L
Must have experience
Incredible trip with amazing experience with our guide i recommend this for anyone coming to Louisiana. I've come for years and this is my first time taking a swamp tour, I wish I had done it before.
New Orleans Airboat Ride
+12 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 2–4 hours
- Price from
- $50 / person
- Location
- New Orleans, United States
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 · 5,222 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 30
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Airboat Adventures
- Meeting point
- Please turn right on Texas Street (the next right), not Fleming Park Rd to enter the facility.
Description
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. Th premium small-group tour is limited to 6 people, regular small airboat (up to 10 people) or large airboat (up to 30 people) 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. There are no rideshare or taxi services to this area. Gators are more commonly spotted in summer months.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 9:45 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and 4:00 PM
- Next available
- Mon, Oct 5
- Adult (ages 5+)
- $50
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 4.
Tour Options
Itinerary
New Orleans
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.
What's included
Included
Local guide
Airboat ride
Small storage space under seat
Roundtrip transportation (if option with transport is selected at time of booking.)
Ear protection
Unobstructed views
Not included
Gratuities
Food and drinks (gift shop and bar available on site)
Pickup Locations & Times
***Pickups start 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to tour time.*** Please be outside or near the main entrance where you have a visible line of sight of the designated transportation area. The driver will be picking up from multiple stops in a 30 minute window. If the bus is not there at first, please keep an eye out for a white shuttle bus with a red logo. Note: THIS TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION UNLESS YOU SELECT THE OPTION WITH TRANSPORT.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.7
5,222 reviews
How it compares in New Orleans
- No. 8 by number of reviews among 702 tours in New Orleans
- Starting price $50 is 25% above the typical $40 for tours of similar length in New Orleans
Excurgo comparison of 702 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- 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 (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.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does New Orleans Airboat Ride take?
New Orleans Airboat Ride lasts about 2–4 hours. The itinerary has 2 stops.
How much does New Orleans Airboat Ride cost?
Prices start at $50 per person for this New Orleans experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 5 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does New Orleans Airboat Ride run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 9:45 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and 4:00 PM.
Can I cancel New Orleans Airboat Ride for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. ***Pickups start 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to tour time.*** Please be outside or near the main entrance where you have a visible line of sight of the designated transportation area. The driver will be picking up from multiple stops in a 30 minute window. If the bus is not there at first, please keep an eye out for a white shuttle bus with a red logo. Note: THIS TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION UNLESS YOU SELECT THE OPTION WITH TRANSPORT. Pickup points include The Troubadour Hotel New Orleans.
What languages is New Orleans Airboat Ride offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 30 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is New Orleans Airboat Ride worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 5,222 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Airboat Adventures.
Reviews(5,222)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
P
5 star experience
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
J
We had a great time! Jay...
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!
A
Gators galore
I had a great time. The gators were out and gave us a show. Our tour guide was amazing. I had a blast.
S
Great gator experience
Amazing experience to get up close and personal with the gators and other wildlife. Friendly and informative guide who knew the right spots to visit...highly recommended.
B
Loved my airboat ride!
Steve was knowledgeable of the land, water and wildlife. Bar on site and can bring drinks on the boat! Plenty of restrooms at location.
O
Wildlife in the Bayou.
Excellent trip in a small boat, lots of alligators, herons, cormorants, bayous, eagles and ospreys.
S
Gator watching
Great scenery and lots of aligators and birds yo look at. Tour guide was very informative. Great time overall!
R
Boring a waste of money. The only reason why I gave them a one star because the driver was nice and our pictures
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.
K
Great time!
Had a great time! Our guide was home grown so knew so much about the history of the river and about the crocodiles. The ad said we'd have an unobstructed view, that wasn't the case. Our guide did everything he could so that we were able to see something of the crocs. Would absolutely do it again!
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from$50
4.7(5,222) Free cancellation