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Delta Discovery tours

Ecotours into the Mississippi River Delta

 

Trips & Tours

 
 
Delta Trip

Tale of Two Deltas

Our most popular tour. This trip shows both sides of the Mississippi River Delta, one of industrial development and humanity’s will, the other a connected ecosystem with diverse life and hope. We can shorten this trip if you have time constraints.

$150 per person 5 hours

2025 $200 per person

Birdsfoot tour

BIRDSFOOT TRIP

Want to visit the end of the Mississippi River? This is the trip for you. Dotted with far flung lighthouses and layers of natural & human history we explore this rich watery landscape where river meets sea. $200 per person 6 hours

2025 $250 per person

 

LARGE GROUP CUSTOM TRIPS

Our partners can provide extra capacity as needed. Ask us about large group trips.

Dolphin Tour

Dolphin Excursion

Cruise along the barrier islands as our local population of bottlenose dolphins play. Great for family trips year round. The perfect sunset trip! We operate these trips to standards set by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and never feed wildlife. Kids ride half price.

$100 per person 3 hours

2025 $150 per person

Ben Depp Shot

Delta Circle

An all day adventure! This trip is Coastal Louisiana in summary. Travel through marshes and bays to barrier islands. See vibrant wildlife and birds as industry and nature are juxtaposed on this 60 mile long trip. We mix history, storytelling, and multimedia to paint a picture of the Mississippi River Delta.

$200 per person 8 hours

2025 $250 per person

SEAPLANE AND BOAT OUTING

The ultimate way to experience the delta. Pairing a seaplane overflight with our boat trips help you see the big picture and the details in one sitting. Perfect for VIPs, people short on time, and gifts that will be remembered for a lifetime.

$1650 up to four guests 4 hours

Bird Safari

Birding Safari

Migratory and native birds abound in both variety and volume in the Mississippi River Delta. Our route showcases several coastal subtypes each with unique birds. Great for beginners and experienced birders alike. Customizable routes tailored to the species you’d like to discover.

$200 per person 8 hours

2025 $250 per person 8 hours

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SPECIALTY TRIPS

Scientific missions, paddler pick-ups, and beach camping are all part of what we do. We got our start by providing bespoke marine transportation within the delta, ask us how we can help you achieve your goals.

 

Delta Discovery connects explorers with the wilds of the Mississippi River Delta.

 

Delta Discovery Tours is a nature and charter boat operator that brings travelers deep into the Mississippi River Delta, to the end of the Great River Road, on six passenger, traditional Louisiana fishing boats. We provide bespoke tours in the New Orleans, Louisiana area with our custom boats by taking information about tides, weather conditions, and your interests to craft tours that send you back into the world equipped with a deeper understanding of the delta. This educational service is sought out by artists, culinary experts, scientists, and journalists the world over.

Our most popular tour is the Delta Circumnavigation where we visit barrier islands, spend time in the Mississippi River, and explore estuaries on both the east and west sides of the river. It’s an all day excursion and the best eco tour value in New Orleans.

Our small boat tours are built around you to create a private, intimate, setting to ask more questions and spend more time on the water. Always committed to responsible operations, we plant hundreds of trees annually, operate with fuel efficient equipment, and we never feed the wildlife.

We offer New Orleans’ most authentic nature based boat tours and trips. Where we operate is the key, down in the active Mississippi River Delta south of New Orleans there are so many places to explore that are more interesting and diverse than just a swamp. We’re operating over a larger geographic area at the intersection of environment, commerce, history, and what could be. Our trips are pet friendly too!

For professional photographers, artists, filmmakers, and academics Delta Discovery offers totally custom trips into the delta. We have brought biologists, filmmakers, contemporary artists, and elected officials into the delta to capture crucial data, take stunning photos, create award winning art, and inform policy makers about the importance of maintaining a sustainable delta for generations to come. We look forward to getting you out in the delta!

“To say our guests were blow away – would be an understatement. It was truly exceptional. ”
— Mali Carow, Four Seasons
“I wanted to follow up with a big THANK YOU!! from the Blanco Center. We all had a great time and the trip last Friday has sparked a lot of great conversations and brainstorming on future work across our staff! ”
— Dr. Stephen R. Barnes

Frequently Asked Questions

How to book a trip.

Please send us a message in the contact section of this website. Leave your name, contact info, your desired date, number of folks in your party, and tell us about which trip makes you want to see the delta up close and unscripted. We get back to you ASAP with details and availability. We previously had instant booking, but that doesn’t fit the experience most of our guests are seeking.

Tell us what you’d like to see and we’ll do the rest

Tell us what you’d like to see and we’ll do the rest

Trips in cooler weather are just as fun with the right clothes

Trips in cooler weather are just as fun with the right clothes

Please let us know the number of folks in your party. Motion sickness is uncommon, but if you have a history just let us know and we’ll make sure to take the most protected routes.

Where do trips leave from?

Most trips leave from the Delta Discovery Dock located at 168 Ice House Road in Empire, Louisiana. Here are the directions. Located just over the drawbridge, make a right on Battistella’s Lane and an immediate right back toward the bridge onto Ice House Road. The marina is a beige single story building with a red door. Please park near the pavilion area. Our boat, New Delta, will be in the water out front and your captain nearby. You can find restrooms and coffee inside.

What time do trips leave?

Trips usually depart for 9:00am. We’re happy to be flexible with departure times to accommodate your group, just let us know.

How long is a typical trip?

Trips last from two hours to multi day excursions. Our most popular routes are three hours and six hours.

I have a specific mission, can you help me?

Yes! We started by doing custom trips and we love to dial in to help safely run specialty trips within the delta. Some of the more common custom trips are scientific missions, Mississippi River paddler pickups & support, and beach camping, but we’ve recovered autonomous vessels & buoys as well as collected data remotely for scientists working from afar.

Scofield Island, our barrier island stop

Scofield Island, our barrier island stop

What should I expect on the trip?

At the marina your guide will share a brief history of the delta with your group before departure using charts and photos. Our boat is a 22’ traditional Louisiana fishing boat built for the conditions found locally. The boat has a full length canvas and comfy seats. We cruise between 18-25 miles per hour. While sometimes there may be spray, your guide will do their best to minimize that. Weather and tides permitting, we almost always stop for a walk on the barrier islands. We mix the on-the-water experience with multimedia and storytelling to paint a picture of the delta. About half way through the trip we stop at a second marina where there is a restaurant and restrooms.

What happens if the tides are too high?

If you’re on a completely custom trip, or there are abnormal water conditions the captain will send you directions to the alternate marina nearby.

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What should we wear?

April to October:

South Pass Light at Port Eads

South Pass Light at Port Eads

Wear comfortable, season appropriate outdoor clothes. Hats and sunglasses are helpful. Water conditions permitting, comfortable shoes and sandals that can get wet are a good idea. Fishing shirts, Dryfit shirts, and shorts are sure bet. Staying hydrated is key, please bring the beverages of your choice.

October to April

The retention time of the Mississippi River is only 90 days and it has an influence on the local weather. The river will be relatively cold until late April. The area is humid. Layers are a must in colder months. Even if the temperature is forecast to be mild it will feel much colder on the water traveling at speed. Coats, warm hats and thermals are a good idea on days below 50f/10c degrees.

If you’re camping with us overnight on the beach we recommend contacting us to avoid bringing duplicate gear.

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Will you have bug spray and sun screen?

We’ll have bug spray, sunscreen and an ice chest aboard. Please bring whatever you’d like to eat or drink. Let us know in advance if you’d like us to bring refillable water bottles.

What if it rains?

We do our best to avoid weather by diverting and seeking shelter. In the event of a sudden shower we have rain ponchos onboard and the boat has a full length canvas. If the chance of rain makes running the trip hazardous a full refund will be given. You’ll have the option of a windshield tour by car.

Where to Stay

We have preferred lodging partners for all tastes and budgets. Woodland is a beautifully restored Bed & Breakfast with fifty acres to explore complete with white tablecloth dining and resident alligators. Le Matidora Inn is a 15 room Bed & Breakfast with a swimming pool, billiards, and is pet friendly. The Salty Marsh Floatel is a shared quarter barge located in Cypress Cove Marina. Each one of our B&B partners has a down home feel and we couldn’t be happier to offer them here.

We look forward to your trip into the delta! If you have any questions you can ask them in the contact form, or reach Capt. Richie anytime by cell at 225-287-2843

Delta Discovery Dock

 
 

The eco Marina in the Delta

Delta Discovery’s dock facility is located at 168 Icehouse Road Empire, La 70050. Our dock has indoor classroom space, bus parking, a large outdoor covered space and a growing coastal library. Our 2400 square foot space is ideal for researchers and artists working for extended periods on the coast. The dock is ideal for staging materials, boats, and people. Our facility has a large projector screen and satellite internet. Ask us about how we can help to support your project today.

Transient parking and crew changes are welcome at the Delta Discovery Dock.

For transient boaters: our dock has adequate draft for most vessels transiting the Empire Doullout Canal. We can accomodate recreational boaters, Great Loopers, tugs, and crew boats overnight, weekly, and monthly.

For coastal contractors: Our dock can be used as a staging area for a wide range of projects.