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

Mon 23 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $59.00

Make a reservation

Mon 23 Dec

Starting at $59.00

Make a reservation

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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)

Vaughn_R

Mar 2022

The guide was great Jay. I would do it again. Fun time and goude went above and behind to make it an experience.

I2SPEEDY

Mar 2022

I was super excited to do this tour. Unfortunately, I booked it for a cold and rainy day so I only saw one Gator and my Sister saw two, and they were at a distance. Our guide said it's not Disney, it's a real Swamp so we probably would not see a lot of Gators. While that was disappointing, that's the reality. What I am very confused and disappointed about is the feeding of Marshmallows to them. When I first looked into this company, I saw pictures of them doing this and online reviews of this practice. I saw photos on their own Instagram page feeding marshmallows to them. When we questioned our guide on the boat, he denied doing that and that marshmallows are not nutritious. He said other companies do this. I have no knowledge on what is right or wrong, but I would hope as a company they would all follow the same guidelines across the board to protect these animals and their reputation as a company. I look at the photos they post and the photos that guests have posted and I feel like I was on a tour with another company. I see photos of guests holding small gators and photos of guides getting up close and personal with them and our guide did not even move the boat around for us to get close enough to see the two Gators we saw. As far as the Albino Gator, it is sad to see him/her in such a small space.

collind726

Mar 2022

This airboat tour through the swamps is a must if you’re near New Orleans. It was a short bus ride to the docks, where we cast off on our large fan boat. Our swamp guide Ronnie was the best; a smooth driver, knowledgeable and entertaining! Would definitely recommend friends and family to experience the wilderness just outside of bourbon street.