“Southern Hospitality” is just what you’ll find while exploring this region’s diverse cultural, culinary, and natural attractions. Savor delectable meals, including a special cooking demonstration and dining experience at TABASCO® Pepper Sauce Factory. Travel back in time as you explore historical towns and plantations along the way, meet bayou country locals who live off the land and sea, and laissez les bons temps rouler during a thrilling excursion into the heart of Cajun and Creole country.
- Guided tour of Houmas House, Mardi Gras World and New Orleans
- Visit working rice, crawfish, shrimp and alligator farms
- Taste authentic Louisiana cuisine including a cooking demonstration and seafood boil
- Meet warm, welcoming locals who live and work in bayou country
- Explore the WWII Museum, Vermilionville and TABASCO® factory
- Swamp boat ride in search of alligators, birds, flora, and fauna
DAY 1: WELCOME TO THE BIG EASY!
Enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers as you build excitement for the experience ahead! D
DAY 2: HOUMAS HOUSE/GREAT RIVER ROAD MUSEUM/SWAMP TOUR
This morning, venture into Cajun Country and enjoy a guided tour of the Houmas House Estate. The mansion sits along the Mississippi River and has been restored to the antebellum era, reflecting the opulence and wealth this sugarcane farm boasted in the 1880s. After enjoying a delicious lunch at Dixie’s café, we will take a slow-moving cruise through Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin Swamp. Keep your eye out for a large array of wildlife including alligators and osprey. Next, we will visit Cypress Cove and meet Yvette Landry and Jourdan Thibodeaux to learn of the history, tradition, and roots of Louisiana French music from those who know it best. Listen to ancestral Cajun and Creole music and stories, learn the dances of the Fais Do-Do and Mardi Gras. You may even get to play Cajun percussion instruments, like the T-Fer, or accordion as part of the band! B, L
DAY 3: FARM TOUR/HISTORIC VILLAGE/BEIGNETS
Today, we will visit a rice and crawfish farm and meet a farmer who has mastered double cropping, a technique that involves growing and harvesting both rice and crawfish in the same pond or field. This afternoon, we’ll visit Vermilionville Historic Village, where we’ll enjoy lunch and learn how to make beignets. Of course, you’ll be able to samplethis delicious Louisiana delicacy. Next, we’ll stroll through the historic village to explore the history, culture, and natural resources of the Native Americans, Acadians, and Creoles of the Attakapas region. Tonight, relax at our hotel in Lafayette and enjoy dinner on your own at the hotel or a local restaurant. B, L
DAY 4: AVERY ISLAND/HOT SAUCE/COOKING DEMO/ALLIGATORS
Today, things “heat up” at the one-and-only TABASCO® Pepper Sauce factory. Enjoy- a tour of the factory and see how this famous sauce was made back in 1868 and how it is made, packaged, and delivered around the world today. For lunch our group will meet with one of TABASCO® Executive Chefs and enjoy a 4 course TABASCO® inspired Southern meal. Afterward, explore Avery Island Jungle Gardens and Bird Sanctuary, home to countless varieties of exotic plants and wildlife. This afternoon we will tour a working alligator farm. If we’re lucky, you may even be able to hold a baby alligator! B, L
DAY 5: SHRIMP/BASKET WEAVING/AUTHENTIC SEAFOOD BOIL
After breakfast, hear the tales of hardworking fishing families and be prepared to be mesmerized as we witness the captivating process behind the delectable dried shrimp, also known as Cajun popcorn. You will witness the intricate techniques used to dry and season the shrimp to perfection. Plus, enjoy the exclusive opportunity to taste the shrimp popcorn firsthand. We’ll have a delicious lunch before heading to the Bayou Terrebonne Water Life Museum to meet Ms. Janie Luster, a tribal member of the United Houma Nation. As a master palmetto basket weaver, she will show you how she makes her basket and tell us about the tribe’s culture, history, and arts. Food is Louisianans’ love language and tonight, we will experience firsthand what it’s like to be Cajun with the locals at an authentic seafood boil. Don’t worry, we will have you covered with local non-seafood dishes as well. Seafood boils are one of Houma's favorite pastimes! B, L, D
DAY 6: NEW ORLEANS/WWII MUSEUM/FRENCH QUARTER
This morning, head to New Orleans and visit the National WWII Museum. Explore the lives of American men and women during WWII through letters, recruitment posters, weapons, models, and film. We will enjoy a delicious lunch at the museum. This afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of New Orleans with a local guide that will include the famous French Quarter, see the stately homes of the Garden District, and view some of New Orleans’ well-known cemeteries, with elaborate sculptures and decorative artwork. Tonight, we will stay near the French Quarter, and you will have the opportunity to explore on your own and have dinner at one of the many delicious restaurants nearby. B, L
DAY 7: MARDI GRAS/ FAREWELL
Before heading home, we will visit Mardi Gras World. Here we will take a guided tour to see how the floats are made for the famous Mardi Gras Parades in New Orleans. You will even get to make your own Mardi Gras mask and have a taste of some King cake. Say goodbye to new friends and head home with incredible memories of our time in Cajun and Creole Country. B
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Night 1: New Orleans Marriott, French Quarter
Nights 2-3: Drury Inn and Suites Lafayette
Nights 4-5: Homewood Suites Houma
Night 6: New Orleans Marriott, French Quarter
Dates
- Depart: March 17, 2025
- Return: March 23, 2025
Price Per Person
- Double $2,899
- Triple/Quad $2,699
- Single $3,429
*Price includes airfare from STL/MCI (call for other gateway cities)
Walking Distance
Moderate walking is required to fully enjoy this tour. Some walking will also be on uneven paths. While walking canes are allowed, we are unable to accommodate travelers using other mobility devices, including walkers and wheelchairs.
Average Temps
March – high of 75°, low of 55°
September – high of 90°, low of 75°
Time Zone
Central
Other General Information
We will send 3 key communications for your tour; “Get Ready” is your email confirmation and initial tour information sent upon registration, “Get Set” email will be sent about two months before departure, “Go” trip documentation mailing is sent via USPS 3-4 weeks before departure and will include your daily itinerary, luggage tags and final departure information.
Travel Protection is optional and highly recommended and can be purchased until the day before departure. We offer Travel Guard from AIG, which costs 8.5% of your tour, information about which will be sent with your Get Ready email.
Unless otherwise noted, your Sunrise Tour includes: Professional Sunrise Tour Director, meals as indicated, local step on guides including gratuity (international tour guide gratuity inclusion vary by tour), deluxe motorcoach transportation w/rest room, admission to activities and events as indicated, airfare from designated airports, transportation to/from designated airports from our convenient local pickup points*, luggage handling at hotels when available
We believe tipping is a personal and discretionary interaction between our guests and our staff. A typical gratuity for your Sunrise Tour Director and motorcoach driver may be $5-$7per person, per day on tour. Sunrise Shuttle drivers appreciate gratuities (suggest $5 per person) for excellent service as well. Our staff will not solicit gratuities or pass out envelopes.
We are happy to offer refreshments on most motorcoach travel days on tour. We recommend you bring a refillable water bottle to maintain healthy hydration.
If less than 4 people request a pickup point, we may ask that you choose another pickup point from which to join your Sunrise Tour.
If you would like to join a tour from a city not listed as a departure point, we would love to have you along! Please discuss arrangements with our friendly reservation team. From a departure city not listed, typical airfare will be +$100 higher than our published fare for domestic tours, and +$200 for international tours.
If you have a TSA precheck or Airline Rewards numbers, you MUST give those numbers to our reservations team at least 60 days before departure, otherwise they may not be applied.
Preferred seating may not be available on group air. In some cases, seats are not assigned until the airport. Your tour fare includes an economy seat on the flight; it does not include seat selection. Seat upgrades may be available at an additional cost.
To help make our tours the most comfortable in the business, we limit Sunrise Tours motorcoaches to 80% capacity, or 44 passengers on a coach built for 55. We reserve the right to amend this practice.
Your Tour Director will rotate seats on the motorcoach each day of your tour. A single fare does not guarantee two seats on coach; you may be seated next to another friendly Sunrise Tours guest.
Terms and Conditions
Please refer to our policies HERE for more information on our terms and conditions.
