New Orleans knows how to tell a scary story, and this tour gives you a flashlight plus an EMF meter. You’ll walk the French Quarter after dark with a local investigator, hear tales tied to the city’s voodoo and vampire lore, and try to measure paranormal activity along the way. It’s equal parts street-level folklore and hands-on gadget time.

I especially like the Electronic Field Meter element. You’re not just getting spooky narration, you’re using real equipment during the investigation, and the guide leads the process. I also like that the tour blends local history with ghost stories, including mentions of mass burial grounds, cold spots, apparitions, and orbs that are part of the route’s theme.

One thing to consider: this is a walking tour and it’s not a guarantee of paranormal results. You might also feel the pace if bar waits run long, and the tour is strict about staying with the group and following the no video rules.

Key things to know before you go

• EMF meter included as a real tool during the investigation, with equipment check-out rules
• French Quarter on foot after dark, focused on stories connected to local beliefs
• No entry inside locations, so you’re investigating from public streets and viewpoints
• Bars on the route for to-go drinks, which can affect timing if lines are long
• No video or audio recording allowed, but photos are encouraged
• Alcohol is allowed, though extremely intoxicated guests may be refused

A late-night French Quarter walk with an EMF twist

This tour works because it doesn’t treat New Orleans like a theme park. It treats it like a real neighborhood where stories got handed down, mixed with religion, folklore, and even vampire and voodoo themes that the city wears openly. You’re walking the French Quarter at night, and the guide keeps pulling you back to what people say happens in specific places, then ties it to the city’s background.

What makes it feel different from the average “haunted history” tour is the EMF meter. Even if you take a skeptical approach, having something physical to use changes the vibe. It turns the night into a sort of game with rules, and it makes you pay attention to moments instead of just absorbing one long story after another.

Also, it’s designed for an evening that already has sightseeing energy. At about 1 to 2 hours, it’s a strong closer for a day that included museums, neighborhoods, and a lot of walking. You’re not stuck on a long bus ride. You’re out there, hearing the French Quarter speak in its nighttime voice.

Price and what you’re really paying for at $20

The ticket price is $20 per person, and that’s the headline number. The real value question is what you’re getting alongside the “ghost” part.

You’re paying for:

• A local guide who leads the group and sets the investigation tone
• A structured walking route through the French Quarter centered on haunted themes
• Time to use a real electronic field meter during the investigation

What you are not paying for:

• Drinks, even though to-go options are available along the way
• Hotel pickup and drop-off

For many people, the $20 value hits best if you like a mix of history and a bit of participation. If your idea of a great ghost tour is lots of spooky interior locations, this one may feel different since the tour emphasizes public areas and does not claim entry inside buildings.

Meeting at 941 Bourbon Street and starting right on time

The meeting point is specific: meet on the sidewalk at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, at 941 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116. The tour does not meet inside the bar, and you’ll check in at the gate area.

Arrive a few minutes early and plan to be there when the start time arrives. The rules are clear: late arrivals can miss the group, and the guide may not remain at the spot once the tour starts. If you’re trying to map it from your hotel, give yourself extra time to avoid that last-minute rush.

One more practical point: the tour staff says they take time-stamped photos of the meeting location at the start of each tour. That’s not for your enjoyment, but it usually means they’re organized and want clean, verifiable check-ins.

How the French Quarter investigation unfolds in the dark

Once you’re checked in, the tour shifts into its investigation mode. You’ll hear what the guide considers the best ghost stories in Nola and then move into the French Quarter segment as the core of the evening.

Expect the night to be a sequence of:

• Storytelling about what’s tied to the location’s reputation
• A guided look at paranormal themes, including cold spots, apparitions, and orbs that are part of the route’s lore
• Stops that feel like “haunted category” points, not random sightseeing

The tour description even signals the variety of haunted settings it aims to cover, with categories like haunted houses, apartments, morgues, bathrooms, bars and pubs, cemeteries, balconies, galleries, hotels, streets and sidewalks, and even churches. The big catch is that you’re not entering places. You stay on public property and investigate the stories from where you can legally and safely observe.

The mass burial ground theme and why it matters

A highlight described for the route is a mass burial ground known for cold spots, apparitions, and orbs that people claim see or feel regularly. Whether you believe the paranormal or not, this kind of stop changes the emotional temperature of a walking tour. It’s the difference between scary-for-fun and eerie-for-real.

If you’re the type who likes respectful storytelling, this is also the part of the tour where the guide’s background talk tends to feel more grounded. You’ll likely spend more time thinking about why a place would generate lingering stories.

Using the Electronic Field Meter without getting let down

The EMF meter is the star tool on paper, and it’s the star in how the guide runs the investigation. The tour says a real electronic field meter, a ghost or paranormal detector, is used during the tour.

Here’s what to understand so you don’t walk in with unrealistic expectations:

• This is entertainment, and there is no guarantee you will encounter paranormal activity.
• You’re using equipment in a street environment with tons of other signals, so don’t treat readings like a courtroom verdict.

The tour also has strict equipment rules. If you want to use the paranormal equipment, you need to request it at check-in. Equipment is checked out with your name, phone number, address, and booking reference number, and it is tracked via GPS. You also must return it to staff before leaving the tour.

There’s a financial consequence listed for lost or damaged equipment, including a $250 fee for missing or damaged pieces, plus a replacement-related fee if equipment is not returned. That means the operator clearly treats the devices like real gear, not props.

One reality check from the experience details: some people have reported disappointment when the meter moment didn’t feel as exciting as they expected. So if you care a lot about hands-on EMF time, arrive early, ask how it will work for your group, and follow the guide’s cues closely. You’ll get the best shot by being attentive when the guide hands out the equipment.

Bars on the route: to-go drinks, timing, and group control

This tour mixes ghost stories with an evening rhythm that fits the French Quarter. You’ll be allowed to stop in bars along the route to grab a to-go drink, then move to the next location.

That sounds simple, but the timing part matters. The tour is moderate paced, and the duration can run longer if bars are busy or if there’s a wait. So if you have a dinner reservation or a show right after, don’t book it too tight. Build in buffer time.

The tour also makes it clear about alcohol boundaries. You’re allowed to drink alcoholic beverages during the tour, but the operator reserves the right to refuse service to anyone extremely intoxicated. That’s not meant to be a buzzkill, it’s just a safety rule.

Finally, the tour is strict about staying together. No wandering off to take extra photos, and no walking off from the group. If you’re the type who wants to stop and snap a hundred pictures independently, pick your moments and save the rest for daylight.

The stories: voodoo, vampires, and why the guide’s tone matters

The tour leans into New Orleans themes, including NOLA vampires and New Orleans voodoo. It’s not presenting these as science. It’s presenting them as part of the city’s storytelling culture, and it uses them to color what people say they experience in certain spots.

You’ll also get history tied to the locations and the background behind the tales. In other words, it tries to answer the question: why do people keep repeating these stories about this exact street corner or building frontage?

Guide style is a huge part of whether this kind of tour feels fun or flat. Names from past groups include Coty, Cody, and Ashley, and the praise pattern is consistent: guides who are friendly, funny, and sharp on both hauntings and New Orleans in general make the experience land better.

If your goal is just scary noise with no context, you might feel like some moments are more “talk” than “event.” But if you enjoy stories with place-based details, the mix tends to work.

Photography, phones, and what you are not allowed to record

This tour draws a firm line around recording. The rules say:

• No video of any portion of the tour is permitted
• Audio or video recording devices are not allowed during the tour
• Photos are allowed and encouraged

So bring your camera or phone for still photos, but plan to keep it on photo mode only. Also, don’t try to record narrations. The guide can refuse or you might be asked to stop.

If you’re someone who loves collecting proof, this is worth noting up front. You won’t be making a full vlog of the night, and that changes how you can capture your personal “evidence.”

Who should book this ghost hunters 101 style tour

This tour fits best if you want:

• A short, after-dark activity that doesn’t require long transportation
• A mix of French Quarter walking plus spooky storytelling
• A chance to use an EMF meter with real check-out rules

It may not be ideal if you want:

• Lots of interior access (the tour does not include entering locations)
• A guaranteed paranormal experience (there isn’t one)
• A stress-free schedule with no timing risk (bar waits can delay you)

This is also a choice for groups who can follow instructions. Since you stay with the guide the whole time and cannot obstruct sidewalks or streets during the tour, it works best when everyone is on the same page.

Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the tour notes that some bars do not allow kids inside. So if you’re bringing kids, assume the pace will depend on which stops work for everyone.

Service animals are allowed, and the tour is near public transportation. It is still a walking tour with old, uneven, and dilapidated streets and walkways, and the operator notes they are not responsible for injuries related to that.

Practical tips so your night stays fun

New Orleans sidewalks at night are not always smooth, so treat this as a real walk, not a stroller-friendly stroll. Wear shoes you can trust, especially if you’re going on an evening when the streets feel slick or crowded.

Bring:

• Layers, because NOLA evenings can swing cooler than you expect
• A phone for updates, since departure times can change due to traffic
• Your best self-control for following the group rules

Also, if you’re hoping for a longer EMF moment, don’t assume it happens instantly. The guide leads the investigation, and equipment use is checked out and managed. When the guide instructs you to do something, do it right away. It keeps the whole route moving.

Should you book New Orleans Ghost Hunters 101 with Electronic Field Meter?

If you want a $20 ghost tour that feels organized, interactive, and tied to real French Quarter places, I think this is a strong pick. The combination of the EMF meter, late-night walking energy, and the guide-led mix of voodoo and vampire lore can be genuinely fun, especially if you like stories with a sense of place.

I’d only hesitate if you need guaranteed paranormal sightings, or if you’re scheduling tightly for later that night. The tour length can stretch when bars are busy, and you’re also dealing with strict recording rules and lots of “stay with the group” structure.

My quick rule of thumb: book it when you can treat results as part of the experience. Don’t book it if you’re counting on the meter to deliver a dramatic moment on cue.