New Orleans Tours

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Experience the Magic of New Orleans with Our Award-Winning Tours
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Discover The Tastes And Tales That Make New Orleans An Unmissable Treat

Whether you've always wanted to taste an authentic Cajun dinner from the French Quarter or you long to hear the haunted tales from the rich history of The Big Easy, our tours in New Orleans cover everything from cocktail tours to paranormal adventures.
Come along on our family friendly tours to sample epic Louisiana cuisine in savory and sweet locations throughout the city or join other visitors to gather together to hear about the real history of this beautiful city. We'll stroll through iconic neighborhoods at a comfortable walking pace to learn about delicious cocktail history while sipping on samples or learning to cook delectable dinners inspired by professional chefs.
With every tour you’ll get to eat delicious food and soak up the culture and traditions of New Orleans. Our guides will tell you the stories and secrets so you’ll leave with a newfound love for this city. Don’t miss out on making memories while tasting the culinary and historical highlights of New Orleans!

The Best Excursions and Experiences

Tours

Discover Unique Experiences

Duration
3 hours
Group Size
Up to 9

Magazine Street Foodie Tour

New Orleanians LOVE food, but they rarely go to the French Quarter to eat. Why? Because many of the best restaurants are located right in our neighborhoods!

One such foodie paradise for locals is Magazine Street. Join us as we eat our way through part of the famed Garden District, a vibrant neighborhood in Uptown, where locals of all ages come together to shop, sip, and sup in true New Orleanian fashion.

No gumbo here—let us treat you to New Orleans-style food most visitors don’t think to order on their own. Your meal will include 4 different savory restaurants for a total of 6 menu items, each specifically selected for its historical or cultural significance to New Orleans (as well as its great flavor)! Our 5th stop will delight your sweet tooth with a delicious dessert!

Only 9 spots are available per tour! The ticket includes a full meal (5 restaurants, 7+ food items — this is not a “tasting” tour!), a pint of local beer or soda, and all associated restaurant costs.

This New Orleans food tour walk covers 1/2 mile and will be held rain or shine. This tour does not accommodate vegan, low or gluten-free, kosher, or reduced-sodium dietary restrictions. This tour may not be a good fit for diets that prohibit both seafood and pork, since many dishes contain one or the other. A minimum of 2 people are required for this tour to run (may be booked separately).

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$129$99
Duration
3 hours
Group Size
Up to 9

Beyond the French Quarter Food Tour

Looking for an authentic, local dinner experience that goes beyond our typical Creole cuisine? Want to get away from the tourists traps and eat where New Orleanians eat? Dine at some of the best restaurants in New Orleans as you stroll through one of New Orleans’ most beautiful and culinarily diverse Uptown neighborhoods: Audubon.

On this evening food tour experience, you’ll learn the history of the Audubon neighborhood and visit 3 of the best restaurants in New Orleans owned by award-winning and beloved chefs.
Come hungry, as this is an eating tour, not a tasting tour!

You’ll start with a cocktail at the remarkably comfortable St. Joe bar and then it’s right to the restaurants! This is a progressive-style dinner where you discuss the iconic chefs and eat their amazing food in a small-group setting. Once again: come hungry!

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$149$129
Duration
2 hours 30 minutes
Group Size
Up to 9

The New Orleans Paranormal Experience

Are you ready to uncover the mysteries that lie within the shadows of the historic French Quarter? How about supernatural mysteries that lie within you?

Join us for an unforgettable journey into the supernatural realm, where hauntings, tarot, and mediumship will intertwine to create an otherworldly – and unforgettable – experience.

NOPE! This is not just another New Orleans Ghost Tour!

What to Expect:
Go Inside Haunted Buildings: Kick off the night with a chilling visit inside a renowned haunted establishment, where you’ll delve into its spine-tingling history and encounter firsthand the spirits that still linger within its walls. Prepare to witness footage of eerie events that have left investigators baffled.

Spirit-Tempting Cocktail: Otherworldly spirits tend to utilize our tangible spirits to make their presence known, so you will encourage their participation by sipping on a cocktail of your choice as we raise a glass to the mysteries of the night.

Stroll Through Haunted Streets: Your short walk between venues will allow your guide to share haunted stories that will make the French Quarter’s streets come alive in a whole new (undead) way.

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$149$129
Duration
2 hours
Group Size
Up to 9

Mysteries of Voodoo Tour

Forget what you think you know about Voodoo. Grossly misrepresented in the movies, this French Quarter Voodoo Tour will help you discover the true history, culture, and beliefs of New Orleans voodoo and how it remains an alternative religion in the city today.

Topics include:

Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau
Slavery in New Orleans
Spells, Voodoo Dolls, and Potions
Voodoo in Hollywood
Zombies
Summoning and Possession by Spirits
Voodoo Rituals
How New Orleans Voodoo is Unique
Space is extremely limited at just 9 guests per tour, so your questions will be welcomed! You’ll see more than a dozen real voodoo shrines and altars at several locations throughout this French Quarter voodoo tour, including those dedicated to Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is NOT a glossed-over, superficial, or highly theatrical approach to voodoo. The content of this tour is real – you will learn about a religion’s history, practitioners, and sacred practices, and those taking this tour should be both respectful of such and seeking knowledge. Voodoo is absolutely fascinating and therefore is very entertaining to learn about; there is no need for cheesy antics or fallacies to enhance this experience.

Tickets must purchased in advance. At least two people are needed to run this tour (may be booked separately). This walking tour is mostly outdoors and will be held rain or shine, so please wear comfortable shoes and bring proper gear for the weather.

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$49$39
Duration
2 hours 30 minutes
Group Size
Up to 9

New Orleans Cocktail Tour

Sometimes neat…sometimes on the rocks…but always very, very interesting! This French Quarter walking tour explores the parallels between our resilient and vibrant city with the tasty, storied cocktails that (refreshingly!) reflect her.

Get an insider’s look at some of the best French Quarter bars, each with its own story to tell. Imbibe in notable New Orleans cocktails while your guide reveals the historical events that are reflected in each, thoughtfully-chosen ingredient.

Plus, in our tiny group, ask questions! Looking for award-winning bartenders? Love a good dive bar? You’ll get recommendations specifically based on your taste and preferred vibe, many of which only a local would know.

What This Is:
An outdoor walking tour that visits multiple cocktail venues in the French Quarter
A history and culture lesson about cocktails that are significant to New Orleans
Recounting the history of the first American cocktail, invented right in the French Quarter
Insight into notable people, events, architecture and more
Interactive! It’s more like a friend is showing you their favorite spots
The opportunity for personalized recommendations for the rest of your trip

What This Is Not:
A drunken pub crawl
A cattle-call of tourists – your tour will only have 9 people or less!
Bourbon Street
For guests under 21
An all-inclusive ticket: Drinks are not included and are optional

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$49$39
Duration
2 hours
Group Size
Up to 9

Ghosts of the French Quarter Tour

With over 300 years since its founding, the Crescent City has endured through incredible hardships. From violent beginnings in an underdeveloped wilderness, through the horrors of slavery and colonization, and ultimately its development as a port town, New Orleans has seen it ALL: duels, massive fires, embattled conflicts, rampant disease, and devastating hurricanes. It’s no wonder that the French Quarter is considered one of the most haunted locations in America, if not the most haunted! And also why New Orleans ghost tours are on every visitor’s bucket list!

Based on true events
Steeped in tragedy, the city’s mysterious past has a way of colliding with the present. Travel back in time as we explore the most prominent news stories and facts behind the legends and folktales of the city’s paranormal occurrences, often stemming from the darker side of history.

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$49$39
Duration
2 hours
Group Size
Up to 9

LGBT Queer History Tour

Home to one of the first gay neighborhoods and first gay bars in the United States, the country’s queer history has deep roots in the French Quarter.

Whether a Gay Pride parade, our annual Southern Decadence festival, or an afternoon Drag Brunch, New Orleans is one of few places in the world where members of the LGBTQ community can truly embrace – and are applauded for – being their authentic selves. The French Quarter has long been a gathering place for LGBTQ writers, artists, chefs, and performers, so it’s no wonder we have gay bars and social clubs dating back to the 1930s. But the acceptance of LGBTQ people was not always with the open arms we see today.

The LGBT Queer History walking tour delves deep into the complicated past of gay New Orleans. You learn about the struggles faced by gay community members over the decades, such as brutal beatings, disowned sons and daughters, and the Upstairs Lounge fire that tragically killed over 30 people.

But with each struggle, you hear about hope. From gay Mardi Gras krewes to supportive clergy members to the creation of gay rights political groups, New Orleans now lets “you be you,” in all your glory!

This tour will take place rain or shine, so please dress for the weather. At least 2 people are required to run this tour, but they may be booked separately.

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$49$39
Duration
2 hours
Group Size
Up to 9

Garden District Tour

Just a short streetcar ride from the Creole French Quarter, leave the city hustle and bustle behind and enter another world, surrounded by the graceful sway of sprawling oak trees, breathtaking mansions, and lavish landscapes.

During this Garden District walking tour, you’ll gain historical insight on the wealthy Yankees who first settled this area in the 1830s and 1840s as well as interesting architecture notes and see homes of several celebrities. Other sites include:

Commander’s Palace Restaurant – where chefs Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse cooked their way to fame
John Goodman House (formerly Trent Reznor’s home)
Sandra Bullock House – a life size Dollhouse and Swiss-style chalet
Anne Rice House “Rosegate” – where her Mayfair Witches lived
Romeo Spikes – an early form of property protection
Archie Manning House – where Peyton Manning and Eli Manning grew up!
Opera Guild House (and film site of Django Unchained)
Benjamin Button House
…and more!

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from
$49$39
Duration
2 hours
Group Size
Up to 9

French Quarter History Tour

Join us for this French Quarter morning tour showcasing its historic sights, sounds…and amazing breakfast smells! On this walking tour, we will discuss such things as history, architecture, cuisine, and movie locations. We may even sneak a peek into some of the beautiful Creole courtyards!

Perfect as a French Quarter orientation or for those looking to enrich their New Orleans stay.

Sights and Topics Include:
The Mighty Mississippi River
Jackson Square
Café du Monde
Bourbon Street
Ursuline Convent
Pirate’s Alley
History of Dueling in St. Anthony’s Garden
Famous TV and Movie filming spots
French Market, and more!
You’ll also learn about some of the best New Orleans restaurants and the city’s most famous dishes…and where to get them!

Plus, in this small group of just 9 people (max!), you will have the opportunity to get personalized recommendations from your guide on where to go and what to do during the rest of your stay, specific to your interests!

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$49$39

Why choose us?

Our New Orleans Adventures Set Us Apart

Whether you've been to The Big Easy before or it's your first trip to the area, you're probably familiar with the many walking tours available throughout the city. Our walking tours are unique in that we ensure there are no more than nine people in a group for a more personal connection with each guest. You can also explore the city with just your friends or family as we have private tours available.

Fun

Grab your friends for an entertaining tour of the area with our passionate and knowledgeable tour guides. Not only will you enjoy professionally guided city sightseeing for a fun experience with fr...

Grab your friends for an entertaining tour of the area with our passionate and knowledgeable tour guides. Not only will you enjoy professionally guided city sightseeing for a fun experience with friends, but you'll also be able to soak up the sounds of live jazz music spilling into the streets. Additionally, you'll have the chance to visit some of the most popular restaurants around the city to sample unforgettable flavors you won't taste anywhere else.

Transformational

No other tour company lets you explore The Big Easy like us! You'll have such a good time you won't want to go anywhere else for a walking tour experience! We take you beyond the French Quarter for...

No other tour company lets you explore The Big Easy like us! You'll have such a good time you won't want to go anywhere else for a walking tour experience! We take you beyond the French Quarter for classes with professional chefs to learn how to duplicate mouthwatering meals at home and to infamous watering holes to experience cocktails like no other! Learn about the mysterious tales that make this city so unique, and so much more with our cultural tours.

Authentic

Don't miss out on what makes The Big Easy one of the most popular destinations to visit for spooky stories and delicious Creole cuisine! We make sure every experience is authentic to its core, allo...

Don't miss out on what makes The Big Easy one of the most popular destinations to visit for spooky stories and delicious Creole cuisine! We make sure every experience is authentic to its core, allowing you to take in the sights and stories of the area just like a local. From learning how to cook authentic cuisine to hearing ghostly tales you won't hear on those other tours, you'll walk away taking a piece of this great city with you.

Location

Explore The Big Easy With Us!

New Orleans, Louisiana, is one of the most exciting vacation spots for many all over the country because of its mysterious culture and deep history. From the popular revelry of the French Quarter to the spooky Lafayette Cemetery in the Garden District, there's always something exciting to see and explore in The Big Easy. There's always something delicious to eat or interesting to learn when strolling through this great city, and there are countless experiences awaiting you.
The mighty Mississippi flows through this great town, creating an exciting new way to explore the area from a different vantage point. You can often find two hour cruises available on the Mississippi River, so get ready to have a relaxing adventure when you visit our great city with your family and friends. There's never a dull moment here in Louisiana!

Frequently asked questions

Most frequent questions and answers

Welcome to New Orleans, the “Northern-most Caribbean City in the World!” Try our fantastic Creole-style red beans and rice! Enjoy our vibrant house colors! And expect a little rain now and then.

Daily Showers: Especially in Summertime, most days will show rain in the forecast. But don’t fret! As a sub-tropic climate, that often means daily showers that last about 20 minutes…if it rains at all! We suggest carrying a small travel umbrella or poncho, just in case you’re caught by surprise.

Severe Weather: If we are under threat of severe weather to occur during your tour, we will reach out within 2hrs of your tour start time to check the possibility of a delayed start, reschedule, or cancellation with refund. Severe weather is a safety concern (e.g. lightening within one mile, tornado warning, severe flash flood). If it’s simply some rain or a typical Southern thunderstorm, the show must go on! We have accommodations to help you stay dry, like taking advantage of French Quarter overhangs, but definitely bring an umbrella. It’s those short, regular showers that sustain our gorgeous trees and tropical flowers!

Great question! Because if your guide is doing it right, you’ll never see the work involved…so how would you know? Here’s a little of what goes on behind the scenes:

Expertise and Knowledge: Tour guides are destination experts. They spend significant time researching and studying the history, culture, and local attractions to provide you with accurate information and insightful commentary for an interesting and engaging tour.
Personalized Experience: A skilled tour guide goes above and beyond to tailor the tour to the interests and preferences of the group. They may adjust the itinerary, share insider tips, or offer additional information that enhances your experience. In other words, they’re NOT reciting a script; instead they are choosing from their vast story and fun fact options to create a personalized and enjoyable journey for you.
Excellent Service: While regaling you with interesting stories and facts, they are also managing logistics and ensuring everyone’s safety and comfort. Where they stand to tell stories, which route they take, the venues they visit…none of it is random. They strive to create a smooth and well-organized tour, anticipating and addressing any issues that may arise.
Professionalism and Communication: A good tour guide is friendly and welcoming to all guests and possesses excellent communication skills. They watch closely to see what makes their guests’ eyes widen with enjoyment, and then lean into that more. They also take care to make complex information accessible and engaging for all participants.
Livelihood and Motivation: We won’t sugar coat it. Tour guiding is a hospitality profession that heavily relies on tips to supplement their income. No one gets rich in this profession; they do it because they are passionately in love with New Orleans and want to share her magic with you! By tipping generously, you contribute to their financial well-being and help motivate them to continue providing exceptional service to future travelers.

We love our fur babies, too! But no matter how well behaved pets are, they always distract the other guests who tend to watch them, love on them, and miss out on the tour they paid to attend. Oops! There is also a concern for potential allergy issues.

Many of our tours do allow pets on a Private tour. This also gives us flexibility to address any pet needs (like getting a bowl of water) along the route. Simply select the Private option when booking, and then please also notify the office so a non-allergic guide can be assigned to your tour. (Please note that Food and Cocktail tours include restaurants and bars that do not allow entry to pets, so someone will need to remain outside with the animal.)

If you’d like to bring a stroller, please let us know so that we can prepare ahead. This is especially important on our Food tours. The only tours where strollers are not allowed are our 21+ tours, since we will be entering bars where children are not allowed.

We know not everything goes as planned and “life” happens! That’s why we offer refunds up to 24 hours prior to your tour! But we ARE running a business, and especially when there are only 9 people maximum on a tour, last-second cancels make a big impact on our company. Here’s why:

We care about our guides!

Most people have steady work hours and can make financial decisions based on a known amount of income. Not tour guides.

Imagine setting aside 3 to 4 hours of your day or more (plus commute) weeks in advance, and then at the last second, that work is cancelled, and you’re not being compensated for it! And it can happen multiple times per week! How could you ever have peace-of mind that you could pay your bills? Provide for yourself and your family? That’s exactly the life of a tour guide.

Guides are paid only when they go out on tour and by the number of guests on that tour. To provide a responsible wage, we commit to paying them 24 hours before any tour. That way, they will be minimally compensated for the scheduled time slot they have set aside (and declined other work) to provide the tour.
Guides rely heavily on tips to pay their bills, like other Hospitality workers do. With just 9 people per tour, if a family of 4 cancels on short notice leaving little time for us to resell their tickets, the guide would not only lose pay for that family of 4, but the tip as well! A double whammy!
We care about our partners!

We strive to support as many locally-owned, small businesses as possible, many of which are owned by women and/or people of color. Often times they must decline other customers in order to save space for our tour groups. Sometimes this requires pre-payment on behalf of our tour guests. Note: We intentionally pay full prices and tip your restaurant servers and bartenders 20 percent as one way of contributing to our local economy.

It happens more than you think!

Hopefully you rarely need to change vacation plans or deal with flight cancellations or untimely illnesses. Reality is, one isn’t a big deal. But we see several last-minute cancels and No-shows per week…sometimes multiples in the same day or tour! It might be one occurrence to you, but when everyone’s occurrences are piled together, they add up quickly! With only 9 people (at most!) per tour, there simply isn’t room to absorb this expense.

For Private, Custom, or Multi-Day Tours: Your Cancellation Window is different than the regularly-scheduled Public Tour policy above. It is not only nearly impossible to rebook the entire time slot being held for your event with a different customer, but we often are under contract with venues that will not refund the deposit we made on behalf of your tour. We will absolutely try to recoup and refund as much as we can for you! Please refer to the Invoice presented at time of booking for specific details pertaining to your event.

Force Majeure

“Force Majeure” means any circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including without limitation acts of nature, terrorist activities, insurrection, explosion, flood, tempest, forceful wind, fire or accident, war or threat of war declared or undeclared, sabotage, civil disturbance, labor strikes, requisition, sickness, quarantine, government intervention, weather conditions, and unforeseen circumstances.

If we and/or any of our Suppliers are affected by Force Majeure, we and our Suppliers shall be entitled to, and may in our sole discretion, vary or cancel any itinerary or arrangement in relation to the tour, and choose to offer future travel credits or no refunds of money paid. This includes losses or expenses due to flight or other transportation cancellations or delays.

Responsibility with Third Party Vendors: Certain services reserved by New Orleans Secrets LLC for inclusion in a tour itinerary, including but not limited to transportation, accommodations, restaurants, site locations/venues, sightseeing, and activities may be purchased from various independent suppliers not affiliated with New Orleans Secrets LLC (referred to as “Third Party Supplier(s)”, “Vendor(s)” or “Supplier(s)”). New Orleans Secrets LLC takes reasonable care in selecting competent, reliable, and qualified suppliers based on information that is reasonably available to us.

That said, we act only as an intermediary for these Third-Party Suppliers and do not and cannot control the quality of their services. You acknowledge that you are aware and clearly understand that these Third-Party Suppliers are independent contractors, are not managed by New Orleans Secrets LLC, and are not agents or employees of New Orleans Secrets LLC. In the event of an injury, damage to property, delay or any other loss, compensation must be sought from the Third-Party Suppliers, not from New Orleans Secrets LLC. You understand further that each of these Third-Party Suppliers are subject to the laws of the state or country in which the service is provided. The liability of Third-Party Suppliers may be limited by their tariffs, conditions of carriage, tickets and vouchers, and international conventions and agreements.

We must adhere to our cancellation policy to protect our ability to run experiences and to maintain our price structures. Please don’t ask us to make exceptions. This includes personal emergencies, flight issues, or Force Majeure. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving a trip early. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment and researching plans that cover pre-existing conditions and/or have a “Cancel for any Reason” clause.

Please consider purchasing Travel Insurance for Emergency Medical and Evacuation Coverage and for protection against Trip Cancellation.

Medical Coverage:

Choosing to travel involves some amount of risk. You never know when a simple fall may result in a broken bone or twisted ankle. Injuries may prevent you from continuing your trip and necessitate a visit to the emergency room. This can get expensive. We recommend purchasing Travel Insurance even if you already have medical insurance since some expenses may not be included or are not fully covered by your policy.

Trip Cancellation Insurance:

New Orleans Secrets Tours has a cancellation policy that we must abide by to protect our ability to continue offering trips, and to protect your experience in case others cancel. Unfortunately cancellations do happen, sometimes within the period of time where we can’t offer a refund. In many of these instances, Trip Cancellation Insurance covers forfeited, non-refundable deposits or payments up to the limits purchased. Please consider protecting your investment! We often see last minute cancellations due to illness or injury of the participant or a family member, and all of this would be covered by trip insurance. To inquire for more details or for a more detailed description of coverage or information on more extensive plans or coverage, please contact Allianz Travel at 866-884-3556 or visit https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/ or Travel Guard at 800-826-1300 or visit their website at www.travelguard.com. We are not affiliated with any insurance provider and do not receive a commission – this is solely about your protection!

Yes! TICKETS ARE TRANSFERABLE. You may resell your tickets on your own and alert New Orleans Secrets IN WRITING the names(s) replacing yours along with their email address and mobile phone number.

We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

No. Since our public tour groups max out at 9 guests, we can’t ever guarantee that there will be space for you; advance reservations are required.

Yes. Tours more than 24 hours into the future can be changed. Please give us a call to make any changes.

Yes. People love receiving tours as a gift — they never collect dust in the back of the closet! 😉 You can buy them on our web site or just give us a call to purchase.

When you’ve selected your tour, there is a spot in the check out page to apply a gift card. It’s that easy! You can also just give us a call.

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