Price from:
65 USD
A Picturesque Swamp Kayak Tour of Peaceful Proportion
Duration
2-2.5 hours on the water
About
- Transportation Provided from the French Quarter for $25, meeting 1hour 15 minutes prior to tour time!
What to Expect
**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!**
Join our naturalist guides on a kayak tour into the heart of Manchac Swamp in search of wildlife! 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 utilize 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!
NOTE: 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.
Booking Notes
#Please have everyone sign the waiver link immediately
Upon reading this and forward this confirmation email to anyone else in your kayak group for them to sign as well. Turn phone sideways to view and complete waiver.
#WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Guide
- gear (kayak, life jacket, paddle)
- lesson
- narrative
- fun!
#WHAT TO BRING
- Swimsuit or light layered synthetic clothing
- (seasonal) windbreaker/fleece if cooler
- change of clothes
- towel
- hat
- sunglasses & retainer
- sunscreen
- waterproof case (we have these for sale)
- water
- Gratuity is not included in the kayak tour price. Your guide works hard to ensure your safety and well-being, please let them know if you had a good time
**Tour with Transportation meeting Location:** French Quarter Pick Up outside of Rampart Treehouse 740 N Rampart St. New Orleans, LA 70116 Meeting 1:15 prior to tour time (example: if tour is at 9am you will meet for pick up at 7:45am)
#IMPORTANT!
IF YOU ARE MEETING US AT THE TOUR LAUNCH LOCATION FOR MANCHAC KAYAK SWAMP TOUR YOU NEED TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY, AS WE DO NOT HAVE AN EXACT ADDRESS FOR THE ROADSIDE BOAT LAUNCH LOCATION
We did our best to make a [New Orleans Kayak Tour Launch Location map via GOOGLE
5H64+W3, Laplace, LA 70068](https://goo.gl/maps/mLfGk5NcXFCFjETaA)
There are multiple gas stations near the exit of the highway before you arrive.
- Last chance for bathrooms, snacks and water!
- If you need to stop for supplies and bathrooms, add on 20 minutes to your departure time!
- If you are coming from New Orleans, Do not miss exit# 209!!
If you are lost, return to the LaPlace Shell Station and follow these directions.
Take right onto Old Hwy 51 from parking lot and continue straight for 5.1 miles. We launch on the side of the road in a large gravel area. Look for boat trailers and cars parked along the left hand side of the road. PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK THE LAUNCH. PARK ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD FROM THE LAUNCH. We may still be coming from New Orleans in the van, so be patient if we are not there yet.
PLEASE PLAN ON ARRIVING AT THE TOUR LOCATION 10 MINS BEFORE TOUR
Our goal is to leave the kayak launch 10-15 minutes after the tour is scheduled. Tour participants that do not show up at least by the time of the tour will not be issued a refund.
IF DRIVING YOURSELF, PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN CAR DURING TOUR
REMINDER: DO NOT BLOCK BOAT LAUNCH
Cancellation Policy
New Orleans Kayak Swamp Tours offers a 100% refund for tour cancellation due to inclement weather e.g. weather considered hazardous to tour members safety. This includes: lighting storms, unsafe water conditions, wildfires, etc. Tours still operate in rain as long as the safety of clients is not jeopardized.
100% refund is issued if cancellation is greater than 48 hours before tour time.
50% refund is issued if cancellation is less than 48 hours before tour time if rescheduling is not possible.
No refund is issued for no shows the morning of the tour.
Our goal is to leave the kayak launch 10 minutes at the latest after the tour is scheduled. Tour participants that do not show up at least by the time of the tour will not be issued a refund.
