Looking for an alligator tour near New Orleans? These approximately 1 hour 45 minutes swamp and airboat trips leave from a location about 30 minutes from downtown. Choose a small airboat, large airboat, or covered pontoon. Wildlife sightings vary with conditions, weather, and season. We do not guarantee an alligator or any animal sighting. Call 504-618-1692 or use the request-a-call form.
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An alligator tour here is a guided swamp or airboat trip on the bayou. All three boat choices follow the same approximately 1 hour 45 minutes route. The experience offers a chance to spot alligators, birds, and other wildlife when conditions allow.
Activity and sightings change with weather, season, and conditions. No alligator or other animal is guaranteed, and boat choice does not change that.
Same route: Small airboat, large airboat, and covered pontoon tours use the same approximately 1 hour 45 minutes bayou route.
Choose the ride: Pick by speed, noise, shade, group size, age rules, and accessibility, not by a wildlife promise.
Booking help: Call 504-618-1692 or request a call to match your group with a boat and departure.
All six daily departures are good to book. Choose for comfort, heat, kids' naps, meals, and the rest of your New Orleans itinerary. We do not discourage midday, afternoon, or evening tours for wildlife reasons.
Arrive 15 to 30 minutes before departure for check-in. The 6 PM departure runs when daylight allows.
Every airboat rider must be at least 5 years old and at least 48 inches tall. Both rules apply. The covered pontoon welcomes all ages, expectant mothers, and guests boarding in a standard-width wheelchair.
The covered pontoon also has a full awning and a quieter, smoother ride. Call 504-618-1692 with a specific boarding question before booking.
The tour location is about 30 minutes from downtown New Orleans. For self-drive directions, call the booking office. A public dock street address is not listed on this page.
Round-trip hotel pickup is available from the French Quarter, New Orleans City Center, and Eastern Garden District for an additional fee. Call 504-618-1692 to ask about the fee and add pickup.
Book ahead for holidays, weekends, and Mardi Gras. Last-minute bookings are often possible when seats remain. After seats are confirmed, the booking team sends a confirmation email and text.
Bayou Swamp Tours is a booking office that collaborates with hand-picked operators and Coast Guard-certified captains. The booking office does not claim to own every boat.
Tours run rain or shine unless lightning or other unsafe conditions require a delay or cancellation. The captain and dock staff make the weather call. We call guests if a departure is canceled, so never assume a tour is canceled from the forecast alone.
If weather affects your booking, call 504-618-1692 for the current guidance and the policy that applies to your reservation.
A quick decision guide
Every boat follows the same approximately 1 hour 45 minutes bayou route. Choose by ride feel and who can board, not by a promise of different wildlife.
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
All three choices follow the same route. Scan each option for the details that matter to your group.
| What matters | Small Airboat | Large Airboat | Covered Pontoon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 6 to 10 passengers | 15 to 27 passengers | Larger groups |
| Ride feel | Fast, loud, open air | Fast, loud, open air | Quiet, smoother ride |
| Ear protection | Provided | Provided | Not needed for the quiet ride |
| Age and height | Ages 5+ and 48"+ | Ages 5+ and 48"+ | All ages |
| Shade | Open air | Open air | Full awning |
| Expectant mothers | Choose the covered pontoon | Choose the covered pontoon | Welcome |
| Wheelchair boarding | Not the accessible option | Not the accessible option | Standard-width wheelchair can board |
| Good fit | Smaller groups and open views | Groups that want an airboat | Mixed ages, shade, quiet, and access needs |
A quick decision guide
Wildlife activity and sightings vary by conditions, weather, and season and are never guaranteed. All six departures are good to book, so choose a time for comfort and your itinerary.
| Season | Gator Activity | Planning Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar to May) | Often active as temperatures rise | Choose any departure that fits your plans |
| Summer (Jun to Aug) | Activity varies with heat and conditions | Choose for comfort, kids' schedules, and your itinerary |
| Fall (Sep to Nov) | Activity varies as temperatures change | Every listed departure is a good booking option |
| Winter (Dec to Feb) | Moderate | Cooler conditions can change activity, with no sighting guarantee |
Tours depart at 8 am, 9:45 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, 4 pm, and 6 pm. The 6 PM departure is subject to daylight. Arrive 15 to 30 minutes early for check-in.
All departures use the same approximately 1 hour 45 minutes route. Choose for comfort and itinerary, not a wildlife guarantee. Call 504-618-1692 to book.
Choose a small airboat, large airboat, or covered pontoon based on ride feel and who can board.
Sightings vary with weather, season, and conditions. No alligator or animal sighting is guaranteed.
Call 504-618-1692 or request a call for boat, departure, pickup, or accessibility guidance.
Fill out the form below, and a representative will call you within seconds to help answer any questions and book your tour.
Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about our Louisiana airboat tours.