Private Tour
Private Small Airboat Ride with Tranportation from New Orleans
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
This is an unforgettable experience. Enjoy a private airboat experience for up to 9 passengers on a high speed airboat. You will have chauffeured ground transportation in a Black Executive Van. You driver will arrive at your doorstep for a 4 hour experience. Your driver will supply an empty cooler and stop at a grocery store on your way to the swamp. Travel about 35 to 45 minutes to the swamp tour dock, where your captain will await your arrival. Get about 15 to 20 minutes at the dock to use the restroom, go to the souvenir shop and enjoy the ambiance of the bayous. Then spend an unforgettable 1 hour 40 minutes on the water with your licensed USCG captain. You will get gators up close, real close!
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
All passenger heights MUST be advised at time of booking 48" minimum
Exact locations are required for pick up with the chauffeured transportation.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Barataria Preserve
Board the 9 passenger airboat where your licensed USCG captain is awaiting your arrival. Each captain is a native of the area and will entertain you on this 1 hour 40 minute airboat adventure. The trip is part ride and part tour, where your captain stops to talk about the wildlife and flora of the swamps. You will get close to gators during the warmer days of the year. Yes, gators do hibernate, but in warmer days of the winter they will often be caught sunning themselves on the bank. Each trip is different and unique; you never know what you will view along the way. During the trip, the captain will supply the group with Champagne and flutes for the group to celebrate their experience. As the captain returns to the swamp tour dock, you will get 15 minutes to stretch your legs, use the restroom and visit the gift shop. Your driver will be at the dock awaiting your return back to your original pickup location.
What‘s Included
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Bottled water
Driver/guide
Gratuities
Transport by private vehicle
Food and drinks
Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
10:45am Private Airboat Tour
Private passenger airboat tour with private transportation in SUV or van. You will spend about 1 hour 40 minutes on the airboat with a licensed captain. You may see alligators up close.
Pickup included
Reviews
23 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Oh what fun!
ivyann11,Apr 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a ball! Our guide was on a first name basis with the gators.
Great trip
choirmast,Dec 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00awesome experience. well run from pick up to drop off. Saw several allegators (who were lured with marshmallows!) and lots of gorgeous birds...and even a deer swimming across the swamp. At one point the guide stopped and gave us a 10 minute lecture/QandA about the swamp and the gators. Ride was exhilarating and fun.
Thanks bebop!
alexoF5241NZ,Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We went with a big group of 11 and they made the experience amazing from beginning till end. The shuttle to the boat was informative & fun. The boat trip was even better. Bebop was hilarious and shared a ton of stories & history of alligators & the land. 10/10 experience. Thankyou !
🐊 New Orleans Swamp Boat Tour – A Wild Adventure from Start to Finish
brezziek1,Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was our second time taking the swamp boat tour, but our first time bringing our adult kids — and what an adventure it was! The kids were absolutely thrilled. Our daughter even got to ride up top with the captain, tossing marshmallows to the alligators (what he didn’t know was that she’s a marine biology major — so this was her ultimate field day). Our son-in-law lucked out with the perfect seat: first row, right side, where all the gators decided to show off. For us, this tour was a totally different experience from the first time. Our captain had a 12-inch baby alligator he’s been caring for until it’s large enough to release back into the wild — and yes, we got to hold it. The texture completely surprised me — soft and smooth, not at all what you’d expect! We saw plenty of alligators, but what really stood out was how determined our captain was to find a big one — and he wasn’t heading back until we did. Sure enough, he spotted a massive 10- to 12-footer, hopped right out of the boat, and got up close to feed it chicken. Seeing that up close was incredible. We loved our first swamp tour in 2024, but this time topped it in every way. It was fun, wild, and unforgettable — the perfect mix of education, adventure, and a little Louisiana magic.
Excellent day out and knowledgeable captains
933janinet,Jul 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00First air boat ride and encounter with gators, truly an amazing experience and our Captain Ernie was wonderful. Incredibly knowledgeable and had great stories; I truly learned things that I didn’t know, including how “tides” are not at all the same there as they are on the east coast of Canada (I’m from the land of 6 hours in and 6 hours out; 20 to 30 feet total). Would absolutely recommend this tour and Ernie in particular
A fun and informative day out of the city
wanderlustgap2022,May 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fun and informative trip! Our guide - Ernie - was a great storyteller, and I learnt a lot about alligators and the environment that we boated along. Nice blend of wildlife sightings (in particular the alligators), drifting through the gorgeous scenery, and fast thrilling ride further out of the bayou. Smooth and well organised transport to and from the airboat pier too - from door to door. Thoroughly recommend.
Alligators!
E4614WBmikeg,Apr 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an excellent experience with the Louisiana Tour Company’s swamp tour! It was incredibly informative and gave us a real appreciation for the beauty and wildlife of the area. We saw plenty of alligators up close, which was amazing. Captain Ernie was fantastic—knowledgeable, entertaining, and clearly passionate about the environment. Highly recommend this tour if you’re looking for an authentic and memorable Louisiana adventure! Be sure to ask for Captain Ernie!
Great Fun For All
L6584XXjanete,Apr 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An amazingly informative and entertaining experience. Our tour guide educated us on the ever changing ecology. Saw many of the native inhabitants.
Have a gator ol' time!
Resort325878,Mar 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Captain Ernie (or do I remember him saying "Urnie"?) was the absolute BEST. NOLA has been on my dream place to visit for over 20 years, and one of my long term wishes was to see a swamp (CA girlie here, we've got "wetlands" that are not as exciting) and learn more about the local wildlife and gators. Captain Ernie was incredible, intelligent, and extremely swift and careful when steering around the precious gators. I learned so much in just a short amount of time. If you want to see gators, go in the spring-fall! They are reptiles and are flourishing when it's warmer outside. I ditched my husband who was in town for a conference to go on this tour, and I have no regrets. The people of NOLA are amazing in every way. This tour is definitely worth your time, and having someone like Ernie (who's 6 generations deep, and wrote his thesis on gators!) guide you around - makes every dollar spent worth it. Even our bus driver, Barbara, who drove us to-and-from the hotel was incredible and hilarious. I'm still sharing stories about my trip to NOLA with my friends here in CA, and I won't stop! Go visit this city, and go on this tour!!!
Family Fun
allisonsT500OC,Mar 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an excellent use of time during our four day stay in New Orleans. The bus driver, Ms. L and the tour guide, Dewey were warm, informative, friendly and funny. You will not be disappointed! Between the time on the water, and the tons of gator sightings, this was a perfect mini adventure for our family.
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Operated by Louisiana Tour company