If you are short on time, one of the best ways to experience the city of New Orleans is through intimate, personalized tours catering to your interests. Unlike extensive group tours, private New Orleans tours offer several distinct advantages for visitors looking to make the most of their time in the Crescent City.
Private city tours allow you to avoid the crowds and explore at your own pace, making them ideal for families, couples, or smaller groups seeking a more personalized experience. Your local guides can adapt the itinerary based on your interests, whether you’re fascinated by the history of New Orleans, eager to explore the city’s diverse neighborhoods, or want to delve deep into the cultural scene that makes this city so special.
Private tours provide a deeper appreciation of these attractions for those interested in New Orleans jazz, cemetery tours, or the architectural splendor of the Garden District. Your tour guide can share insights that general public tours often miss, offering true stories and historical context that bring each location to life. Many operators also offer the lowest price guarantee, ensuring you get the best value for your investment in exploring this remarkable city.
Why Trust This Guide about Private Tours?
As someone who’s called New Orleans home for over 35 years and works as a travel advisor with Sunset Chasers Travel Agency, I’ve personally experienced the magic of this city from every angle. From sipping café au lait at dawn in the French Quarter to dancing until sunrise during Mardi Gras, I’ve explored every corner of the Crescent City and tested countless tours to bring honest, insider recommendations.
Through my blog, Plaid Shirt Yoga Pants, I’ve been sharing the authentic New Orleans—not just the tourist version—for over a decade, helping visitors discover the authentic experiences that make this city unforgettable. When I recommend a tour operator or suggest the best way to explore our diverse neighborhoods, I’ve walked those streets, met those guides, and know firsthand what delivers that perfect New Orleans moment you’ll treasure forever.
Top-Rated Private Tours in New Orleans
New Orleans offers a wide range of private tours, giving you access to different aspects of the city’s culture and history. Whether looking for culinary adventures, unique paranormal experiences, or a deep dive into architectural landmarks, you can find the perfect tour tailored to your interests.
1. Flavors of the French Quarter: Private New Orleans Food Tour
If you love food and crave an authentic taste of New Orleans, this tour lets you explore the French Quarter’s culinary highlights with a local guide. You will have private transportation with six tastings including delicious Creole Dishes, seafood and deserts. Visit hidden courtyards and family owned eateries, where you sample dishes like gumbo, beignets, jambalaya, and pralines while learning about the 19th-century origins of many dishes and how Creole cultures influenced local cooking traditions.
This private tour is customizable for your dietary preferences and can be tailored for families, couples, or small groups. Reserve your culinary adventure today and experience authentic New Orleans flavors.
Book your Flavors of the French Quarter: Private New Orleans Food Tour here.
2. Talking To The Dead On Tour
If you are fascinated by paranormal legends, this private Seance will get your group of people talking to the dead or a ghost. Wheter you are trying to call a family member or friend the spirits are alive on this tour. Meeting a real Psychic to give messages to those on the other side. If you do not have a loved who who has passed, you may still receive messages from your own spirit guides and angels.
Book now to talk to the spirits.
3. Private Tour of New Orleans in the French Quarter
If you are traveling with a group of six or less this private tour is a great way for an introduction to architecture, history, and the city’s pulse. Have a comfortable ride around the French Quarter, Garden District and City Park – This tour can be customized to meet your needs. Your local guide explains the significance of landmarks like Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, and historic homes lining Royal and Bourbon Street, sharing stories about famous residents like Mark Twain.
You benefit from expert commentary about New Orleans’ unique blend of French, Spanish, and Creole influences with flexible schedules that allow you to pause for shopping or museum visits. Tour duration is roughly three hours, with many offering family-friendly and semi-accessible options.
Book your personalized French Quarter exploration now and discover the heart of historic New Orleans.
4. VIP Private Uncensored Wicked Spirits Pub Crawl
This exclusive cocktail tour focuses on the offbeat history and the original spirits of the French Quarter, visiting handpicked bars and hidden lounges while sampling classic New Orleans cocktails. Unfiltered guides openly discuss legendary local scandals, ghost stories, and tales of notorious bartenders who helped shape the city’s drinking culture.
Your experience is entirely private and with New Orleans’ Favorite drinks (purchased separately) flowing, accompanied by spirited commentary. Most tours last 2.5-3 hours and require guests to be 21 or older, with comfortable walking shoes recommended.
Schedule your exclusive pub crawl adventure and discover New Orleans’ rebellious nightlife side.
5. Private New Orleans Haunted Tour with Bar Stops
Combine haunted history with a bar-hopping adventure in this tour, which is ideal for those who enjoy ghost stories and classic cocktails. A dedicated local guide leads you through haunted locations in the French Quarter while incorporating visits to atmospheric bars and historic taverns, sharing tales from the 19th century to modern times.
The itinerary is perfect for your group(up to 10 people), and the tours usually last about two hours. This tour will combine raunchy ghost stories with haunted bars – reservations recommended, especially during weekends and Mardi Gras season.
Book your haunted bar tour today and experience New Orleans’ spooky side with spirits of every kind.
6. Pedal Pub Nola Bayou St. John Pub Ride
Experience New Orleans uniquely with the Pedal Pub, a group-powered pedal bar on wheels that takes you through the scenic Bayou St. John neighborhood. Your private captain guides the route while your group pedals from one local bar to the next, with music, party lights, and a relaxed vibe creating a festive atmosphere.
Each stop allows time to grab drinks, snap photos, and mingle with locals, with the option to bring your beverages or enjoy special pub deals. The tour usually spans 2 hours and is perfect for celebrations or team outings, ensuring your ride matches your group’s pace and style.
Reserve your pedal-powered adventure now and see New Orleans from a different perspective.
7. New Orleans Plantation Driving Tour
This private driving tour lets you and three friends drive to one of the oldest plantations on the Mississippi River – Destrehan Plantation. A local guide narrates the history and shares details about the region’s sugarcane economy, including the harsh realities of plantation life and the experiences of enslaved people.
This half-day tour starts at 9 am and includes the entrance into the Plantation.
Arrange your plantation tour today and explore Louisiana’s complex history in comfort and style.
8. Double Plantation Tour: Oak Alley and Laura
With this combination tour, visit both Oak Alley and Laura Plantations in a single day, offering contrasting perspectives on plantation life. Oak Alley stands out for its impressive tree-lined entrance and Greek Revival architecture. At the same time, Laura Plantation offers a Creole perspective with colorful buildings and personal stories from the family who lived there.
A private guide walks you through both properties, covering different approaches to architecture, agriculture, and daily life, with Laura Plantation especially notable for its focus on enslaved community experiences using oral histories. Comfortable transportation between sites is included, with opportunities for interior and exterior tours at each location.
Secure your double plantation adventure today and better understand Louisiana’s diverse plantation heritage.
9. Private Ghost, Voodoo, and Vampire Tour
A private ghost, voodoo, and vampire tour introduces you to chilling tales from the French Quarter and surrounding areas, visiting historic locations tied to notorious hauntings, voodoo rituals, and vampire legends. Guides provide fascinating details about each stop, sharing verified accounts and historical events that blur the line between fact and legend.
These tours often include exclusive access to courtyards, mansions, and hidden streets that larger groups cannot access, with the flexibility to customize the route or focus on areas of specific interest. These private tours can hold up to 25 guests and typically include visits to locations associated with Marie Laveau and other famous practitioners while maintaining a mysterious atmosphere.
Schedule your supernatural adventure today and explore the paranormal side of New Orleans with expert guides.
Like this post? Pin for later!
10. Private Airboat Ride and Plantations Tour with Gourmet Lunch
Embark on a private airboat adventure through Louisiana’s swamps, where you’ll spot alligators, native birds, turtles, and towering cypress trees while learning about the delicate ecosystem. The airboat ride gives you fast, up-close access to wildlife and hidden corners of the bayou that are impossible to reach by foot.
Your tour continues with a private visit to historic river plantations. It includes a gourmet lunch featuring local cuisine such as crawfish étouffée, shrimp and grits, or pecan pie. This combination offers exclusive transportation, expert commentary, and a flexible pace showcasing Louisiana’s natural and cultural heritage.
Book your swamp and plantation adventure for up to 14 guests for an unforgettable day combining thrills and history.
11. Honey Island Swamp Private Tour
The Honey Island Swamp is one of the most biologically diverse swamps in the United States, offering visitors a chance to see Louisiana’s natural environment at its most pristine. On this private tour, you receive transport from the New Orleans area and the undivided attention of a local guide who knows the swamp’s secrets.
Your guide navigates shallow waterways and points out wildlife such as wild boars, herons, otters, and alligators in their natural habitat using smaller, more maneuverable boats than public tours. You’ll learn about the unique ecology and folklore surrounding Honey Island, including stories of the legendary “swamp monster,” with bottled water and snacks included.
Book your Honey Island exploration today for up to 13 guests and escape the city to connect with Louisiana’s pristine natural heritage.
12. Half-Day Private Swamp Experience in Louisiana
Get a half-day, in-depth experience in a Louisiana swamp, fully arranged for your private group with pickup from your hotel or other location within the city limits. The tour can be tailored to your interests, whether you want to focus on birdwatching, photography, or the chance to see bigger animals like alligators.
Features include door-to-door service, thoughtful commentary, and the ability to spend extra time at stops that interest you most with eco-friendly operators using small group sizes.
Reserve your private swamp experience now for your group of six and discover Louisiana’s incredible wetlands with expert guides and sustainable practices.
13. Private Garden District Walking Tour With Lafayette Cemetery No. 1
This guided walk takes you and your five besties through the heart of the Garden District, known for its grand antebellum mansions and oak-lined avenues where you can admire Greek Revival and Italianate homes showcasing Southern elegance. The tour often includes entry to Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, one of the city’s oldest burial grounds, where your guide explains above-ground tomb traditions and burial customs.
Group sizes for private Garden District tours are usually small, making it easy to ask questions, stop for photos, or linger at points of interest. Customization is available to focus on topics like architecture, film locations, or the area’s social history, including how the neighborhood survived Hurricane Katrina.
Book your Garden District walking tour now and explore New Orleans’ most elegant historic neighborhood at your own pace.
14. Private VIP French Quarter Tour
A private French Quarter tour immerses you in the oldest neighborhood of New Orleans, where every street is steeped in history and culture. You’ll stroll past famous landmarks such as Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, and the Cabildo while hearing true stories about Creole culture and the city’s colorful past from your knowledgeable local guide.
The two-hour tour lets you explore less-visited corners, including quiet courtyards and hidden alleys that most tourists never see. Guides share insights into the French, Spanish, and Caribbean influences that shaped the district’s architecture and way of life. Personal anecdotes add depth and context to the walking experience, making history come alive through storytelling.
Check out this VIP experience here.
15. Uncensored Haunts and Horrors Private Tour
This after-dark walking tour delves into the more shadowy aspects of New Orleans’ history, taking you off the beaten path to explore the city’s darker side. You’ll visit notorious haunted sites, crime scenes, and former locations tied to infamous events, all explained by guides who share true stories without holding back details or sanitizing the narrative.
Expect accounts that cover real hauntings, mysteries, and the tragic fates of some former residents. This tour is intended for mature audiences only because graphic content and adult themes are common. Guides often cite credible archives and local legends, giving you a balanced yet chilling experience beyond typical ghost tours.
Private haunts and horror tours can be scheduled for a group up to 15 people to avoid crowds. They may offer opportunities to access quieter, more atmospheric locations.
The tours provide a memorable experience for those interested in the city’s darker history so book your tour today.
16. Round-Trip Transportation | LSU Football Games
If attending an LSU football game in Baton Rouge is on your bucket list, consider private round-trip transportation from New Orleans. This convenient option allows you to travel comfortably, avoid crowded buses, and skip the hassle of parking near the stadium while enjoying the company of fellow fans.
You benefit from flexible pickup and drop-off times and a knowledgeable driver who knows the best routes between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Some services even offer refreshments and the ability to store your gear in the vehicle. This service is particularly popular during football season when hotels in Baton Rouge are booked solidly.
For large groups, private transportation is often more cost-effective per person than booking individual rides. It also enhances safety, letting everyone enjoy the game day experience without worrying about driving after the event. Organized, timely, and reliable service makes your LSU football day stress-free. It allows you to focus on having a great time.
Book your LSU Round trip transfer here.
Custom and VIP Tour Services
When you want to explore New Orleans on your terms, private tour companies let you set the pace and itinerary. These services are flexible, so you can focus on your specific interests, whether history, music, food, or architecture, creating a truly personalized experience.
Many operators provide fully customizable tours that accommodate everything from a particular group’s interests to special requests for airport pickup or visits to specific locations. You can often choose your destinations, pick up points, and timing in advance. This makes accommodating special occasions, family needs, or group preferences easy while ensuring everyone has a great time.
VIP experiences add extra comfort and exclusivity to your New Orleans adventure. With these, you might travel luxury vehicle or even get behind-the-scenes access at popular sites. For example, a 1-hour private carriage ride through the French Quarter offers a personalized way to see the area’s iconic sights and unique architecture while avoiding the crowds.
You can further tailor your experience with culinary stops, garden walks, or day trips to plantations and swamps. Booking in advance is recommended to ensure you get your preferred guide and time slot, especially during busy periods like Mardi Gras or spring tourist season.
Tips for Booking the Best Private Tours
When booking private tours in New Orleans, compare multiple operators’ prices, inclusions, and cancellation policies. Prices can range widely, with some tours starting around $35 per person and others going up to $930 per group, depending on length, group size, or features like transportation and snacks. The lowest price guarantee some companies offer can help ensure you get the best value.
Check customization options carefully, as many providers will tailor the itinerary to your interests—food, music, history, or local landmarks. Ask ahead if you want a truly personalized experience beyond the standard offerings. Some operators specialize in particular areas, so research which companies have the best reputation for your areas of interest.
If accessibility is essential, verify whether the tour offers features for mobility, hearing, or other needs. Many private tours advertise accessible vehicles or alternative arrangements. This is especially important for cemetery or walking tours involving uneven surfaces or stairs.
Review the provider’s reputation by checking recent reviews on trusted sites and examining their response times to inquiries. Reliable guides usually answer questions clearly and handle follow-ups professionally. Look for companies that have received recognition, such as a badge of excellence from review platforms, which indicates consistently high-quality service.
Consider the refund policies and cancellation terms, especially if you’re visiting during hurricane season or when weather might be a factor. Many operators offer flexible cancellation options that provide extra peace of mind. Some companies are part of larger membership programs that offer additional protections and benefits.
Book as early as possible for the best choice of times and guides, especially during busy months like spring and fall when the weather is ideal for touring. Flexible cancellation options and clear communication about what’s included in the price will help ensure your tour meets your expectations and provides excellent value for your investment.
Touring in New Orleans
New Orleans offers an incredible variety of private tour experiences that cater to every interest and travel style. From the historic charm of the French Quarter to the natural beauty of Louisiana’s swamps, from the mystery of our famous cemeteries to the flavors of our world-renowned cuisine, there’s a private tour that will create lasting memories of your visit to the Crescent City.
The key to choosing the best private tour is understanding your interests and finding an operator who can customize the experience to match them. Whether you’re drawn to our haunted history, fascinated by our unique architecture, or eager to explore our diverse neighborhoods, the right private tour will provide insights and experiences you simply can’t get any other way.
As you plan your visit to New Orleans, consider how a private tour can enhance your experience. With knowledgeable local guides, flexible itineraries, and the ability to explore at your own pace, private tours offer the perfect way to discover the magic of New Orleans while creating unforgettable experiences that will stay with you long after you’ve returned home.
Plaid Shirt Yoga Pants is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We also participate in other affiliate programs which compensate us for referring traffic.
