New Orleans Airboat Tours
High-speed swamp tours launching from Jean Lafitte, Westwego, and Luling into the Barataria Preserve. The wildlife is real and the bayou is different every trip. The main thing you're choosing is boat size, group size, and price.
All our airboats head south into the same bayous. What you see out there depends on mother nature, the weather, the captain, and a little luck. That said, smaller boats can slip into tight channels that bigger boats can't reach, and fewer passengers means nobody blocking your view. Bigger boats cost less per person and fit larger groups. The Signature 16-seat is the sweet spot for most people — small enough to go places, big enough that everyone gets a good seat.
-- Lenny
Compare at a Glance
| Tour | Capacity | Thrill | Sells Out | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIP AirboatExclusive | 6 | Highest | Very high | $124 |
| Small Group AirboatIntimate | 10 | High | High | $94 |
| Signature AirboatTop Overall Pick | 16 | High | High | $75 |
| Super AirboatBudget-Friendly | 30 | Moderate | Moderate | $64 |
| VIP | Small Group | Signature | Super | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 6 | 10 | 16 | 30 |
| Thrill | Highest | High | High | Moderate |
| Sells out | Very high | High | High | Moderate |
| Price | $124 | $94 | $75 | $64 |
Family FriendlyNew Orleans Super-Sized Airboat Swamp Tour
The 30-passenger Super-Sized Airboat packs the most powerful engine on the bayou. Fast, loud, and thrilling, it delivers serious thrills at the best airboat price in New Orleans.
Best ValueSignature 16-Seat New Orleans Airboat Swamp Tour
Our Signature 16-seat airboat is the #1 choice for New Orleans swamp adventures. The perfect balance of thrills, intimacy, and value. It's our most-booked tour and the one we recommend to first-time visitors.
Very PopularNew Orleans Small Airboat Swamp Tour
Small Airboats seat no more than 10 people and get deeper into the bayou than the larger boats. Fast, loud, and thrilling — with a smaller group, you'll feel every bit of it.
PremiumNew Orleans Premium VIP Airboat Swamp Tour
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.
Save with a Combo
Pair your airboat with a ghost tour or plantation visit and save.
Gators, Ghosts & Vampires of New Orleans Combo
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. Drive yourself to the dock or add the optional swamp shuttle.
Swamp & Plantation Combo Tour: Oak Alley & Small Group Airboat
A small airboat ride deep into the Louisiana bayou paired with Oak Alley Plantation, all in one full 8-hour day. Hotel shuttle and all admissions included.
Private Airboat Charter
Your own boat. Your own captain. Your own Louisiana bayou experience.
Perfect for birthdays, bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate groups, and anyone who wants the full swamp experience without the crowds. Boats from 6 to 30+ passengers.
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.
What It's Actually Like on an Airboat
Airboats are loud — your captain will hand out ear protection before you leave the dock. Once you're out on the water, the engine cuts for wildlife stops and narration, so you'll hear the bayou too. Expect bursts of speed across open water between slower stretches in the cypress channels. You may get a light mist depending on weather, but you won't get soaked.
Who Can't Ride an Airboat
- Pregnant women
- Children under 5 or under 48 inches
- Guests with serious back or neck injuries
If any of these apply, our pontoon boat tour has no restrictions and everyone can ride.
Not Sure Which Airboat tour is Right for You?
We've been helping visitors pick the perfect airboat tour since 2008. 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–7pm
Have young children, are pregnant, or prefer a gentler ride? Our covered pontoon boat tour has no restrictions and everyone can ride.
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 2008
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 Hit the Bayou?
Pick a tour above to check availability, or chat with us and we'll help you choose.