French Quarter history walk
Two hours from Jackson Square through the back streets, covering the fires, the Spanish period and the ironwork.
Groups capped at twelve
History walks where you can actually hear the guide
We cap every tour at twelve people, so there are no headsets, no shouting over traffic and no standing at the back of a crowd of forty.
12max group size
5licensed guides
2 hrstypical tour length
Since 2013walking these streets
Our tours
Five walks, each one about two hours
All prices are per person and include the guide, not admission where a site charges separately.
Garden District architecture
Two and a half hours through Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 and the mansions along Prytania.
Treme and jazz origins
Congo Square, the Backstreet Museum block and the neighborhood that produced the music.
Evening ghost and lore walk
Six o clock start, real archival stories rather than jump scares, families welcome.
Private group up to 8
Your own guide at a time you pick, with the route adjusted for mobility or interests.
Cemetery permit tour
St. Louis No. 1 with a licensed guide, which is the only way visitors can enter.
Who guides
Five licensed guides who live in the neighborhoods they walk
Bayou Walk started in 2013 when Marcus Rideau, a former Tulane archives assistant, got tired of hearing invented history shouted through a megaphone. Every guide holds a City of New Orleans tour guide license and researches their own route from primary sources.
•All guides hold current City of New Orleans guide licenses
•Routes built from archival records, not repeated tour legends
•Tours run rain or shine, with ponchos provided
Reviews
What walkers said
“Nine people on our tour and I could ask questions the whole way. The last tour I took had forty and a microphone.”
Beth L., French Quarter walk
“Our guide pulled up a 1830s map on a tablet to show what had burned. That level of detail was worth the price twice over.”
Ibrahim K., Garden District
“We had a grandmother with a walker and they slowed the route and cut two blocks without making it awkward.”
Charlene M., Private group
FAQ
Before you book
How much walking is involved?
About 1.4 miles for the French Quarter walk and 1.8 for the Garden District, on uneven sidewalks with frequent stops. Tell us at booking if anyone in your group has mobility limits and we will adjust the route.
What happens if it rains?
Tours run in rain and we hand out ponchos. We only cancel for lightning or a city flood advisory, and in that case you get a full refund or a free reschedule.
Can we book same day?
Often yes, since we hold two spots on most walks for walk ups. Call the office rather than booking online for same day and we will tell you what is actually open.
Is gratuity expected?
It is not included and never required. Most guests who enjoyed the walk tip their guide $5 to $10 per person, which our guides keep in full.
Contact
Pick a time and we will hold your spot
Call or book online. We confirm by text the morning of your tour with the exact meeting corner.
Phone(303) 555-0103
Address615 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, New Orleans, Louisiana
HoursTours daily 9am, 2pm and 6pm, office 8am to 8pm
AreaFrench Quarter, Garden District, Treme, Marigny