Mysteries of Voodoo Tour

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Trip Highlights

  • Visit Congo Square, a centuries-old religious and cultural site

  • See more than a dozen real voodoo shrines and altars, including to Marie Laveau

  • Get recommendations for authentic, take-home gris-gris bags, potions, or dolls

  • Space is extremely limited at just 9 guests per tour, so all questions will be welcomed!

Description

Forget what you think you know about Voodoo! While Hollywood often portrays it through a lens of "spookiness" and "hexes," the truth is far more fascinating. This French Quarter Voodoo Tour invites you to pull back the veil and discover the true history, culture, and spiritual beliefs of New Orleans Voodoo. Join us to explore how West African traditions merged with Catholicism to create a unique spiritual presence that that is still evidenced in the city today.

Tour info

Duration
2 hours
Group Size
Up to 9
Price starts at
$39$49
Languages
English
Meeting Point

We’ll meet at the New Orleans Playing Card Company, 521 Dumaine Street, in the heart of the French Quarter

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Why take this tour?

We Asked Our Guests The Same Question! They Said:
  • Small Group Intimacy: "Unlike the massive crowds following umbrellas, this felt like a private walk with a knowledgeable friend."
  • Respectful Storytelling: "They don't treat the religion like a gimmick or a jump-scare. It’s handled with the dignity and cultural respect it deserves."
  • Expert Guides: "The depth of knowledge was incredible. Our guide didn't just recite a script; they answered every complex question we had."
  • Authentic Vibe: "It’s clearly a company run by people who love and live in New Orleans. No 'tourist trap' energy here."

We pride ourselves on being the antithesis of the "costumed" ghost tours. Our approach is professional, friendly, and historically grounded, focusing on how Voodoo remains a thriving religion in the city today.

Tour Topics Include: 

  • The Origins of Vodun: Trace the passage of West African spiritual traditions to the shores of Louisiana.
  • Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen: Separate the myths from the reality of New Orleans' most famous historical figure.
  • Voodoo in Hollywood: A breakdown of common misconceptions — from "Voodoo dolls" to "zombies" — and why the real history is more compelling.
  • Sacred Altars & Symbology: Learn the meanings behind the tools of the trade, including veves, gris-gris, and spiritual offerings.
  • The Intersection of Faith: Understanding the complex and enduring relationship between Voodoo and the Catholic Church.
  • Modern Practice: How the religion is practiced by locals in contemporary New Orleans. 

Included

  • Guided Tour

  • Licensed Local Guide

Excluded

  • Guide Gratuity

  • Transportation

Frequently Asked Questions

Not at all. This fascinating tour focuses on the history and present-day reality of this very misunderstood religion. We like to think it is at times funny, but it is always enlightening and educational!
This tour covers approximately 1 mile, with periods of standing for up to 15 minutes; guests will be walking or standing throughout the entire two-hour tour.
Yes! All of the information presented should be appropriate for children. That said, the tour is two hours long and quite information-dense, so young children may not enjoy the tour as much as older kids (you know your child’s attention span better than we do!).
This tour will max out at 9 guests. We pride ourselves on small group sizes so you’ll never be a part of one of those massive tour groups!
Our tours run rain or shine; please bring an umbrella or poncho in order to stay dry during the tour. If the weather is severe enough that it poses a danger, we will call you to explain our decision and discuss alternatives (this is why it’s very important to list a good cell phone number when booking online!). If we cancel a tour because of severe weather, all guests will be given a full refund.
Great question! We could, but because there is so much to see and learn in the French Quarter relating to Voodoo (and so much to see in the cemetery!) and they are a bit of a hike from one another, we have created two separate tours, one for each topic. On this French Quarter Voodoo tour, you will get an in-depth experience regarding Voodoo and be taken to an authentic Voodoo shop, which happens to be in the opposite direction of the cemetery. If instead you wish to learn a smaller amount about Voodoo combined with other history and visit Marie Laveau’s tomb, then we suggest the St. Louis Cemetery #1 tour.
There will not be a stop for food, so we suggest eating before the tour as needed.
Like the rest of our culture, New Orleans Voodoo is unique because it combines many different versions of the religion, brought to New Orleans by people from different countries. For the sake of simplicity, it is largely a result of blending Haitian Voodoo and multiple African Voodoo traditions. The people who practice Voodoo here are also unique because many also practiced Catholicism, and therefore there are elements of the Catholic traditions integrated as well.
Our guides have spent years studying the religion academically. While some are practitioners themselves, they have all attended multiple Voodoo rituals and ceremonies, and have first-hand knowledge of the faith and practices learned from Voodoo priests and priestesses.
Because people of different backgrounds blended their beliefs into the religion, there was no common written language universally used by the practitioners. For this reason, much of the religion has been handed down orally and through the practice of rituals. It’s also important to note that, like the media, many sources online do not accurately portray the religion and definitely don’t provide a full picture of it.

Things to know

Tour Duration

The tour lasts approximately 2 hours.

The tour lasts approximately 2 hours.

Accessibility

Wheelchair-friendly with advance notice!

Wheelchair-friendly with advance notice!

Cancellation Policy

We offer two types of tickets: non-refundable and refundable. Refundable tickets allow you to cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the tour starts.

All Private tours have a 72-hour cancellation policy, while Custom and Corporate tours follow the refund policies outlined in the contract.

We offer two types of tickets: non-refundable and refundable. Refundable tickets allow you to cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the tour starts.

All Private tours have a 72-hour cancellation policy, while Custom and Corporate tours follow the refund policies outlined in the contract.

Weather Considerations

Tours run rain or shine, so please dress accordingly.

Tours run rain or shine, so please dress accordingly.

Public Tour Size

Limited to just 9 people for an intimate and personalized experience.

Limited to just 9 people for an intimate and personalized experience.

Private Tour Pricing

Enjoy an exclusive and personalized experience with a private tour, starting at just $299.

Enjoy an exclusive and personalized experience with a private tour, starting at just $299.

The Fine Print

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.

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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