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

Sat 21 Sep

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $59.00

Make a reservation

Sat 21 Sep

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)

tukisas2022

Nov 2022

Due to inclement weather and thunderstorm advisories I was not comfortable attending the tour as roads were poorly visible en route to the tour. I was not issued a refund because cancellation was over the 24 hour period and was told by operator “runs rain or shine” except with lightning. When the weather advisory reported a higher than average likelihood of lightening the tour still went on only to find out later the tour was truncated to a 45 min tour due to poor visibility vs what is advertised as 2-4 hours. Please be advised that even if the weather advisory reports severe storms the operator may still proceed with trip and please keep in mind the quality of the tour given such conditions. In fairness I was offered an alternative day but I only had that day available due to travel

MoreTravellin

Nov 2022

We had booked the airboat ride. Before we were all seated, we were told to hop off as a storm was coming. You could see the black clouds approaching. The boat driver told us once we drove past a certain point there was no refund. From that comment we assumed we would be rescheduled for another day. Not to be. We were told the storm would pass and we were to hop back on. My husband had rushed into their store to buy those rain ponchos thinking that would help with some light rain. There was no light rain or shower of rain, but horizontal rain that stung your face and thunder. Regardless, we went up the river and our driver travelled until he found an alligator. Once we saw that, he said words to the effect of now we have seen a gator we can head back. It was raining so hard, you struggled to look up and the entire boat huddled under their ponchos and rain coats on the trip back. There was nothing to see as the animals are smart enough to stay out of the weather and the fog/mist was so bad, visibility was poor. The tour that runs for 1 hour and 45minutes we were not on. Ours was lucky to last 45 minutes. We were soaked through and they will not refund your money once they have it. Don’t turn up, lose your money. Don’t want to go out in a storm? Lose your money. Cut short your tour, lose your money. It was a cold, wet disappointment disaster. If they cared about their customers safety, they would have rebooked us for the next day or another time. It’s all about the money for them Try somewhere else.

Tae_Y

Nov 2022

The boat operator was fabulous. We love him very much. However, your Viator page says that you can pick us up at Hotel Mazarin then you changed to Hotel Mantelone. It also says that the pick up time is 12pm. I double-checked about pick up time via Viator but no response. Then, I got a message that the pick up is 75 min advance. I asked 10:45? It was again 75 mins advance. So confusing so I called them. Then, she said no more pick up at Mazarin. They were telling us on that time. We needed to run around to look for the new pick up Hotel. There were no good coordination between Viator site and the tour operator. We need accurate info a way before the tour. Thx