Self-Guided Bayou Bienvenue Kayak Rental

No prior experience is necessary. Bayou Bienvenue is a calm, easy-to-navigate waterway perfect for beginners. Simply paddle out into the bayou and return at your leisure—there's no set route to follow or guide to keep up with.

It's a fully self-serve experience. After booking online, you'll receive confirmation with all the instructions you need. When you arrive at 2101 Paris Rd., use the provided code to unlock your kayak, then grab a life jacket and paddle from the bins. When you're done, lock everything back up the same way.

The launch site at 2101 Paris Rd. is just a 15-minute Uber or rideshare ride from the French Quarter. Note that transportation to and from the site is not included, so plan your ride in advance—especially for your return trip.

Bayou Bienvenue is a calm and manageable paddle, but we always recommend letting someone know your plans when going out solo. As for wildlife, the bayou is teeming with it—expect to spot pelicans, herons, egrets, turtles, and alligators along the way.

Pack water, snacks, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and bug repellent. Wear athletic clothing and water shoes or waterproof sandals. A camera is highly recommended—just bring a waterproof case, as those aren't provided.

Yes! Both single and tandem kayaks are available. Select your preference when booking online.

We generally return to the New Orleans approximately 3.5-4 hours following the scheduled tour time.  Of course traffic and other factors can come into play.

Gulf weather is notoriously hard to predict and impossible to forecast. A light rain is usually a cool welcome in the spring and the summer months. If the weather is potentially a danger to our customers, we will be in touch ahead of time to reschedule. If we call off a tour due to severe weather/cold and you are not able to reschedule, we do offer a full refund.

Dress for the weather and wear light layered breathable, synthetic clothing/swimsuits during the warm months and a warm thermal cover in the winter for your swamp tour. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Sandals or athletic shoes you don’t mind getting wet or dirty.

• We are an eco tour company that does not feed the wildlife!
• Our kayaks allow easy entry to shallow and narrow waterways that would be inaccessible to larger motorized vessels.
• Silence is golden.  Without a large motor disturbing the natural setting, we are able to quietly view the wildlife and landscape as it is naturally without having to bait the waters to generate any excitement.
• Education.  Our guides have a thorough understanding  and knowledge of the history, geology, zoology and current environmental issues regarding our delta.
• We have new Ford Transit Vehicles for our shuttles.

• We start our tour from a roadside boat launch along the edge of the Maurepas Wildlife Management Area 30 miles to the west of New Orleans.  We send the exact coordinates and detailed directions with pictures in a confirmation email upon making a booking.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes before tour.  If you arrive any earlier, there is a chance our trailer and van wont yet be there to use as a visual marker, but we should be arriving shortly.

PLEASE do not use Uber.  Not only is it much more costly, but our tour leaves from a roadside boat launch with no physical address.  Also, rural Louisiana doesn’t always have the best Uber service.  If you need a ride, USE OUR SHUTTLE SERVICE that you can add during booking.