A swamp tour has been at the top of my bucket list for many moons. Sure, there are bugs, snakes, and alligators lurking, but that’s all part of the fun. We looked at around 8 tour companies, all located close to New Orleans (New Orleans: The City of the Dead.), finding that all were pricey and on large boats with lots of other people. We decided we’d have better luck expanding our search, as there is no shortage of swamps around Louisiana.
We chose Last Wilderness Swamp Tours, located about an hour away from NOLA in Plaquemine, Louisiana, and were very satisfied with our choice. It cost $40 per adult, and $35 per children under 10 (plus don’t forget the tip!). All the other tours we found were between $75 – $100 per person. Last Wilderness told us to meet them at this small, rural gas station near the swamp, where we met the guide and other tour participants. We then all followed the guide caravan style to the dock. I believe this is because the gas station is easier to find than the dock.
The only letdown was we did not see an alligator 👎🏼. Our guide – who looked like he could be the 5th “Duck Dynasty” brother – explained that this company is one of the only companies that does not bait or feed the alligators; therefore, you do have a significantly lower chance of seeing one. However, their reasons for doing so are solid. Last Wilderness Swamp Tours feels like it’s morally wrong to feed the gators, as it puts the tourists and locals at risk, plus the food they use is not good for them. Our guid said they’d rather offer an authentic experience and if you see a gator, awesome, but if not, then so be it. Unfortunately, the gator gods were not on our side.
During the 2-hour tour, the guide took as all over the Atchafalaya Basin, where he explained the ecosystem and pointed out various wildlife, mainly different species of birds. We also learned about the different trees, rising and falling water levels, and even saw a few flying fish. He explained to us how the crayfish industry in Louisiana works and how important it is to them. We even got to hold a real crayfish who had just gotten done molting, so it had no claws and was harmless.
It was a very informative tour with a small boat/group size, which is something we definitely wanted. There were only 6 people total, guide included. The boat was small, open, and a surprisingly smooth ride. I really enjoyed being in the smaller boat, as I felt it made the experience more personal and authentic and less gimmicky.
Overall, I would highly recommend Last Wilderness Swamp Tours to anyone. They were communicative and very reasonably priced, and our guide was super nice and knowledgeable. I never felt worried or scared while out in the swamp since our guide kept it very professional and seemed to know what he was doing. I know people who have taken the other tours closer to New Orleans, where they bait the gators so you’re guaranteed to see one, and they were satisfied with them. I simply personally prefer the smaller boat with a more personalized tour, but that’s just me! Whatever you choose, I highly suggest taking a Louisiana swamp tour because it really is a great experience. 😊
