Historic New Orleans: Private Tour including Destrehan Plantation

Embark on a 5-hour private tour through New Orleans’ most renowned neighbourhoods and discover the rich connection between the city’s past and how it has had a great impact on NOLA's present, as you journey through the cobblestone streets and beneath the grand, ancient oaks draped with Spanish moss. 

On your private half-day tour, you will: 

• Start your experience from a central location in New Orleans;
• Take a stroll down the French Quarter, a district where the blend of French, Spanish, Creole, and African influences comes to life;
• Stop at Jackson Square, one of the city's most cherished sites because of its historic significance;
• See St. Louis Cathedral, the most recognisable landmark of New Orleans and the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic cathedral in the US;
• Walk through the Garden District, a sanctuary of Southern charm featuring stately mansions, wrought-iron balconies and lush gardens;
• Visit briefly Metairie Cemetery, originally a horse racing track, which has become a place where the stories of the past are carved in stone and marble;
• Glide through St. Charles Avenue, a picturesque boulevard where the charming streetcar has rattled down its tracks for over a century;
• Head north along the picturesque River Road to the beautifully preserved Destrehan Plantation;
• Explore the plantation grounds on a one-hour guided tour, which will cover the complex legacy of the American South during the 19th century;
• Stroll through the interior of the main house at your leisure, a stunning example of Greek Revival or Federal-style architecture;
• Relax on the return journey to New Orleans, where you’ll be dropped off at your original location or a central point of your choice.

Embark on an immersive journey that takes you deep into the heart of New Orleans’ most iconic neighbourhoods, followed by a profound visit to a historic antebellum plantation. This private tour is designed to reveal the striking contrasts between the city’s lively, colourful streets and the tranquil, yet hauntingly beautiful, landscapes of Louisiana’s storied past, where history, culture, and elegance converge in a unique blend that is quintessentially New Orleans.

Your tour begins with a seamless pickup from your chosen location in central New Orleans. Settle into your comfortable vehicle as you’re whisked away to explore the city’s diverse and fascinating neighbourhoods, each with its unique charm and history. Your first stop is the legendary French Quarter, the beating heart of New Orleans and its oldest neighbourhood, where the vibrant Creole architecture tells tales of the city’s rich and tumultuous past, featuring colourful facades and wrought-iron balconies that give this district its unmistakable character. 

Next, you will immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere at Jackson Square, where the majestic St. Louis Cathedral —America’s oldest continuously active Roman Catholic cathedral which stands as a testament to New Orleans's deep-rooted spiritual heritage. The square itself comes to life with street performers and local artisans, all under the watchful eye of Andrew Jackson’s iconic statue.

You will continue to the Garden District, a neighbourhood that embodies the opulent charm of 19th-century New Orleans, with grand homes that once housed the city’s wealthiest residents—cotton kings, sugar barons, and industrial magnates, and manicured gardens which are true works of art. Driving through the elegant backdrop of St. Charles Avenue, you will discover a scenic boulevard lined with ancient oak trees and stately mansions over the world’s oldest continuously operating streetcar line, in service since 1835.

Leaving the city behind up River Road, you will arrive at a magnificent Destrehan plantation where you will step back to the era of the French and Spanish colonial influence, through the rise of the sugar barons, and into the tumultuous years of the Civil War and Reconstruction. On a one-hour plantation guided tour, you will hear compelling stories of both the free and enslaved people who lived and worked there, gaining a deeper understanding of Louisiana’s complex and often painful history.

After the guided tour, you will have an additional hour to explore the main house and the plantation grounds at your leisure before heading back to central New Orleans. The interior of the main house is self-guided to maintain a quiet atmosphere, as the space is too limited for guided commentary without disturbing other visitors. You can take a stroll through the verdant gardens, or delve deeper into the exhibits that further illuminate the lives of those who shaped—and were shaped by—this place.

This tour is perfect for those seeking a deeper connection with the region’s past, as this experience will leave you with a profound appreciation for the depth and diversity of Louisiana’s cultural heritage. Don’t miss the chance to uncover the many layers of history and culture that make this region so unique.

Disclaimer: Our plantation tours are designed to provide a historical perspective on the lives of those who lived and worked on these plantations, with a focus on education, remembrance, and respect for the experiences of the enslaved people. We aim to foster a deeper understanding of this challenging chapter in history, ensuring that the stories of those who suffered are heard and acknowledged. By running these tours, Travel Curious does not support, nor does it want to purport to support any form of social and/or economic racial disparity, but rather we view it as a vital educational resource with which to combat modern-day racism of any kind.