We had a great time on our tour. This was the best choice for doing a swamp tour. The guide is very knowledgeable and has a great understanding of the Bayou. We love the fact that they don't feed the alligators and knowledgeable of the ecosystem for not disrupting the natural sources. We would recommend this tour to anyone that really wants to understand the nature and natural aspects of the area. read more

Five stars for this wonderful two hour tour of the swamp and bayou out by Maurepas, Louisiana. Halfway between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. It is seriously out in the middle of nowhere and much of the river is almost completely untouched. As it should be. Our tour guide was talkative and knowledgeable and despite the fact that he's been doing this three times a day for a couple of years, it sounded fresh and unrehearsed. We sat in comfortable seats on the flatbottom boat as we slowly went one way along the river, pointing out the wildlife, cypress knees and trees, reed brushes and more. This tour is "natural" meaning that they leave nothing and take nothing. They absolutely do not feed the alligators, which is why we did not see any of them in two full hours. The 4:30 to 6:30 tour was perfect as we got to see the water during daylight and as the Sun set. I took nearly 200 pictures and at least 5 minutes of video. It was amazing. Tip: Check the weather. With the humidity, it can get cold. I wish I'd brought a hoodie. Tip: Hit a restroom before you arrive. You're about to spend two hours on a boat. There's a port-a-potty at the meetup spot and that was appreciated but not awesome. Tip: There was no cell phone service out here, so make sure you have a saved map on your phone to get you back to an area with coverage. [Review 14086 overall, 1408 of 2020, number 7 in Louisiana.] read more

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Loved this tour. We did the full day package that included a tour through the swamp, lunch and then a trip out to the Whitney Plantation. Laci was a great guide and driver. She picked us up from our hotel and drove us all over the outskirts of the city, as well as taking us to lunch. We also had the pleasure of meeting Albert, who is an excellent tour guide and a genuine nature lover, which was easy to see from his narration of all the plants and wildlife as he drove our boat through the swamp. Definitely recommend this tour if you want to see nature in an eco-friendly responsible way, as well as learning about the real history of plantations in the Deep South. read more

Beautiful surroundings, knowledgeable and personable guide. Respectful of the flora and fauna. Would definitely recommend

There were no promises on alligator sightings. Our tour was mid-Dec 9:30am, we saw: a blue heron, a few turtles, a few turkey vultures. It was probably a little too cold for alligators. We were on the river for nearly 3 hours and learned a great amount about the local ecosystem! The river was quite high - 8 feet above normal. Beautiful views of the trees with moss along with unique floating "houses". Great weather - blue skies with fluffy and slightly gray clouds! Boat has cushioned seats for 6 passengers. Good views from any seat. Two soft Sherpa blankets in case anyone gets too cold from the winds. Very enjoyable. No marshmallows or any animal feedings. Would recommend if you like learning about the river ecosystem and trees. Note: If you are driving, at the exit (straight-ahead) is a truck stop (gas station with hot food & drinks - Sunny Time) with a bar (Honey Island Fish House). Park in front of the bar and walk in on the left side for a boat ramp to the river. Beyond the Bayou swamp tour boards there, there is no building for checking in! Hopefully someone will be there to greet you about 10-15 min before the tour! Cute and very friendly gray cat lives at the bar. There are also some less friendly and loud chickens at the back of the bar. read more

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This eco swamp tour far exceeded my expectations! Everything from the customer service to the pandemic-related safety protocols to the knowledge of the guides was top-notch. To answer the big question right off the bat - YES we saw several gators! We also spotted turtles and a ton of unique birds. One of the biggest things that sets Beyond the Bayou apart from "the other guys" is that it's meant to be as natural as possible - in turn, it's the most respectful of/safest for the animals and delicate environment. This company does NOT feed the gators to get them to come over - and you know what? You don't NEED to do that! This is where the gators live, you'll see them naturally! If you're looking for the trained gators experience, this isn't the tour for you...but this one is far superior! On top of seeing the wildlife, you'll be treated to an interesting educational experience. These guys know every tree, bend in the swamp, bird species, facts about the animals...you name it! The experience is approachable and you really gain so much from just listening and (literally) enjoying the ride. Also, I live in Arizona, a vastly different type of landscape, and I was completely surprised by how beautiful the swamp was - wow! Quit searching and book this tour! You won't regret it! read more

We did the combination swamp tour/ Whitney Plantation. The Whitney plantation is very far away from the swamp tour. The tour guides were very organized and sent us every detail in an email and checked in with us several times before the actual day of our tour. Albert he gave us the swamp tour was very knowledgeable and taught us an enormous amount about the swap. There is a lot to learn about the swamp. Albert, the guide of the swamp tour, also taught us a lot about alligators. There is a bar/restaurant at the location where you meet for the swamp tour that you can use for a bathroom. There's also a gas station there. I would bring your own water or snacks as that is not provided. We are accustomed to traveling with children so we did bring water and snacks. Do you bring a jacket because it does get chilly in the spring and winter. The Whitney plantation is an hour and a half away from the swamp tour and they send you to a restaurant near the Whitney plantation. When we got to the Whitney plantation they were waiting for us and they had our tickets. Everything was seamless. The Whitney plantation is focused on the life of the enslaved people working on plantations in the south. We definitely felt sick about what we learned. Well worth a visit and the education. read more

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One of my girlfriends and I went on a 2-hour swamp tour and had an awesome time. Beyond the Bayou is one of the companies in the area that doesn't disturb, taunt, or feed the gators for the "enjoyment" of guests, which we loved. And please don't think that means you won't see gators or get close to them -- we certainly got our share of interaction! Our tour guide was really friendly, and he had a lot of interesting info to share about the area (including some really cool facts about the swamps and trees that I won't spoil here, but it was a highlight for this to be a learning experience about the local ecology, too). We decided to go on this tour on the way from Florida into New Orleans for Jazz Fest last year, and it was a wonderful highlight of the trip and great way to kick it off. Hoping to go back soon! PS: You can bring snacks and drinks (including alcohol!) on the boat with you, which was the only thing that could have made the tour better if we had been prepared. The tour center is located behind a bar, however, so we had a fun pregame beforehand :) read more

Beyond the Bayou Tours - We even saw a bald eagle guarding her nest! - Boat Tours Near Me

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Wonderful! Our tour guide Brian was helpful, thorough, and made it a great experience.

Wow, I can't say enough about how good this tour was! They are the MOST responsible tour group I could find, and as an ecologist, that was extremely important to me!! Not only are they respectful of the local wildlife, including gators, so all future generations get to see them, Beyond the Bayou is SO KNOWLEDGEABLE about everything! From wildlife, to local history, to current issues, my tour guide was so engaging in telling us all about the swamps. He had some incredible stories about old secret routes through the very swamp we were in! All the guides are from that area, and my guide literally grew up on the river we navigated down, so this stuff is in their blood, and the enthusiasm and knowledge really show. My guide was also very kind, patient, and helpful! I HIGHLY recommend this tour - excellent value for your money, and information you really can't get anywhere else!! read more

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We had a great time on a swamp tour with Beyond the Bayou Tours! The scenery was gorgeous, the boat was comfortable, and the crew was great. The captain was really knowledgeable and being on a smaller boat made for a very personal tour. This was the highlight of our trip to New Orleans! read more

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We didn't want to take a swamp boat tour on an airboat where they have to feed the gators to get them to come out. The airboats are noisy and scare the wildlife off and feeding the wildlife is really bad for them. This is a good size boat that doesn't scare the crap out of everything for 20 miles. The boat operator is fantastic and will give you a much more interesting narration than most. Excellent tour, take & wear bug repellant and sunscreen a hat and a camera. We saw a couple of gators & hundreds of birds. Love it reccomend it read more

Really enjoyed the intimate 6 person swamp tour. With the rainy weather, we had a tarp over our boat but our guide was excellent at guiding us through the bayou and over fallen logs. We support the ecotourism mantra of Beyond the Bayou and that they do not bait the gators like almost all the other groups. We also appreciated that as a local, our guide had much to tell about the general area. Our one complaint was that he did not seem to know (or readily volunteer) much detail about the wildlife ("oh look it's a yellow bird" or "it's a turtle") Having done a larger boat tour a few years back, we've come to realize the timing of the tour probably makes a bit difference (it would be really difficult to get the same quality large boat tour in September as we had in May due to differences in water level). read more

My boat tour at Beyond the Bayou was absolutely amazing and by far the best part of my trip to the New Orleans area. Captain Al provided excellent education on the bayou and has a great eye for spotting wildlife. I would highly recommend Beyond the Bayou. read more

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We did the eco tour of the swamp. It was incredible! As nature lovers, it was a delight to find a company that does low impact tours and doesn't feed wildlife. We saw plenty of alligators, birds, turtles, and insects. Our guide, Albert was engaging and knowledgeable about the area. I would hands down recommend this experience over any other. My only complaint is I wish we could've been out on the river more more than two hours! The beauty of where you go is intoxicating. read more

Beyond the Bayou Tours - Boat Tours Near Me

Beyond the Bayou offered a far more intimate tour of the Louisiana wetlands. I'm a city girl and when I saw the smaller boat we would be in (compared to other tours who use commercial size boats and tour with 30-50 people) I was nervous but the trip was EXHILARATING! Worth every penny and our tour guide was amazing! Bring a jacket, sunglasses, and sunscreen! Our uber from New Orleans to the pick up point was about 60 dollars one way so be prepared for that! read more

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. read more

Excellent tour by Albert. He is very knowledgeable about the wildlife and the swamp, and a conscientious, compassionate human being (he towed a small boat with three people that had engine trouble, and very strictly followed the no-wake rules in certain areas of the swamp). read more

Wonderful, excellent, awesome... Our guide Andrew was fun and very knowledgeable about the ecology and species we saw. We chose this company because they don't bait or feed and appreciate the wildlife as they find it. Take this tour! read more

We went on a Bayou Tour with Captain Bobby. He was an excellent host and very knowledgeable about the wildlife and plants. Our children enjoyed asking questions and he made sure to keep explanations simple for them to understand. We look forward to going again in the spring when the water lilies are in bloom. read more

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our swamp tour with Beyond the Bayou, even in the middle of January! Our tour guide, Andrew was incredibly knowledgeable of animals that were out and about during this time of the year such as, Great Blue Herons, American Bald Eagle, Swallows, Yellow Bellied Turtle and Egrets. He was able to answer all of our questions concerning management and conservation of the East Pearl River area. Highly recommend over the larger swamp tours, the small boats provided us the chance for a more personal tour and we couldn't have been happier. Thanks Beyond the Bayou!! read more

We took this tour today, July 14 at noon. Andrew was our guide and he was amazing. He was very knowledgeable about the landscape and the surrounding area. I'd highly recommend. read more

The Beyond The Bayou group was awesome. From when I first called with a few questions to the tour. Andrew was nice and a pleasure to spend the day with. He was knowledgeable and it was great to hear about the region from a local. I so appreciate their respect for the wildlife in the region. We saw other tours baiting alligators. We should respect their home as we are entering it. The tour allows for close, safe & respectable encounters. I would highly recommend this tour. Thank you for a memorable day! read more

I really enjoyed our tour. Our guide was Andrew. He grew up in the area so is very familiar and knowledge of the area, swamp and animals, etc. It was nice to be in a smaller boat than some of the other tours. It was more personal and we were also able to get to places other boats couldn't get through to. read more

My wife and I went on the brilliant 'Paddles and Plantation' tour in August 2019, as part of our trip to New Orleans from London, England. The day started with a surreal touch - over breakfast we watched a video of the Wild Tchoupitoulas Indian Tribe, not knowing that our driver for the day was the tribe's legendary flagboy, Gizmo, who (apart from being the perfect host all day) gave us a firsthand insight into the whole NOLA Indian culture. The 'paddles' part of the day was both exciting and relaxing - our guide was friendly and knowledgeable and tuned into what we wanted. He knew exactly when to 'show and tell' and when just to let us paddle along and soak up the bayou atmosphere! The plantation tour was fascinating. It was really well informed and rightly didn't sugar-coat the grim history of the place. All in all it was a great day and 'Beyond the Bayou' are highly recommended. read more

This was an incredible tour!!!! Great tour guides, kind people and a beautiful swamp. Would 10/10 recommend to anyone looking to see the wilder side of Louisiana! read more

My first trip to Tanzania was my first trip to Africa. Going with Gondwana Ecotours ended up being a trip of a lifetime experience for me. Our drivers, guides were knowledgeable, professional, patient, courteous. We always felt safe with their knowledge of the animals as well as thorough auto mechanical knowledge. This was so crucial when out in the bush on rough back roads. I appreciated their patience and willingness to share their knowledge of the animals and country in answering whatever questions I had. I always felt safe. Our accommodations were wonderful whether we were in safari tents or eco lodges. I was always amazed at the graciousness of service and warm welcomes we experienced whenever interacting with the Tanzanian people. We had a wonderful experience with a Maasai tribe in their working village for a day. Again, I can't recommend Gondwana Ecotours highly enough. Another big plus, is that Jared Sternberg, President of Gondwana, makes sure some of the profits go to bettering the lives of people who live and work in the communities where they travel. read more

Recently went on a safari to Tanzania with Gondwana Ecotours. It was one of the best experiences of my life. This company was thorough and professional. In the planning stages, if I emailed any questions, I had an answer the same day. Our accommodations were wonderful. Our drivers/guides on game drives were professional, personable and extremely knowledgable. They took us to find more animals than I could have imagine. They were able to answer any and all questions about Tanzania and/or the animals we were seeing. Gondwana is extremely well run and the management professionally handled any question or problem. I would highly recommend Gondwana to anyone interested in a safari to Tanzania or any of their Ecotours - I.e. Alaska, Peru, Norway ( northern lights) or the Amazon. read more

Excellent experience!!! We first visited Whitney plantation to learn about the history of slavery in the area and how African cultures have helped shape the culture of Louisiana. Jake then took us to a great local seafood restaurant, and then we kayaked a local swamp and saw a few gators. Jake is super knowledgeable and fun, and makes sure to see that everyone is having fun and is well informed. read more

I just returned from the Gondwana Ecotours trip to Rwanda. What a great experience. The chance to visit the Gorillas and support their conservation was a highlight. But so was the chance to visit an inspiring school called Aspire (a charity that trains women to help them improve their lives), meet members of the Batwa tribe, and visit an art coop. So go for the wildlife, but also enjoy the cultural exchange. The tour was well-run. I would definitely recommend this company - and their concept of tourism. read more

Excellent!!!! This tour literally was once-in-a-lifetime experience. Tanzania/Serengeti tour far exceeded our expectations. We not only saw many different wildlife but also was amazingly CLOSE to the animals in our viewing vehicles. Our wildlife guides were experienced and knew the animals and their behaviors well. As for the Gondwana guides (Mike, Ann, and Jared),they were very sensitive to our needs and would consider reasonable suggestions (or requests) and most times were able to honor these requests. The size of the group was small which made everything do-able. We all had great seats in the wild life viewing land cruisers. In fact EVERYONE in the group had a window seat of their own for viewing the wildlife in their Serengeti habitat. Our accommodations were very pleasant and comfortable throughout this tour.All in all I would rate this tour SIX out of a possible 5. I certainly would encourage anyone with an interest in Africa and its indigenous people to take this tour. Before we went to the Serengeti,Jared had arranged for a visit to a Maasai village. This was not a tourist stop but ion fact a real village in which Jared had established contact previously. This too was beyond expectations with our interaction with the people of this village, learning their culture and few words in their language so we could communicate. We would love to to this tour again sometime!! GREAT LIFETIME EXPERIENCE!!! read more