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South Louisiana Loop
This fly drive holiday is a wonderful way to explore the many facets of life in Louisiana. You will discover both Cajun and Creole cultures, visit swamps and alligators as well as staying in some beautiful Plantation homes. Music is an inherent part of Louisianan life, so be sure to eat at one of the many restaurants offering live bands and, of course, sample some of the fantastic seafood.
This itinerary is flexible and can be tailor-made to suit you; if you want to add extra days in one area, extend the holiday or maybe change the direction of travel. Talk to one of our experts about how to make this holiday the perfect one for you.
Ms Young"Seamless Holiday"
We used Frontier Travel to book our honeymoon. We were given all the information we needed and everything ran seamlessly. We had a fantastic time, the hotels and lodges were perfect. Thank you for organising such a brilliant trip!
Itinerary (11 Nights)
Here’s a day-by-day guide to your itinerary. Feel free to ask us to add other days or ideas and excursions by contacting us directly, so we can give you the best price.
Days 1-3
After arriving in New Orleans, transfer to your hotel and then walk over to the...
Days 1-3
New Orleans
After arriving in New Orleans, transfer to your hotel and then walk over to the French Quarter to commence your immersion into the Big Easy culture. Enjoy a spectacular meal at one of the many local restaurants in the quarter before returning to your hotel for some well-earned sleep.
Over the next two days you will be able to visit the highlights of New Orleans, listen to some jazz, visit St Louis Cathedral, snack on beignets and café au lait at the Café du Monde and be sure to take a dinner/jazz cruise aboard a sternwheeler on the Mississippi River.
3 nights in New Orleans
Day 4
New Orleans to Baton Rouge
Pick up your hire car and head out on Interstate 10 west to Baton Rouge...
Day 4
New Orleans
to Baton Rouge
Pick up your hire car and head out on Interstate 10 west to Baton Rouge for dinner and overnight accommodations. On your way into Baton Rouge don’t miss Tanger Shopping Outlet. Over 50 designer and manufacturer outlet stores can be found in this popular outlet mall. If you enjoy a good beer, do go to the Tin Roof Brewery to see how these small, local business owners keep up with the rest of the brewing world. Tastings of their delicious, Southern-inspired handcrafted brews are available.
Baton Rouge is growing in popularity and there are numerous places to grab drinks and listen to live music. There is a pulsating nightlife scene of Blues, Country, Cajun, Zydeco and everything in between! Be sure to walk through the ‘Dance Hall’ to hear a variety of Louisiana’s musicians. Also check out the Mardi Gras exhibit, a two-storey shrimp boat, and some of Governor Long’s famous speeches, or you might prefer to take a guided walking tour in downtown Baton Rouge which includes food tastings at local restaurants infused with entertaining historical and cultural details. Another option is the Rural Life Museum at Burden Museum and Gardens to get a feel for working plantation life at one of the top ten outdoor museums in the US.
1 night in Baton Rouge
Days 5-6
Baton Rouge to Natchez
Leaving Baton Rouge, you will head north to Natchez via St. Francisville where there are...
Days 5-6
Baton Rouge
to Natchez
Leaving Baton Rouge, you will head north to Natchez via St. Francisville where there are several glorious plantation homes and antebellum gardens including the Rosedown Plantation Station Historic Site, Audubon where the noted ornithologist lived in 1821 and the Myrtles to name but a few. You will have two nights in Natchez where you can stay in your choice of historic inns or b&bs. Natchez has played such an important part in US history: you can explore historic homes such as the beautiful Linden or the unfinished octagonal Longwood where construction was halted during the Civil War, visit the site of a former slave market, the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture or just wander the streets perhaps imagining who has trod there before.
2 nights Natchez
Days 7-8
Natchez to Natchitoches
Keep driving west to the small town of Natchitoches, Louisiana’s oldest city established in 1714...
Days 7-8
Natchez
to Natchitoches
Keep driving west to the small town of Natchitoches, Louisiana’s oldest city established in 1714 to visit the Cane River Creole Historical Park and the stunning plantation homes of Magnolia and Melrose. On the way, do stop at Frogmore Plantation, a still-working Cotton Plantation. Learn the process of this important cash crop that made many of Louisiana’s millionaires over 150 years ago!
2 night Natchitoches
Day 9
Natchitoches to Lake Charles
Spend the night in Lake Charles, a delightful town full of Victorian houses. Visit the...
Day 9
Natchitoches
to Lake Charles
Spend the night in Lake Charles, a delightful town full of Victorian houses. Visit the Mardi Gras Museum and wonder at all the amazing costumes prepared for previous celebrations: you can have your own celebration in one of the many casinos in town. As in every town in this part of the world, you are spoilt for choices of restaurant, however, we suggest you choose a Cajun one here as you are now firmly in Cajun country. Wonderful smoked meats and hearty dishes like jambalaya or boudin.
1 night in Lake Charles
Day 10
Lake Charles to Lafayette
Start the day with a relaxing carriage ride along Shell Beach Drive, then on your...
Day 10
Lake Charles
to Lafayette
Start the day with a relaxing carriage ride along Shell Beach Drive, then on your way to Plantation Country, you might want to follow the Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail. Considered a staple snack in the southern regions of Louisiana, boudin (pronounced boo-dan) is made of varying amounts of rice, pork meat, liver, onions, parsley and dry seasonings. Bought by the pound, boudin is Southwest Louisiana’s favourite finger food. Each boudin master has their own secret recipe… follow the trail and try them all!
Enjoy a swamp tour adventure into the interior of one of America’s greatest river swamps, the Atchafalaya Basin, or at beautiful Lake Martin. Get ready for an adventure through moss-draped trees, where you will experience lush vegetation, birds and alligators. or learn about the Acadians ‘Cajuns’ and Creole cultures at one of the historic villages. Don’t miss the chance to visit an alligator farm, totally fascinating to learn how these creatures live and their history.
Days 10-11
Lafayette to Plantation Country
After your stop in Lafayette, continue on to New Orleans Plantation Country and more swamp...
Days 10-11
Lafayette
to Plantation Country
After your stop in Lafayette, continue on to New Orleans Plantation Country and more swamp tours if you have the appetite. The famous Manchac Swamp is to be noted for a unique journey back to the early days of Louisiana bayou and mysterious swamp explorations.
Now it is your turn to stay in one of the wonderful plantation homes that have been such a feature of this holiday while you explore the many wonderful and atmospheric plantation homes along the River Road. We would especially recommend visiting the Laura Plantation and the Whitney Plantation where the focus is on how the slaves lived.
2 nights at Plantation accommodations
Day 12
Plantation Country to New Orleans
Complete the loop by returning to the ‘Big Easy’, ready to fly home or onward.
Day 12
Plantation Country
to
New Orleans
Complete the loop by returning to the ‘Big Easy’, ready to fly home or onward.
J Smith - Travelled New York to TorontoI have just returned from a tailor made holiday made possible by Jeannette Dembrey. This was the first time I had ever organised such a major holiday and as it was a gift for my children after my retirement it was really important to get things right. I went to quite a few agencies but Jeannette was way better than any of the people who I spoke to. She was so professional and wanted me to get the best from the money I could afford. The holiday was absolutely amazing and everything went like clockwork. Jeannette had thought of everything even the connections between places and the things we would do in each town. We stayed in 6 hotels altogether starting in New York and ending in Toronto. I am amazed at how smoothly it went. Even my son who has travelled all over the world was impressed with the way things had been organised. I cannot praise Jeannette enough for her professionalism. Thank you Jeannette. I would recommend you to anyone with the satisfaction of knowing that you did an amazing job. Thank you.
