Speed through Louisiana’s bayous on a thrilling airboat ride with local guides from New Orleans Steamboat Company. Get face-to-face with alligators and uncover the history of Jean Lafitte’s fishing village.
Speed through Louisiana’s bayous on a thrilling airboat ride with local guides from New Orleans Steamboat Company. Get face-to-face with alligators and uncover the history of Jean Lafitte’s fishing village.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by New Orleans Steamboat Company · Lafitte, Louisiana
easy.
3–4 hours total, 1.5 hours on boat.
Suitable for most fitness levels; requires ability to board airboat independently and tolerate bumpy rides.
Children must be at least 5 years old and able to sit independently; infants are not permitted.
Food and drinks are not allowed on the boat, but snacks and beverages can be purchased at the swamp location.
In case of inclement weather, the tour may be shortened, postponed, or replaced with a covered boat alternative.
No, the airboats are not wheelchair accessible and require boarding without staff assistance.
Yes, guests may get splashed by water, so wearing water-resistant gear and sunglasses is recommended.
The airboat portion lasts approximately 1.5 hours within the total 3 hour and 45 minute tour.
Jean Lafitte village is named after the 19th-century smuggler and privateer who operated in the area, adding rich local lore to the environment.
Tours emphasize respectful wildlife viewing and minimizing disturbance to this sensitive wetland ecosystem critical to Louisiana’s biodiversity.
New Orleans Steamboat Company operates historic riverboat cruises and guided excursions based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The company offers a range of Mississippi River sightseeing and jazz cruises aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS and seasonal sailings on the Steamboat NATCHEZ, plus swamp, plantation, walking, and specialty small-group tours. Cruise experiences include daytime and evening sightseeing jazz cruises with live music performed by the Dukes of Dixieland, multiple dinner seating options with Creole buffets or plated lunches, brunch sailings, seasonal party packages, and holiday-themed departures such as Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve events. Land-based offerings include swamp and airboat adventures, guided tours to Oak Alley and Whitney plantations, craft cocktail and cooking walking tours, cemetery and Garden District strolls, and interactive ghost and spirits walks in the French Quarter. Each trip description lists duration, meal options when applicable, live music or narration, and onboard amenities such as full-service bars and multiple observation decks. Local guides provide historical context about New Orleans, the Mississippi River, Jean Lafitte, and regional wetlands and wildlife on swamp and plantation tours. Many cruises feature live jazz and family-friendly programming; several airboat and swamp tours emphasize wildlife viewing opportunities. Bookings are arranged per listed trip schedules and seating times. As a long-established New Orleans operator featured by tour aggregators and known for narrated riverboat cruises, the company combines maritime tradition with local culture to deliver interpretive sightseeing and entertainment on and off the water. Public and private group bookings are available for many departures.
Book with New Orleans Steamboat Company