I knew I wanted to book a swamp kayaking tour in New Orleans. When I started researching companies, I quickly discovered that many of the swamp tour operators bait wildlife for tourists. That isn’t the kind of our operator I want to support. I went down a research rabbit hole to find an ethical swamp tour operator – one that doesn’t hold out marshmallows on sticks to draw alligators, or let tourists handle baby gators for selfies. I wanted to share my full review to help you plan your NOLA trip without having to do all the research! So keep reading for my full New Orleans swamp kayak tour review including what I wished I’d done differently.
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Are New Orleans Swamp Kayak Tours Safe?
Before we dive into it, you probably have this question. Is it safe to go on a kayak swamp tour?
Are snakes going to crawl in your kayak?
Are alligators going to attack?
Will you get lost?
No, no, and no.
One of the first things our tour guide Mike told us was not to be scared of the swamp.
New Orleans locals hear about tourists going on a kayak tour and warn them not to do it because of what could go wrong. But, he explained, many of these locals never visit the swamp themselves. They pass on tall tales of what could go wrong – but if you go with a reputable guide and keep common sense about you (ie, don’t paddle toward the gators for that selfie, but keep your distance like you would with any wild animal), you’ll be safe.
And you’ll have an amazing time.
TLDR – If you want to book an authentic swamp kayak tour that doesn’t bait animals, here’s the exact tour I took!
So with those swamp myths busted, what should you expect on a NOLA kayak swap tour?
Manchac Swamp Tour – What to Expect
We went on a tour of Manchac Swamp.
It’s sometimes called Maurepas swamp tour, because you are next to Lake Maurepas.
Our four hour tour left us plenty of time to explore. We paddled 6 miles, navigating open waterways and a narrow swamp channels. A couple times, we had to stop and hang out in our boats while Mike cleared downed logs that were blocking the channel.
We saw our first gator maybe 15 minutes into the tour. It was a juvenile alligator that was curious about us kayakers. While this one was small, Mike said the gators could grow up to 5 feet long.
As we paddled, Mike told us about the history of the swamp and the cypress forest ecosystem.
We made a couple of stops at trees where birds had been nesting. One set of babies had fledged the nest, but we saw the nest of sticks that had been built for them.
Our guide was a naturalist and a passionate birder. He identified all the birds we came across.
We saw mostly egrets and herons, including some yellow-crowned night herons and blue herons.
We spotted a couple of anhingas drying out their feathers like this.
And heard red-headed woodpeckers tapping away at trees.
We didn’t see roseate spoonbills or ibises the day we toured the swamp – but those birds do hang out there.
Happily, I got to see them in the wild later in my trip.
We paddled for about 2-1/2 hours into the swamp, exploring different channels. Then we stopped in a shaded grove to eat our lunch. It was peaceful and quiet underneath a canopy of leaves.
At last, we paddled back.
Toward the end of our trip, Mike found a barred owl for us to appreciate. The owl was tucked back in a grove of trees, but we all had a chance to paddle closer and observe the owl.
Our tour ran late.
We were on the water for more like 4.5 hours.
Kayak operators warn you that this kind of thing can happen, so we hadn’t planned anything for after the tour. Keep that in mind as you plan for your trip.
What to Bring on a Kayak Swamp Tour?
When I kayak at home, I use this kayaking checklist to cover my bases. It has everything I need for safety and comfort on a half day trip.
When I kayak on vacation, I bring a dry bag, a waterproof phone case, and my kayaking gloves.
These kayak accessories are nice to have. The phone case means you can take photos while ensuring your smartphone stays dry. The dry bag gives you a place to put snacks, hydration tablets, sunscreen, and layers. The gloves keep your hands from getting blisters or – in the case of humidity – sweating against the paddle.
If you have these items and have room in your luggage, bring them! If not, no worries. You can always use a gallon Ziplock bag to store your phone and sundries.
The tour operator will cover the basics – your kayak, paddle, and PFD (life jacket).
That means, all you really need to bring is sunscreen, snacks/lunch, and water.
This is where we made a mistake. When we did our kayak tour of Emerald Cove, our tour operator provided snacks and waters. We assumed the NOLA kayak company would do the same thing.
Sadly, they did not.
While we had packed lunch, we did not bring extra waters.
We had only a small bottle each for a 4 hour trip in the hot summer sun.
By the time we got back to land, we were SO dehydrated!
I am always that person with a ton of extra water. You never know when you are going to need it – or run into someone else who does – but not that day.
So don’t be like me, bring more than enough to stay comfortable and hydrated!
I hope this information helps you plan for your swamp kayaking tour, so you can enjoy the incredible scenery and wildlife.
Wetlands are critically important for protecting not only New Orleans, but the entire Mississippi Delta region, from coastal flooding. Sadly, Louisiana loses one football field’s worth of wetlands every hour as swamps like this one are dredged for coastal development. By taking part in a swamp kayak tour, you are demonstrating the monetary value of keeping these swamps intact and helping to preserve this culturally and ecologically important ecosystem.
The swamp kayak tour was one of my favorite activities in New Orleans.
It offered a unique experience of a local ecosystem from a local’s perspective, combining nature, wildlife and a sport I enjoy.
If all of this has sold you on the idea, you can book the same swamp kayak tour I took.
I only recommend trips I truly enjoy, and provide you with the type of context I wish I had before booking so you can have an even better time than I did!
Have any questions? Did I miss anything? Leave a comment below, and I’ll do my best to answer!
