New Orleans

New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Sightseeing Tour with Transportation

Badge of ExcellenceNew Orleans, USA
Special Offer

From $61.75

$65.00 Save $3.25

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

  • 4 hours
  • Offered in: English

Overview

    What's Included

    • Narrated boat cruise
    • Air-conditioned vehicle
    • Local guide
    • Local taxes
    • Gratuities
    • Snacks and refreshments available for purchase on boat

    Meeting and Pickup

    Meeting point

    • Gray Line New Orleans
      Gray Line Lighthouse Ticket Office, 400 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA

      Gray Line Lighthouse on the Steamboat NATCHEZ dock (Toulouse Street at the Mississippi River)

    End point

    This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    What To Expect

    Choose a morning or afternoon pickup from the French Quarter and climb aboard your coach for the ride deep into Cajun country. Watch the changing scenery as the cityscape transitions into expansive wetlands. Your coach delivers you to the launch point across the Mississippi River, where you’ll transfer to an open‐sided, covered boat and set off on the fun and educational ride.

    Your native guide will take you on a wildlife‐spotting expedition through this legendary Louisiana terrain. Glide along the water, viewing the lush greenery and abundant local wildlife, including nesting alligators, egrets, raccoons, snakes, and giant nutria. Some wildlife are more easily spotted during the warmer months of the year.  Get great photos and learn about the history and mystery of the swamps, including the culture and ingenuity of the Cajun people who have populated this region for almost 250 years. Your guides will share stories about Cajun music, bayou lifestyle, and culinary traditions — like the creation of Louisiana’s signature gumbo, as well as information about the region’s passionate efforts to preserve the wetlands.

    Your coach returns to the French Quarter by mid‐afternoon or evening.

    Barataria Preserve (Pass By)

    Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (Pass By)

    Adventures of Jean Lafitte

    2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 3 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
    • Infants must sit on laps
    • In order to help preserve the French Quarter from vehicular traffic, it is requested that you please walk, if possible, to the convenient tour departure point - just a short stroll from most downtown hotels
    • Tour vehicles are equipped for wheelchair storage. If wheelchairs collapse and fold, they can be placed in the storage compartment on the bus
    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Electrical wheelchairs are permitted, but special arrangements need to be made with the supplier for a handicap-accessible bus. This must be arranged 72 hours prior to tour date. Contact details will be on your voucher.
    • Unfortunately, electrical scooters are not permitted
    • Most travelers can participate
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

    Filter by:

    Q:What is the departure point for the Swamp and Bayou Sightseeing Boat Tour with Transportation from New Orleans?

    A:The tour begins at the Gray Line "Lighthouse" Ticket Office in the French Quarter at Toulouse Street & the Mississippi River - at the Steamboat Natchez Dock (400 Toulouse Street.)

    Jun 2021

    Q:Is there parking near the departure point for the Swamp and Bayou Sightseeing Boat Tour with Transportation from New Orleans?

    A:There are public parking lots on Decatur Street that charge hourly rates. Some require prepayment through an automated kiosk on site. The parking lot closest to the tour departure point is Jax Lot # P401, 500 Decatur St.

    Jun 2021

    Q:What should I wear during the Swamp and Bayou Sightseeing Boat Tour with Transportation from New Orleans?

    A:Casual, comfortable attire is best. Please wear comfortable shoes! Please avoid tank tops, cut-offs, or short shorts.

    Jun 2021

    Q:What type of boat is used during the Swamp and Bayou Sightseeing Boat Tour with Transportation from New Orleans?

    A:This tour uses a comfortable, custom-built pontoon boat that is safe for the fragile local ecosystem.

    Jun 2021

    Q:How long is the actual cruise during the Swamp and Bayou Sightseeing Boat Tour with Transportation from New Orleans?

    A:The cruise is approximately 2 hours long.

    Jun 2021

    Q:Can I bring my camera on the Swamp and Bayou Sightseeing Boat Tour with Transportation from New Orleans?

    A:Absolutely! Bring your camera to capture the “bon temps” (good times) on the bayou!

    Jun 2021

    Q:Is food available during the Swamp and Bayou Sightseeing Boat Tour with Transportation from New Orleans?

    A:Yes, snacks and refreshments are available for purchase.

    Jun 2021

    Q:Is the Swamp and Bayou Sightseeing Boat Tour with Transportation from New Orleans handicap accessible?

    A:Yes, however, be sure to list any special needs in the "Special Requirements" box at checkout and call the local operator at least 72 hours prior to your tour date to confirm suitable arrangements.

    Jun 2021

    Q:Are pets allowed on the Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour?

    A:For safety purposes you are unable to bring pets on the Swamp and Bayou tour however, service animals are allowed.

    Jun 2023

    Traveler Photos

    See more
    Featured review
    Kim_L
    We had a great time. Our bus driver was funny and an excellent driver and everything along the way was coordinated well to make things easy for us. The boat captain was very informative and gave everyone a change to see the alligators. We highly recommend this tour to all ages and abilities.

    Reviews

    4.0
    1,210 reviews
    Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    Reviews by Viator travelers.
    Showing 1-10 of 1,210 reviews
    Ok experience
    Gary_M, Apr 2024
    The return bus driver was awesome with greyline, Bryant. The tour was late, the guide mumbled and the airboats all around made it very loud. Thought we would go further out and see more.
    Lovely to see nature like...
    Veronique_L, Apr 2024
    Lovely to see nature like that. We are not used to see alligators living in a Rivera naar to relatively much transport traffoct on water. Amazone. Hope it can ladt
    Fantastic and def worth the time
    Catherine_C, Apr 2024
    Seeing the gators and the commentary from the pilot and the tour info from the bus driver plus the scenery was amazing
    Response from Host, Apr 2024
    Fabulous. We are delighted at your review.
    Nice trip for a couple of old ladies
    Lisa_N, Apr 2024
    We took this boat instead of the airboat. Definitely a lot less exciting but it was what we expected. Not many alligators but they can't control that. The guide was great.
    Response from Host, Apr 2024
    Thank you Lisa. We are pleased that your enjoyed your time in the wetlands.
    A bit lame...
    Janet_K, Apr 2024
    My sister and I felt this tour was a flop. Only saw a few alligators. No birds, turtles or other things. Well, Spanish moss. The guide wasn't so great, but he admittedly didn't have much to work with. The bus driver was wonderful. Pleasant and such a good driver.
    Response from Host, Apr 2024
    We cannot control the animal activity, although it varies day to day. Most of the guides have stories of their lives in the swamps to share but perhaps he was not a talkative local. We will check in with the swamp boats.
    Had a lot of fun seeing...
    Sarita_M, Apr 2024
    Had a lot of fun seeing gators in the swamp lands. Very well organized They drive you to the location and also drive you back. The pickup location is a convenient location in downtown New Orleans. Our tour guide was informative and hilarious.
    Response from Host, Apr 2024
    Thank you so much for the great review.
    Great way to get out of...
    Danielle_L, Apr 2024
    Great way to get out of the city and see the bayou! We loved spotting the gators as we cruised along in the comfortable pontoon boat. The tour operators were all very helpful and organized, from the bus trip from the main part of the city to the staff at the boat tours. There are drinks and snacks for sale on the dock. Say hi to the albino alligator inside the main building!
    Response from Host, Apr 2024
    Danielle, it is a great way to see Louisiana in a different light. Thank you for going with us to the wetlands.
    Going Down the Bayou
    Michelle_B, Apr 2024
    This adventure was definitely a hit!!! We enjoyed the information shared on the drive to the swamp and during the boat ride through the swamp and bayou. I recommend this excursion for anyone visiting New Orleans.
    Response from Host, Apr 2024
    So happy to have you share your adventure with others.
    It was great BUT I was...
    Gary_F, Apr 2024
    It was great BUT I was on the flat covered boat and the sounds of those boats with the huge fan at the back was annoying- I wanted to enjoy the bayou nature maybe hear some birds and not smell the gasoline fumes from those loud boats
    Response from Host, Apr 2024
    The airboats are allowed and licensed for the inland waterways so we cannot avoid them completely. We regret that it interrupted your enjoyment.
    Go for an enjoyable boat ride, you may see alligators
    Gwen_D, Apr 2024
    The bus driver Alton was a wealth of information, he made the bus ride very enjoyable. The captain of the boat didn’t say much. But it was a nice boat ride, we saw alligators, overall an enjoyable experience.
    Response from Host, Apr 2024
    We are disappointed that the boat Captain did not talk much, usually they never stop with stories of life in the bayous. Thank you for the wonderful review and the mention of Alton
    Terrible
    Latosha_G, Apr 2024
    Terrible don’t waste your time or money. Did really see alligators. Long boring ride. They didn’t even interact with the gators. I went on another swap tour that was so much better.
    Response from Host, Apr 2024
    We regret that you did not enjoy your tour. It seems that you have taken others and perhaps preferred their interactions better.
    It was okay
    Erin_M, Apr 2024
    It was a beautiful day and we saw alligators. However, our tour guide/captain was pretty low in energy and repeated himself a lot. Even my kids commented on how dry he was. We also seemed to spend a lot of time waiting... waiting for the bus at the port, waiting for the boat ride to start at the river, and waiting for our bus to pick us up. It all could have been coordinated much better. We also were supposed to be on a morning tour, but sat on the bus for an hour in the lot waiting for a train to go by, before they deboarded us and rebooked us for an afternoon tour.
    Response from Host, Apr 2024
    The train situation is one that we very rarely encounter but when it is stopped due to a delay somewhere on the tracks, there is no other way for us to depart. We apologize for your delay.
    Nice, interesting - but also noisy and buisy
    Katalin_J, Mar 2024
    We've had a nice guide, he gave us good explenations, we'seen a lot (aligators). But I didn't like the noisy boats, I wood like more a calm tripp in this very nice nature.
    Will return
    Maria_G, Mar 2024
    Driver was courteous and had great knowledge of New Orleans. Sadly the microphone inside the bus was not of assistance.
    Alligators on the Bayou
    Susie_I, Mar 2024
    We were able to see many alligators and take pictures. The bus driver was very informative and the tour was fun!
    Better options out there
    Steven_K, Mar 2024
    I would say this was the worst of the swamp tours that I've done. The Cajun experience was far better
    Response from Host, Mar 2024
    We regret that you found a "cajun experience" far better. We are not sure if that is another tour company or another location.
    Long bus ride, but worth it!
    Chelsea_M, Mar 2024
    The booking says “short motor coach ride across the river” we weren’t expecting a 45 minute to an hour drive. It was worth it, we were just a little surprised! You can grab a drink before you get on your boat which was a lovely treat! We saw more than 10 gators and I was very satisfied! The boat captain was informative and had great jokes! Definitely recommend, just be prepared for a long bus ride!
    Response from Host, Mar 2024
    We are delighted that it is a recommended adventure by you. We will take a look at the description on this site in the event that changes need to be made. Thank you for joining us.
    Ok but could have been better
    Cammy, Mar 2024
    Seeing some alligators was good but they were far away & we expected to be able to get closer to them.
    Response from Host, Mar 2024
    The alligators may be ready to mingle or decide to keep a little distance from humans. They are not trained animals although the guides do like to try to encourage them to come closer.
    Cool to see
    Lewis_D, Mar 2024
    Fun ride in the bayou. Saw a lot of wildlife including alligators. The tour guide was cool. Would recommend.
    Gator Fun
    Lauri_M, Mar 2024
    My daughter and I had a great time on the tour! Our guide was great! We got to see lots of alligators and the information provided by the guide was awesome! Appreciated his sense of humor too!
    Response from Host, Mar 2024
    Thank you for bringing your daughter on this adventure. Children are always amazed.
    ...

    Compare Similar Experiences

    1 / 3
    Current
    Special Offer
    No Photo
    New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Sightseeing Tour with Transportation
    1,210
    4 hours
    Free Cancellation
    From
    $65.00
    $61.75
    No Photo
    New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour with Transportation
    2,218
    2 hours
    Free Cancellation
    From
    $70.12
    No Photo
    New Orleans Self-Transport Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour
    949
    2 hours
    Free Cancellation
    From
    $37.75

    Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

    Explore Similar Things to Do

    Help CenterCustomer CarePrivacy and Cookies StatementAbout ViatorNewsViator blog
    © 1997-2024 Viator, Inc.
    Terms & Conditions