Top 10 Best Louisiana Swamp Tours
There are numerous reasons to appreciate Louisiana, including its delicious cuisine, music, mossy swamps, stunning homes, and more. Whatever kind of vacation ... read more...you're seeking, you're sure to find it among these fantastic possibilities. Louisiana is where one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the United States. Various fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals call the marshes and bays home, and they all thrive in and around the area's bountiful waters. With so many historical and swamp tours, getting fascinating insights into the tourist cultural aspects of the area won't be a big deal. The top Louisiana swamp excursions that Toplist suggests are listed below.
-
Explore the Honey Island Swamp on this small-group excursion. The flat-bottomed boats, which can accommodate up to 10 passengers and can navigate tight spaces, allow visitors to get up close and personal with the swamp's alligators, bears, river otters, and various birds, including great horned owls and bald eagles. The boat guides' knowledge and humor are always appreciated by tourists, who also appreciate the variety of observable plant and animal life.
The two-hour tour tickets are about $90 per person. Three daily tours are offered at 9:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 2:45 p.m., with a fourth seasonal trip at 5 p.m. On the West Pearl River in Slidell, Cajun Encounters provides free pickup from a number of sites throughout New Orleans. Added tour using a boat that can accommodate more passengers is also available, along with a sunset swamp tour and packages that combine a swamp tour with a city bus tour or a visit to area plantations. -
Glide through the wetlands within the Barataria Preserve aboard a covered boat built for comfort. Along with restrooms and cushioned seats, boats are equipped with guides who will regale you with amusing and informative commentary as you keep your eyes peeled for wildlife and sights like an ancient Native American burial mound and a Cajun fishing village.
Truly unique among other swamp tours, Louisiana Tour Company – New Orleans Swamp Tour by Tour Boats is strictly the realm of bachelors and bachelorette parties. Since you can bring your own beer, how much fun you have is up to you. The tour size is limited to 16 or fewer, which makes it a perfect way to spend your last few hours of freedom. Round-trip transportation to and from local hotels is included, and you’ll get expert narration from your captain and guide. In addition to swamp tours, the guide also offers plantation and airboat tours, among other options.
-
Although Hurricane Ida in 2021 caused damage to several of Cajun Pride's facilities and portions of Manchac Swamp, guests who want to learn about Louisiana wetlands can still do so on this trip. The private marsh where Cajun Pride runs its tours is off-limits to hunting and fishing, making it a good place to see untainted wildlife. Previous tour participants are enthused with this swamp tour in New Orleans, praising the entertaining and knowledgeable guides as well as the numerous opportunities for wildlife viewing. The LaPlace location of Cajun Pride is located around 25 miles northwest of the city's center.
The cost of your ticket will vary depending on whether you bring your own vehicle or use the optional shuttle service. Tours without transportation start at $27 for adults and $16 for children 4 to 12. With pickup service from hotels in New Orleans, Metairie, and Kenner, the corresponding costs are about $50 and $25. Throughout the year, tours occur three times daily at 9:30 a.m., noon, and 2:15 p.m., with an additional 4:15 p.m. tour from March through October. Hotel pickup starts roughly 90 minutes prior to the standard tour times. -
Even larger than the Florida Everglades, the Atchafalaya Basin can boast of being the largest river swamp in the United States. Its roughly 1 million acres of bayous, swamps, and lakes are home to a variety of wetland animals. The stunning scenery and the welcoming, knowledgeable personnel are frequently praised by tourists. Additionally, you may travel through even more of the basin on the swamp boat tour than you do on the company's signature airboat tours.
Every day at 2 p.m., a Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours excursion lasting about two hours is available. Tickets cost about $40 for adults and $25 for kids under the age of ten. Up to 24 passengers can board the huge vessel. All year long, several times every day, airboat tours with room for up to 12 riders are available. On the natural side, the tour’s stars are the eagles, turtles, snakes, and gators that make the swamps such amazing places. Many areas you’ll visit are full of wading birds like cranes, egrets, and herons that live on small fish, crustaceans, and amphibians.
-
Many swamp tours rely on motorized boats to navigate Louisiana's waterways, but this tour uses kayaks to explore the peaceful Manchac Swamp. Thanks to the swamp's calm waters, this outing is suitable for paddlers of all experience levels, according to the company. Trip-takers tend to appreciate the guides' educational commentary, as well as the frequent animal sightings. Departure times may vary by season, but start times of 9 and 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. are typical. From March through September, there's an additional 4:30 p.m. departure time.
Tours last about two hours (though longer tours, as well as combo tours, are also available). With its meandering waterways and mossy trees, the area has a notably prehistoric and mysterious feel. Along the way, you’ll hear some historic tales about what life was like here in centuries past. There will be plenty of opportunities to snap pictures of the scenic swamp and its exotic wildlife, and since the tour only lasts a few hours, you’ll have a large portion of the day left to fill up with other adventures.
-
This small-group tour may hold up to eight people and includes a variety of birds, reptiles, and other swamp dwellers. Visitors usually express how much they like the fast journeys, the knowledgeable guides, and of course the abundance of animals on exhibit. Numerous times every day, tours last around an hour and 45 minutes. All year long, departures at 9:45 am, noon, 2 pm, and 4 pm are available.
Prices begin at $89 per person, with a shuttle service between New Orleans hotels and the Lafitte location of Airboat Adventures available for an extra $20 per person. Passengers on airboats must be at least five years old. In addition to smaller airboats and pontoon boats, the guide also provides trips. Due to its relatively short length, this tour is great for children with short attention spans; they’ll get to see some amazing creatures, many of which they may not have the chance to see ever again. -
On this highly regarded adventure, travel across the bayous, wetlands, and connecting waterways of southern Louisiana in a powerful airboat. The abundant wildlife sightings and the knowledgeable commentary by the guides are generally enjoyed by tour participants.
The number of airboats operated by Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours and the cost of the tour depending on the size of the boat: A journey on one of the larger boats, which can accommodate up to 21 passengers, starts at $65 per person. A trip on one of the smaller boats, which can accommodate 10 passengers, costs around $85 per person. For an extra cost, transportation can be arranged between specific New Orleans areas and the business' Marrero base. The tours head out four times daily, so you’re able to pick the time that’s best for you. Remember you’ll be in a swamp, so dress accordingly.
-
On McGee's Louisiana Swamp & Airboat Tours, you get a close-up view of the distinctive environment of the Atchafalaya Basin. Reviewers praise the instructors for their knowledgeable and interesting narrative and claim that the tour is appropriate for young children and their families. There are three daily tours that leave at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.
Begin around $30 for adults and $25 for youngsters aged three to twelve (infants 2 and younger are allowed on board at no charge). In addition to swamp boat cruises, which can accommodate up to 48 people, smaller airboat rides and seasonal sunset tours are also offered. Swamps and bayous are incredibly diverse ecosystems. This nearly two-hour trip takes guests through various swamps and bayous, highlighting the flora and fauna that call those ecosystems home.
-
This two-hour adventure comprises captains knowledgeable about the regional way of life and will take you on a cruise down Bayou Segnette. Past visitors praise the guides as informative and entertaining and mention seeing many alligators and birds. All year long, numerous tour times each day are provided. They start at 9:45 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. In months with enough evening sunlight, they also embark at 6 p.m.
The price of admission is roughly $25 for adults and $15 for youngsters aged 5 to 12. The similar costs with pickup from New Orleans hotels are between $50 and $30. (Accompanying children under the age of 4 can go along for free). Approximately an hour before the scheduled departure times, the shuttle service starts. The large covered vessels can accommodate up to 68 passengers. Ultimate Swamp Adventures, located in Westwego about 10 miles from New Orleans, also offers airboat tours.
-
Along with alligators and other wildlife, the Cypress Island Nature Preserve at Lake Martin is home to hundreds of different bird species. On this trip, you'll have the chance to get up and can appreciate what you’re seeing with some of these amazing species. Guides frequently receive praise for their expertise in the region's flora and animals.
Participants over the age of 12 can enter for $25, while those under 12 must pay $15. Tours typically last 60 to 90 minutes and happen multiple times every day (precise hours vary). Reservations are necessary and can be obtained by getting in touch with the business directly. Every day at 8 a.m., the Champagne's Swamp Tours shop in Breaux Bridge, which is about 50 miles south of Baton Rouge, opens for business (excluding some holidays). Wheelchair users can board any of the company's vessels.