The swamps are largely untouched and house an abundance of wildlife, both beneath the water and above the woody vegetation. Airboats are your best bet to view all the wildlife and Louisiana’s wetlands which span over three million acres.
While swamps are a worldwide phenomenon, the mystery and brooding of the Louisiana swamps add to its appeal. Not to mention its indigenous Cajun culture and its hosting of over two million ancient alligators that roam the bayous. Fortunately, Cajun Swamp Tours are plentiful!
You can choose between going on a smaller, more intimate boat tour with a group of friends/family or a more communal one that caters to a larger crowd.
Know before you book:
- Certain tours are wheel-chair friendly
- The tour continues in any weather, so dress appropriately
- Not recommended for those with back problems, heart problems, or pregnancy
Highlights:
- You have the intimate opportunity to view wild boars, alligators and serpents in their natural habitat!
- A professional tour-guide will educate you about the fauna and flora in one of the last protected wetlands
- Gain insight into the Cajun culture too
New Orleans is known to be Louisiana’s largest city/port. Situated in the vibrant state of Louisiana, the home of Jazz is New Orleans – one of America’s biggest ports. Its uniqueness derives from its multiculturalism and energetic locals as well as French and Spanish architecture!
The city even has its own French Quarter wherein you can indulge the finest cocktails! Yet, this city offers much more than entertainment and festivities. Surrounding these colourful buildings lies a mystery embedded in the dark waters and green trees of the Louisiana swamps.
The swamps in the United States actually have a name – ‘Bayous’. This word was derived from the French word, “bayouque” which loosely translates to a little stream. The Louisiana Bayou is one of America’s most treasured!
On these tours, you have an incredible opportunity to see these famously mysterious and beautiful wetlands and the creatures that live within it.
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Swamp Tours New Orleans Prices 2024
The cost of the tours start at about $30 USD and the most you’ll pay is roughly $136 USD. This depends on the group size and inclusions for the tour. Most tours include the transport cost of pick-up and drop-off from a central location in New Orleans!
Compare prices across the ticket providers below:
Times
You should only embark on this tour with a guide. Therefore, dependent on the tour of your choice, the times vary. In Summer, due to clear conditions, the tours extend into night-time making it an even more intimate and adrenaline-packed adventure!
Many of the swamps and wetlands are safely preserved in national parks near to New Orleans. This includes the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park, where many of our suggested tours depart from.
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Monday – Friday: 9am – 4pm
Saturday – Sunday: 10am – 3pm
Best Time to do a Bayou Tour New Orleans
The tours operate all year round. However, in peak tourist season (from May until October), the offerings increase. You can even brave it up on a night swamp tour! This is only offered in the high season.
In the Summer seasons, the swamps provide a great oasis to cool down from the scorching heat. But be warned, don’t jump in!
Time of the year: October, November, February or March (Spring-time, to see all the vegetation bloom, as well as to see the alligators who hibernate in Winter!)
Time of the day: If you’re wanting to see the Alligators, we’d suggest you choose a tour in the early afternoon when they become active!
Time of the week: Tours tend to be busier on the weekend, so if you want a more personalized tour, visit during the week.
Cajun Encounters
Amid all the untamed wildlife and harsh terrain, reside the Cajun people! The Cajuns are one of the most distinct ethnicities within the world. A French community in the heart of the swamps of Southern Louisiana!
But more specifically they reside in an area called Acadania. In fact, the Cajuns are descendants of the Acadians, the Northern French who colonized Canada in the 1600s.
This community is related to the catalysts of Voodoo practicing! Should you want to gain more insight on the mysterious Voodoo culture, check out these Louisiana Voodoo tours.
Every day the Cajuns wake up to the salty scent of the marsh that surrounds them. On your tours, you’ll be able to view how they have used the wetlands to make viable living conditions! For example, they either live in houseboats on the waters of the rivers for hunting, or they live in houses on the marshes.
Louisiana Swamp Tours
Unless you’re an experienced swamp meanderer, then we’d suggest you go on a professionally guided tour around the swamps. These rough terrains are not only difficult to navigate, but they also expose a history of cultures that can only be explained by locals or guides.
Most tours range from about 4 hours to as much as 8 hours. All will take you up close to the alligators. But don’t worry, you’ll be safe!
Half-Day Cajun Swamp Tours
On these shorter tours, your focus will primarily be on the swamp and the wetlands themselves. You’ll emerge into the quiet waters and high-rise trees, being up close and personal with the wildlife. This is because along the waters, many animals come to drink, or they live in close proximity to the water.
Try spot the raccoons in their natural habitat, instead of seeing them in your garbage can! The swamps date back over 2000 years! Your guide will tell you all about the fascinating ecology and development of the swamp over the millennia.
The landscape is breathtaking, and you can choose between going on a smaller, more intimate boat tour with a group of friends and family or a more communal one that caters to a larger crowd.
These half-day tours are suitable for those who want to spend the rest of the day exploring other destinations around or in the city. It’s a great opportunity to see the wetlands and wildlife of the historic bayou, without spending the whole day.
- Professional, native tour-guide
- Wheelchair access (only on some tours)
- Transport to and from the swamp
- Food and drink
- Gratuities
The Southern region of Louisiana has unprecedented beauty. On this tour, you’ll be able to drift along the Mississippi River in the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park. All of the untamed wildlife such as alligators roam freely here and are treated with mutual respect.
If you’re not a fan of reptiles, then this may not be the destination for you because snakes are plentiful here!
Check Price & BookFull Day New Orleans Swamp Tour
The full-day tours are much more extensive, combined with other exciting activities.
Not only are you going to learn about and admire the landscape as well as its inhabitants, but the infamous plantations that are on the banks as well. The boat-tour is combined with a tour of the 1800s plantations. The front-yard of the plantation is basically on the river! Some plantations even have their own restaurants.
- The opportunity to choose which plantation you want to visit – each tour is different!
- Visiting a famous plantation whereby slave revolts occurred many years ago!
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Food and beverages
- Gratuities
Specification: Cajun Pride Swamp Tours (Best Louisiana Alligator Tours) 2024
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Photos: Cajun Pride Swamp Tours (Best Louisiana Alligator Tours) 2024
Anonymous –
Great tour with excellent guide in Luca who was full of great local knowledge and tips, very entertaining and enjoyable afternoon. Scott on the bus ride also gave interesting background on the city and its surrounding areas as we passed though.
Anonymous –
We only expected to see 1 alligator at most but we saw lots and got really close to them. Captain Jack was really knowledgeable and clearly has a passion for the area and it's inhabitants. Our driver, Alan, was really good fun and shared lots of information about Hola.
Anonymous –
So glad we took this trip! It was really fun and entertaining. Highly recommend and if possible ask fir captain Stephen.
Anonymous –
Great trip!! Very happy with what we got to see. Beautiful scenery, plenty of alligators and a great host.