New Orleans Spirits & Spells: Witchcraft, Voodoo, and Ghost Tour

New Orleans Spirits & Spells takes you into the city’s shadowy past, from the brutal story of Madame Lalaurie to the women healers linked with the Old Ursuline Convent. The finale is unusual: you return to Hex for a group spell in a real witch coven’s temple.

I like the strong storytelling and the way the walk connects ghosts with New Orleans history. I also like the small-group size, capped at 26 people, which gives guides such as Jamie, Jaime, Carrie, and Kerry room to keep the group involved. The main drawback is that much of the tour happens outdoors, and you may only view famous haunted buildings from the street.

Key points to know before you book

• The tour ends with a spellcasting ritual: Return to Hex for access to a witches’ temple and a group ritual around a magical fountain.
• Ghost stories take center stage: Witchcraft and Voodoo are part of the theme, but the route gives major attention to haunted sites and violent tales.
• You walk through the French Quarter: Expect about two hours on foot, with several stops lasting 10 to 15 minutes.
• The guide makes the difference: Jamie, Jaime, Carrie, and Kerry receive repeated praise for humor, warmth, history, and clear storytelling.
• Most sites are viewed outside: You do not enter every haunted building, and this can feel different from the tour description.
• The price is reasonable for a specialty tour: At $29 per person, the cost includes the walking tour, temple access, and ritual, but not parking.

What the New Orleans Spirits & Spells tour is really about

This is a story-led walk through the French Quarter, not a museum visit or a formal lesson in religious practice. You move from one location to the next while your guide explains tales of witches, spirits, healers, ritual murders, and famous New Orleans characters.

The experience blends three subjects that are often linked together in popular descriptions of New Orleans: witchcraft, Voodoo, and ghosts. They are not all presented in equal measure. The ghost material is especially strong, so book this tour if you want a spooky evening with historical context, not if you expect a detailed study of Voodoo traditions alone.

The mood is theatrical but still tied to real places. You may hear about the past while looking at old buildings, courtyards, doorways, and street details. One guide pointed out old security features that many people would pass without noticing. These small observations help connect the stories to the physical city.

The route is also social. Guides greet other tour leaders, keep an eye on the group, and sometimes adjust the pace for heat or other problems. That matters in New Orleans, where a two-hour walk can feel much longer in warm weather.

Starting at Hex on Decatur Street

The tour begins and ends at Hex New Orleans, located at 1219 Decatur Street. This is more than a meeting point. Hex provides the setting for the final ritual, so the experience has a clear beginning and ending in the same place.

Starting at a witchcraft shop gives the tour an immediate sense of purpose. You are not simply meeting on a random corner before walking to unrelated landmarks. The route builds toward a return visit, where the storytelling becomes a group activity.

The final spellcasting takes place in a real witches’ temple and a brick courtyard with a magical fountain. This is the part that makes the tour different from a standard French Quarter ghost walk. You should understand, though, that the ritual is a group experience. If you prefer quiet sightseeing or private reflection, the participatory ending may feel less comfortable.

Old Ursuline Convent and the story of women healers

The Old Ursuline Convent is one of the early stops, and the focus here shifts away from frightening tales. You learn about women working together, women healers, and the practical strength found in a religious community.

This stop gives the tour needed balance. New Orleans witchcraft stories can easily become a parade of curses and haunted rooms. The convent section adds a human side, showing how care, faith, shared work, and healing shaped the city.

You will not receive an admission ticket to the museum as part of this walking tour. The stop lasts about 15 minutes, so expect an outdoor explanation rather than a full museum visit. If you want to see the convent interiors, plan a separate visit.

Chartres Street and Mary Oneida Toups

On Chartres Street, the guide introduces Mary Oneida Toups and her real coven of witches. Her story is also connected with the inspiration for American Horror Story: Coven, which gives this stop a familiar pop-culture link.

The useful part is the connection between television fiction and a real New Orleans figure. You can hear where entertainment borrows from local stories, then separate the dramatic version from the person and place behind it.

This stop lasts roughly 10 minutes. It is brief, but it adds a modern layer to the tour and helps explain why New Orleans continues to attract people interested in witchcraft. Guides who are good storytellers can make a short sidewalk stop feel substantial. Guides who are harder to hear may lose part of the group, so stay close and face the speaker.

Muriel’s Jackson Square and a resident ghost

Muriel’s Jackson Square brings the haunted restaurant tradition into the route. You learn how the restaurant pays nightly respect to its resident ghost, a detail that turns a familiar dining spot into part of the supernatural story.

This is a good example of how the tour works best. You are not only hearing about abandoned mansions or distant legends. You are looking at an active restaurant in the middle of the French Quarter and learning how the past remains part of its daily identity.

The stop takes about 15 minutes. It is viewed from the outside, so do not expect to tour the restaurant or meet its resident spirit. If the story interests you, Muriel’s is also a useful place to note for a later meal, though the tour price does not include food or drinks.

Voodoo Authentica and the limits of the schedule

Voodoo Authentica is the main stop for the Voodoo portion of the experience. Here, the guide explains the history of Voodoo in New Orleans and the place it holds in the city’s cultural story.

At the 4 p.m. tour, you enter a real Voodoo supply shop. That detail matters because the experience can otherwise feel heavily weighted toward ghosts. If learning about Voodoo is your main reason for booking, check the departure time carefully and choose the 4 p.m. option if available.

The scheduled stop is about 10 minutes. That is enough for an introduction, but not enough for a long, detailed class on Voodoo beliefs, practices, and history. The guide’s approach matters here. The strongest guides explain the subject with care and context rather than treating it as a collection of spooky objects.

Some people may find the tour more ghost-focused than expected. If you want witchcraft and Voodoo to receive equal time, keep your expectations in check. This is a broad supernatural history walk, with Voodoo as one important part of the story.

735 Ursulines Avenue and the darker French Quarter

At 735 Ursulines Avenue, the tone becomes grim. The guide discusses malevolent spirits, ritual murders, and the idea that some forces should not be called up unless you know how to put them down.

This is one of the more intense stops. The material includes violence and disturbing themes, so it is not a good fit for young children or anyone looking for a light folklore walk. The minimum age is 13, and that limit makes sense given the subject matter.

The stop lasts about 15 minutes, but you remain outside. The building and street provide the setting while the guide supplies the details. You should not expect to enter the property or see a staged reenactment.

Lalaurie Mansion and a famous haunted address

The Lalaurie Mansion is the best-known stop on the route. You hear the true story of Madame Delphine Lalaurie, whose name has become tied to one of the world’s most notorious haunted houses.

The story combines documented cruelty, local memory, and ghost lore. A good guide helps you understand where the historical account ends and the supernatural claims begin. That distinction is important because some people find the tales exciting while others feel the material becomes too sensational.

The stop also includes advice on repelling negativity. This gives the group something practical and playful to do with a story that is otherwise very dark.

Again, you view the mansion from outside. If you book this expecting entry into the house, you may be disappointed. Private property and local rules limit access, so the value comes from the guide’s explanation and the setting rather than from an interior tour.

The guides are the heart of the experience

This tour depends heavily on the person leading it. Jamie and Jaime receive especially strong praise for making the walk funny, warm, and easy to follow. Carrie and Kerry are also singled out for humor, passion, and strong knowledge of New Orleans history.

The best guide style here is conversational. You want someone who can tell a grim story, explain its historical setting, answer questions, and keep the group moving safely through busy streets. One guide adjusted the route when someone became overheated, helped the person get water, and kept the rest of the group comfortable. That kind of judgment is worth more than a memorized script.

There is one practical warning: a guide who turns away while speaking or does not project well can make the tour difficult to follow. Stay near the guide, especially at street corners and crowded stops. The group limit of 26 is fairly manageable, but it is still large enough for quiet voices to disappear.

Walking conditions, timing, and who will enjoy it

This is a leisurely walking tour, but it is still a two-hour walk on French Quarter streets. Wear comfortable shoes. You may spend time standing on sidewalks while the guide tells a story, so footwear and weather matter more than the word leisurely suggests.

The experience is offered in English and uses mobile tickets. It begins and ends at Hex, making the logistics simple. The meeting point is near public transportation, but parking fees are not included. If you are driving, allow extra time and budget separately for parking.

Most people can take part, but the tour is not suitable for children under 13. The stories include ghosts, witchcraft, ritual violence, and the Lalaurie case. Teenagers who enjoy mystery and history may find it memorable, while younger children are not the right audience.

The walk can also be affected by heat. New Orleans weather can change the feel of any outdoor activity. Bring water, stay near the guide, and avoid booking this as your only evening plan if you are not comfortable walking in warm or wet conditions.

Is $29 a fair price?

At $29 per person, this is a good value if you want a focused French Quarter walk with a special ending. You are paying for about two hours of guiding, the storytelling at seven locations, access to a witch coven’s temple, and participation in a group spell.

The value is less compelling if you mainly want to enter historic buildings. Admission to the Old Ursuline Convent Museum, Muriel’s, 735 Ursulines Avenue, and Lalaurie Mansion is not included, and most of those locations are viewed from the street. The tour is about interpretation, not access.

A 4.8 rating from 329 ratings and a 93 percent recommendation rate suggest that the format works well for many people. Still, the lower scores point to two real concerns: some visitors expect more Voodoo and witchcraft, while others find the stories too sensational or feel disappointed when the courtyard ritual does not happen as expected.

The ritual is listed as part of the experience, but one account says the private garden and group ritual did not take place. That may reflect a change in conditions or a communication problem. If the spellcasting is the main reason you are booking, confirm the current details when you arrive at Hex.

Cancellation and weather details

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

The tour requires good weather and a minimum number of people. If the operator cancels for poor weather or because the minimum is not met, you should be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

There have been occasional short-notice cancellations, including one reported about an hour before the start. Check your messages before heading to the meeting point, especially if you have built your evening around this activity.

My advice on booking

Book New Orleans Spirits & Spells if you want a theatrical history walk with ghost stories, famous French Quarter locations, and a participatory witchcraft ending. It is especially suited to couples, families with older teenagers, solo visitors, and anyone who likes history with a dark edge.

Choose the 4 p.m. tour if Voodoo is your main interest and that option is available, since it includes entry to a Voodoo supply shop. Choose something else if you want extensive access inside haunted buildings, a quiet academic study of Voodoo, or a tour free of violent stories.

For $29, the experience gives you a lively introduction to a side of New Orleans you might miss on a standard sightseeing walk. Go for the guide, the stories, and the temple ritual. Do not book it expecting every haunted address to open its doors.

FAQ

Where does the New Orleans Spirits & Spells tour begin?

The tour begins at Hex New Orleans, located at 1219 Decatur Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at the Hex meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $29 per person.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Is the spellcasting ritual included?

Yes. The experience includes access to a witch coven’s temple and participation in a group spellcasting ritual.

Can I enter the Voodoo supply shop?

At the 4 p.m. tour, you enter a real Voodoo supply shop.

Do I enter the haunted buildings?

Most stops are viewed from outside. The tour does not include general interior access to the haunted sites.

Is the tour suitable for children?

No. The tour is not suitable for children under 13 years of age.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded. If the operator cancels because of poor weather or an insufficient number of participants, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.