Option 1
Small Airboat
- Capacity
- 6-10 passengers
- Ride
- Fast, loud, and open air
- Best fit
- Small groups, couples, and photographers
- Eligibility
- Age 5+ and at least 48 inches tall
- Accessibility
- Does not board wheelchairs
- Route
- Same 1 hour 45 minute route
Bayou Tour New Orleans: Small Airboat and Covered Boat Options
Pick your boat for the same bayou route
A bayou tour with Bayou Swamp Tours is about 1 hour 45 minutes on the water at partner docks about 30 minutes from the French Quarter. Start with a small airboat for a small-group ride, or pick the covered pontoon for shade and a quieter pace. Call 504-618-1692 or use the form to book.
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What is a bayou tour near New Orleans?
Bayou tour and swamp tour are words people use for the same guided boat trip through the bayous and cypress swamps outside the city. Every boat choice follows the same route for about 1 hour 45 minutes.
Small airboat: 6-10 passengers for a fast, loud, open-air ride with a smaller group. Ear protection is provided. Riders must be age 5 or older and at least 48 inches tall. Learn more about the small airboat tour.
Covered pontoon: A shaded, quieter choice for all ages. Expectant mothers are welcome, and this is the only option that boards a standard-width wheelchair.
Large airboat: About 15-27 passengers with the same fast, loud, open-air ride and the same age and height requirements.
Hotel pickup or drive yourself
The partner docks in the Jean Lafitte area are about 30 minutes from the French Quarter. Because we work with multiple docks, we email the exact address after your reservation is confirmed so you do not drive to the wrong place.
Driving yourself: Park at the assigned dock, then expect about a 1-2 minute walk to check-in.
Hotel pickup: Pickup is available from covered French Quarter, New Orleans city-center, and Eastern Garden District hotel zones for an additional fee. Call 504-618-1692 to add it.
Facilities: Bathrooms are available at the docks, not on the airboats.
Who can go
Airboat riders must be age 5 or older and at least 48 inches tall. Expectant mothers and younger kids take the covered pontoon, which welcomes all ages. A standard-width wheelchair can board the covered pontoon only. Review the age and height rules before you pick a boat.
What to expect on the water
Every boat spends about 1 hour 45 minutes on the bayou. The airboats are open air and loud, so ear protection is provided. The covered pontoon is shaded and quieter. On every boat, your captain narrates the bayou as you go.
Wildlife activity changes with the weather, season, and conditions. Your captain will guide the route, but sightings, including alligator sightings, cannot be guaranteed.
Booking, Payment, and Confirmation
Call 504-618-1692 or request a call to choose a boat and departure. Payment is made by card on the phone, not at the dock. After your seats are confirmed, you receive a confirmation email and text with your assigned dock details.
Bayou Swamp Tours is a booking office that partners with hand-picked tour operators and Coast Guard certified captains. We do not claim to own every boat or partner dock.
A quick decision guide
Which boat should you pick?
All three boats follow the same bayou route for about 1 hour 45 minutes. Choose based on your group, ride preference, and boarding needs.
1Start with the ride feel, then check who can board.
Option 2
Covered Pontoon
- Capacity
- Call for group sizes
- Ride
- Quieter, shaded, and smooth
- Best fit
- Families, all ages, and guests who prefer shade
- Eligibility
- All ages; expectant mothers welcome
- Accessibility
- Boards a standard-width wheelchair
- Route
- Same 1 hour 45 minute route
Option 3
Large Airboat
- Capacity
- About 15-27 passengers
- Ride
- Fast, loud, and open air
- Best fit
- Bigger groups that want an airboat ride
- Eligibility
- Age 5+ and at least 48 inches tall
- Accessibility
- Does not board wheelchairs
- Route
- Same 1 hour 45 minute route
All three choices follow the same route. Scan each option for the details that matter to your group.
| Small Airboat | Covered Pontoon | Large Airboat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 6-10 passengers | Call for group sizes | About 15-27 passengers |
| Ride | Fast, loud, and open air | Quieter, shaded, and smooth | Fast, loud, and open air |
| Best fit | Small groups, couples, and photographers | Families, all ages, and guests who prefer shade | Bigger groups that want an airboat ride |
| Eligibility | Age 5+ and at least 48 inches tall | All ages; expectant mothers welcome | Age 5+ and at least 48 inches tall |
| Accessibility | Does not board wheelchairs | Boards a standard-width wheelchair | Does not board wheelchairs |
| Route | Same 1 hour 45 minute route | Same 1 hour 45 minute route | Same 1 hour 45 minute route |
New Orleans Bayou Tour Times
Tours depart at 8 AM, 9:45 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM, 4 PM, and 6 PM. The 6 PM tour runs when daylight allows. Arrive 15-30 minutes early for check-in.
Every boat follows the same route for about 1 hour 45 minutes. Call 504-618-1692 to check availability and book.
8:00 AM
9:45 AM
12:00 PM
2:00 PM
4:00 PM
6:00 PM(when daylight allows)
Book Your Bayou Tour
Match Your Group
Choose a small airboat, covered pontoon, or large airboat based on group size, age, accessibility, shade, and ride style.
Plan the Details
We help arrange your departure, partner dock, optional additional-fee hotel pickup, and confirmation details by phone.
Trusted Operators
Our booking office partners with hand-picked tour operators and Coast Guard certified captains for the boat experience.
Request A Call To Book Now
Fill out the form below, and a representative will call you within seconds to help answer any questions and book your tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about our Louisiana airboat tours.
Yes. People use both words for the same guided boat trip through the bayous and swamps outside New Orleans. Every boat runs about 1 hour 45 minutes.
Most guests start with the small airboat for 6-10 passengers and a fast open-air ride. Pick the covered pontoon for shade, a quieter ride, all ages, expectant mothers, or a standard-width wheelchair. The large airboat fits bigger groups.
The partner docks are about 30 minutes from the French Quarter. We email your exact dock address after your reservation is confirmed.
Yes, as an add-on with an extra fee from French Quarter, city-center, and Eastern Garden District hotels. Call 504-618-1692 to add it.
Airboat riders must be at least 5 years old and 48 inches tall. Everyone else can take the covered pontoon.
Wildlife changes with weather, season, and conditions, so alligator sightings cannot be guaranteed. Your captain shows you the bayou as it is that day.
Call 504-618-1692 or use the request-a-call form. Pay by card on the phone, not at the dock. You get a confirmation email and text.
Plan Your New Orleans Bayou Tour
New Orleans airboat toursLearn what to expect from the small and large airboat rides.Read more →Swamp boat tourSee how a guided swamp boat tour works near New Orleans.Read more →Covered pontoon swamp tourPlan a shaded, quieter ride that welcomes all ages.Read more →Compare New Orleans boat toursCompare the boat tour options around New Orleans.Read more →Compare Airboats and Covered PontoonsCompare speed, noise, shade, age rules, and accessibility.Read more →Review Transportation OptionsPlan hotel pickup or your drive from the French Quarter.Read more →See the Full Tour TimelinePlan travel, check-in, and time on the water.Read more →Choose a Departure TimeCompare the daily departure windows without ruling out any slot.Read more →Check Airboat RequirementsReview age, height, and covered boat alternatives.Read more →Know What to WearPrepare for an open-air or covered boat ride.Read more →Plan a Group TourReview options for larger and private groups.Read more →Plan an Alligator TourLearn how season and conditions affect wildlife activity.Read more →How to Book and ConfirmReview booking, payment, confirmation, and form options.Read more →