For anyone seeking a truly unforgettable gift, New Orleans delivers experiences that linger in memory long after the music fades. Whether your recipient craves spine-tingling ghost tours through shadowy cemeteries, swamp adventures amongst ancient cypress forests, or culinary journeys through the birthplace of gumbo and beignets, this city offers moments that can't be wrapped in paper. A Gifting Owl gift voucher lets recipients choose any experience in the value and currency of their choice, delivered instantly by email and redeemable for any of our 20,000 experiences across 100+ countries.
The beauty of gifting an experience in New Orleans lies in its sheer variety. From paddle wheelers cruising the Mississippi River to intimate jazz club sessions in Frenchmen Street venues, from voodoo walking tours to cooking classes led by Creole masters, every experience captures something essential about this extraordinary city.
• Why Gifting Owl
Gifting Owl specialises in curating exceptional experiences that match the spirit of destinations like New Orleans, where conventional gifts simply can't compete with the magic of lived moments. Our platform connects gift recipients with authentic local operators who know every hidden courtyard, every legendary musician, and every secret spot where the city reveals its true character. With vouchers valid for three years and exchangeable for experiences worldwide, your recipient has complete freedom to choose their perfect New Orleans adventure when the timing suits them best.
• Swamp and Bayou Tours
Venture beyond the city limits into Louisiana's primordial wetlands, where Spanish moss dangles from bald cypress trees and alligators glide silently through tea-coloured waters. These swamp tours transport you into an ecosystem unchanged for millennia, where skilled local guides navigate narrow channels and share stories of Cajun culture, wildlife behaviour, and the delicate balance of wetland life. The soundtrack here is birdsong and cicadas rather than jazz bands, yet the experience feels equally quintessential to understanding Louisiana's soul.
Gifting a swamp tour means offering someone the chance to witness nature at its most raw and beautiful. Recipients return with photographs of prehistoric reptiles basking in dappled sunlight and tales of encountering herons, turtles, and wild boar in their natural habitat. It's an adventure that contrasts perfectly with the urban energy of the French Quarter whilst remaining deeply rooted in Louisiana's character.
What's available:
• Airboat swamp tours - High-speed adventures through shallow waters with expert naturalist guides.
• Kayak bayou expeditions - Paddle peacefully through cypress forests at water level for intimate wildlife encounters.
• Plantation and swamp combination tours - Explore antebellum estates before heading into the wetlands.
• Night swamp tours - Experience the bayou after dark when nocturnal creatures emerge and alligator eyes glow red in torchlight.
Expert Insider Tip: Book morning tours during warmer months when alligators are most active and basking in early sunshine, whilst afternoon tours in cooler seasons offer better wildlife spotting as animals emerge to feed before dusk.
Best for: Nature enthusiasts, wildlife photographers, families seeking outdoor adventures, and anyone wanting to experience Louisiana's wild side beyond the city.
• Ghost and Cemetery Tours
New Orleans embraces its haunted reputation with genuine pride, and for good reason. The city's unique above-ground cemeteries, known as Cities of the Dead, create atmospheric labyrinths of whitewashed tombs and crumbling vaults that tell centuries of stories. Ghost tours weave through the French Quarter's gaslit streets, past buildings where unexplained footsteps echo through empty rooms and shadows move where no living person stands. These aren't cheesy jump-scare experiences but deeply researched historical journeys into New Orleans' darker chapters.
For recipients who love mystery and history intertwined, a ghost tour delivers both thrills and genuine cultural insight. Guides share documented accounts of voodoo queens, devastating yellow fever epidemics, and the spirits said to still wander infamous locations like the LaLaurie Mansion. The experience transforms a simple evening stroll into something genuinely spine-tingling whilst revealing layers of New Orleans history rarely covered in conventional tours.
What's available:
• French Quarter ghost walking tours - Evening explorations of haunted locations with storytelling guides.
• Cemetery tours of St Louis No. 1 - Discover ornate tombs and learn burial customs unique to New Orleans.
• Combination voodoo and ghost experiences - Explore the mystical traditions that shaped the city's supernatural reputation.
• Pub crawl ghost tours - Visit haunted bars whilst sampling local drinks and hearing spine-chilling tales.
Expert Insider Tip: St Louis Cemetery No. 1 now requires visitors to book with licensed tour companies only, so advance booking is essential for accessing this iconic location where many famous New Orleans figures rest.
Best for: History buffs, paranormal enthusiasts, couples seeking atmospheric evening activities, and anyone fascinated by New Orleans' mysterious side.
• Food and Cocktail Experiences
New Orleans didn't just contribute to American cuisine, it created entirely new categories of flavour. This is where Creole and Cajun traditions merge, where French techniques meet African ingredients and Spanish influences, resulting in dishes found nowhere else. Food tours guide participants through centuries-old markets, past sizzling po'boy shops, into family-run praline factories, and through restaurants where recipes have passed down through generations unchanged. Cocktail experiences explore the birthplace of the Sazerac and venues where master mixologists craft Ramos Gin Fizzes using techniques perfecting over more than a century.
Gifting a culinary experience means offering someone edible memories they'll treasure and attempt to recreate long after returning home. Recipients learn the secrets behind perfect gumbo, discover why New Orleans coffee tastes different, and understand the cultural stories baked into every beignet. These aren't passive tasting experiences but interactive journeys where participants engage with the city's soul through their taste buds.
What's available:
• French Quarter food walking tours - Sample classic dishes whilst learning neighbourhood history from local guides.
• Creole cooking classes - Hands-on instruction in preparing authentic jambalaya, gumbo, and other Louisiana classics.
• Cocktail history tours - Visit historic bars and learn the stories behind New Orleans' legendary drinks.
• Beignet and coffee tastings - Experience café culture at legendary institutions and hidden neighbourhood gems.
Expert Insider Tip: Book food tours for late morning rather than afternoon, when you'll have appetite for multiple tastings and restaurants are preparing fresh batches of signature dishes rather than serving leftovers from lunch service.
Best for: Food lovers, aspiring home chefs, cocktail enthusiasts, and anyone who believes the best way to understand culture is through cuisine.
• Jazz and Music Experiences
Jazz was born in New Orleans, and the city has never stopped celebrating its musical heritage. Live music pours from venues across the city every night, from legendary preservation halls to intimate Frenchmen Street clubs where local musicians still play for love rather than fame. Music experiences range from traditional jazz brunches with brass bands to behind-the-scenes tours exploring the neighbourhoods where Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, and countless other pioneers developed the art form that changed music forever.
For music lovers, a New Orleans jazz experience offers something beyond simply attending a concert. Recipients gain insight into how this uniquely American art form emerged from the cultural melting pot of Congo Square, second line parades, and funeral processions. They might find themselves in a cramped club where a 75-year-old clarinetist still plays every Thursday, or learning basic jazz piano from musicians who studied under the city's last living legends.
What's available:
• Preservation Hall intimate concerts - Experience traditional jazz in the venue that's protected the art form since the 1960s.
• Jazz history walking tours - Explore the neighbourhoods and venues where jazz legends made history.
• Second line parade experiences - Join authentic New Orleans brass band parades through neighbourhood streets.
• Live music pub crawls - Visit multiple Frenchmen Street venues in one evening with expert local guides.
Expert Insider Tip: Frenchmen Street offers more authentic local music scenes than Bourbon Street, with smaller venues where you'll hear working musicians playing genuine New Orleans jazz rather than cover bands performing for tourists.
Best for: Music enthusiasts, jazz aficionados, culture seekers, and anyone wanting to experience the soundtrack of New Orleans beyond recordings.
• Know Before You Go
Most New Orleans experiences operate year-round, though summer heat and humidity can be intense, so indoor experiences like cooking classes and jazz club visits become particularly appealing during July and August. Gifting Owl vouchers are valid worldwide for three years with free exchanges. Outdoor experiences including swamp tours may be weather-dependent, so check with your operator before booking. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for any French Quarter tour, as historic pavements are notoriously uneven. Many food tours cover substantial distances, so pace yourself and arrive hungry. Ghost tours often involve walking through dimly lit areas, so bring a torch if you prefer extra visibility.
• Quick Verdict
New Orleans experiences make extraordinary gifts because they capture something money can't buy elsewhere: the soul of a city that refuses to be ordinary. Whether your recipient explores haunted cemeteries, navigates ancient swamps, or discovers the birthplace of jazz, they're receiving memories infused with genuine New Orleans magic. Through Gifting Owl's curated selection of authentic local experiences, you're not just giving an activity but offering access to one of America's most culturally rich and unforgettable destinations.
