Alligator Tours in New Orleans
Explore the Louisiana bayou where alligators live in their natural habitat, just 30 minutes from the French Quarter. It's not a zoo -- wildlife encounters vary with the season and weather, and every trip is different. Your Cajun captain takes you through the cypress swamps on airboats or pontoon boats.
Tours for this experience
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.
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.
Family FriendlyNew Orleans Covered Pontoon Boat Swamp Tour
The swamp tour for everyone — no age limits, no weight limits, no restrictions. Our covered pontoon is the most comfortable ride on the bayou: shaded from the summer sun, and if a light shower rolls through mid-tour, you’re in the driest seat in the swamp. At $37, it’s the most affordable swamp tour we offer.
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.
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.
Book Your Alligator Tour
Book online or chat with us for personalized recommendations.
Book Your Alligator TourFrequently Asked Questions
Will I definitely see alligators?+
These are wild animals, so sightings are never guaranteed. That said, Louisiana has over 2 million wild alligators and our captains know the swamp well. Most trips do see gators, especially March through October. Winter months are slower. Either way, the bayou itself is beautiful and worth the trip.
What's the difference between an alligator tour and a swamp tour?+
It's mostly a difference in what the searcher wants: 'alligator tour' signals the gators are the whole reason for the trip, while 'swamp tour' signals the wider bayou ecosystem, herons, turtles, cypress trees, Spanish moss, alongside them. In practice it's the same trip either way -- every one of our swamp tours goes through real alligator habitat, so alligators are the headliner but the whole ecosystem is the point.
How close do you get to the alligators?+
It depends on the day and where the gators are. Airboats can navigate shallow water where alligators tend to hang out. Your captain knows how to approach safely. Good photo opportunities when sightings happen.
Why Choose Gators & Ghosts?
We're locals, not a faceless booking site. Every tour is curated by experts who actually live in New Orleans.
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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.
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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.