guests.

Dates/Times: Daily, 9 am - 7 pm

Duration: personalized and variable times

TIP: The Houmas House Mansion + Garden ticket is included for free with the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass. This could be a great way to save money on admission if you plan to do anything else that is included with the tourist pass.

Tour Price:

  • Mansion + Gardens
    • $35 + Tax – Adults (18 & older)
    • $25 + Tax – Teenagers (13-17)
    • $15 + Tax – Children (6-12)
    • Kids 5 and under are free
    • Click here to purchase tickets.

Tours of Houmas House have received mostly impressive ratings on TripAdvisor. Unfortunately, there have been a few negative reviews, but they don't appear to reflect the typical experience with this plantation. 

Guided Tour from New Orleans

This day trip includes admission to both Houmas House and the Destrehan Plantation, as well as a stop for lunch in a grand dining hall.

  • Ticket Prices: $179 for Adults | $89.50 for Children (3-11) | $30/Infants (1-3)
  • Duration: 7 ½ hours total for both plantations.
  • Availability: Almost every day at 8:30 AM
  • Purchase tickets or learn more.

Reviews for this tour are excellent on both TripAdvisor and Get Your Guide (read the reviews here). 

SAN FRANCISCO PLANTATION HOUSE

As of October 2022, The San Francisco Planation House is no longer open to the public.

This antebellum sugar plantation was built in 1854 and the schoolhouse, slave cabins, and large estate remain open to over 100,000 annual visitors.  

The name ‘San Francisco’ comes from a mispronunciation of the French phrase “sans fruscins“ or “without a penny in my pocket”, which was the initial nickname of the plantation-based on the cost of the estate for the proprietor.

Evergreen Plantation

Evergreen Plantation is no longer open to the public. It is now a research facility, find out more: https://www.evergreenplantation.org/

The Evergreen Plantation rose to popularity after being used in the film Django Unchained directed by acclaimed filmmaker Quentin Tarantino in 2012. 

The Greek Revival property constructed in 1832 is expansive. 

It was an active sugarcane plantation until 1930.

For this reason, it touts itself as having the most contributing structures of any plantation in the state and the South at 37 inclusive structures, including a garconnière and 22 slaves quarters. 

NEW ORLEANS PLANTATION TOUR OPERATORS

There are at least a half-dozen companies offering fully guided tours to the plantations listed above, though most tours include either Laura or Oak Alley Plantations. 

Some offer hotel pick-up and others have designated areas where the buses depart from. We give some analysis, tips, and suggestions to help save you time.  

Each company serves one or a few plantations, but not all.  If you are interested in any one particular plantation, we recommend reading about the operators for that particular plantation above.

New Orleans Plantation Tours

GRAY LINE TOURS

You could visit either plantation on their own with Gray Line Tours, which also offers the option to visit the Whitney Plantation, which opened in 2014 and is the only plantation museum in Louisiana to focus on slavery.  

Gray Line does not pick up at hotels, but you won't be riding along picking up other guests either. All tours depart from their French Quarter office on Toulouse St. and Decatur St. (map).  

Gray Line also offers discounts when combining plantation, city or

Oak Alley Plantation Tickets and Information (video)    

Whitney Plantation

  • Daily at 12:00 pm
  • 5 hours (including travel time)
  • Adult $71 
  • Child (6-12) $35
  • Groups of 10+ $63.90
  • Click here to book.

Plantation Life (Choose 2 of 3 plantations - including Oak Alley, Laura, and Whitney)

  • 9 am Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat
  • 7.25 hours (including travel time)
  • $88 - Adults
  • $60 - Child (6-12)
  • $80.50 - Seniors 65+
  • More information and to book.
  • Not Currently Available.

Gray Line's overall rating of 4 ½ out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor is very impressive. An overwhelming majority of customers who take their plantation tours are very pleased with the service they receive.

Although they have been given a few negative reviews, none of them indicate any serious problems with the company. 

CAJUN ENCOUNTERS

Oak Alley Stand Alone or a combo tours (2 of 3 - Laura + Oak Alley Plantations)

You’ll cover a lot of ground with the Cajun Encounters combo tour! See Laura AND Oak Alley on this combination tour.

Travelers say that this tour is extremely kid-friendly, but teaches the adults something new, too!

Bonus: Cajun Encounters offers hotel pick-up. They do not offer each location individually.  

Read our post reviewing all of Cajun Encounters' offerings.

Oak Alley (Stand-alone)

Plantation Combo Ticket

Dates/Times: Daily. 8:30 am, 11:45 am pickup times

Duration: 6 hours, 30 minutes (including travel time, paired with Laura Plantation)

Tour Price:

Just like their competition, Cajun Encounters enjoys a high 4 ½ out of 5 stars rating on TripAdvisor.

Even though they have received a handful of negative reviews, it's worth pointing out that most customers truly love the plantation tours offered by this company. 

CAJUN PRIDE SWAMP TOURS 

This company focuses on swamp tours, but they also offer plantation tours.

Customers rave about the family-friendly adventures they have with Cajun Pride Tours, saying the fun atmosphere of the knowledgeable staff and the cleanliness of the buses make for a positive experience!

They are known more for their swamp guiding than their plantation tours, but luckily you can do both if you’d like!  

Bonus: Cajun Pride picks up guests from most New Orleans area hotels. They offer one of the least expensive options available. Read our detailed post reviewing all of Cajun Pride tours.   

Dates/Times: Daily. 12:30 pm departures from New Orleans

Destinations: Oak Alley Plantation

Duration: 5-6 hours

Tour Price:

Cajun Pride has also been given a 4 ½ out of 5 stars rating, indicating that their service is at least as good as anything you'll get from their competitors. 

LEGENDARY TOURS 

Legendary Tours offers tours of Oak Alley in combination with Whitney Plantation. You’ll be in great hands with Edward, the company owner, and tour guide.

Looking for a personalized experience?

Reach out to Edward! Customers say he is easygoing, well informed, and very accommodating, with the hospitality you would expect from New Orleans!

Dates/Times: Daily. Hotel pick-up between 8 am - 8:30 am

Duration: 6-7 hours, includes two plantations plus travel time

Tour Price:

  • $93 - Adult
  • $60 - Child (5-12)
  • Kids under 5 are free.
  • Not Currently Available.

Legendary Tours may, in fact, offer the best-rated plantation tours in New Orleans. With an overall rating of 5 stars on TripAdvisor, they're definitely a cut above the rest.

Guests are typically very impressed with their tour guides and the amount of information provided, indicating that this trip is something that visitors must experience on a vacation to NOLA.

Customers who brought either their friends or significant others were most likely to leave a positive review.

Other Companies

Tours by Isabella

PLANTATION/CITY/SWAMP TOUR COMBINATION TICKETS

Several companies offer discounts if you combine plantation tours with swamp or city tours.

Cajun Pride Tours 

In addition to their individual plantation tours, this company also provides a combo tour featuring one plantation and a visit to the swamps of New Orleans.

The additional swamp tour is a 2-hour excursion out on the Louisiana Bayou.

A professional guide will point out notable flora and fauna in the area as you look for alligators, turtles, and exotic wildlife.

The entire trip will last for approximately 7 hours, giving you plenty of time to immerse yourself in the history and culture of Cajun life.

Reviews for this combo tour are very positive, indicating that their new approach to combining services has worked out quite well.

Some customers report that they were even given the opportunity to hold a baby alligator, which is definitely an interesting experience.

Most guests appreciate the amount of information provided by their tour guides, indicating that this is both a fun and educational journey. 

Gray Line New Orleans

Gray Line offers 2 combination packages that include their plantation tours: a swamp and plantation tour combo and a plantation and city bus tour combo.  

Gray Line offers 10% the price of each product when purchased as a package.

These combo deals are quite highly rated on TripAdvisor. Although there have been one or two unhappy customers, most people report that their combo packages offer a lot of bang for your buck. 

Swamp and Plantation Combo

Spend two days exploring with Gray Line’s option to save money by purchasing both the Swamp & Bayou Tour with a Plantation Tour. 

You can choose either Oak Alley Plantation or Whitney Plantation Tour (both top attractions of Louisiana).  

BONUS: You save 10% by combining!  The 10% savings is a great deal, but make sure you have two days to spend on these tours. Cajun Encounters tour combos that offer both of these experiences in one day.  

NOTE: These combo packages will not be available again until January 2023.

Cajun Encounters 

They offer $8 off the combined price.  They offer 2 options:

  • Plantation Tour (+) the Honey Island Swamp Tour
  • Plantation Tour (+) New Orleans City Bus and Cemetery Tour
  • Learn more here

(NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE)

For the swamp tour, they use 22 passenger boats (not airboats) that give you a close encounter with plants and animals. For city bus tours, you are able to disembark for a closer look at several spots.

While the combo’s $8 savings (5%) may not be a huge discount, what you’re getting is a guaranteed quality tour from a local company that has nearly 20 years of experience.

Most TripAdvisor reviews for their combo tours are very positive. They have had a couple of unhappy customers, but these experiences clearly didn't reflect the average journey with Cajun Encounters.

A majority of reviewers were very impressed with these combination packages, suggesting that they were worth the money and provided a lot of entertainment value. 

About The Author

Sarah

Sarah first moved to New Orleans in 2001 to work for the American Red Cross of Southeast Louisiana. While working in the communities of New Orleans she fell in love with the unique culture of the Big Easy; it's food, music, architecture, wildlife, and most of all history. Sarah began her career with FTBF, first as a guide, then as an owner/operator. She believes every day is a good day if she gets to impart her love of her beloved New Orleans with Free Tours By Foot guests. She especially likes to convert new Who Dat Saints Fans!
Updated: October 12th, 2022
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