New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour with Transportation

Overview

Available languages

English

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.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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.

Admission Not Applicable

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.

2 hours • Admission Not Applicable

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

Options

2:45PM Tour - 1:15PM Pick Up

Pick Up Time: Pick ups will commence at 1:15pm and return is at 6:00pm

5PM Tour - 3:30PM Pick Up

Pick Up Time: Pick up will commence at 3:30pm and return is at 8:15pm.

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

Reviews

4.90

5,383 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

5031

238

Swamp boat ride
577traceyb,,Jan 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fabulous boat trip with Captain Dustin around the swamp. Great to see so many raccoons 🦝 and enjoyed hearing the stories from Dustin. Really enjoyable afternoon.
Nothing to see in colder months.
Whitney D,,Jan 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00
This is a total waste of time. The alligators are hibernating and not active. They’re aware of this and continue to sell tickets to this attraction. It’s unethical.
Beauty and serenity in the swamp.
Mark N,,Jan 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Cornell, our driver to the swamp, was engaging and warm and made the transport portion a delight. Our boat guide, Billy was knowledgeable and authentic, exactly the sort of person you would hope for. The swamp tour was fascinating, both beautiful and serene, with gators, cranes and playful raccoons.
Great Guides and Informative Tour, Just Missed Seeing Alligators
teachingwithm,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
This was a good experience overall and a nice way to explore the New Orleans swamp and bayou. The standout for us was definitely the bus driver, Derick. He was fantastic from the start, talking the entire drive about New Orleans and the surrounding areas. He was passionate, friendly, and very knowledgeable, and he gave great recommendations along the way. The drive didn’t feel like 45 minutes at all because he made it so engaging. The boat tour itself was also good. The guide on the boat clearly knew a lot about the area and shared plenty of interesting information about the swamp, wildlife, and local environment. The only downside was that we didn’t see a single alligator during the entire boat ride. I understand that wildlife sightings can’t be guaranteed, but seeing alligators was a big reason we booked the tour, so that part was a bit disappointing and stopped it from being a five-star experience. Overall, it was well run with excellent guides, and I’d still recommend it, just with the understanding that wildlife sightings aren’t guaranteed.
Fun Swamp Tour
lisas181,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00
Pros: Being on the swamp was really cool. Saw an alligator sunning on the banks of the river! The captain/tour guide knew his stuff! Was friendly and very knowledgeable of the area. Shared personal stories and made the swamp tour fun. watching him feed the raccoons off the side of the bank -was great!! Cons: The captain/tour guide-left without some of his passengers! He had 23 listed on his form and 8 of us were left behind-NOT COOL. Tour guide needs to use a microphone. Sitting in the back of the boat (stern) couldn't understand any of his stories or hear his jokes, especially when he was conversing with those sitting near him. So not only were we left behind but once onboard couldn't really hear what he was saying.
Swamp-tastic day out!
allisond272,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
What a great day out on the swamp - our captain Scott was super informative. Gators, raccoons and other wildlife spotted. Thanks to our driver too for her stories along the way!
Great tour thanks capt. Dustin
Deanna B,,Jan 20, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Captain Dustin was very knowledgeable and funny. Great time in the swamp. He has a keen eye and found us an alligator in January which because it was cold is hard to do. He even found a swamp snake.
Well organized,...
Shriharsha S,,Jan 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Well organized, transportation was one-time and comfortable. Even though it was off-season for alligators; tour captain tried to show as much as possible. Definitely would visit again in summer.
A fun break from the French Quarter
bdparvin,,Jan 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Well run, no complaints. My son loved it and the price is worth it. Not as many animals in January but also not hot, so it’s a trade off.
Must-do in NOLA
kelseyt313,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was a great educational experience! I don't usually follow a tour when traveling but being able to get out on the bayou and swamps while learning the local lifestyles and wildlife was wonderful. The trip lasts about 5 hours from pickup to dropoff. Both our bus driver and tour guide (Captain Roy) are true locals who loved sharing their Naworleans tips. Even on a cold January day, we saw blue heron, ahingas taking flight, racoons posing, and one small alligator (hiding in between the grass in the last pic, we wouldn't have spotted it without our captain). As with most tours, there's a good amount of time waiting in the gift shops though.