Small-Group Laura and Whitney Plantation Tour from New Orleans
Overview
Available languages
6 hours
Mobile ticket
Go beyond New Orleans to tour two grand Louisiana plantations on the banks of the Mississippi River. At Whitney Plantation, see the harsh realities and raw historical facts of a dark side of American history. The slave narratives and artwork recreate the world of a pre-Civil War southern sugar plantation and memorial in honor of the lives of the enslaved people who toiled there. Take a short drive down the Great River Road, admiring other plantations from afar and learning their unique stories. Pause in front of Oak Alley Plantation's famous oak-lined esplanade before arriving at your last stop, Laura Plantation. Hear personal stories of those who lived there, surrounded by sweeping sugarcane fields and historically significant slave quarters. This small-group tour allows a limited number of people to ensure a more personalized attention from your guide.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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
What To Expect
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.
Whitney Plantation
Recently opened to the public, it exposes the harsh realities and raw historical facts of this dark side of American history. On your self-guided walking tour, you will see slave cabins, a freedmen’s church, detached kitchen and a 1790s owner’s house. Guests will use their own cell phones to access a special Whitney Tour App. All ticket confirmations will include a link to download it. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own headphones for sanitary safety.
Options
11:00am Departure
Departs at 11:00am Pickup included
What‘s Included
Guided tour of Laura Plantation
Fun and historical live narration by our great driver-guide to prepare you for your experience
Transport by air-conditioned 14-passenger van, with exact pick up time provided
Self-guided tour of Whitney Plantation
Gratuities
Food and drinks (available for purchase)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
471 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Laura and Whitney Plantation
Escape20054252463,Jun 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent tour. Rene was knowledgeable I learned a lot about New Orleans history and got tips on where to go and do. He was on time and outgoing. Had a great time.
This is the best tour.
Lisa M,May 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great tour and guide. Murial was great and Isabelle tours thinks of everything. We got a nice reminder text with a pic of the tour van picking us up. Large umbrellas and rain coats were available if we needed them and we even had a group Pic sent to us after. Definately reccommend this tour and tour group.
Educational
kelil2018,May 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was very educational and and lightning. Giselle was an excellent tour guide and an absolute fount of knowledge about New Orleans history. Her personality was wonderful and she kept us entertained. The Laura plantation was not open so we went to the Destrehan plantation instead. I highly recommend taking this tour.
Absolutely recommended
Harry D,May 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We were picked up for our Airbnb by Giselle. The time to the Laura plantation was filled in by Giselle with all kinds of interesting information about the past of Louisiana and the plantations. A great preparation for the visit itself. Giselle has been a great guide.
Serious company, competent and very reliable. I loved!!
Tourist59491323839,May 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The company is very competent. The van arrived on time and was new and very clean. Giselle demonstrated deep knowledge, not only about the visits, but also about the history of New Orleans, in a light and fun way. I was alone, but I never felt lonely. Super recommend the company!!
Best Plantation Tours Out There
W1729EHjohnc,May 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gizelle, with Tours by Isabelle, was our tour operator and was absolutely amazing. She showed us so much and had such in-depth knowledge of the area. Our tour guide at the Laura Plantation was, of all people, a nice lady by the name of Laura. She had such in-depth knowledge of the plantation. I've visited Oak Alley, and by far enjoyed the Laura and Whitney tours so much better. Gizelle kept the commentary going on the entire bus ride. She was absolutely amazing. Thank you Gizelle and Tours by Isabelle!
Poignant tour of American black slavery history
ErwinSLC,May 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A packed and impactful day! Giselle was an amazing fount of information, humor, candor, and care - with a lovely French accent. My wife and I are from the west - a middle aged white couple with little direct experience of black history, slavery, and the south. This was a great education - so glad we went. Heartbreaking - we must keep this history alive. Bringing our kids here is now on our todo list.
Fabulous Educational Double Plantation Tour (Small Group)
D3293YVkarens,May 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful day out with Giselle (our guide for this tour) to both the Laura Plantation and the Whitney Plantation (a former plantation that is now a wonderfully informative and educational museum focusing on educating people about what life was truly like and what it involved for those that were enslaved at that time). Our group was looking for something other than glamorizing the opulence of the time; the mansions/plantations and much more on the realistic life experiences of all those that lived there (not just the wealthy owners). At the Laura Plantation, we had a guided tour of the property with a guide who happened to be named "Laura" herself and she was a perfect balance of serious and VERY funny. Ask for her! At the Whitney Plantation, we were a little unsure how "heavy and sad" the tour might be but, it is self guided with audio recordings and it was SO GOOD to learn there. DO NOT SHY AWAY from learning what life was truly like there. We lucked out with stunning weather after some major storms and we toured the day after Jazz Fest ended -- so, it was a good way to end our visit to New Orleans Jazz Fest. Our pick up was right on time at our hotel in downtown New Orleans in a van (total of 13 guests; plus our guide). Giselle was full of information along the way. She speaks multiple languages too! We had someone from Greece; a group from Canada who speak French & English (so she often spoke with them in French); and the rest of us from California. Small Group Tour is the way to go!!! Giselle was personable and funny; she broke out how long we had at each location; where she'd meet us afterward; where restrooms could be found; where we could purchase some food in the middle of our tours to eat on the road as we headed to the next location; etc. She covered it all. We learned so much in that one day (11:00-5:00)!!! Highly recommend Tours by Isabelle and any of her guides -- you cannot go wrong. And, Isabelle herself, VERY easy to connect with and work with as we had a couple minor changes (one friend wanted to join but, then was not able).
Great tour!
47jamiej,May 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide was great. Very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. Well worth it.
Poor Customer Service
LJensen-MT,Apr 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00We booked a time to go on this tour in January 2026 for May 2026. I was contacted by the tour operator 4/24 stating that they didn’t have any vehicles available for that day at the end of April, even though the trip had been booked and paid for 5 months. I received the message below from the tour operator. Message: I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be able to do your Plantation tour to Whitney and Laura on Saturday 5/23 We now have all of our vehicles taken by other tours that day, like the New Orleans historical city tour, and the Airboat tour. Before I ask Viator to issue a full refund to you, can we check please: Is there any chance maybe you could do it on Sunday or Monday? My response was to give me one day to talk with my husband about it and when I requested Sunday, the response that I got was Sunday was all booked up!!!! They didn’t even bother to save us a spot after canceling our original plan! We are so disappointed as we were looking forward to this tour. Save yourself the trouble and go with another more reliable tour company.
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Operated by Tours by Isabelle