
New Orleans Esplanade Ridge: A Self-Guided Audio Tour
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Non-refundable booking. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.2/5
Based on 5 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is New Orleans Esplanade Ridge: A Self-Guided Audio Tour worth booking?
New Orleans Esplanade Ridge: A Self-Guided Audio Tour is a 1.3-hour experience in New Orleans, United States, from $12 per person. It scores 51 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.2/5 rating across 5 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 51 / 100
- Rating
- 4.2/5 (5)
- Duration
- 1.3 hours
- From
- $12 per person
Explore the Creole Garden District on Esplanade Avenue at your own pace with this highly acclaimed self guided audio tour of New Orleans. Beginning at Ashton’s Bed and Breakfast, a one-time antebellum plantation house in
What you get
About this experience
Explore the Creole Garden District on Esplanade Avenue at your own pace with this highly acclaimed self guided audio tour of New Orleans. Beginning at Ashton’s Bed and Breakfast, a one-time antebellum plantation house in the heart of the Faubourg St. John, you'll stroll down the beautiful central avenue of the city’s Creole Garden District, while discovering enticing stories of a neighborhood built by and for French Creoles in response to the encroaching Americanism that followed the 1803’s Louisiana Purchase. The tour is ready whenever you feel like taking a stroll. Using your smart phone's GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, the audio plays automatically at exactly the right time and place. If you prefer, you can download the tour and use it offline as well.If you've got an hour or so and want to explore the lush and historical sites that this New Orleans faubourg has to offer – this is the tour for you!
What's included
Included
- VoiceMap Application
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
- Lifetime access to 'Esplanade Ridge: The Creole Garden District' tour
Not included
- Smartphone
- Transportation
- Food/drinks
- Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
What you'll see and do
Le Musee de f.p.c.
The Museum of the Free People of Color preserves the three hundred-year history and culture of free people of color in New Orleans. The museum explores their history beginning in 1708. The front gallery chronicles the first 100 years, including the period under Spanish rule, 1763 to 1800, when slaves were sometimes allowed to purchase their freedom. One of the most moving exhibits includes a floor-to-ceiling petition to President Abraham Lincoln, dated Jan. 5, 1864, from 1,000 free men of color who were New Orleans property owners.
Pass by without stopping
Garden District
The Garden District has a collection of well preserved historic mansions that were built by wealthy newcomers to New Orleans. The area was developed between 1832 and 1900 and has a diverse mix of homes, antique shops, bars, cafes, gardens, parks and restaurants.
Pass by without stopping
St. Louis Cemetery No. 3
St. Louis Cemetery #3 is also known as The Angel Cemetery is located on ground that once was home to a leper colony. Louisiana has long hosted communities for the victims of leprosy and this cemetery began as a burial ground for those who died of the disease in New Orleans. Decades later, in 1854, a particularly devastating yellow fever epidemic left the city more in need of 8,000 burial plots so the priests at St. Louis Cathedral purchased the land for another sorely needed Catholic cemetery.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
New Orleans
Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart at any time and complete at your own pace. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- VoiceMap Audio Tours
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos

What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 5 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
2 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Pace and timing
2 mentionsSeveral reviewers comment on how the schedule is paced.
The guide
1 mentionTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Traveler reviews
5 verified traveler reviews for New Orleans Esplanade Ridge: A Self-Guided Audio Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great walk under the oaks!
This tour is just perfect for walkers, cyclists or even motorists. The stops are beautiful and engaging. I especially loved hearing about the Free People of Color in New Orleans as well as the less well known tales of the Luling Mansion.
via Tripadvisor
A neighborhood to enjoy over and over again
GREAT tour of a beautiful and historic NO. neighborhood The narrator is a native and folds in personal references that authenticate the tour--unlike many other tour guides. I also like that I can stop it and dwell on the beauty of an old home or historic site before moving on just by operating my phone...certainly better than following a person in a group pf 10-12 when much is missed. Cannot beat it for 5 bucks, and you'll go away appreciating the city much more.
via Tripadvisor
Esplanade Ridge
We are locals and this is one of our favorite spots in the city - but to really dive in and intently walk the streets of the Esplanade Ridge was absolutely incredible! We learned so very much and at our own pace could really digest the intricacies and fascinating history of the area. We loved the small details, folklore and stories that really brought the area alive for us. You could imagine the residents in each house sipping a cognac and telling tales in the parlor ! We celebrated at the incomparable Cafe Degas and we simply cannot recall a more pleasant Saturday afternoon! The rich history is brought to life in a way that few other venues can offer. This is a must do!!!
via Tripadvisor
Beautiful tour in a beautiful neighborhood
This tour is so much better than any commercial tour you could take with a bunch of other people. Go at your own pace, listen again if you like, explore a beautiful area of the city. This tour is packed with well-researched history and culture that is a steal for the price. I took this tour after enjoying Walking the Treme by the same author.
via Tripadvisor
fraud
this lady ripped me off. her "maid" said she was out of town. what do you expect from rich people? dont do this supposed tour...and she doesn't want to give you a refund. I wonder who else shes done this to.
Response from the operator: Hello, Are you sure you intended to review our Esplanade Ridge Audio tour? The tour is entirely run from a phone app, and there is no person to interface with so we are unsure who you are speaking about. Please let us know if this was your intent, as we are unable to find any record of your booking our tour. Best regards, Alex Parkhill VoiceMap, Pte Ltd.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 2
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 51
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
New Orleans Esplanade Ridge: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for New Orleans.
How much does New Orleans Esplanade Ridge: A Self-Guided Audio Tour cost?
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Prices start at $12 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in New Orleans usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does New Orleans Esplanade Ridge: A Self-Guided Audio Tour take?
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Plan for about 1.3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in New Orleans is not rushed.
Is New Orleans Esplanade Ridge: A Self-Guided Audio Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 51 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.2/5 across 5 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable culture & history in New Orleans, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule New Orleans Esplanade Ridge: A Self-Guided Audio Tour?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is New Orleans Esplanade Ridge: A Self-Guided Audio Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1.3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book New Orleans Esplanade Ridge: A Self-Guided Audio Tour?
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Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in New Orleans can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in New Orleans and add a light layer if any part of the 1.3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does New Orleans Esplanade Ridge: A Self-Guided Audio Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central New Orleans within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in New Orleans?
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New Orleans runs on licensed guides, and it shows: the city requires certification for tour guides, so the floor is higher here than most US cities. Ghost and cemetery walks, French Quarter food crawls, plantation history day trips and swamp boat runs make up the bulk. We rank on whether the operator handles cemetery access properly, since St. Louis No. 1 needs an authorised guide. On Outty we rank every New Orleans experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour with Transportation, New Orleans Swamp Tour Boat Adventure, New Orleans Self-Transport Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit New Orleans?
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February to May and October to November. August is heat and storm season. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in New Orleans?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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