New Orleans Airboat Ride
Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
New Orleans, USA
- 2 to 4 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- A must for any nature-lovers in New Orleans
- Pick a morning or afternoon departure to suit your schedule
- Choose one of the small-group options for a more intimate experience
- Optional hotel pickup and drop-off available with select bookings
What's Included
- Airboat ride
- Local guide
- Roundtrip transportation (if option with transport is selected at time of booking.)
- Ear protection
- Small storage space under seat
- Unobstructed views
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks (gift shop and bar available on site)
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
Choose a morning or afternoon tour and meet your airboat at the embarkation point in the town of Lafitte, an historic fishing village named for notorious 19th‐century pirate and privateer Jean Lafitte, located approximately 30 miles (48 km) from New Orleans. Prearranged coach pickup is also available from your downtown New Orleans or French Quarter hotel. Hotel pickups begin 75 minutes prior to your chosen tour time.
Upon arriving at the airboat launch site, board a large airboat holding 15 to 25 passengers or a small airboat limited to six to eight passengers. Hold on tight as your airboat takes off into the tidewater cypress swamp near Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Enjoy close proximity to the water from your seat in the flat‐bottomed airboat. As you zip through the bayou, check out signature cypress trees dripping with moss and massive tupelo‐gum tree rising straight from the water.
Depending on the season, you may spot alligators basking in sun on the shore or lurking in the water. Rest assured that the swamps are teeming with wildlife year‐round. Spot turtles, snakes, raccoons, nutria and many native birds – you may even spot a bald eagle!
Your airboat tour ends at the embarkation point. Before leaving this iconic Cajun town, pop into the local albino alligator exhibit or grab a delectable shrimp Po' boy to go (own expense). Then drive or board your coach back to New Orleans. Note: This tour does not include hotel pick‐up or drop‐off unless hotel pickup and drop‐off is selected at checkout. If you have selected hotel pickup and drop‐off please specify your hotel details at the time of checkout or advise the local operator directly after booking.
Upon arriving at the airboat launch site, board a large airboat holding 15 to 25 passengers or a small airboat limited to six to eight passengers. Hold on tight as your airboat takes off into the tidewater cypress swamp near Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Enjoy close proximity to the water from your seat in the flat‐bottomed airboat. As you zip through the bayou, check out signature cypress trees dripping with moss and massive tupelo‐gum tree rising straight from the water.
Depending on the season, you may spot alligators basking in sun on the shore or lurking in the water. Rest assured that the swamps are teeming with wildlife year‐round. Spot turtles, snakes, raccoons, nutria and many native birds – you may even spot a bald eagle!
Your airboat tour ends at the embarkation point. Before leaving this iconic Cajun town, pop into the local albino alligator exhibit or grab a delectable shrimp Po' boy to go (own expense). Then drive or board your coach back to New Orleans. Note: This tour does not include hotel pick‐up or drop‐off unless hotel pickup and drop‐off is selected at checkout. If you have selected hotel pickup and drop‐off please specify your hotel details at the time of checkout or advise the local operator directly after booking.
New Orleans (Pass By)
1
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
1 hour 45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Most travelers can participate
- Operates in all weather conditions (sunny or rainy); please dress appropriately
- Minimum age is 5 years
- Reservations booked separately will NOT be guaranteed to be on the same boat
- Taxi & Ride Share services not available in our area
- We offer a full refund in case of inclement weather that is unsafe to operate tours (lightening/ thunderstorms/ high wind). We still operate in the rain.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
This was one of the highlights of the trip!! We got to see a lot of gators, and the bayou is absolutely beautiful! Highly recommend for anyone wanting to have a bit of a nature break form the busy city. Also our tour guide, Corey, was phenomenal!
Reviews
4.7
based on 5,262 reviews
Review summary
Last 12 months
499 reviews
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Travelers consistently praise the punctual, safe, and efficient driver and pickup services, noting smooth coordination and convenient hotel locations. The airboat tour offers engaging, educational experiences with knowledgeable captains and guides who combine humor and local insights. The stunning swamp scenery and wildlife encounters, including alligator feedings, create memorable family-friendly moments. However, communication receives mixed reviews, with some travelers flagging unclear instructions and occasional difficulties hearing guides.
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Such a fun experience! Our air boat driver was so knowledgeable about the area. We were able to see alligators, many types of birds, raccoons, and thankfully no snakes. Highly recommend!
Capt Jay is the best. We came across alligators at 3 different spots. We knew it was a 50/50 chance, but he was able to get us really close to them and he even fed them and kissed them. It was amazing to see. Highly recommend going out with Capt Jay. He was knowledgeable and extremely funny. Enjoyed our tour very much.
Our tour guide was amazing!. We saw so many alligators. Boat ride was so much fun. Highly recommend!
Adam was a great boat captain very friendly and knowledgeable. Had a great time everyone at this location was kind knowledgeable and courteous
I wasn't going to write a review but Viator has bugged me at least ten times to send a review. Be careful what you ask for because you just might get it.
I found this very meh. Part of it was because we had middle seats and when there was something to see we were blocked but most of it was them.
They started boarding late. We were told be be ready at noon and they didn't start boarding until 12:10. Not a big deal if you're alone but they're boarding 150 people into multiple boats. Once we were in the boat, our captain announces he wants to be the last one out so he can "get to know all y'all" and so he can go the way most of the other boats didn't. Sounded good in theory but... it was 12:30 before we pulled out on to the water. Minutes later we sat and watched 2 barges go by and discussed the intercoastal waterway. At about 12;45 were finally moving and we almost immediately find a 10+ foot alligator. Finally things are looking up? Ha! We discussed said alligator for over 15 minutes without moving and I got one decent picture. We finally start moving again. The captain says "oh a blue heron on the port side!" Doesn't slow down, but points it out. I sort of saw it but no time to get my phone up for a picture. At 1:04 he slows down to go into a bayou and chit chats. Ten minutes later we pull in. He shows us some Cyprus trees and talks about their roots. This was interesting but we're moving the whole time and I can't get a decent picture. At 1:20 we pull out into open water and he stops and talks about all this was land before a recent hurricane brought a storm surge that covered it all and it's probably permanent.... for 10 minutes. At 1:30 on the dot he says okay! Time to go in! Zoom. We're on our way. One alligator, a glimpse of a bird and some trees. We paid way too much for less than an hour out there and 12 snapshots, mostly of other people's arms and legs.
The captain was a great guy and had a great line about how the engine was really efficient at turning fuel into noise. The stuff he told us was interesting. I just wish we'd seen a little more and we'd been able to see at all.
Cody was awesome super knowledgeable about the swamp and wildlife in the airea! A must if you’re in New Orleans for a few days.
Mark was such a great guide and made the experience so memorable for my family and I! Would highly recommend for anyone traveling to New Orleans!
Great experience all together. From the ride on the bus with Trina ,to checking in, to getting on the airboat with Steve. Steve made the boat ride fun as well as a learning experience due to his knowledge of the swamps and all the waterways through the area, including all of the animals that live there. We recommend this tour to anyone who wants a true Louisiana experience. We will treasure this memory!
This was amazing g! We had so much fun! Our captain was so great - he even had a gator hop on board with us:) Highly recommend!
This was a great tour! We had lots of gator sightings!. I highly recommend doing the small group tour. Ronny was a great driver and guide!
We had a blast on the swamp tour! The boat driver was funny and very informative. Highly recommend this.
Best time on the bayou. Check in was easy and we got right on the boat. Small boat is the way to go. Our captain, Tik Tok was entertaining and he went straight to showing us alligators. We got to see and feed a number of gators and saw birds and other animals as well. We picked the perfect day in October-not buggy and not too hot. Would definitely recommend this trip.
That was the coolest experience ever!!! We had so much fun my boyfriend said it was the highlight of his trip, we don’t get to vacation often so coming out here was so so fun!! Thank you guys for a great tour, got to see some really cool things and learn some facts ab gators!! See yall next year!☺️
Myself, my 22 yo daughter and my mom, had an amazing time on this tour. Ronnie was so knowledgable and fun, you could tell that he was the real deal. It was almost like the gators recognized the sound of his boat and we saw at least 7 of them from babies to the grand daddy 12 footer. We even saw One Eye Willy! Ronnie was wonderful and we would highly recommend this tour and guide. I also paid extra for the small boat and pick up/drop off service, it was well worth not having to navigate the roads and pay for an uber for the 30 minute commute.
We had such a great time on the airboat tour! Captain Mike was wonderful and we really enjoyed it. Definitely a fun experience and something we’re glad we got to do while in New Orleans!
This airboat tour was a lot of fun. Our timing wasn't the greatest because of the incoming hurricane. The water was a bit rough. Our tour guide was amazing, knowledgeable, and fun. We are looking forward to doing this again during calmer weather so we can see how fast these airboats can really go.
It was fantastic. From being picked up to dropped off it was a great experience. Our tour guide Sean was fun, knowledgeable and loved his job. The gators were everywhere. Next time I’m in town I will definitely do this again!
From the pickup at my hotel, to check in, to pre boarding, to the actual adventure, all was a class act and an amazing outing. Our guide was well informed and gave us an authentic experience.
They provide ear protection and there were no mosquitos until dusk.
This is two things that we were worried about prior to the ride.
Our guide (Jake, I think) was fantastic. He made the alligator experience so rewarding and memorable.
It was fun. More cruise through a lake and wide canals than I was expecting. This is on private land, so the guide had a set route and knew where the tame alligators were.
Great tour guide, he was very knowledgeable and funny! Boat ride was fun and got to see alot of alligators up close
I booked the tour with hotel pick up in the French Quarter. I paid for the smaller, 6 person tour and it was well worth the extra money!! For the life of me I can’t quite remember our Captain’s name, Titi? Something like that, he was awesome, it was a perfect mix of high speed thrills like a rollercoaster with slow leisure meandering deep in the Bayou. We saw a majestic Eagle and other water birds and of course, Alligators! What a beautiful area of planet earth! I loved all the mossy trees and the earthy smell of the swamp. Our guide also pointed out a huge Eagle’s nest high at the top of a tree. I even enjoyed the 30 minute ride to the starting point, listening to slow jams on the radio as we headed out of the city… it was very organized. This was a highlight on my first visit to NOLA . I absolutely recommend it! It was fantastic!!
Had a great time. So glad we decided to do the swamp tour. Saw multiple gators with some being over 10 ft.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thanks for coming along for the ride! We hope you’ll join us again someday.
Our guide was extremely knowledgeable. We both came away with a much better understanding of the culture and the environment. Very entertaining and engaging.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thanks for joining us for a day on the bayou. We’re glad you had a great time!
5 star experience, first time out in NOLA with the fam and this was a must for us. We enjoyed every moment of it. It was nice to be able to see the bayou and of course seeing some gators! All the employees are very friendly and helpful. Great service and great people
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thanks for the great review! We’re glad you enjoyed seeing another side of Louisiana.
We had a great time! Jay was was the best. He went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience. We highly recommend!
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thanks so much for the kind review! We’re glad you had a great time with us.
Steve was knowledgeable of the land, water and wildlife. Bar on site and can bring drinks on the boat! Plenty of restrooms at location.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
We’re glad you had such a fun time on your swamp tour. Come back and see us next time you’re in New Orleans!
Great scenery and lots of aligators and birds yo look at. Tour guide was very informative. Great time overall!
Response from Host, Oct 2026
We love hearing that you had a great time. Thanks for coming out and exploring the bayou with us!
Our Tour guy was boring. He only showed a small baby alligators. I would not recommend this place to no one. I would love to ask for a refund back.
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Sorry for the lack of sightings — our captains always do their best to give guests the most exciting experience possible, but wildlife here is free to roam. Thank you for choosing Airboat Adventures.
Member Pricing
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$40.66
per personWas $42.80(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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