New Orleans Airboat Ride

Overview

Take a break from the hustle-bustle of New Orleans and escape to nature on this exhilarating, family-friendly airboat ride! Spot alligators, snakes, turtles, egrets and herons as you take a fast, fun ride over a tidewater cypress swamp close to Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Admire moss-covered cypress and tupelo-gum trees as you explore bayous teeming with life and take advantage of incredible photo ops.

This small-group tour is limited to eight people (small airboat) or 30 people (large airboat) to allow for better views of the wildlife.

Please note: If you book the self-drive option you will not receive hotel pickup. If you book the option with pickup, pickups will begin 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to tour time.

City: New Orleans

Wed 20 Nov

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $59.00

Make a reservation

Wed 20 Nov

Starting at $59.00

Make a reservation

New York City Tours

Unique Activities (21) Transfers & Transportation (103) Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises (113) Entry Tickets (47) Sporting Events (1) Good for Small Groups (6) Seasonal & Holiday Tours (41) Walking Tours (697) Outdoor Activities (20) Limitied Availability Tours (6) LGBT Friendly Tours (4) Family-friendly Activities (7) Solo Travelers' Tours (147) Food & Drinks (27) Travelers recommend (73) Good for Groups (8) Top Activities (18) Guided Audio Tours (3) Art, Culture & History (135) Attractions to explore (38)

What's Included

Local guide

Airboat ride

Hotel drop-off (If tour option with Transport is selected at the time of booking.)

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Operates in all weather conditions; 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
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Regular temperature checks for staff
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons

What To Expect

Mississippi River

Drive-out along the Mississippi River approximately 30 miles (48 km) to the embarkation point of your airboat from your New Orleans hotel. Depending on the option you selected, board a large airboat holding 15 to 25 passengers or a small airboat limited to six to eight passengers for a more intimate, personalized experience.

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

Set out on a 1 hour and 45 minute tour on a 20,000-acre (8,095-hectare) tract of tidewater cypress swamp close to the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Your airboat is powered by an aircraft propeller to allow a fast, fluid trip through the shallow marshes. Feel the wind on your face as you zip into bayous lined with mossy cypress and tupelo-gum trees. Prepare to see plenty of alligators in the warmer months (and warmer days in winter), some of which may be out sunning themselves on rocks! Your guide may even feed the gators, affording amazing photo opportunities. Keep your eyes open for turtles, snakes, egrets, herons and ibis. You may even catch sight of a hawk, owl or bald eagle. In the cooler months, look for white-tailed deer, raccoons and the large rodents known as nutria. Be sure to check out the indoor exhibits of alligators, including an albino alligator. Note: This tour does not include hotel pick-up or drop-off unless option selected at checkout.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (1000)

D1094GLsarahh

Apr 2022

Awesome tour, great guide. The small boat was worth the extra cost. Would go with this company again.

jbeliles

Apr 2022

This tour was advertised as a two hour tour. Our trip was scheduled to depart at 2 but we left at 2:15. After making several stops, our boat would not start back up. It was around 3:15. We had to sit for 30 minutes and wait for another boat to pick us up. Then, the captain immediately returned us to the dock around 3:45. So we ended up being shorted half our tour. I contacted management and they said that if you have at least 45 minutes of a tour, they consider it a full tour. Viator recommended a partial(half) refund which I was fine with but the company refused to give us any money back. It was supposed to be the highlight of our family trip to New Orleans and we spend over $300 for a very disappointing airboat experience. Also, this was supposed to be a family friend activity and our captain was cursing every single sentence. I understand that he may just speak like this but it was not appropriate for my 7 and 11 year old to hear this language. I have read many other reviews that have expressed concern about the alligators coming to the boat. The captain said it was just because alligators are curious. That is most certainly not the case. These gators are being fed and that seems very dangerous for the humans and alligators. Please do your research and find a more reputable, environmentally conscious company to give your money to. Wish I could go back and do it differently but hoping that I can help other people avoid the frustration and disappointment my family and I experienced. Thank you!

Nancy_B

Apr 2022

Our guide, Tick Tock was great. Very knowledgeable. We saw many alligators, also bald eagles, blue herons and egrets.