New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour with Transportation
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
Meet your guide for pickup in downtown New Orleans and head for a 2-hour boat tour in Honey Island Swamp, a wildlife preserve that is one of the last protected wetlands in Louisiana. Visit a Cajun village only accessible by boat; learn about the animals and plants in the lush swamps; and get close to wildlife that are out and active with an expert local guide.
Please note that wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
PLEASE NOTE: tour ONLY picks up from the location listed. Pick ups from any other location cannot be accommodated.
What To Expect
Lake Pontchartrain
After pickup in central New Orleans, it's a short drive across Lake Pontchartrain to Honey Island Swamp, a wildlife preserve that is one of the last protected wetlands in Louisiana.
Your guide welcomes you aboard a custom-made 22-passenger flat-bottom boat. The smaller sized, quiet boat can fit through narrow passages in the swamp foliage so that you see more and get closer to wildlife. As your guide explains the history of Louisiana’s wetlands and swamp ecosystem, be on the lookout for alligators, raccoons, owls, wild boar, nutria, snakes, turtles, black bears, bald eagles and other bird species. Get a close look at some wild gators as your guide shares facts about the toothy beasts, who can weigh up to 1,000 pounds (453 kg). Glide safely through the fertile swamplands, learning about Cajun culture and how local people have utilized the swamp for food, homes, and medicine. You even see an authentic Cajun village that is only accessible by boat. Gain an understanding of why the wetlands are slowly disappearing and about the efforts being made to preserve Louisiana's natural treasures. After a fascinating 2-hour boat tour, your guide returns you to shore.
Options
12:15PM Tour - 10:15AM Pick Up
Pick Up Time: Pick ups will commence at 10:15am and return is at 3:30pm
9:30AM Tour - 8:00AM Pick Up
Pick Up Time: Pick ups will commence at 8:00am and return is at 12:45pm
5PM Tour - 3:30PM Pick Up
Pick Up Time: Pick up will commence at 3:30pm and return is at 8:15pm.
2:45PM Tour - 1:15PM Pick Up
Pick Up Time: Pick ups will commence at 1:15pm and return is at 6:00pm
What‘s Included
Free parking on site
Transportation from downtown New Orleans
Life Jackets for guests under 16 years old
Wildlife encounters
Live commentary on board
Professional tour guide
Food and drinks
Gratuities
A processing fee of 7.9% will be added to your payment
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
6,090 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Wonderful excursion
Hannah M,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our bus driver Derek was fantastic! He was so gracious with sharing his knowledge and experiences as a New Orleans local. He gave us fabulous recommendations for food places and informed us on some history and culture too. The swamp tour was also great, our captain Hunter was so knowledgeable about both flora and fauna of the swamp :)
Swamp it Up
Vacation57174867613,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Derek and Captain Hunter were amazing on the New Orleans Swamp Tour!
New Orleans swamp tour
W4786XGandrewv,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Derek was awesome! He was very informative!
Amazing Tour
Quest13658021387,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Derek and Aaron made our new orleans transportation and swamp tour a fantastic experience. We learned so much about nola history, the ecosystem, and wildlife starting the moment we sat in the bus. Literally such a good time. So many gators and other wildlife. Would recommend.
Good morning of sightseeing in spite of the rain
scottsQ8311TT,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our New Orleans Swamp Tour was fun from start to finish. The experience started the second we hopped on the bus. Derrick, our bus tour guide, gave us a lot of really great context about the region. He shared excellent recommendations on places to eat and things to consider doing in the area on the drive-in, which made the ride fly by. Once we hit the water, our boat captain, Jacob, took over and he was fantastic. He was good at getting us right up close to a lot of the wildlife. He was knowledgeable and able to describe the flora, fauna, and animals with some of the history of how they got there and their contribution to the environment. It did rain periodically but the boat was covered and we barely even got wet even when it was really going down.
Swamp Tour
H5489YIkellyp,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Derek and Scott the swamp ninja were great tour guides! Very informative with a lot of great facts.
Awesome!
stephengP7856JD,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Derek was great during the New Orleans Swamp tour!
Great tour!
norc696,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Derek was awesome I loved his recommendations and true account of New Orleans history. I had him for the swamp tour transport
New Orleans swamp and Bayour tour. Cajun encounters
HayleyMarie C,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great value for money. Picked up on air conditioned coach.ride to swamp was about 45 mins. Really informative swamp tour our captain was wade G and he did a great job. Justina was our transfer driver and also very helpful. Highly recommend
VIP Swamp tour with smaller boat to fit in tighter areas.
35rhondaj,Jun 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Captain Ben gave a fantastic, informative and entertaining tour. Very knowledgeable and professional! We got our moneys worth.
Related Experiences
Operated by Cajun Encounters Tour Co.