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New Orleans Swamp Tours
Discover the magic of Louisiana's swamps and bayous - see alligators in their natural habitat just 30 minutes from the French Quarter.
★★★★★2,500+ Reviews
Wild Gators in Their Natural Habitat
Hotel Pickup Available
Departs from New Orleans
1.5-2 Hour Tours
All Ages Welcome
From $37/person
Choose Your Swamp Adventure
Whether you want heart-pounding thrills or peaceful nature watching, we have the perfect New Orleans swamp tour for you.
Swamp Tours
Trending
Best Value
New Orleans Signature Airboat Swamp Tour
FamiliesFirst-Time Visitorsfriend groups
Our Signature 16-seat airboat is the #1 choice for New Orleans swamp adventures. The perfect balance of thrills, intimacy, and value. This is the experience locals recommend and the tour that earned us over 3,000 five-star reviews.
About 1 hour 45 minutes 16 passengers maximum
- ✓Perfect balance of speed, size, and value
- ✓Our most popular swamp tour
- ✓Great maneuverability through scenic waterways
Trending
Family Friendly
New Orleans Covered Pontoon Boat Swamp Tour
FamiliesFirst-Time VisitorsNature Lovers
EVERYONE can ride on this swamp tour! Our Covered Pontoon Boat Swamp Tour is a laid-back, shady ride through the bayou, perfect for families with small children, pregnant women, elderly guests, or anyone who wants a peaceful wildlife experience. The most affordable swamp tour we offer.
About 90 minutes Up to 72 passengers
- ✓EVERYONE can ride - no restrictions!
- ✓Most affordable swamp tour
- ✓Perfect for families with infants and toddlers
PremiumSmall Group
Private Airboat Charter - Exclusive Swamp Tour
FamiliesPhotographybachelor-partiescorporate-groupscelebrations
Book the ENTIRE airboat for your private group! Choose from four boat sizes to match your party. Perfect for families, bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate outings, birthdays, or anyone who wants an exclusive Louisiana swamp experience.
About 1 hour 45 minutes Choose: Premium VIP (6), Small (10), Signature (16), or Super-Sized (30)
- ✓Choose your boat: Premium VIP (6), Small (10), Signature (16), or Super-Sized (30)
- ✓Perfect for bachelor/bachelorette parties and family reunions
- ✓Corporate team building welcome
Very PopularSmall Group
New Orleans Small Airboat Swamp Tour
adventurous soulsFamiliesFirst-Time Visitors
Small Airboats seat no more than 10 people and are the number one way to see the swamp. Fast, loud, and thrilling, you'll get further into the bayou on the Small Airboat.
About 1 hour 45 minutes Maximum 10 people
- ✓Small group feel with more personal attention
- ✓Navigate narrow waterways larger boats can't reach
- ✓Fast and thrilling ride through the bayou
PremiumSmall Group
New Orleans Premium VIP Airboat Swamp Tour
CouplesPhotographyNature Lovers
The ultimate VIP swamp experience. With only 6 guests, you'll enjoy an intimate, exclusive tour that reaches hidden areas larger boats can't access. Perfect for photographers, couples, or anyone wanting the most personalized Louisiana bayou adventure.
About 1 hour 45 minutes Maximum 6 guests only
- ✓Our most exclusive swamp experience
- ✓Our most nimble and maneuverable airboat
- ✓Smaller boat gets closer to the wildlife
Family FriendlyShuttle Available
New Orleans Super-Sized Airboat Swamp Tour
FamiliesFirst-Time VisitorsNature Lovers
The 30-passenger Super-Sized Airboat packs the most powerful engine on the bayou. Fast, loud, and thrilling, it delivers an unforgettable ride at the most affordable airboat price in New Orleans.
About 1 hour 45 minutes 30 passengers per boat (multiple boats available for large groups)
- ✓Most affordable airboat tour in New Orleans
- ✓Most powerful engine on the bayou
- ✓Perfect for families and large groups
Combos & Specialty
Trending
Combo
Gators, Ghosts & Vampires of New Orleans Combo
Adventurous SoulsFirst-Time VisitorsCouplesNature Lovers
Get the best of both worlds: a swamp airboat ride by day and a haunted French Quarter walking tour by night, all in one unforgettable day. Shuttle included.
About 9 hours (with a long break between activities) 16-seat airboat, up to 28 on ghost tour
- ✓Two iconic New Orleans experiences in one perfectly coordinated day
- ✓Wild swamp by afternoon, haunted French Quarter by night
- ✓Cruise through cypress swamps where alligators call home
Trending
Family Friendly
Zip the Bayou: New Orleans Gator Glide Zipline Adventure
Thrill-SeekersFamiliesNature Lovers
Soar over a real Louisiana cypress swamp on 5 ziplines and 2 sky bridges! Spot alligators from the treetops on this one-of-a-kind aquatic zipline course just 26 miles from downtown New Orleans. Perfect for families and thrill-seekers.
About 90 minutes Small groups per departure
- ✓Soar over a real Louisiana cypress swamp on 5 ziplines and 2 sky bridges
- ✓Spot alligators and birds from the treetops
- ✓Non-zippers welcome: spectator deck with seating, fans, and misters
Trending
Best Value
Swamp & Plantation Combo Tour: Oak Alley & Small Airboat
First-Time VisitorsHistory BuffsFamiliesNature Lovers
Pair a thrilling small airboat ride deep into the Louisiana bayou with an unforgettable visit to Oak Alley Plantation, all in one perfectly planned 8-hour day with hotel shuttle and all admissions included.
Approx. 8 hours Small airboat – up to 10 guests
- ✓Two top Louisiana experiences in one 8-hour day
- ✓Get deep into bayou channels larger boats can't reach
- ✓Walk beneath 300-year-old live oaks at Louisiana's most iconic plantation
Not Sure Which Swamp tour is Right for You?
We've been helping visitors pick the perfect swamp tour since 2009. Chat with us and we'll give you personalized recommendations based on your group.
Local tour experts in the French Quarter · (504) 226-5433 · Open daily 8am - 6pm
What to Expect on Your Swamp Tour
Alligator Encounters
Our expert Cajun captains know the best spots to find gators in their natural habitat.
Wildlife Galore
Herons, egrets, turtles, wild boar, and more. The Louisiana swamp is teeming with life.
Ancient Cypress
Float through forests of 500-year-old cypress trees draped in Spanish moss.
Expert Guides
Local Cajun captains share stories, history, and secrets of the bayou.
Why Book Your Swamp Tour With Gators & Ghosts?
The Biggest Selection in New Orleans
We work with multiple tour operators, giving you more options than any single company can offer — including combo tours that pair swamp adventures with ghost tours or plantation visits.
We've Taken Every Tour
We personally experience every tour before recommending it. If we wouldn't do it, we won't sell it.
Real People, Real Answers
Call or text us anytime. Charlotte and Leonard personally answer your questions—no call centers.
★★★★★
3,000+ five-star reviews
"We booked very last minute, 30 minutes later their shuttle was picking us up - brilliant logistics. Loved the whole experience: pick up, drive there, refreshments at arrival, tour itself with an awesome guide. Highly recommended."
— Tara A., TripAdvisor Review, May 2024
Swamp Tour FAQs
How do I get to the swamp tour?▼
You have two options: 1) Book our shuttle service ($30/person round-trip) which picks you up from your French Quarter or downtown hotel, or 2) Drive yourself (free parking at the dock). The swamp launch is 25-40 minutes from the French Quarter. We'll send exact directions in your confirmation email.
Can I use Uber/Lyft to get to my swamp tour?▼
We strongly discourage using rideshare services. While getting a ride TO the bayou is usually easy, the launch areas are rural and not well-serviced by Uber/Lyft. Guests have been stranded waiting for a return ride. We recommend our shuttle service or driving yourself.
What's the difference between airboat and pontoon tours?▼
Airboats are faster and more thrilling — great for adventure seekers. Pontoon boats are slower and quieter, making them better for photography, conversation, and families with young children. Both see the same wildlife!
When is the best time of day to see alligators?▼
In summer, earlier tours tend to be best before alligators retreat to the shade during peak heat. In winter, midday tours can be better since gators come out to sun themselves on warmer afternoons. Your captain knows the daily patterns and will do their best to find wildlife, though sightings can never be guaranteed.
Will we get to hold a baby alligator?▼
It depends on the day. Some captains may have baby alligators available to hold, but this is not guaranteed and does not happen on every tour. Swamp tours are a chance to see wildlife in their natural habitat, not a zoo experience. Come with an open mind and enjoy whatever the bayou brings you.
How long are the swamp tours?▼
The airboat portion of the tour is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes on the water. Pontoon boat tours run about 90 minutes. If you are taking the shuttle from New Orleans, plan for about 4 hours total including the round-trip drive to and from the bayou.
Should we tip our tour guides?▼
Absolutely! Tipping 15-20% of your tour cost is standard and greatly appreciated — similar to what you'd tip at a restaurant. Our guides are passionate locals who rely on tips as a significant part of their income. A great guide can make your experience unforgettable. If they do, let them know!
What happens if it rains?▼
Tours run rain or shine. If you show up in the rain, your guide will be there. We only cancel if conditions become dangerous, and in that case you'll receive a full refund or the option to reschedule.
Have more questions? Visit our full FAQ page
Round-Trip Shuttle Service Available
Don't have a car? No problem. Add our shuttle service during checkout for convenient pickup from your French Quarter or downtown hotel.
$30 per personAdded during checkout • Pickup details sent by email
Why Choose Gators & Ghosts?
We're locals, not a faceless booking site. Every tour is curated by experts who actually live in New Orleans.
3,000+ Five-Star Reviews
Real guests, real reviews. Thousands of families and groups have trusted us with their New Orleans trip — and told their friends about it after.
Family-Owned Since 2009
Aunt and nephew team — not a corporate chain. We'll give you an honest recommendation even when it means suggesting a less expensive tour.
One-Stop Shop
Swamp tours, ghost tours, plantations, city tours — one place to compare, book, and ask questions instead of juggling a dozen browser tabs.
Talk to Local Experts
Not sure which tour to pick? Chat with us or call (504) 226-5433 — real locals who'll point you in the right direction.
French Quarter Location
Walk in, say hi, ask us anything at 728 St. Louis Street. If plans change day-of, we're right here in the Quarter — not in another state behind a 1-800 number.
Curated by Insiders
Every tour on our site is hand-chosen. We know the operators, we've done the tours, and we only sell what we'd recommend to friends.
Ready to Explore the Swamp?
Book online or chat with us for personalized recommendations. We'll help you choose the perfect swamp tour for your group.