Top New Orleans Outdoor Activities

Explore one of Louisiana’s last protected wetlands on a 2-hour boat tour that includes round-trip transport from New Orleans. Depart in the morning or afternoon for Honey Island Swamp, a wildlife preserve teeming with critters such as 'gators, wild boar, snakes and birds. Ride through the swamp dripping with lush foliage and visit a boat-accessible Cajun village with an informative local guide who sheds light on the area’s inhabitants.

Experience New Orleans’ wild bayou country first-hand on an exciting, family‐friendly airboat ride. This boat tour winds through the mossy cypress swamp near Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, named for the 19th-century pirate and smuggler. While onboard, enjoy lively commentary from a local guide as you admire lush, forested shoreline and spot local wildlife. Gators appear most commonly in the summer months, so keep your eyes peeled.

Immerse yourself in the rich culture and natural splendor of New Orleans’ mystifying swamps and wetlands on a New Orleans swamp tour and wetlands adventure. Relax in the luxurious interior of a New Orleans swamp tour boat as you cruise past cultural highlights like a Cajun cemetery, an Indian burial mound and a traditional fishing village. Scour the scenery for fascinating flora and fauna like snakes, turtles and alligators while listening to interesting commentary from your professional guide.

Enjoying a thrilling and high-octane way to immerse yourself in Louisiana’s wild swamp ecosystems—and try out a range of courses and options—with this zipline experience. Pick from one of many available start times, make your own way to the Maurepas Swamp near Lake Ponchartrain and get suited up in your gear. From the cypress treetops, try out five different ziplines, a suspension bridge, and more.

Uncover the mysteries of the swamps surrounding New Orleans on an exhilarating airboat tour of the area, led by a professional guide. Cruise along the picturesque waterways in search of ferocious alligators and other rare wildlife while listening to illuminating commentary from your guide. Feel your adrenaline levels surge as your driver accelerates to high speeds, and capture fantastic photographs during regular stops. Enjoy the convenience of round-trip transportation by comfortable, air-conditioned coach.

Lose yourself in the atmospheric depths of the New Orleans swamps and wetlands on an exhilarating 2-hour boat tour, led by a professional guide. Cruise past ancient wonders and listen to legends surrounding a 2000-year-old Indian burial mound and an atmospheric Cajun cemetery. Scour the Barataria Swamps for sightings of fascinating wildlife such as snakes, turtles and ferocious alligators, and learn about the area’s history and geology from your knowledgeable guide. Enjoy the convenience of round-trip transportation by luxury vehicle fro your New Orleans hotel.

Enjoy an only-in-New-Orleans experience when you embark on a paddle-wheel boat tour of the mighty Mississippi River. In the evening, hop aboard the Steamboat Natchez or her sister vessel, the Riverboat City of New Orleans, and admire views of the city from the water's edge. This cost-saving package additionally includes a Creole‐inspired dinner (if option selected), plus live jazz music to set the mood.

Discover historic New Orleans in an open‐top double‐decker bus on this hop‐on hop‐off sightseeing tour. With your 1-day ticket, design a personal itinerary with multiple stops, including the French Market, Jackson Square, and the Garden District. Enjoy unobstructed views and fun onboard commentary as you soak up The Big Easy.

Exploring New Orleans in the evening can seem like an intimidating quest on your own, but this ghost, voodoo, and vampire walking tour takes you to the city’s eeriest sights at night in the safety of a group led by a guide. Stop by top attractions such as the LaLaurie Mansion and New Orleans Pharmacy Museum while listening to your guide’s detailed stories of the paranormal and beyond.

A trip to New Orleans isn't complete without experiencing Louisiana's local wildlife. This group boat ride takes you to the swamps and bayous, where you learn about alligators, snakes, turtles, local birds, and more—while looking out for them. Your guide knows the best areas for spotting wildlife, improving your chances of seeing various species up close. Also learn about local Cajun culture through your guide’s stories.

Experience the Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve on this shaded pontoon excursion - the closest swamp tour to downtown New Orleans. Your tour guide, who was born and raised in the bayou, will teach you about Southern Louisiana’s distinctive ecology as you cruise past magnificent cypress trees and watch for native wildlife like gators and egrets.

Enjoy stunning and Iconic collections in world class accredited facilities, set aside the famous Mississippi river in both Uptown and Downtown New Orleans. Set aside the time to connect with the wonders of nature in these celebrated local favorite attraction as an oasis of inspiring animals and lush tropical scenery.

Cruise the Mississippi River aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS on a relaxing 75-minute sightseeing experience suitable for all ages. As you travel along the river, the captain provides engaging commentary highlighting the French Quarter, historic waterfront locations, and the role the river has played in shaping New Orleans over the centuries. Guests can enjoy multiple onboard bars, including an open-air bar on the upper deck with sweeping views of the city skyline and riverbanks. Light snacks and beverages are also available for purchase, making it easy to sit back and enjoy the ride. Whether you’re visiting with family, friends, or as a couple, this river cruise offers a scenic and informative way to take in New Orleans from the water.

Gain a deeper understanding of American history on this two-in-one visit to Oak Alley Plantation and a Louisiana swamp tour on this day-long trip from New Orleans. You’ll pass other notable sites including Evergreen, Laura, and St. Joseph Plantations before exploring Oak Alley Plantation at your own pace. Afterward, join an airboat swamp tour and pass the site of the 1811 German Coast Uprising of enslaved people.

Discover the natural landscape and history of Southern Louisiana on a combo tour to the Manchac Swamp and Whitney Plantation. In addition to navigating for you, your guide provides more information about the swamp and its ecosystem. Stop at B&C Seafood Restaurant for Cajun food (own expense), then finish off the day with a self-guided tour of the Whitney Plantation.

Discover a different side of New Orleans–and learn about wildlife you can’t spot anywhere else–with a ticket to the city’s famous Audubon Zoo, including the option to upgrade to include access to the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium located downtown. See endangered species including whooping cranes and Amur leopards, watch animal care demonstrations, and learn facts about the over 1,700 animals who live here.

Delve into the atmospheric beauty of New Orleans’ vast swamplands on an exciting 2-hour small-group tour by airboat. With a knowledgeable guide, cruise past fascinating flora and fauna, scouring the picturesque scenery for sightings of alligators and other rare creatures. Experience the exhilaration of traveling at high velocity as your driver alternates between gentle cruising and high-speed bursts. Receive personalized attention from your guide on this small-group tour, limited to only 9 passengers.

Experience the mysterious beauty of the Louisiana wetlands on a guided kayak tour through the legendary Maurepas Swamp. Voodoo Swamp Tours offers an immersive paddle through towering cypress trees, winding bayous, and one of the region’s most ecologically rich wetlands.

Take the party to the bayou on New Orleans’ only pedal bike bar boat. Gather a group of friends or your bridal or bachelor party, and bring your own beverages to celebrate in a totally unique, only-in-N’awlins way. Help move the boat by pedaling right at your bar seat, or simply soak in the riverside scenery while raising a glass.

If you’re looking to get out and do something unexpected while in New Orleans, this escape room adventure in New Orleans is just the thing. Choose from several unique game adventures and solve exciting puzzles with your group to complete a mission. This escape game is also easy to fit into a busy schedule, as it can be played in between daytime sightseeing or just before you’re ready to call it a night.

Take a peek beneath the surface with a visit to the reimagined, state-of-the-art Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium in New Orleans. Marvel at more than 3,600 animals from over 250 species in an AZA-accredited aquarium voted one of the top five aquariums in the USA Today 10 Best reader poll. Explore a vast underwater world spanning the Caribbean and the Amazon Rainforest to the waters that give New Orleans its lifeblood: the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. Touch sharks and stingrays in the Shark Discovery Touch Pool, and enter a 30-foot-long tunnel to admire aquatic creatures of all shapes and sizes as they swim through the Great Maya Reef habitat. In the Amazon Rainforest gallery, discover lush plant life, free-flying birds, stunning aquatic species such as piranhas and pacus, an anaconda snake, and much more. Feel amazed by the array of aquatic life in the aquarium’s largest exhibit, the 450,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico habitat.

Sail down this Mississippi River on a classic Paddlewheeler boat on this New Orleans river cruise. Enjoy illuminating narration from the onboard historian and stop part-way through the trip to learn about the Battle of New Orleans. Then, get back aboard the vessel and enjoy a cash bar while admiring the views.

Get a taste of 18th-century New Orleans while exploring its most notorious haunts aboard a mule-drawn carriage. Join a small group of no more than eight people for an intimate evening tour through the French Quarter, where rollicking nightlife conceals a past filled with dark deeds, natural disasters, and supernatural sightings. Hear the city's most salacious history from a guide as you clip-clop your way past iron-laced balconies, darkened alleys, and southern mansions steeped in legend.