Discover your wild side during a swamp tour of Louisiana bayou country! Areas unreachable by foot can be easily experienced by boat tour. A boat ride through the canopied waterways and shallow waters of the bayou offers unparalleled views of its beauty.
An experienced boat captain adds to the adventure by providing in-depth information about the bayou wildlife and the unique habitat that houses hundreds of animal species.
Louisiana is one of two states famous for its bayous, which are intricately linked to Creole culture.
Most of us non-Cajuns would refer to a bayou as a “swamp”. Regardless of what you call it, bayous (or swamps) develop in low-lying areas, where water moves slowly and tons of wildlife thrives.
Best Airboat Tours in New Orleans
| Small-Group Bayou Airboat Ride with Transport from New Orleans | High Speed 16 Passenger Airboat Ride From New Orleans | Swamp Airboat, 2 Plantation Tours & Lunch from New Orleans | |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Small Group Tour | Best Adventure Tour | Best Combination Tour | |
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 |  |  | |
| Departure: | Hotel pickup and drop-off included | Hotel pickup and drop-off available | Hotel pickup and drop-off included |
| Start: | 9:00 AM or 1:00 PM | 8:00 AM, 10:20 AM, 12:30 PM, or 3:00 PM | 8:00 AM |
| Duration: | 4 hours | 4 hours | 9 hours |
| Includes: | Small-group tour, transport by van, hotel pickup and drop-off, 1.5-hour airboat ride | 1.5-hour airboat ride, professional guide, live commentary on board, 100-minute airboat tour | Transport by air-conditioned van, 2-hour airboat ride, entrance fees to visit 2 plantation mansions, gourmet lunch w/ soft drinks, coffee & tea |
Be sure to see our reviews of tours of plantations in New Orleans.
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Airboat Swamp Tours in New Orleans
- Best Small Group Tour: Small-Group Bayou Airboat Ride with Transport from New Orleans
- Best Adventure Tour: High Speed 16 Passenger Airboat Ride From New Orleans
- Best Combination Tour: Swamp Airboat, 2 Plantation Tours & Lunch from New Orleans
- Best Value Tour: Large Airboat Swamp Tour with New Orleans Pick Up
- Best Informative Tour: New Orleans High Speed 6-9 Passenger Airboat Tour
New Orleans sits within a reasonable distance from the Louisiana Bayou, which makes a swamp tour completely doable for someone visiting the area. We’ve reviewed the top rated New Orleans swamp tours and hope you find one that works for you!
New Orleans Swamp Tour Reviews
1. Best Small Group Tour: Small-Group Bayou Airboat Ride with Transport from New Orleans
- Departure point: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure time: 9:00 AM or 1:00 PM
- Duration: 4 hours (approx.)
- Includes: Small-group tour, transport by van, hotel pickup and drop-off, 1.5-hour airboat ride
We recommend this New Orleans swamp tour for those adventurers who want an intimate, small-group tour experience. Also, for those who want to avoid doing any driving on their own, this tour offers hotel pickup and drop-off (make sure to see if your hotel is within their pickup radius).
This swamp tour takes place on an airboat, which is a unique experience if you’ve never tried it before (See more detail about airboat vs. traditional boats below the tour reviews).
Your excursion begins with an hour-long ride to Louisiana bayou country in an air conditioned van. Along the journey, your experienced tour guide/driver provides commentary and shares stories about the area. The driver is well-versed in local culture and history, so prepare to be entertained and informed en route to the swamp.
Once you arrive for the swamp portion of your tour, you board an airboat that will get you up close to wildlife and local flora. The boat’s captain shares his experiences and a wealth of information about the bayou’s unique ecosystem.
Just a few of the animals you may encounter while on the water include alligators, otters, deer, and a plethora of water fowl. If seeing alligators and snakes in the wild feels a little too close to comfort, you’ll be glad to know the captain has explored every nook and cranny of the area, and your safety is his first concern.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. Best Adventure Tour: High Speed 16 Passenger Airboat Ride From New Orleans
- Departure point: Hotel pickup and drop-off available
- Departure time: 8:00 AM, 10:20 AM, 12:30 PM, or 3:00 PM
- Duration: 4 hours (approx.)
- Includes: Hotel pickup and drop-off, professional guide, live commentary on board, 100-minute airboat tour, transport from New Orleans to boat ride departure point
We recommend this New Orleans bayou tour for those who want a little adventure while seeing seeing the Louisiana swamp country in a high speed airboat.
After being picked up from your area hotel, you’ll be transported to Slidell, Louisiana which lies about a half hour north of New Orleans. This portion of the trip is narrated by an entertaining guide, which makes the ride fly by. The boat ride portion of your bayou tour lasts approximately 2 hours.
Your boat ride to the swamps and marshes will allow you to see all types of wildlife from bald eagles to alligators. These boat captains are native to the area, and thus, are very familiar with the ins and outs of the unique landscape that makes up the Louisiana bayou.
During the boat ride, you’re introduced to Honey Island Swamp, one of only a few protected wetlands in Louisiana. The tour also passes by a Cajun village.
As the boat glides along grassy, slow-moving waterways, you are practically guaranteed to see alligators sunning themselves on the shore or on fallen logs. Raccoons scamper along the reedy river shores. Other frequently sighted wildlife include mink, otter, wild boar, deer, and a variety of birds.
There is a gift shop conveniently located at the boat ride’s departure point, which is handy if you’ve forgotten a necessity like sunscreen or bug repellent. They even carry ponchos in the event the weather takes a turn for the worse.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Best Combination Tour: Swamp Airboat, 2 Plantation Tours & Lunch from New Orleans
- Departure point: Hotel pickup included
- Departure time: 8:00 AM
- Duration: 9 hours
- Includes: Hotel pickup and drop-off, transport by air-conditioned van, 2-hour airboat ride, entrance fees to visit 2 plantation mansions, gourmet lunch with soft drinks, coffee and tea
We recommend this swamp boat tour for those who prefer to travel with a smaller group and who are looking to combine adventure with a taste of Louisiana history.
After pickup from your area hotel, you’ll be transported by van to where your airboat departs (approximately 30 minutes from the city). During your transit from New Orleans to Paradis, a friendly driver/guide will share his in-depth understanding of the area.
Once fitted with ear muffs, you’re zipped away on for an exciting airboat adventure. Your captain keeps the group intrigued by making sure you see lots of different animals and the lesser-known areas of the swamp. He makes sure his passengers are safe, while ensuring they have fun through his amusing stories. The boat rides lasts approximately 2 hours.
After touring the swamp, your van takes your group to the historic antebellum mansion, Houmas House Plantation. With its construction taking place between 1787 and 1790, Destrehan is one of the oldest homes in Louisiana.
Here you will have lunch of some authentic Cajun cuisine in the dining room decorated like it would have been in the 1700s. After lunch at “Sugar Palace”, tour-goers will experience the plantation’s main house, an on-site museum that displays original artifacts and photos of the Houmas family.
Tour the weaving room, the outdoor kitchen, and cabins which offer a glimpse into the daily lives of enslaved men, women, and children. Tours are led by guides who are attired in dress typical of that era.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Best Value Tour: Large Airboat Swamp Tour with New Orleans Pick Up
- Departure point: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure time: 8:00 AM
- Duration: 2 hours
- Includes: Professional guide, all transportation
If it’s your first time in New Orleans, you’re likely somewhat overwhelmed with all there is to possibly do. However, I can’t recommend this next tour enough, even if you only have a few hours free on your schedule.
The Large Airboat Swamp Tour with New Orleans Pick Up is one of the convenient, most exciting tours you could possibly take in the area!
I really appreciate the fact that our tour guide came right up to our hotel lobby to pick us up in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle (if you’ve been here during the hotter months you know what a lifesaver that is!).
Right from the very beginning, they are super friendly and knowledgeable which only makes the experience that much more enriching.
They’re also there to answer any questions you may have, after offering a safety briefing. Then, it’s time to delve into the riddles that are woven into the heart of the enigmatic swamps surrounding New Orleans.
This ride on a traditional airboat captained by a bona fide swamp whisperer, is more fun than I thought one could have on murky waters such as these. As we cruised through the mesmerizing waterways, our guide would regale us with tales of these mysterious marches, the gators, and the history surrounding them.
To make the most of your time, the captain will alternate between soft cruising speeds and high-speed bursts while placing special attention to the surroundings. Everyone stays nice and safe while getting to capture amazing photos during stops along the way.
If you’re looking for something outside of your regular cookie-cutter tours, this is definitely the one for you.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Best Informative Tour: New Orleans High Speed 6-9 Passenger Airboat Tour
- Departure point: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure time: Varies
- Duration: 100 minutes to 4 hours
- Includes: Boat ride tour, professional guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, stadium seating for improved views, experienced captains
If it’s your first time out on an airboat, I know you’re going to love having chosen this tour. The friendly guide only made it that much more engaging and exciting, with fun commentary and expert eyes to locate critters around us.
If that sounds fun to you, do yourself a favor and sign up for the New Orleans High Speed 6-9 Passenger Airboat Tour.
After undergoing a safety briefing, everyone was comfortable and excited to get out on the water with our expert guide/captain! The stadium-style seats on the airboat were pretty cool, and made it easy for everyone to get an unobstructed view of the water and surrounding marshes.
As you cruise along, your guide will point out various wildlife and plants that you may find interesting. We did see plenty of gators, which I’m not sure why I was surprised by!
While I definitely have a lot of respect for the animals, I lost a lot of the fear I had surrounding them. This was probably largely due to the fact that I saw our guide give them marshmallows like they were some kind of reptilian dog!
Apparently, that’s one of their favorite snacks, but I digress. This is truly one of the most compelling tours I’ve gone on, and gave us the opportunity to see animals like bald eagles, pelicans, owls, and of course, plenty of gators.
If you’re looking to get away from the busy city and into some more peace and quiet, this is the tour for you.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
FAQ About New Orleans Airboat Swamp Tours
What is the difference between an airboat tour and flat bottom boat tour?
Airboats are propelled by enormous fans. The fans are so powerful and loud that passengers must wear ear muffs (provided by tour operators). Not only is this a fun way to tour the marshy areas surrounding New Orleans, airboat travel actually assists in navigating areas where a traditional propeller may get wrapped up in swampy reeds and grasses.
While passengers are given ear muffs to protect against the loud hum of an airboat’s giant fan, it should be noted that children or adults who are bothered by loud noises may find the sound unpleasant.
Flat bottom boats are able to accommodate larger groups and their narrow constructions allows them to make their way through tighter spots.
What should I bring for a swamp tour?
There are several essentials when visiting the swamp. Due to the humidity, insects, like pesky mosquitoes, may find their way to you, so a can of insect repellent is a good idea to have on hand.
Because you’ll be exposed to the sun for several hours, make sure to bring sunscreen and sunglasses. Packing a hat isn’t a bad idea, either. Don’t forget to hydrate. Take along plenty of water.
What is the best time of year to go on a swamp tour?
The time of year you choose to go on a swamp tour may mean compromising one thing for another. For example, if you hate the hot, muggy weather you’ll want to avoid the summer time, as that part of Louisiana can be oppressively hot and humid.
Alligators are out in droves during the summer months and tend to sneak into nests during the winter, so visiting during the cooler months may mean you see fewer of these reptiles. While gators may be more elusive during the winter months, you’re more likely to see bears or nutria during this season.
Spring offers a good mix of comfortable weather with animal sightings, as animals are out doing their thing and wildflowers are in full bloom.
There is sure to be an airboat adventure from New Orleans that will please everyone in your group. We hope our reviews help you to discover an adventure that will make lots of fun memories!
What should I wear on a swamp tour?
You should dress in clothes that you don’t mind getting wet and muddy. So don’t wear anything that you are not OK with getting ruined. If you’re touring anytime other than during the summer months, be sure to bring a windbreaker – especially during the winter when it can get cool.
Are there any age or health restrictions?
While airboat tours are fine for all ages and abilities, some tours have a minimum age requirement of 5 – 6 years old. Pregnant women and people with back or neck problems should not take airboat tours.
How many people are on the boat?
This will vary on the size of the boat. Large airboats have seating for about 27 people, while small airboats have seating for as few as 6 people. Small airboats are more personal and can get into more places, while large airboats are more stable and comfortable.
What if it rains?
Airboat tours operate rain or shine, unless there are severe weather conditions like lightning. Check forecast before your tour and be prepared for delays or cancellations.
How long are the airboat swamp tours?
Most tours are about 4 hours and that includes the ride there and back. Some are longer if they include a plantation tour or a food tour in New Orleans.
What is the best New Orleans airboat swamp tour?
If you don’t mind spending a little extra and want a full day of adventure and sight-seeing we recommend the Swamp Airboat, 2 Plantation Tours & Lunch from New Orleans. This tour combines an exciting day of seeing wildlife in the swamps along with seeing two of the plantations that show the history of the area.
What is the cheapest airboat tour in New Orleans?
If you are on a budget but would like to do a airboat tour of the swamps of New Orleans we recommend the High Speed 16 Passenger Airboat Ride From New Orleans. This tour is on a larger boat so you don’t get the personal experience of being on a smaller boat.
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The Small-Group Bayou Airboat Ride with Transport from New Orleans is our Editor's Choice for the best New Orleans airboat swamp tour.
