Louisiana Swamp Tour

Louisiana swamp tour experiences don’t get much more immersive than this—paddling quietly through fog-shrouded cypress swamps at daybreak with photographers who have traveled thousands of miles to capture this magical landscape.

full moon sets over foggy louisiana swamp before dawn — An Autumn super moon sets at dawn over Lake Martin, Louisiana.

daybreak at lake martin

Before sunrise, Lake Martin is almost silent. A thin veil of fog hovers just above the still water as kayaks glide into a cypress swamp bathed in early morning light. For photographers visiting from Switzerland and Liechtenstein, the experience feels almost surreal. The soft glow of a lingering full moon, mirrored reflections, and moss-draped cypress trees create what could be a once-in-a-lifetime setting.

kayak tour watches moon setting over Louisiana swamp — Tour group of European photographers watch the setting full moon.

Tour organizer Thomas Heitmar, who leads photography groups around the world, says Louisiana’s swamps offer something completely different from the landscapes his guests know back home. “It’s completely different to our landscape in Switzerland,” Heitmar explains. “We have the mountains, the Alps, but we don’t have such nice lakes with the cypress.”

haze sunshine through cypress trees in swamp — Rising sun through the fog and cypress trees at Lake Martin, LA.

When asked about his reaction to the morning scene, Heitmar doesn’t hesitate. “My heart was just bumping,” he says with a laugh. “It was great. It was really great.” He calls Lake Martin and the surrounding swamps the highlight of their Louisiana journey.

Louisiana wildlife on the swamp tour

As the kayaks wind through the trees, spotting a bald eagle perched high in a cypress adds to the excitement. For Natasha Marxer, visiting with her husband Dieter from Liechtenstein, the encounter becomes the favorite image of the trip. “Oh, my favorite picture,” she says, pointing to her camera screen. “This is the eagle. The bald eagle. Oh my God.”

woman with short blond hair wearing black jacket and holding camera — Natasha Marxer shows off her photo of a Louisiana bald eagle at Lake Martin.

bald eagle sits on branch in cypress tree — Photographers spot this bald eagle in a cypress tree.

Local guide Mike VanEtten of Lafayette helps introduce visitors to the rhythms of the swamp, explaining why photographers from around the world are drawn here. “The combination of the wildlife, the cypress trees with the Spanish moss, maybe a little mist, and then the sun shining through—that’s pretty much what’s getting a lot of photographers coming here this time of year,” VanEtten says.

great white egret takes off in swamp near moss covered tree — A great white egret takes flight.

morning sunlight through mist above lake and cypress trees — A moss-draped cypress tree in the morning fog.

Swiss photographer Roberto Meniconi, visiting Louisiana for the first time, is equally impressed—not just by the scenery, but by the people. He describes the region as “an interesting environment” and adds that what stood out most was “the nice people… the music, culture, nature, photography.

a perfect ending at lake fausse pointe

sun setting over lake with large cypress tree and reflection — Setting sun and one of Lake Fausse Pointe’s cypress giants

The day ends with one more paddle, this time at Lake Fausse Pointe, home to some of Louisiana’s largest old-growth cypress trees. Massive trunks and twisted roots—some more than a thousand years old—glow in the low afternoon sun. As the sun sets and a full moon rises once again, the photographers pack up their gear, carrying home images and memories of a world-class landscape deep in the heart of Louisiana.