Few travelers hope to find themselves in a swamp on their next vacation.
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But there’s one place in the United States where you can easily pencil in a little foray into a swamp that’s teeming with life—from gators to cranes to the world’s cutest rodent, the nutria.
If you were picturing The Big Easy, congratulations. New Orleans is surrounded by swamps, marshes, and bayous, which are three types of wetlands. The region is home to over half a billion acres of cypress-tupelo swamps that you’ll recognize from popular films and movies like Forrest Gump and True Blood.
Whether or not you like nature, dinosaur-sized reptiles, or boat rides, I consider swamp tours from New Orleans an obligatory respite from all your drinking and dancing in the French Quarter. You’ll be surprised by what you learn, and might even find yourself embracing the swamp’s mystical beauty.
Also, you can drink on most of the tours listed below. Just saying.
I’ve divided the best swamp tours in New Orleans based on whether they include an airboat ride. Airboats are fast-moving vessels that cruise over the water and can reach up to 40 mph. (They can also cruise gently to let you get close to wildlife.) Other swamp tours take a more leisurely pace on large boats.
3 easy-to-book swamp tours from New Orleans
- Beginner-friendly adventure: Airboat Swamp Tour
- Great for wildlife sightings: New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Alligator Tour
- The full experience: New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour with Transportation
Swamp tours from New Orleans: Airboats
Airboat Swamp Tour
A fast-n-short romp around a swamp located on private land. As you zip around, your guides will teach you a thing or two about local wildlife and plants, along with history.
- Tour length: 1.5 hours
- Do you need to drive there? No, hotel pickup
- Where is the tour? You’ll visit a private swamp located just outside the city—no long drives needed
Large Airboat Swamp Tour with Transportation from New Orleans
This fast-moving airboat tour includes several slow stops where you’ll get to check out local wildlife and unique flora, including gators. This two-hour swamp tour offers a balance of high-octane speed and pauses in a peaceful bayou.
- Tour length: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Do you need to drive there? No, round-trip transportation is provided
- Where is the tour? No location given
New Orleans Premium Six-Passenger Airboat Adventure
Take to the scenic swamps around Jean Lafitte, home to some of the area’s most lush landscapes. As you venture out on an airboat, you’ll learn about this unique ecosystem as you spot many gorgeous creatures. This is also a small-group tour.
- Tour length: Between 2 and 4 hours
- Do you need to drive there? Yes, but you can pay for a hotel transfer for a fee
- Where is the tour? Near Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Reserve
Small-Group Airboat Swamp Tour with Downtown New Orleans Pickup
This is an alligator-focused airboat tour that maxes out at nine passengers, letting you enjoy a more tailored swamp adventure. Think: high speeds interspersed with gentle cruising.
- Tour length: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Do you need to drive there? No, round-trip transportation is covered
- Where is the tour? Barataria Preserve
New Orleans Airboat Ride
Nature-lovers will enjoy this airboat ride through a mossy cypress swamp that’s picturesque and lush. Expect to spot many gators, especially if you visit during summer. You can choose between morning and afternoon tours.
- Tour length: Between 2 and 4 hours
- Do you need to drive there? You can drive yourself or book a coach hotel pickup for a fee
- Where is the tour? Near Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Reserve
Swamp tours from New Orleans: no speeding airboats involved
New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour with Transportation
This is a tried-and-true swamp tour that’s been running for years. You’ll get to check out gators, boar, snakes, birds, and more—and even stop in a Cajun village. Your guides are passionate about this swamp.
- Tour length: 5 hours
- Do you need to drive there? No, transportation is provided (if you want to get there yourself, book their self-transport tour)
- Where is the tour? Honey Island Swamp, a protected wetland
New Orleans Swamp Tour Boat Adventure
Take a large vessel just outside the city to get a lay of the swampy lands. As you venture, you’ll get up close to the bayou—and even have the chance to spy on a Cajun cemetery.
- Tour length: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Do you need to drive there? Yes (if you want hotel pickup, check out their tour that comes with transportation)
- Where is the tour? Barataria Swamp
Jean Lafitte 90-Minute Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour
This quick-and-easy tour takes you onto a shaded pontoon boat that will point out Southern Louisiana’s incredible ecological system as you explore the bayou. The swamp that this tour explores also has historic markers, adding to the fun.
- Tour length: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Do you need to drive there? Yes
- Where is the tour? Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve
New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Alligator Tour
This tour includes plenty of commentary from an expert guide who will teach you about alligators, snakes, nutria, turtles, and more. This is a wildlife-centric tour, meaning you should get to see plenty of bayou beasts.
- Tour length: Between 1 hour and 4 hours
- Do you need to drive there? Yes, but you can upgrade for hotel transportation
- Where is the tour? Near Barataria Preserve
Guided Boat Tour of New Orleans Bayou
Head out of the city and into the bayou for a quick romp with some of Louisiana’s most iconic creatures, from swamp raccoons to nutria to alligators.
- Tour length: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Do you need to drive there? Yes, but you can upgrade for round-trip transportation
- Where is the tour? Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve
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