Small-Group Airboat Swamp Tour with Downtown New Orleans Pickup
Overview
Available languages
4 hours 15 minutes
Mobile ticket
Experience the other Swamp Tour in New Orleans. This destination is only 35 minutes from New Orleans yet a world apart. Hold onto your hat! This New Orleans airboat tour is a high speed adventure that is part tour and part ride. This boat has a maximum of nine passengers to ensure a small, personal and uncrowded experience.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
All children must be at least 48 inches
When traveling with multiple passengers, you must make one booking with all passengers to insure that you are on the same boat. If you did not book together, you are not guaranteed to be together.
Due to safety concerns, pregnant women are not allowed on this tour
Airboats are not handicapped accessible. There are no lifts or ramps available for use. Guests must be able to get on or off of the boat themselves or with the help of someone in their party.
Service animals are permitted but not recommended due to the volume of noise on the boat and threats of surrounding wildlife.
Emotional support animals are not permitted.
Please note you are not guaranteed to see a gator. They hibernate in winter months but are easily spotted in spring, summer, and fall.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Professional guide
1 hour and 40 minute airboat tour
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
New Orleans
Your experience starts with hotel pick-up in New Orleans. Travel along the river to reach your destination in the swamps.
Barataria Preserve
On this tour you will experience the best of both worlds: a swamp tour and an airboat ride. You will travel at high speeds in the airboat then slow down and stop for pictures. Along the way, you will get a personal tour by your local Captain. These airboats have stadium seating so the person in front of you does not obstruct your view. Every seat is great for viewing the wildlife. Yes, gators will get close - real close! Alligators do hibernate in the colder months, but the experienced captains know where to look for them. On average, during the winter, you have better than a 50/50 chance of seeing a gator. In the warmer months, you will always see a gator. You may also see bald eagles, pelicans, osprey, or owls. Airboats reach speeds of up to 35 miles an hour, and are propelled by a huge fan that will blow air from the back of the boat in excess of 200 miles an hour. These tours are truly a blast! They ride in inches of water and go places where traditional boats cannot go.
Options
9:40am Tour
Pickup starts at 8am: 9 passenger airboat with pickup from downtown New Orleans hotels. Hotel pickup is between 8am-8:30am
Pickup included
2:10pm Tour
Pickup starts at 12:30pm: 9 passenger airboat with pickup from downtown New Orleans hotels. Hotel pickup is between 12:30pm-1pm.
Pickup included
12:10pm Tour
Pickup starts at 10:20am: 9 passenger airboat with pickup from downtown New Orleans hotels. Pickup is between 10:20 AM and 10:50 AM.
Pickup included
4:15pm Tour
Pickup starts at 3pm: 9 passenger airboat with pickup from downtown New Orleans hotels. Pickup between 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM.
Pickup included
Reviews
1,588 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Swamp tour
meghann512,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very fun tour. Loved that we were picked up from our hotel in the French Quarter and taken to the tour. Our guide was great!
Don’t Miss This!
Katie B,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Thrilling, educational and unforgettable! Our guide was born to do this; we saw plenty of alligators (including a 13- footer), a whole family of soaring, squabbling bald eagles, and a gorgeous owl napping in a tree. Bring the family — your kids will love this experience!
Worth it.
Wednesday M,
Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00Was a fine experience. Nothing special but worth going. Request a non-smoking driver if allergic. Baby alligator was the highlight of the day.
Thank you Captain Bebop!
Kreins666,
Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Captain Bebop was fantastic! The airboat ride was smooth and exhilarating. I was afraid of alligators at first, but after seeing captain bebop pet one, they are actually so cute! The vegetation and birds I saw were also fascinating. Our captain was funny and knowledgeable and really made the experience ten times better. Happy to have had him as the guide!
Best small airboat swamp tour!
232randallm,
Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Captain Bebop did a great job of showing us all the swamp as well as explaining the flora and fauna of the swamp. He knew a lot of local history. And the boat ride was fast and fun!
Great way to spend the...
robert m,
Oct 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great way to spend the afternoon. Guide super knowledgeable and friendly. Couldn’t be happier with the experience
Best Ever!
OHNOHEREWEGO,
Oct 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Captain Bobby was fabulous!! I have been on many swamp tours and I can say this one was bar none. Our captain kept us entertained and safe the entire time. His knowledge of the area and history was on point. Highly recommend and request Captain Bobby for an unbelievable memory making time!!!
Captain Bobby was...
Tammi C,
Oct 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Captain Bobby was amazing. His knowledge of the area/gators along with his boating skills and entertainment made for one of the best tours I have experienced. Highly recommend !!!
Thrills, Gators, and Great Guides----A Must-Do Tour!
Daydream750435,
Oct 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The airboat swamp tour was an unforgettable adventure that far exceeded the price of admission. From the moment we were picked up at our hotel, the experience was seamless and engaging. Our bus driver, with his lively personality and quick wit, kept us entertained as he expertly maneuvered through the vibrant streets of New Orleans, offering glimpses of local charm along the way. Once we arrived at the bayou, the real magic began. Skimming across the water in our airboat, we were immersed in the wild beauty of the Louisiana wetlands. Towering cypress trees draped in Spanish moss framed the winding waterways, and the air was thick with the swamp's earthy scent. We spotted countless alligators, ranging from tiny juveniles to massive, ancient-looking beasts. Our guide was exceptional: passionate, knowledgeable, and deeply connected to the ecosystem. He shared fascinating insights about the gators' behavior, biology, and conservation, as well as stories about the bayou’s history. From start to finish, the tour was a perfect blend of excitement, education, and Southern hospitality. My husband and I left with a deeper appreciation for the region’s natural wonders, and a camera roll full of memories.
Amazing
Mayara M,
Oct 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Captain Ernie was awesome!! Very knowledgeable and he made sure everyone on the boat had a chance to see the alligators very closely. Bonus surprise that he had s baby gator onboard to show us.
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Operated by Louisiana Tour company