Private Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Tour

Reviewed · GHOST & VOODOO TOURS

Private Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Tour

4.5 · 70 reviews 2 hours (approx.) From $800 Operated by Witches Brew Tours · Bookable on Viator
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A good scare needs good timing. This private New Orleans ghost and voodoo walking tour threads together legends of vampires, witches, and voodoo priestesses with real stops in the French Quarter. I love that it’s built like a conversation, not a lecture, and that you get to mix haunting stories with practical moments like a quick shop stop and time to chat with your guide.

Two things I really liked: the way the tour uses iconic locations like Jackson Square to anchor the spooky tales, and the chance to pause at a famously haunted bar for a more human, back-and-forth style of storytelling. If you’re booking as a group, the private format is also a big value lever because you’re not sharing your guide with strangers.

One consideration: this is a walking tour with historic uneven terrain, and some stops require extra admission that isn’t included. If mobility is an issue, plan carefully and wear shoes you trust.

Key highlights you’ll feel fast

Private Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Tour - Key highlights you’ll feel fast

  • A private guide for your group so the pace and questions stay yours
  • Hauntings at specific French Quarter landmarks, not generic ghost talk
  • A voodoo shopping stop at Voodoo Authentica for handmade dolls and gris-gris bags
  • A bar stop for real conversation at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop
  • Photo and atmosphere stops like Jackson Square with its statue and named-for-Jackson story
  • Two admission stops on your own (the Pharmacy Museum and Lalaurie Mansion)

What a Private Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Walk Actually Looks Like

Private Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Tour - What a Private Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Walk Actually Looks Like
This is a theme-heavy 2-hour walking tour in New Orleans that leans into ghosts, vampires, witches, and voodoo priestesses. The format matters: you’re not just being handed stories while you march by. The tour gives you moments to slow down, ask questions, and connect the lore to the places you’re standing.

Because it’s private, your group can set the tone. If you want more folklore and less history, the guide can usually steer that way. If you want the who-what-where behind the legends, you’ll get that too. One guide name that came up in customer feedback is Jodi, who was described as insightful and personable—exactly the kind of energy that makes a ghost tour feel fun instead of stiff.

You’ll also get small “real life” breaks built in. There’s time set aside for shopping at local voodoo stores, and you’ll stop at a bar so you can talk with your guide. That’s not just entertainment—it’s how you get better stories and better context without the tour feeling rushed.

Price and value: how $800 per group can make sense

Private Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Tour - Price and value: how $800 per group can make sense
The tour price is $800 per group (up to 15). That sounds steep until you do one simple math check: the real cost is how many people you split it across. If you’re the maximum group size, you’re looking at about $53 per person. If you’re smaller—say 6 people—you’re closer to $133 per person.

Here’s why I think it can still be good value: you’re paying for private guide time and a route that hits multiple high-interest sites in a short window. You’re also getting a guided plan for where to go and what to look for—especially useful in the French Quarter, where it’s easy to wander without a thread.

One more pricing nuance: the private tour description mentions groups up to 25 participants. Since the exact headcount covered by the $800 group price is stated as up to 15, you’ll want to confirm how the provider will handle larger party sizes when you book.

Timing, meeting point, and how to avoid stress

Private Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Tour - Timing, meeting point, and how to avoid stress
You’ll meet at the Omni Royal Orleans at 621 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130. The instructions ask you to arrive about 30 minutes early to start your walking tour on the haunted side of town. That early buffer is useful. It helps you find your guide without sprinting, and it gives everyone time to settle in before you start moving.

Expect an easy-to-moderate pace for a walking tour. It operates in all weather, so dress for sun, heat, or rain. The tour also uses a mobile ticket, and it’s offered in English.

Two practical planning notes:

  • Food and drinks are not included, so if you want a full meal, make it a before/after move rather than expecting it on tour.
  • Some of the most famous stops are in older streets. The provider notes that mobility can be challenging in the French Quarter terrain. If you need smooth surfaces or step-free routes, plan accordingly.

Stop-by-stop: from Omni Royal Orleans to the Lafitte bar and Lalaurie House

Private Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Tour - Stop-by-stop: from Omni Royal Orleans to the Lafitte bar and Lalaurie House

Stop 1: Omni Royal Orleans (start with the haunted side)

Your tour begins outside the Omni Royal Hotel area on St. Louis St and Royal St. This first stop is all about setting the tone. It’s where the guide can frame what kind of stories you’ll get—ghosts, vampires, witches, voodoo priestesses—and how you’ll connect those themes to what you see as you walk.

The value of starting here is timing and orientation. Strolling the French Quarter with a path already laid out means you don’t lose time figuring out direction or trying to decide what matters most.

Stop 2: New Orleans Pharmacy Museum (Louis Dufilho, 1816)

Next you’ll reach the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum. The highlight here is straightforward and specific: in 1816, Louis Dufilho—America’s first licensed pharmacist—opened what became the pharmacy museum. Today, you’ll see medical exhibits from the past.

This stop has a drawback you should plan for: admission is not included. That doesn’t make the stop bad; it just changes your budget. I like it because it adds a different kind of context to the spooky theme. It’s not just folklore; it’s the look-and-feel of older medicine and old-world knowledge, which often makes ghost stories hit harder.

Stop 3: Jackson Square (General Jackson and the statue view)

You’ll pass Jackson Square, named for General Jackson who led soldiers to victory during the Battle of New Orleans. You also get to view the statue as part of the tour’s witches-themed route.

This stop is valuable because it’s a landmark you can picture even after the tour ends. Jackson Square is also a visual anchor for the French Quarter. When a guide ties lore to a place you’ll recognize later, you tend to remember the story better.

Stop 4: Voodoo Authentica (handmade dolls and gris-gris bags)

Then you’ll stop at Voodoo Authentica. This store has been crafting handmade voodoo dolls, gris-gris bags, and other items since the 1990s on Dumaine Street.

This is the tour’s shopping moment, and it’s free to enter as part of the stop. But you should expect that you’ll spend money if you want to bring home something. If you’re shopping, set a small budget before you arrive. That keeps it fun instead of stressful.

Even if you don’t buy anything, this stop helps ground the tour in something real and current. It’s not just the past—it’s how voodoo-inspired items are made and sold today.

Stop 5: Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar (oldest bar energy)

You’ll end up at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, described as the oldest bar in America and connected to privateer Jean Lafitte. It’s also one of the city’s most haunted locations, and you’ll have a short stop there as part of the walk.

Admission here is free, and the best part is what this stop enables: time to talk with your guide. The French Quarter is loud and fast outside your control; a bar stop gives you a calmer pocket where you can ask questions, clarify meanings, and steer the stories to what you actually want.

Also, keep an eye on your comfort here. Bars can get crowded, and if the guide is managing a group, it helps to have sensible expectations about standing room and movement.

Stop 6: Lalaurie Mansion (the story gets darker)

The final major stop is the Lalaurie Mansion area. You’ll learn about horrifying tales involving slaves at the LaLaurie House, plus other ghostly characters tied to New Orleans’s darker past.

Admission for this stop is also not included, so plan for that extra cost. The theme here is heavy, and it helps to know you’re choosing a tour that goes there. I’d book this part if you want your ghost stories grounded in human history, even when it’s ugly.

Shopping stop strategy: what to do at Voodoo Authentica

Private Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Tour - Shopping stop strategy: what to do at Voodoo Authentica
If you’re the type who likes to browse and come home with a keepsake, this stop is timed well. You’ll have enough time to look around, ask basic questions, and decide if anything fits your style.

A smart approach:

  • Decide what you’re shopping for before you walk in: a doll, a bag (gris-gris), or a smaller item.
  • Ask your guide if there’s anything within the store you should notice. Since the tour theme is voodoo-focused, your guide can often point you to items worth paying attention to.
  • Don’t rely on impulse purchases if you’re thinking of cost later. Set a limit before you start looking.

If you’re not shopping, you can still enjoy this stop. It helps you see how the tour’s theme connects to modern makers—not just spooky stories layered over old streets.

Why the bar conversation is more than a break

Private Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Tour - Why the bar conversation is more than a break
A ghost tour can become one-note if all the energy goes into narration. What makes this one feel different is that you also get time to chat at a bar. When you can ask follow-ups, you learn faster.

That matters in New Orleans because a lot of the lore you’ll hear can sound contradictory or layered. A good guide helps you sort what’s symbolic, what’s local legend, and what’s tied to a named location. A bar stop makes that easier because you’re not constantly turning your head to keep up with a moving crowd.

If your guide is someone like Jodi—described as insightful and personable—that conversation can shape the whole experience. You’ll leave remembering how the guide explained the connections, not just the scary lines.

How this fits different kinds of travelers

Private Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Tour - How this fits different kinds of travelers
This tour works best if you like:

  • Short, high-impact walks instead of all-day tours
  • Spooky stories with named places and specific themes (vampires, witches, voodoo priestesses)
  • A private setting where questions are easy and your group sets the pace
  • A mix of folklore and place-based storytelling

It’s especially good for couples who want something different on a night out, friend groups who want private time without splitting up, and families who can handle darker themes with guidance. If your group wants pure comedy, this may not hit that target as hard. The last stop, in particular, takes a more serious tone.

Practical tips for the French Quarter route

Private Ghost, Voodoo and Vampire Tour - Practical tips for the French Quarter route
This tour is designed for walking, and the provider flags that terrain in the French Quarter can be tough for mobility. Even if you’re fine on flat sidewalks, the historic streets can include uneven surfaces.

Here’s what I’d do to make it smoother:

  • Wear shoes with grip. If it’s wet out, that matters more than you think.
  • Bring a light layer. Weather changes can be fast, and the tour runs in all weather conditions.
  • Plan your budget for two possible extra admissions: the Pharmacy Museum and Lalaurie Mansion. Those stops are marked as not included.
  • Since food and drinks aren’t included, think about timing. If you’re hungry, eat before you start so the tour stays fun.

Should you book this private ghost, voodoo and vampire tour?

Book it if you want a focused, private French Quarter experience that mixes haunted storytelling with real stops like Jackson Square, Voodoo Authentica, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, and the Lalaurie Mansion area. The route is tightly organized for a reason: in about two hours, you can see multiple landmarks tied to the themes without spending the day chasing directions.

Skip or reconsider if you want a lighter, fully kid-friendly ghost tour, or if you know you’ll struggle with uneven historic streets. Also factor in that some admissions aren’t included, so it’s not only the $800 group price—you may add a bit for those specific stops.

If your group includes people who love atmosphere, questions, and a guide who can shape the experience, this is a strong choice.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour meets at the Omni Royal Orleans, 621 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130.

How long is the tour?

It runs for about 2 hours.

What is the price?

It costs $800.00 per group.

Is it private?

Yes. It’s a private tour/activity, and only your group participates.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Do I need an admission ticket for every stop?

No. Some stops are free, while the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum and Lalaurie Mansion do not include admission.

Is food or drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included.

Will I get a ticket on my phone?

Yes. The tour uses a mobile ticket.

Where does the tour end?

The end location is listed as 604 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130, but the tour may not end exactly there. You can discuss the ending with your guide.

What is the cancellation deadline?

You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the start time.