A straightforward guide for first-time visitors
Three kinds of New Orleans boat tours: airboat swamp tours are fast and open air, covered swamp boats are quiet and shaded, and Mississippi riverboats offer relaxed sightseeing near the French Quarter. Want alligators, cypress swamp, and bayou wildlife? Choose a swamp tour.
We book small airboats for 6 to 10 passengers, large airboats, and a covered pontoon. We do not sell riverboat cruises. Wildlife sightings vary with conditions, weather, and season. No guarantees.
A quick way to choose
Comparing boat rides in New Orleans? Start with what you want to see, then choose the ride that feels right.
Small group, full-throttle bayou
Covered pontoon
Mississippi River
A large airboat also runs the swamp route, with 15 to 27 passengers and the same age and height rules. Compare small and large airboats.
Start here if you want the lively airboat experience in a small group. It is fast and loud, so ear protection is provided. Captains follow the same bayou route used by the other swamp boats.
Choose a large airboat when you want the open-air ride with more room for your group. The ride follows the same route and has the same entry requirements as the small airboat.
The covered swamp boat is a quiet pontoon with a full awning for shade. It follows the same bayou route and is the option to consider for families, expectant mothers, or guests who prefer a calmer ride.
The river is a different outing
Riverboat cruises sail the Mississippi River and generally board along the riverfront near the French Quarter, so there is no drive out of the city. They are a relaxed way to see the river, the city skyline, and local history. Some riverboat companies offer music or dining.
Schedules, prices, and what is included vary by company, so check with the riverboat company directly. Bayou Swamp Tours does not sell riverboat cruises. If you want alligators, cypress trees, and the bayou, a swamp tour is the boat trip for that.
Match the ride to your day
Want speed and a small group? Pick a small airboat. See the small airboat.
Traveling with young kids, an expectant mother, or someone using a wheelchair? Consider the covered pontoon. Family tour details.
Main goal is alligators and wildlife? Either swamp boat may suit you. Sightings vary and are not guaranteed. Read about wildlife tours or what to expect.
Want to stay in the city and see the river? A riverboat cruise may suit you. It is not sold by us, so contact a riverboat company directly.
Can't decide between swamp boats? Compare swamp tour options, or call us and we'll help match the ride to your group.
Bayou Swamp Tours is a booking office working with hand-picked operators and Coast Guard certified captains.
Getting there
Swamp tour docks are about 30 minutes from the French Quarter. We use multiple partner docks, and the exact address is emailed after your reservation is confirmed. Please arrive 15 to 30 minutes before departure for check-in.
Round-trip hotel pickup is available from the French Quarter, New Orleans City Center, and Eastern Garden District for an additional fee. Call to add pickup.
Swamp departures are at 8 AM, 9:45 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM, 4 PM, and 6 PM, with the 6 PM departure subject to daylight. All are good times to go.
Booking basics
Call or use the form to book. Pay by card over the phone, not at the dock. Your confirmation arrives by email and text. Weekends, holidays, and Mardi Gras can book ahead, so plan early if your dates are set.
Rates vary by date, boat, and add-ons. Call for today's rate. Wildlife sightings depend on conditions, weather, and season, and are never guaranteed.
Good to know
There are three main kinds: airboat swamp tours, covered swamp boat (pontoon) tours, and Mississippi riverboat cruises. Bayou Swamp Tours books the airboat and covered swamp boat tours. We do not sell riverboat cruises.
A swamp tour, on either an airboat or a covered pontoon. Captains look for alligators and other wildlife on every trip, but sightings vary by weather and season, so we do not guarantee any animal.
The covered pontoon welcomes all ages and expectant mothers. Airboats require ages 5 and older and a minimum height of 48 inches.
Airboats are fast, loud, and open air, with ear protection provided. The covered pontoon is quiet and shaded. Both follow the same bayou route for about 1 hour 45 minutes.
No. Bayou Swamp Tours books swamp tours only: small airboat, large airboat, and covered pontoon. For a riverboat cruise, contact a riverboat company directly.
About 1 hour 45 minutes on the water. Plan about 30 minutes each way to the dock from the French Quarter, plus 15 to 30 minutes for check-in.
Yes. Round-trip hotel pickup is available from the French Quarter, New Orleans City Center, and Eastern Garden District for an additional fee. Call to add it.
Rates vary by date, boat, and add-ons. Call 504-618-1692 for today's rate.
Ready for the swamp?
Tell us about your group and we'll match you with a small airboat, large airboat, or covered pontoon departure.
Personal booking help
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