Reviews of Beyond the Bayou Tours (Zoo)

Ry D'Antonio

Took a tour with Al and Jake a few days ago. It was phenomenal! Al was very knowledgeable about all things river and Louisiana. Jake was a fun and affable guide and made the experience a true delight. Would recommend to anyone looking to see nature, wildlife, and learn a few things along the way. A++++++

Marcie Shepherd

This was such a great tour - Al our tour guide has grown up on boats in the swamp and was an expert at getting the boat to do exactly what he wanted it to do, through the tiny canals and in between the trees. He also was so so knowledgeable about the various flora and fauna we saw, as well as the history of how people came to live in the area. As one other reviewer mentioned, he was very respectful of the wildlife - we saw an alligator sunning himself on a fallen tree but in lieu of getting too close and scaring him away, we hung back a ways and viewed him with binoculars. It was a gorgeous day in the swamp and everyone in our party agreed it was worth every penny. Aaron who gave us a ride there was great too - super knowledgeable about New Orleans history and just a fun guy to ride with.

Paul Hopkins

Favorite part of our New Orleans trip! Andrew was a great guide and will definitely be back again!

Cassandra Evers

Oh it was amazing! Great guide and fantastic scenery. Peaceful yet breathtaking tour. We did the Paddle and Plantation tour. Plantation was really informative and great as well. Personally did not love the lunch spot (star removed for lunch), but they had a good mint julep!

Ry D'Antonio

Took a tour with Al and Jake a few days ago. It was phenomenal! Al was very knowledgeable about all things river and Louisiana. Jake was a fun and affable guide and made the experience a true delight. Would recommend to anyone looking to see nature, wildlife, and learn a few things along the way. A++++++

Specs 34

Amazing tour with awesome tour guides

Marcie Shepherd

This was such a great tour - Al our tour guide has grown up on boats in the swamp and was an expert at getting the boat to do exactly what he wanted it to do, through the tiny canals and in between the trees. He also was so so knowledgeable about the various flora and fauna we saw, as well as the history of how people came to live in the area. As one other reviewer mentioned, he was very respectful of the wildlife - we saw an alligator sunning himself on a fallen tree but in lieu of getting too close and scaring him away, we hung back a ways and viewed him with binoculars. It was a gorgeous day in the swamp and everyone in our party agreed it was worth every penny. Aaron who gave us a ride there was great too - super knowledgeable about New Orleans history and just a fun guy to ride with.

Irene Turner

Friendly and knowledgeable guide. Great mix of slow and peaceful with moments of speed and excitement. Saw a wide variety of wildlife whilst knowing that none were being 'tamed' or trained (and thus endangered) for the purpose.

Martin Petrella

Loved being out in the back country on the water. We covered a lot of territory in the power boat. Can't wait to come back for a kayak tour.

Heather Stringfellow

The experience was authentic and well executed. It felt like Jake was a friend showing us around and giving the "inside scoop" rather than a tourist pitch or reading from a script. Do it.

chris atkinson

We loved the kayak and Whitney Plantation tour. It was a full day of exploring. The kayak was a magical, serene experience and was followed by lunch at a local cajun restaurant. Then we were off to Whitney Plantation, which was a very sobering tour. It focused exclusively on slavery and gave an extensive overview of the slave trade and yet made it all very personal. I highly recommend both activities. We were also very fortunate to have George as our driver. He was friendly, knowledgable and very enjoyable to spend time with. He even went the extra mile, returning my sunglasses, after I left them in his car! Thank-you to all our guides. This was one of my favorite parts of visiting New Orleans.

Ola Olenska

Paddle and Plantation tour was great! The Whitney Museum was a great tour focusing on the history of the enslaved people that lived on the plantation itself. It was an informative and sobering experience, not sugar coated for entertainment purposes. The lunch at B&C's was delicious and as authentic as it gets. The kayaking tour was beautiful and peaceful, and the guide, Tom, was clearly very passionate and knowledgeable about the bayou. Overall a great day with a nice mix of activities and something different to experience outside of New Orleans.

Sean Egan

A small group (4) of us took the tour combining swamp kayaking with a visit to the Whitney plantation. Our driver Giz was fantastic, providing us with a fascinating guide to New Orleans culture and was a delight to talk to throughout the day. He really took care of us and made sure we had a great time. The swamp tour was provided by Matt who was extremely knowledgeable of the local flora and fauna. He looked after us well and provided an enjoyable and insightful tour. The Whitney Plantation was a sobering, but important experience, a lot of respect is paid to the slaves who suffered there and the tour very was educational. Overall a very worthwhile day! Highly recommended.

C. P.

Diese Tour ist einfach nur super, es geht in einer kleinen Gruppe von max. 6 Personen auf einem kleinen Motorboot los. Das Boot fahren an sich macht schon richtig Spaß, der Guide war super freundlich und hat sehr viele Interessante Informationen über den Sumpf erzählt. Wenn man in der Gegend eine Tour machen möchte sollte man sich hierfür entscheiden, da nicht in die Natur eingegriffen wird und keine Tiere angefüttert werden. Wir waren begeistert.

Linda Maino

I chose this tour company because they don’t feed or antagonize the wildlife which is very important to me. The tour of the swamps was incredible! I was in awe of the beauty even though I know winter isn’t exactly when it’s at its best. Captain Al was extremely knowledgeable and told us about the history of the area as well as some funny stories of his own. We did this tour for my birthday and it was the best day of our New Orleans vacation. Afterwards we all went to Cajun Mikes and ate the most amazing food. Al tried to convince me to have a roasted oyster, as I’m sure it’s delish, hat just wasn’t going to happen

Ola Olenska

Paddle and Plantation tour was great! The Whitney Museum was a great tour focusing on the history of the enslaved people that lived on the plantation itself. It was an informative and sobering experience, not sugar coated for entertainment purposes. The lunch at B&C's was delicious and as authentic as it gets. The kayaking tour was beautiful and peaceful, and the guide, Tom, was clearly very passionate and knowledgeable about the bayou. Overall a great day with a nice mix of activities and something different to experience outside of New Orleans.

Susan Sale

We booked the Eco Tour and it was great! I highly recommend this tour vs the larger commercial ones. We were able to go places the larger boats couldn’t go. Very personal and the boat was very quiet. Well worth a little more $$.

Jessica Lee

My parents were visiting New Orleans for a week, so we decided to go on a swamp tour for fun. Andrew gave us a fantastic tour around the swamps and wetlands near Slidell. There were only 4 people on our tour (maximum of 6, but the other two didn't show), so the whole experience was very intimate, and we were able to ask lots of questions and learn much more about the area than if we'd booked one of the larger tours with 20+ people per boat. He was even able to customize the tour to our interests. Plus, we were grateful for a tour that was eco-sensitive and respectful of the people and creatures that live in the area. Bonus: Andrew cheerfully and expertly kept our boat sheltered during a brief pop-up rainshower, which especially impressed me. I plan to take all my guests on this experience in the future.

Tine DiLucia

This was such a nice and relaxed boat tour with a small group and our captain Al was really experienced and knowledgeable about the area. We were able to see two gators, one pretty up close and a couple different birds. But my favorite part was just taking in the incredible and quirky nature of the bayou. A nice bonus is the cheap and delicious food at the gas station where the tour starts!

Jim Schillerstrom

Legitimate tour, great guide!

Robyn Reynolds

Jake was our guide. He was friendly and educated and seemed to enjoy sharing his knowledge. I’d suggest following his recommendations on food, etc—we loved everything that was suggested. This is not your average “touristy” tour. We learned a ton and were deeply moved by the experiences Beyond the Bayou packed into this tour.

Madison Harvey

Awesome! Going Again!

Sean Egan

A small group (4) of us took the tour combining swamp kayaking with a visit to the Whitney plantation. Our driver Giz was fantastic, providing us with a fascinating guide to New Orleans culture and was a delight to talk to throughout the day. He really took care of us and made sure we had a great time. The swamp tour was provided by Matt who was extremely knowledgeable of the local flora and fauna. He looked after us well and provided an enjoyable and insightful tour. The Whitney Plantation was a sobering, but important experience, a lot of respect is paid to the slaves who suffered there and the tour very was educational. Overall a very worthwhile day! Highly recommended.

Andrew D'Andrea

Goods time, very informative and lots of local flavor

Christina W

Albert is a great guide for the bayou tour. He is entertaining and very knowledgeable about the bayou. He also has a great eye and spotted snakes and alligators while we were on the water. We were able to see the wildlife without trying to lure them with food. If you plan to combine the bayou tour with the Whitney plantation like I did, you will need a car. I'm so glad this company offers both and respects the environment.

Vivienne Goldstein

A fabulous tour through the swamps and wetland grasses of the Pearl River basin. Jessica, a lifetime local, provided insights about the flora, fauna, and history that only a passionate expert could offer! We spent 2 hours together visiting sites impacted by Hurricane Katrina and Indian Village. She enthusiastically explained the ecosystem and answered our numerous questions about the differences between marshes and the bayou. And she has a remarkable eye for locating wildlife. I would highly recommend this tour. Overall 10/10.

Ally Rowell

I went on Beyond the Bayou's Paddle & Plantation tour back in June and it was such an incredible experience all round. Highly recommend this tour company - they really know their stuff and go above and beyond to make sure you have the best time. Special thanks to Will for saving me from a spider that tried to stow away in my kayak!

Christina W

Albert is a great guide for the bayou tour. He is entertaining and very knowledgeable about the bayou. He also has a great eye and spotted snakes and alligators while we were on the water. We were able to see the wildlife without trying to lure them with food. If you plan to combine the bayou tour with the Whitney plantation like I did, you will need a car. I'm so glad this company offers both and respects the environment.

Lizette Flores

Love it

Amber Fontenot

The tour was my favorite part of our trip to New Orleans. It was well organized and everyone was knowledgeable and very friendly.

Nichele Lastinger

Great tour! It was 2 hours of scenic bayou...saw 2 dozen alligators! Our tour guide Andrew was super fun and knowledgeable about the bayou vegetation, culture, and animals.

Juanra Peralta

El tour por los diferentes tipos de humedales de Pearl River es muy bueno. Al ser una embarcación pequeña ofrece una visita más privada y más a tu propio ritmo y te permite conocer canales y pantanos inaccesibles a los barcos turísticos típicos. Es un paseo mucho más en contacto con la naturaleza, sin alimentar a los aligátores, solo observando la fauna y la flora locales en su estado natural y conociendo sobre su interacción con el hombre. El guía Andrew es muy atento y señala detalles importantes e interesantes sobre el entorno sin resultar pesado o aburrido.

Kat Dyer

Our guide Andrew was very knowledgeable, both on the history of the place and the natural history we saw amazing habitats and "went real fast". The boat was sturdy and the ride was fun. We saw a lot for the time of year and temperatures, got lucky with the wildlife. It was really neat to see how the habitats change as you move throughout the river system. Excellent experience, great way to end our trip in New Orleans.

Tristan Graham

If you care about the environment, or want a more authentic bayou experience, this is the tour to go on. We were on a small, comfortable boat that could get into the shallower less explored areas. Our guide Andrew was incredibly knowledgeable about the local animals and plants and importantly, this is the only tour that doesn't bait the alligators. Which is a big deal, because feeding them makes them dependant on humans. You see the huge, touristy boats pass you while you're out there, packed with people talking through megaphones. Our experience was the opposite of that, thankfully. Highly recommend this.

Patrick Driscoll

Lots of fun, super knowledgeable tour guide, recommended for anyone sick of bourbon street & looking for something different.

Belor

They were courteous, friendly, and helpful on the phone and in person. I recommend this to anyone solo or in a group. The captain was knowledgable of the area and a talented boat handler. He took us safely through some smaller waterways which allows you to see all the Bayou has to offer. The boat was comfortable. There was plenty of wildlife, monarch butterflies, birds, turtles, and gators!

Brett Brumfield

This was an incredible tour --- enjoyable even in middle of the summer heat. The tour guide Albert was extremely knowledgeable. I learned a lot in addition to enjoying the beauty of the swamp. I would recommend this tour to anyone. A very enjoyable way to spend a few hours on the weekend.

Ashley Huntington

Really wonderful experience! The group I went with and I kept talking about how the covered boat made it to where we didn't get too hot at all. There was also an incredible breeze created while the boat went through the swamp. Albert, the tour guide, was wonderful - local, friendly, and really knowledgeable about the swamp and southern Louisiana, in general. I'd 100% recommend Beyond the Bayou to anyone I know - hands down!

George Lawson

They were courteous, friendly, and helpful on the phone and in person. I recommend this to anyone solo or in a group. The captain was knowledgable of the area and a talented boat handler. He took us safely through some smaller waterways which allows you to see all the Bayou has to offer. The boat was comfortable. There was plenty of wildlife, monarch butterflies, birds, turtles, and gators!

max pierce

This was a great experience. Group of 6 of us went out on a boat we didn't take kyakts. The captain/guide was really down to earth and relaxed. He did an excellent job at pointing out wildlife and facts about the different type of swamps we were traveling on. He also knew a lot about the history of the various riverboat you will see on the tour. One word of warning, if you have a fear of spider reconsider a swamp tour or bring something to kill a bunch. Lol. Spiders tend to hang down from the trees and will find their way on to the boat. Mostly it's daddy long legs, but a decent sized banana spider did find its way on to the boat during our trip.

Ann Fenton

Great eco tour! We saw so many different kinds of birds, turtles, even a few gators (!) and learned a lot about the amazing ecosystem of the bayou.

Brenda Dolinski

Amazing time! Emmit knows his land and has some jokes along the way. AND he took all of our jokes back at him. Nice property to hang out and great staff!

Eddie Hill

This was a great tour. The guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. Our guide for the day took great care of us. I'm glad we took the kayak tour through the bayou, it was fun to be with a smaller group and I think a better way to see some of the local nature. Whitney Plantation was intense. I'm glad we did that tour rather than one of the plantations that glossed over the human cost.

Sing and Learn

We highly recommend this tour company. Our driver was extremely knowledgeable about the local area. The tour of the Whitney plantation was very informative and moving. And the kayaking on the swamp was relaxing and extremely beautiful. The kayaking guide clearly knew the swamp like the back of his hand and we saw 5 alligators and 2 turtles. A wonderful day and a nice break from the city.

Angenette VLM

We had a great tour guide and saw lots of beautiful animals and landscape! Very knowledgeable guide with insights into the plants and wildlife. A wonderful day! Would recommend to locals and out of towners alike.

Anna Hegarty

Took a great boat tour with Albert! He knew a lot about the swamp and was easy to talk to! The bar the tour sets off from is a local place with delicious food provided!

George Williams

Awesome tour of the bayou and Whitney Plantation

Brett Brumfield

This was an incredible tour --- enjoyable even in middle of the summer heat. The tour guide Albert was extremely knowledgeable. I learned a lot in addition to enjoying the beauty of the swamp. I would recommend this tour to anyone. A very enjoyable way to spend a few hours on the weekend.

Phoebe Sorensen

Albert was a fantastic guide. He was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and excited about every questions asked and every fun story he told. A wonderful experience I would recommend to anyone.

Steve Ferback

Our guide Andrew was the best! Friendly and knowledgeable and definitely knew his way around the river. Our tour was in April, and as luck would have it, the weather wasn't the best. The rain stopped right before the tour, but the temps were only in the 40s, so it made for quite a brisk adventure. Andrew pointed out a lot of the native vegetation, and information about the river and the entire ecosystem. He answered everyones questions, no matter how mundane, and really made the best of the tour, given the weather. Would have liked to have seen some wildlife, other than birds, but that is the chance you take. Overall it was a fun and educational experience and would do it again if I had the chance! We also enjoyed a great seafood lunch at B&C seafood. Well worth the drive. The Whitney plantation tour was very educational and thought provoking. Everyone should experience it, to get a feel of what slave life was like and all they had to endure. Also, Jake and everyone connected with the tour company were great, and communicated very well, as far as any of our needs or questions. Great to work with!

Anna Shackleton

We really enjoyed the paddle and plantation tour. Eric our guide was friendly and full of information. We started with the kayaking and really enjoyed seeing the Honey Island swamp. It was so beautiful and kayaking was a great natural way to explore the environment and get to those tight spots. Eric then drove us to the Whitney Plantation which was dedicated to telling the stories and daily lives of the slave trade. I would highly recommend this tour (tips: I managed to get water in our kayak when paddling and then had wet shorts for a while so maybe bring a spare change of clothes and make sure you grab an umbrella and take water on the plantation tour.. it can get hot!)

Stephanie Low

I decided to specifically pick an eco-friendly tour that didn't bait Gators and I'm glad I did! Maybe I didn't see Gators jumping out of the water for marshmallows but I did have a wonderful tour with Andrew, a guide that grew up exploring the swamp and feels passionately about the ecosystem and the creatures in it. Because of Andrew's experience, we were able to get up close to a large crane as it watched us and learned about the swamp's changing ecosystem because of human intervention. I had booked the boat tour because it was in the middle of a week long work event and I knew I'd be tired, but I could retake the tour I would consider the kayak tour. With our guides knowledge of the swamp, I think we could have gotten even closer to a lot of the wildlife that was scared off by the boats engine. I'm so glad I booked this tour!

Garth Blackburn

I would highly recommend Beyond the Bayou tours to anyone looking to get a unique experience while in the New Orleans area. We went on a swamp kayak tour and a visit to the Whitney plantation for my birthday recently. The guides were very knowledgeable and our trip through the swamp was surreal. We got to see lots of wildlife up close and speak with naturalists as we explored the Bayou. It's obvious these guys love what they do and just want to share it with others. The Whitney plantation was extremely powerful, I honestly think this is a place all Americans should visit and it pays homage to a side of plantation life glossed over anywhere else. But the highlight for me was the cajun restaurant. All in all a great day with great people, couldn't have asked for a better time and a better way to experience this unique part of the world. Two thumbs up!

Ashley Huntington

Really wonderful experience! The group I went with and I kept talking about how the covered boat made it to where we didn't get too hot at all. There was also an incredible breeze created while the boat went through the swamp. Albert, the tour guide, was wonderful - local, friendly, and really knowledgeable about the swamp and southern Louisiana, in general. I'd 100% recommend Beyond the Bayou to anyone I know - hands down!