Overview
Join us on a kayak tour through the still waters and lush vegetation of Manchac Swamp while spotting wildlife! If you are looking for a natural, engaging way to experience the Louisiana swamp, this is your tour! Located 25 miles west of New Orleans, Manchac swamp is part of the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area which protects one of the largest examples of Louisiana’s iconic bald cypress-tupelo swamp. This expansive wetland ecosystem provides habitat to a wide range of species including alligators and birds. We love our Manchac tour to escape the city into the serene peace and quiet of the swamp, with a focus on observing wildlife and the natural environment. The tour is a 3-4 mile round trip paddle down a combination of scenic waterways, with stops along the way for your guide to share information about the flora, fauna and natural history of the area. On this tour, we put a focus on spotting any wildlife we can find—everything from alligators, turtles and birds to raccoons and insects! The still or very slow moving water is ideal for both beginner kayakers and adventure seekers alike. Our two hour tours utilise tandem kayaks for all group pairs (we may be able to accommodate requests for solo kayaks if tour size is small). If you are looking for a natural and engaging way to see the swamps of Louisiana, this is your tour! Our Manchac swamp tours are a delight for birders! On any given day, we can potentially spot egrets, herons, ibis, barred owls, ospreys, bald eagles, anhingas, ducks, woodpeckers, prothonotary warblers and more; plus occasionally, rare species such as the roseate spoonbill!
Where we'll meet
🧭 Meeting/pick-up point: Rampart Treehouse, 740 N Rampart St
🗺️ Instructions: Pickup 7:45am at Rampart Treehouse, 740 N Rampart St
Things to know
Accessibility:
Children must be over 8 years old
Fitness requirement
Any fitness level
Tour Language
English
License requirement
None
Additional information:
Dress comfortably for an outdoor trip. The winters can be cool and the summer can be hot. Bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen if needed. Bugs and mosquitos aren’t a problem. Don’t forget to bring your camera to come home with great memories from the beautiful Manchac swamp!
Contrary to what many believe, alligators have a natural fear of humans. We usually see alligators from babies up to 8-10ft long. We do not feed wildlife. Alligators tend to be on logs or swimming in the water and we see them from afar.
During SUMMER we strongly recommend morning or evening tour times. Beat the heat with our 9am and 4:30/evening swamp tours for a more enjoyable experience and the best opportunity to see wildlife
Please allow at least 2 hours between the end of our Manchac swamp tour and your next scheduled engagement of the day. The kayak tour’s beginning and ending times can fluctuate due to guests’ paddling experience and traffic to and from the city. Fridays and Saturdays are particularly bad traffic days. Weekday afternoons typically the worst traffic.
Inclusion ✅
Kayaks/ Paddles/ Canoes
Pick up and drop off transport
Tour guide
Exclusion ❌
Lunch
Gratuities
About your host
New Orleans Kayak Swamp ToursCome explore the swamps around New Orleans with sit-on-top kayak eco-tour. Glide past cypress trees and delicate tendrils of Spanish moss during your swamp tour led by informative guides. Be informed of the historical and cultural influence the swamps around New Orleans had on the city. All tours are guided and beginner friendly. Paddles up!
For every trip booked, Kodama Travel donates £1 to Just One Tree to restore our forests and the ocean.