Cypress trees and Spanish moss over dark swamp water near New Orleans at sunset

New Orleans Swamp Tours: Real Boats, Airboats and Kayak Trips Compared

Nineteen swamp tours you can actually book, spread across four categories: covered pontoon boats, airboats, kayaks and full-day plantation combos. Every from-price, rating and duration on this page comes from a live listing.

Browse all 19 New Orleans swamp tours → See tours by category

Each listing is compared by published from-price, trip length, departure point and review count, so you can match a tour to your dates before paying anything.

Which New Orleans Swamp Tours Fit Your Trip?

Short answer

The 19 listings here split into four categories: covered swamp boats (8), airboats (5), kayak swamp tours (2) and swamp-plus-plantation combos (4). Boats push off from Honey Island near Slidell, the Manchac wetlands at LaPlace and Frenier, the bayou country around Lafitte, and Lake Maurepas, while several operators add a downtown New Orleans hotel pickup. Published from-prices run from $30 to $160 per person. The most-reviewed listing here, Cajun Encounters' Honey Island boat tour with transportation, carries 7,119 reviews. Browse all 19 listings or jump to the most-reviewed tour.

19
real listings, all verified live
4
tour categories around New Orleans
4.9
rating on our most-reviewed listing, 7,119 reviews
$30
cheapest real from-price we found

New Orleans Swamp Tours, Caught on Camera

One photo per category, matched to the tours listed here, not a generic bayou stock shot.

Honey Island Boat, Transport Included Honey Island Boat, Transport Included Budget Airboat With Pickup Budget Airboat With Pickup 4-Hour Small-Group Wildlife Kayak 4-Hour Small-Group Wildlife Kayak Swamp and Oak Alley, Full Day Swamp and Oak Alley, Full Day Large-Group Boat, No Pickup Large-Group Boat, No Pickup Small-Group Airboat, Downtown Pickup Small-Group Airboat, Downtown Pickup Covered Boat, Optional Pickup Covered Boat, Optional Pickup Budget Bayou Boat, Pickup Included Budget Bayou Boat, Pickup Included

Narrow the New Orleans Swamp Tours List to Your Trip

1. What kind of swamp experience are you after?
2. Do you have an operator in mind?
3. What can you spend per person?

Here are three of the best-reviewed tours to start from. Tap an answer below to rebuild the list.

New Orleans Swamp Tours, Compared

Four categories, between two and eight tours in each. Every listing is bookable today with a published from-price, and a rating wherever reviews exist.

Covered pontoon boat gliding down a Louisiana bayou under moss-draped cypress Swamp Boat Tours Pontoon boats glide past cypress at Manchac, Honey Island and Barataria. Airboat speeding across open Louisiana swamp water, propeller cage overhead Airboat Tours Fan-powered airboats skimming Louisiana bayous, from six-seat craft to sixteen-passenger boats. Paddlers in kayaks on a quiet Louisiana swamp channel beneath cypress Swamp Kayak Trips Paddle Manchac and Honey Island by kayak with small-group eco-guides. Swamp boat on a bayou, the morning half of a Louisiana plantation and swamp day trip Swamp & Plantation Day Trips Pair a bayou boat ride or airboat run with Oak Alley or Whitney Plantation.

New Orleans Swamp Tours at a Glance

All 19 tours in one table, ordered by traveler reviews.

TourCategoryDurationFrom priceRating
Honey Island Boat, Transport Included Swamp Boats 5 hours total (incl. transport; ~2h boat) $75.52 per adult 4.9 · 7,119 reviews
Budget Airboat With Pickup Airboats 2 to 4 hours depending on options $50 per adult 4.7 · 5,215 reviews
Large-Group Boat, No Pickup Swamp Boats 1 hour 40 minutes $35 per adult 4.9 · 2,275 reviews
Small-Group Airboat, Downtown Pickup Airboats 4 hours 15 minutes with transport $115 per adult 4.9 · 1,763 reviews
Covered Boat, Optional Pickup Swamp Boats 1 hour 30 minutes $35 per person from-price 4.7 · 1,759 reviews
Budget Bayou Boat, Pickup Included Swamp Boats 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) $30 per adult 4.5 · 1,615 reviews
Boat Tour, Round-Trip Pickup Included Swamp Boats 4 hours (incl. round-trip transport) $60 per adult 4.8 · 1,308 reviews
Swamp and Oak Alley, Full Day Combos about 7.5 hours (full day) $125 per person from-price 4.6 · 1,203 reviews
High-Speed 9-Passenger Airboat Airboats 105 minutes (airboat ride) $89 per person from-price 4.9 · 1,004 reviews
Oak Alley Plus Airboat Combo Combos 8 hours (approx.) $160 per adult 4.7 · 745 reviews
Quiet Flat-Bottom Bayou Boat Swamp Boats 2 hours (boat tour) $38 per person from-price 4.9 · 232 reviews
Dr. Wagner's Guided Boat Tour Swamp Boats about 2 hours $37.75 per adult from-price, with a transport-inclusive tier also offered 4.9 · 196 reviews
Gray Line Alligator Boat Tour Swamp Boats 1 hour 30 minutes $35 per person from-price 4.3 · 151 reviews
16-Passenger Airboat Airboats 1 hour 30 minutes $65 per person from-price 4.9 · 89 reviews
Swamp Boat Plus Whitney Plantation Combos 7 hours 30 minutes $131 per person from-price 4.9 · 48 reviews
6-Passenger Premium Airboat Airboats 90 minutes $95 per person from-price 4.7 · 27 reviews
Intimate Van Combo, Pickup Included Combos 7.5 hours $137 per person from-price 5 · 16 reviews
4-Hour Small-Group Wildlife Kayak Kayak 4 hours $84 per person from-price 4.8 · 13 reviews
Small-Group Beginner Kayak Tour Kayak 1 hour 15 minutes $49 per person from-price See listing

Sort and Filter All New Orleans Swamp Tours

The table above stays put. This one does not: filter by category or transport, then sort by price, rating, length or review count.

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All 19 tours, most reviewed first. Tap a sort chip twice to flip the order.

TourCategoryOn boardLengthDepartsFromRatingBook
Honey Island Boat, Transport IncludedCajun Encounters Tour Co. Swamp Boats No food served 5 hours total (incl. transport; ~2h boat) Downtown hotel pickup or meeting point from $75.52 ★ 4.97,119 reviews Check availability
Budget Airboat With PickupAirboat Adventures Airboats No food served 2 to 4 hours depending on options Lafitte waterfront from $50 ★ 4.75,215 reviews Check availability
Large-Group Boat, No PickupLouisiana Tour Company Swamp Boats No food served 1 hour 40 minutes Barataria Blvd, Marrero from $35 ★ 4.92,275 reviews Check availability
Small-Group Airboat, Downtown PickupLouisiana Tour Company Airboats No food served 4 hours 15 minutes with transport Downtown hotel pickup or meeting point from $115 ★ 4.91,763 reviews Check availability
Covered Boat, Optional PickupCajun Pride Swamp Tours Swamp Boats No food served 1 hour 30 minutes Frenier landing, Lake Maurepas from $35 ★ 4.71,759 reviews Check availability
Budget Bayou Boat, Pickup IncludedAdventures of Jean Lafitte Swamp Boats No food served 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) Lafitte waterfront from $30 ★ 4.51,615 reviews Check availability
Boat Tour, Round-Trip Pickup IncludedLouisiana Tour Company Swamp Boats No food served 4 hours (incl. round-trip transport) Downtown hotel pickup or meeting point from $60 ★ 4.81,308 reviews Check availability
Swamp and Oak Alley, Full DayCajun Pride Swamp Tours Combos No food served about 7.5 hours (full day) Downtown hotel pickup or meeting point from $125 ★ 4.61,203 reviews Check availability
High-Speed 9-Passenger AirboatLouisiana Tour Company Airboats No food served 105 minutes (airboat ride) Barataria Blvd, Marrero from $89 ★ 4.91,004 reviews Check availability
Oak Alley Plus Airboat ComboLouisiana Tour Company Combos No food served 8 hours (approx.) Downtown hotel pickup or meeting point from $160 ★ 4.7745 reviews Check availability
Quiet Flat-Bottom Bayou BoatCajun Encounters Tour Co Swamp Boats No food served 2 hours (boat tour) Honey Island swamp, Slidell from $38 ★ 4.9232 reviews Check availability
Dr. Wagner's Guided Boat TourDr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours Swamp Boats No food served about 2 hours Honey Island swamp, Slidell from $37.75 ★ 4.9196 reviews Check availability
Gray Line Alligator Boat TourGray Line New Orleans Swamp Boats No food served 1 hour 30 minutes Downtown hotel pickup or meeting point from $35 ★ 4.3151 reviews Check availability
16-Passenger AirboatRagin Cajun Swamp Tours Airboats No food served 1 hour 30 minutes Airboat base, Lafitte from $65 ★ 4.989 reviews Check availability
Swamp Boat Plus Whitney PlantationGray Line New Orleans Combos No food served 7 hours 30 minutes Downtown hotel pickup or meeting point from $131 ★ 4.948 reviews Check availability
6-Passenger Premium AirboatRagin Cajun Swamp Tours Airboats No food served 90 minutes Airboat base, Lafitte from $95 ★ 4.727 reviews Check availability
Intimate Van Combo, Pickup IncludedK's Lurury Transportation and Tours [sic] Combos No food served 7.5 hours Downtown hotel pickup or meeting point from $137 ★ 516 reviews Check availability
4-Hour Small-Group Wildlife KayakNew Orleans Kayak Swamp Tours Kayak No food served 4 hours Downtown hotel pickup or meeting point from $84 ★ 4.813 reviews Check availability
Small-Group Beginner Kayak TourZip NOLA Kayak No food served 1 hour 15 minutes Zip NOLA office, Maurepas from $49 No reviews yet Check availability

What's Included on New Orleans Swamp Tours

Boat touring a Honey Island waterway with moss-draped cypress swamp on each side

Honey Island Boat, Transport Included

4.9 7,119 reviews on the listing

5 hours total (incl. transport; ~2h boat) · Cajun Encounters Tour Co.

from $75.52per adult, live price on the listing

Cajun Encounters is the strongest-reviewed operator on this site, and this is its transport-inclusive Honey Island cruise: roughly 2 hours on the water inside a 5-hour outing, with round-trip travel from New Orleans folded in. Honey Island sits east of the city near Slidell, one of the least altered swamps in Louisiana, and the boat moves slowly enough to actually look. From $75.52 per adult, rated 4.9 across 7119 reviews. Free cancellation.

Check Price & Availability →
Airboat speeding down a grassy channel in the Jean Lafitte swamp near New Orleans

Budget Airboat With Pickup

4.7 5,215 reviews on the listing

2 to 4 hours depending on options · Airboat Adventures

from $50per adult, live price on the listing

Airboat Adventures is the budget entry in the airboat category, from $50 per adult, with pickup options that stretch the total outing to roughly 2 to 4 hours depending on what you choose. The ride itself is the loud, fast, flat-bottomed affair every airboat promises, out toward the wetlands south of the city. The rating runs 4.7 across 5215 reviews, a large sample for the price point. Free cancellation applies. Check the listing for age and height rules before booking with kids.

Check Price & Availability →
Covered swamp boat on a Manchac waterway, the swamp half of a full day that also visits Oak Alley

Swamp and Oak Alley, Full Day

4.6 1,203 reviews on the listing

about 7.5 hours (full day) · Cajun Pride Swamp Tours

from $125per person from-price, live price on the listing

Cajun Pride bundles its Manchac swamp cruise with Oak Alley Plantation in one long day, about seven and a half hours door to door. The covered boat comes first, gliding past alligators and moss-draped cypress, then the van carries you upriver to the famous alley of oaks and the antebellum house behind them. It is a full Louisiana double feature, river parish history plus wetland wildlife. Rated 4.6 across 1203 reviews, from $125 per person, free cancellation.

Check Price & Availability →

When to Go

Operating calendarEach operator sets its own calendar. Check your dates against the live listing before you book.
Hurricane seasonTropical weather occasionally pushes operators to reschedule or cancel departures along the Louisiana coast, so watch your booking email before heading out.
WinterCovered-boat and combo tours keep running on lighter schedules; airboat and kayak availability varies by operator.

What Makes the Louisiana Swamp Worth a Morning

24,778
combined reviews across every listing on this page
12
real operators running these tours
$30–$160
published price range across every tour on this page
19
listings with free cancellation on the live booking page

Where New Orleans Swamp Tours Leave From

Manchac trips push off near LaPlace and Frenier, Honey Island boats leave from Slidell, and Jean Lafitte swamp rides run out of the small town of Lafitte. The rest collect you at a downtown New Orleans meeting point or hotel pickup.

Where the day starts, and the 14 mapped points around it A true-scale plot of 15 real coordinates read from OpenStreetMap, north upwards. Jackson Square is the ringed point. Every other point is one mapped place, coloured by which set it belongs to and numbered to match the cards below. The grid squares are 25 km across. Seven points sit within a few metres of a neighbour, so they have been nudged apart just far enough to stay readable. A dashed line runs back to the true position. Distances on the cards are straight-line figures between the mapped coordinates, not road distances and not walking times. New Orleans Kayak Swamp Tours office / shuttle pickup, mapped point 11 Cajun Encounters Honey Island Launch, mapped point 22 Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours departure, mapped point 33 Cajun Encounters Decatur St office, mapped point 44 Honey Island Swamp / Pearl River WMA boat access, mapped point 55 Slidell, mapped point 66 Cajun Pride Swamp Tours, mapped point 77 Manchac boat-launch area, mapped point 88 Lake Maurepas, mapped point 99 Jean Lafitte Swamp & Airboat Tours, mapped point 1010 Airboat Adventures, mapped point 1111 Barataria Preserve Visitor Center, mapped point 1212 Louisiana Wetland Education Center / Wetland Trace Boardwalk, mapped point 1313 Bayou Segnette State Park, mapped point 1414 Jackson Square
  • North is up. The bar on the map shows 13 km.
  • Coastline, roads, green space: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Which landing suits your plans?

Pick a launch area below to see which of the 19 tours leave from there, with the boat type and starting price for each.

NEW ORLEANS AREA SWAMPS Frenier landing, Lake Maurepas Honey Island swamp, Slidell Zip NOLA office, Maurepas Airboat base, Lafitte Barataria Blvd, Marrero Lafitte waterfront Downtown hotel pickup or meeting point 1 2 1 2 2 2 9

7 marked departure points. Most swamp tours here launch from a dedicated swamp landing: Honey Island near Slidell, Frenier Road at LaPlace, Barataria Boulevard in Marrero, Luling or the Lafitte waterfront. The rest start with a downtown New Orleans hotel pickup or meeting point. Tap a pin or a name to see what leaves from it.

What Riders Say

“Our guid was funny and knowledgeable, and answered all the questions that were asked. Got to hold a baby gator and take pictures! Definitely worth it”

Emma, United States, operator-listing review of Covered Boat, Optional Pickup

“Such a great experience! Our pick up was really well organised by Big Joe our driver. Loved the recommendations and mini tour of New Orleans we got as we drove us to the location. The swamp tour itself was awesome! We saw so many critters, including alligators, and our guide Dustin was very knowledgeable with where to find them and called them over next to the boat. Overall, a really great experience from an awesome family business!”

operator-listing review of Covered Boat, Optional Pickup

“Everything great! Well organized and planned. Great time spent with big Joe during transfers (we enjoyed his playlist a lot!).”

Michele, operator-listing review of Swamp and Oak Alley, Full Day

“Amazing day!! Everyone was very accommodating, kind and so fun. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting.”

Jade, Australia, operator-listing review of Swamp and Oak Alley, Full Day

“The guide was very entertaining and knowledgeable. We loved singing along to the music while enjoying the beautiful bayou”

alison, operator-listing review of Swamp and Oak Alley, Full Day

“Absolutely amazing swamp tour our captain B Bop was very knowledgeable and entertaining we got to see many alligators on the tour it was a great time!!”

Charles, United States, operator-listing review of High-Speed 9-Passenger Airboat

“Incredible tour, our captain Bepop was so full of knowledge and was so fun. Highly recommend tour.”

operator-listing review of High-Speed 9-Passenger Airboat

“The whole experience was amazing. Our guide was fantastic and full of knowledge, but Grumpy was definitely the star of the show 😃”

operator-listing review of High-Speed 9-Passenger Airboat

“This was a fantastic trip and captain Larry was the best, his knowledge was amazing and seeing “muffin” the gator was amazing Thank you”

Debbie, United Kingdom, operator-listing review of Gray Line Alligator Boat Tour

“This was a great experience. Had a great time. Guide was full of so much knowledge.”

Chris, United States, operator-listing review of Gray Line Alligator Boat Tour

“larry was amazing he mixed a good amount of humor and fact. highly recommend”

Karen, United States, operator-listing review of Gray Line Alligator Boat Tour

Reviews are quoted verbatim from the operators' own booking listings and are not edited; stars and names are as published there.

Where to Stay

budget

French Market Inn

French Quarter (French Market/Decatur St)

Budget French Quarter base steps from the French Market, inside the downtown pickup zone most swamp-tour shuttles serve, so an early morning departure needs no rental car.

Check rates
mid

Bourbon Orleans Hotel

French Quarter (Orleans St)

Mid-range 4-star in the heart of the Quarter, a block off Bourbon yet on the standard downtown route for swamp-tour hotel pickups before the bayou traffic builds.

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upscale

Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans

French Quarter (Royal St)

Landmark luxury Royal Street hotel two blocks from Jackson Square, squarely in the French Quarter pickup zone for morning swamp-tour departures to the bayou.

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FAQ

New Orleans Swamp Tours, Answered

Covered pontoons, airboats, kayaks and plantation combos. Nineteen tours in four categories, with starting prices from $30 to $160.

Browse tours by category →

★ 4.9 · 7,119 reviews · from $75.52 Get Your Ticket →