Experience New Orleans’ wild bayou country on an exciting, family‐friendly airboat ride. This boat tour winds through the mossy cypress swamp close to Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, named for the 19th‐century pirate and smuggler. While onboard, enjoy lively commentary from a native guide as you admire lush, forested shoreline and spot local wildlife.

Enjoy a fast, thrilling ride on tidewater cypress swampland near the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
See alligators, turtles, snakes, egrets, herons, ibis and other wildlife
Choose from morning and afternoon departures on a small or large airboat
Small-group tour limited to eight people (small airboats) or 25 people (large airboats) for a more interactive experience
Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option selected)

What's Included

Airboat ride
Local guide
Hotel drop-off (If tour option with Transport is selected at the time of booking.)

Gratuities
Food and drinks

Departure & Return

This operator has two meet-up options available. You can either meet at the departure point below or select a location for pick-up.

Departure Point

5145 Fleming Park Rd, 5145 Fleming Park Rd, Lafitte, LA 70067, USA

Pickup Details

Possible departure locations

View departure locations

Return Details

This activity will end right where it started.

Please Note

***Pickups start one hour and 15 minutes prior to tour time.*** Note: THIS TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION UNLESS YOU SELECT THE OPTION WITH TRANSPORT.

What To Expect

Choose a morning or afternoon tour and meet your airboat at the embarkation point in the town of Lafitte, an historic fishing village named for notorious 19th‐century pirate and privateer Jean Lafitte, located approximately 30 miles (48 km) from New Orleans. Prearranged coach pickup is also available from your downtown New Orleans or French Quarter hotel.

Upon arriving at the airboat launch site, board a large airboat holding 15 to 25 passengers or a small airboat limited to six to eight passengers. Hold on tight as you airboat takes off into the tidewater cypress swamp near Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Enjoy close proximity to the water from your seat in the flat‐bottomed airboat. As you zip through the bayou, check out signature cypress trees dripping with moss and massive tupelo‐gum tree rising straight from the water.

Depending on the season, you may spot alligators basking in sun on the shore or lurking in the water. Rest assured that the swamps are teeming with wildlife year‐round. Spot turtles, snakes, raccoons, nutria and many native birds – you may even spot a bald eagle!

Your airboat tour ends at the embarkation point. Before leaving this iconic Cajun town, pop into the local albino alligator exhibit or grab a delectable shrimp Po' boy to go (own expense). Then drive or board your coach back to New Orleans. Note: This tour does not include hotel pick‐up or drop‐off unless hotel pickup and drop‐off is selected at checkout. If you have selected hotel pickup and drop‐off please specify your hotel details at the time of checkout or advise the local operator directly after booking.

Mississippi River (Pass By)

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 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.

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
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
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers

Operated by Airboat Adventures

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

about cancellations

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Q:What is the policy on sanitization during New Orleans Airboat Ride?

A:The policies on sanitization are:

Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized

Q:What is the social distancing policy during New Orleans Airboat Ride?

A:The policy on social distancing is:

Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons

Q:What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during New Orleans Airboat Ride?

A:The policies on staff health & safety are:

Guides required to regularly wash hands
Regular temperature checks for staff

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

NOTE - the airboat ride is LOUD and you are provided ear protectors, so you need to be bold in asking questions during the tour.

I recommend taking the ride in the warmer months so you can see more animals.

Reviews

4.5

1,935 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers

Showing 1-10 of 1,935 reviews

Again had a great time.

Janeane_M, May 2022

Overall had a great time! Would have preferred to see more alligators and other wildlife. We would recommend this airboat adventure.

Awesome

Alona_M, May 2022

Being so close and personal with alligators and the beauty of the swamp is indescribable you have to see it for yourselves to really appreciate it highly recommended…..

Captain Earl was amazing!...

Gagan_G, May 2022

Captain Earl was amazing! Knowledgeable and helpful. I would definitely recommend this airboat ride.

A must do whenever in New Orleans.

Gwen_M, May 2022

Enjoyed the speed of the boat. The scenery was spectacular. The guide was great. Best part of the New Orleans trip.

Great afternoon to see the Wildlife

MIKE_D, May 2022

Great trip Guide Excellent Great knowledge about area and the animals that inhabit the area Well worth it for any visitor

Swamp thing trip

Bernadette_B, May 2022

Our tour guide was amazing, he explained the difference between gators and crocks,Florida gators. We were able to feed the gators. Gave us a wealth of information about gators and history of bayou.

Interactive!!

Grace_B, May 2022

Jay was an amazing tour guide with lots of knowledge of the area. And of course we got to see 13 alligators, 4 turtles, and plenty of birds!

Seeing the Swamp

Bernadette_B, May 2022

Wonderful experience . Beautiful scenery and our host was awesome. Very informative and kept narrative entertaining

Captain T Earl made the...

Albert_N, May 2022

Captain T Earl made the whole trip amazing. He was very knowledgeable and gave us great photo opportunities

If you love seeing someone kiss as many alligators as possible- this tour is for you

orit_w, May 2022

The guide was obsessed with alligators and really only wanted to get as close to them as possible. We spent most of the tour in one place with him throwing marshmallows and hot dogs into the water and kissing alligators.

1 traveler found this review helpful

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Product code: 6455NOLAAIR

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New Orleans Airboat Ride

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