What Should I Wear on a Swamp Tour in New Orleans?
Wear light, quick-drying clothes you do not mind getting a little wet, and shoes that can get wet too. Add a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. That is the whole answer. You are paddling a kayak through a swamp in Louisiana, so the goal is cool, dry-fast, and easy to move in. Leave the nice outfit at the hotel.
People overthink this. You do not need gear or anything technical. You need clothes that handle sun, splash, and heat without making you miserable. Here is how to nail it.
What to Wear
Build your outfit around three facts: you will be in the sun, you might get splashed, and you will be moving your arms the whole time.
- Top: a light, quick-drying shirt. Moisture-wicking athletic fabric is ideal. A swimsuit top works too.
- Bottom: quick-drying shorts or athletic leggings. Avoid jeans, they get heavy and cold when wet and never dry.
- Hat: a brimmed hat or cap. The sun on open water is no joke.
- Sunglasses: polarized if you have them, with a strap so they do not end up on the swamp floor.
- Sunscreen: reef-safe, put on before you launch and again partway through.
A good rule: dress like you might end up in the water, even though you probably will not. If everything you have on can get splashed and shrug it off, you are set.
What to Put on Your Feet
This is the part people get wrong. Wear shoes that can get wet and stay on your feet. Good options:
- Water shoes
- Sport sandals with a heel strap
- An old pair of sneakers you do not mind soaking
Skip flip-flops. They slip off in mud and float away at the launch. Do not go barefoot either, since the launch area can be muddy and have roots and sticks. You will step in and out of the kayak, so protect your feet.
What to Bring
Pack light. Whatever you bring rides in the kayak with you, so a giant beach bag is a hassle. The essentials:
- Water to drink, especially in the warm months
- A phone or camera, in a waterproof case or pouch
- A small dry bag for keys, wallet, and anything you cannot replace
- Bug spray in the warm season
- A light layer in cooler months for the start of the paddle
You will want a camera. Between the alligators, herons, egrets, ibis, eagles, ospreys, turtles, and the cypress draped in Spanish moss, there is plenty worth shooting. Just keep it protected from splash.
Season Notes
What you wear shifts a little with the calendar.
- Warm months, March through October: this is gator season and our busy stretch. Go as light as you can, double up on sunscreen and water, and bring bug spray. Mornings are best for beating the afternoon heat and storms.
- Cooler months: add a light layer you can shed once the sun is up. The swamp gets chilly early, then warms fast.
Either way, both of our trips are beginner friendly with no experience needed, so you are not training for anything. Show up dressed to get a little wet and you are ready.
Where We Meet
Our tours start from 740 N Rampart Street in New Orleans, run two hours, and cost $65 per person. Optional shuttle add-ons are available if you would rather not drive out to the swamp yourself. Once you are dressed right, the rest is easy.
Choose your swamp: the Manchac Swamp kayak tour for classic cypress and Spanish moss with the Julia Brown haunted legend, or the Honey Island Swamp kayak tour for wilder open river and the Honey Island Swamp Monster story.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear on a kayak swamp tour?
Wear light, quick-drying clothes you do not mind getting splashed, plus shoes that can get wet. Add a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for the sun. Skip jeans and anything you would be upset to get muddy. You are on the water, so plan to get a little wet.
Should I wear shoes or go barefoot on a swamp tour?
Wear shoes that can get wet, like water shoes, sport sandals with a heel strap, or an old pair of sneakers. You will step in and out of the kayak at the launch, and the ground can be muddy or have roots. Flip-flops fall off too easily, so skip those.
What should I bring on a New Orleans swamp tour?
Bring water to drink, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a phone or camera in a waterproof case or bag. A small dry bag for valuables helps. In the warm months bug spray is smart. Keep it light, since whatever you bring rides in the kayak with you.
Dressed and ready? Lock in your spot on the Manchac Swamp kayak tour. Two hours, $65 per person, beginner friendly, meeting at 740 N Rampart Street. Wear something that can get wet, bring a camera, and come see the swamp up close.