Oak Alley Plantation & New Orleans: Cemetery & City Tour

One Day, Two Sides of New Orleans: Plantation Oaks & Above-Ground Tombs

You start at your hotel and spend the day in a minibus with a licensed guide who knows the city's real history. Oak Alley Plantation gives you an hour to walk the grounds and see the 1837 mansion, then three hours driving through New Orleans covers Jackson Square, the French Quarter overview, the Garden District, and St. Louis Cemetery with a short guided walk. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; lunch is not.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Drive to Oak Alley Plantation
• Tour Oak Alley Plantation house
• Explore plantation grounds and shops
• Take restroom and snack break
• Drive back to New Orleans
• See Jackson Square
• Pass St. Louis Cathedral
• View the Cabildo building
• Pass French Market
• View historic homes on Esplanade Avenue
• Visit above ground cemetery
• Tour St. Louis Cemetery No. 3
• Drive down St. Charles Avenue
• See Garden District homes
• View Elms Mansion and architecture
• Overview of Katrina affected areas

The Experience

"You're going to see how this city really works," the guide said as we pulled away from the hotel, and he wasn't exaggerating. Oak Alley Plantation sits about an hour outside New Orleans, and the drive there alone tells you something — you pass through neighborhoods that still bear the marks of Katrina, streets where the water came up and changed everything. The guide doesn't shy away from it. He points out the areas where the levee broke, where families lost their homes, and you understand pretty quickly that this tour isn't just about pretty old houses. It's about what happened here and how people rebuilt.

The plantation itself hits you first — 28 oak trees, evenly spaced, running from the river road straight up to the house like something from a film set. The 1837 Greek Revival mansion is exactly as grand as it sounds, and the guides there dress in period clothing, which at first feels a little theatrical but then becomes part of how the place tells its story. You get about an hour to walk the grounds, see the blacksmith shop, grab food at the restaurant if you want it, or just sit on one of the benches under the oaks and let the heat and the quiet do their work. Walking is required, but there are benches along the path, and the distance to the restaurant is only about a block.

After that, you spend three hours in an air-conditioned minibus rolling through New Orleans proper. Jackson Square — where the Louisiana Purchase actually happened — gets pointed out. You pass St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in North America, and the guide explains the French Quarter in enough detail that you know where to go back and explore on your own. The Garden District comes next, with its 100-year-old mansions along St. Charles Avenue, including Ann Rice's house and Governor Claiborne's Daughters home from around 1840. The architecture shifts noticeably once you cross into the American side of the city, and the guide narrates the whole thing, so you're not just looking — you're understanding what you're seeing.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 is the stop that stays with you. The guide explains the above-ground burial tradition — how it wasn't a choice but a necessity, how the tombs are reused, how the city literally had to bury its dead differently because of the water table. You get a short guided walk through the cemetery, and it's one of those moments where history stops being abstract. There's a 20-minute rest and snack break somewhere in the middle of the day, and then you're back at your hotel. Lunch isn't included, so plan accordingly. The whole thing runs longer sometimes if there are parades or traffic, but that's New Orleans — the city moves at its own pace.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• professional driver and licensed tour guide.
• entry to Oak Alley Plantation.
• guided walk through St. Louis Cemetery No. 3.
• three-hour minibus tour of New Orleans including Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, the French Quarter overview, Garden District, and areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.
• 20-minute rest and snack break.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendly

Operated by Louisiana Tour company

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main New Orleans story — plantation history, city landmarks, and the harder truths about Katrina — without arranging your own transport or timing between stops. The minibus format and licensed guide mean you get context for what you're seeing, not just a list of places.

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Top questions

How long is the whole tour?

The full day includes about an hour at Oak Alley Plantation and three hours in the minibus touring New Orleans, plus a 20-minute rest break. Total time varies depending on traffic and parades, but plan for most of your day.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, but Oak Alley Plantation has a restaurant on the grounds if you want to eat there during your free hour, or you can bring your own food.

Do I have to get out of the bus for the whole tour?

No. The only required stops are the cemetery for a short guided walk and a 20-minute rest break. You can stay on the bus for the rest of the city overview if you prefer.

Is the plantation walk difficult?

Walking is required at Oak Alley, but the distance is short — about a block from the house to the restaurant and shop — and there are benches along the path shaded by the oak trees.

What if I use a wheelchair?

Folding wheelchairs are allowed on the bus. The driver cannot physically assist you into the minibus, so you'll need to get in by yourself or with help from family or friends. The tour is wheelchair accessible overall.

Does the guide explain the Katrina damage?

Yes. The guide points out the areas affected by the levee break and explains the history of those neighborhoods as part of the tour.

Can I explore the French Quarter on my own later?

Yes. The guide gives you an overview of the French Quarter and points out areas of interest so you know where to go back and explore at your own pace.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the tour.