Honey Island Swamp Tours

On the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain in Pearl River, Louisiana, along the lower Pearl River watershed. About an hour north of the French Quarter via I-10 east across the Twin Span and then I-59 north to Exit 5A.

It's considered one of the least-altered river swamps in America. Most New Orleans swamp tours go to the south shore around Jean Lafitte and Houma, where the swamps are also beautiful but more accessible and more heavily toured. Honey Island is denser, wilder, and farther from the city, which is why it draws a different kind of visitor.

Self-drive or rideshare, about an hour from the French Quarter. Take I-10 east across Lake Pontchartrain, then I-59 north to Exit 5A. Our private charter launches from the Pilot Travel Center on Pump Slough Road. We don't offer hotel pickup for this region yet.

Because bees once lived on an island at the swamp's edge. Locals called it Honey Island, and the name stuck. Today the name covers the whole 250 square miles of swamp surrounding it. Not a metaphor, just a literal swamp named after literal bees.

Yes. The Honey Island Swamp is home to alligators year-round, though they're most active March through October. Our Kiss-A-Gator charter goes a step further: every guest is guaranteed to hold a live baby alligator, since our captain holds a state alligator exhibitor's license. That guarantee is unique to this tour.