Louisiana Swamp Tours
 Sunset in a Louisiana swamp |
A swamp is an area of land permanently saturated, or filled, with water.
The lush growth in a Louisiana swamp is indescribable. You have to see it to believe it.
The most impressive objects in the swamp are the cypress trees which are very graceful in their structure, with their reddish bark, exquisitely bent branches, and delicately fine leaves.
Besides the trees and abundant fauna, there are a variety of alligators, turtles, snakes, birds and other wildlife.
Tour Boats into the Louisiana Swamps
One of the most popular things to do for visitors to Louisiana is touring the swamps! Most tours are concentrated in South Louisiana.
In the greater New Orleans area, there are many swamp tour options in communities such as Marrero, Westwego, Braithwaite, Lafitte, Des Allemands and Laplace.
Others can be found in South Louisiana cities such as Breaux Bridge, Henderson, Slidell and Thibodaux.
 Airboat used in a Louisiana swamp tour (Staff Photo) |
Swamp tour operators provide a variety of options, boats, tour length and cost. Some use flat bottom boats, other airboats. Kayak and canoe tours are also available.
If you are visiting the greater New Orleans area, many of the tour operators offer pickups at French Quarter and downtown hotels.
Some operators offer online reservations, others only by phone. Some accept credit cards, some require cash, so plan accordingly.
List of Selected Louisiana Swamp Tours by City
| We have no connection with any of the tour operators listed below ... we just know of their existence and offer their names, web addresses and phone numbers as a starting point in choosing the right tour for you and your group. We also offer links to TripAdvisor to read reviews for many of the tour companies. | ||
| Swamp Tour Operator, Website, Address & Phone Number | City | |
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358 Chalkley Road Grosse Savanne’s vast property of over 50,000 acres is nearly split in half by the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, a nationally acclaimed “Louisiana Outback” wildlife and photography trail. Grosse Savanne Eco-tours has unlimited access to a multitude of various ecotypes including both fresh and salt water marshes, cypress swamps, native coastal prairies, pine forest plantations, and agricultural lands. p 337.310.4260 |
Bell City, Louisiana | |
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P.O. Box 1304, 1045 Hwy 39 Airboat tours, alligator hunts, customized private tours p 504.684.3432 |
Braithwaite, Louisiana | |
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1209 Rookery Road. 7 miles off the I-10 Breaux Bridge exit 109 Flatboat tours in the Cypress Island and Lake Martin Swamps. Owned and operated by Walter "Butch" Guchereau and his son, Shawn, who are proud to offer eco-swamp tours that are done with as little environmental impact as possible through a beautiful surreal cypress/tupelo swamp. p 337.319.0010 |
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana | |
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1151 Rookery Road Swamp tours on Lake Martin. Handicapped accessible dock. Tours in French are available as are custom photography and bird watching tours. Kayak and canoe rentals and/or tours. Reservations are required. RV and tour bus parking is available as is a store with drinks, snacks, sandwiches, etc. p 337.230.4068 |
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana | |
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Cypress Cove Landing, 1399 Henderson Levee Road Tours into Henderson Lake in the Atchafalaya Basin Swamp p 800.491.4662 |
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana | |
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1209 Rookery Road Lake Martin swamp tours. Night tours by request p 337.342.3867 |
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana | |
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Ernest Couret operates a custom all-welded aluminum 16 foot long, wide bottom boat, into the Atchafalaya Swamp near Henderson. p 337.296.1173 |
Butte La Rose, Louisiana | |
Airboat Tours by Arthur Matherne 4262 US Hwy 90 Airboat tours, swamp tours, and night tours p 800.975.9345 |
Des Allemands, Louisiana | |
A Cajun Man's Swamp Tours & Adventures Bob's Bayou Black Marina, 251 Marina Drive (off Hwy 182). Tours by Captain Billy Gaston in the Lower Atchafalaya Basin and Gibson Swamp in 49-passenger, covered vessel p 985.868.4625 |
Gibson, Louisiana | |
Bayou Black Airboat Swamp Tours 251 Marina Dr. Airboat tours by the Ponthieux family p 985.665.8571 |
Gibson, Louisiana | |
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Atchafalaya Welcome Center Enjoy a personalized nature adventure deep inside the Atchafalaya Basin with Cajun Customized Excursions. Enjoy a customized tour aboard the “Wood Duck”, a deep woods excursion vessel, and venture into a world only accessible by small boat. The boat has custom made benches and a Bimini top to protect guests from the sun. Safety of tour guests is in the hands of Captain Mark Allemond, a captain of more than thirty-five years. Mark is a native of the Henderson, Louisiana area and knowledgeable of regional waterways. Captain Mark will share in French or English the beauty of the swamp, his lifelong nature experiences, and firsthand stories about the ways of life in the swamps and bayous of South Louisiana. The tour service offers a minimum two-hour Deep Swamp Excursion in the Henderson Swamp Area as an introduction to the beauty and mysteries of the Atchafalaya Swamp. Tour guests are met at the Atchafalaya Welcome Center at Exit 121 near Butte LaRose. For more information, visit ...
p 337.303.8060 |
Henderson, Louisiana | |
Atchafalaya Basin Landing & Marina 1377 Henderson Levee Road Airboat tours in the Henderson Swamp p 337.228.7880 |
Henderson, Louisiana | |
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1212 Bordelon Road Expeditions by Coerte Voorhies and Kim Voorhies for photographers, birders and lovers of nature into the Atchafalaya Swamp p 337.277.4726 |
Henderson, Louisiana | |
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1337 Henderson Levee Road Atchafalaya Swamp tours and airboat tours; kayak rentals. Restaurant and cafe on the premises. Cabin rentals and campground are also available. p 337.228.2384 |
Henderson, Louisiana | |
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1399 Henderson Levee Rd. Jude Mequet and Mitch Mequet provide swamp tours and airboat tours in the Atchafalaya Basin p 337.258.0700 |
Henderson, Louisiana | |
Annie Miller's Son's Swamp and Marsh Tours 3718 Southdown Mandalay Road Tours into the swamps, bayous, marshes and canals of the Mandalay Wildlife Refuge p 985.868.4758 or 800.341.5441 |
Houma, Louisiana | |
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Highway 307-105 Torres Road Flatboat tours by Captain Roland Torres in the swamps of the Bayou Boeuf area. Wheelchair accessible. p 985.633.7739 |
Kraemer, Louisiana | |
Canoe and Trail Adventure Tours 24401 Highway 90 Founded in 1972, family-owned and operated Canoe and Trail Adventure Tours has guided thousands of people into the swamps and bayous surrounding New Orleans. The company offers canoe and kayak tours, birding tours, swamp tours, moonlight paddles, Bogue Chitto River paddles, educational outings and more. p 504.233.0686 |
Lacombe, Louisiana | |
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5145 Fleming Park Road Airboat swamp tours, night tours. Will arrange pickups at downtown New Orleans hotels. p 888.467.9267 or 504.689.2005 |
Lafitte, Louisiana | |
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110 Frenier Road Cajun Pride Swamp Tours is a privately owned wildlife refuge just 25 miles from New Orleans. Authentic Louisiana swamp eco-tours, plantation tours, and combination tours.d p 504.467.0758 |
Laplace, Louisiana | |
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9706 Barataria Blvd. Airboat and pontoon boat tours p 504.628.8848 |
Marrero, Louisiana | |
Jean Lafitte Swamp & Airboat Tours 6601 Leo Kerner Lafitte Parkway Airboat and flatboat swamp tours at Jean Lafitte National Park p 504.689.4186 |
Marrero, Louisiana | |
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9706 Barataria Blvd., Crown Point Airboat and flatboat swamp tours, history tours, plantation tours, city tours p 888.307.9267 or 504.689.3599 |
Marrero, Louisiana | |
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4757 Orleans Way Family owned and operated by three generations of local residents. Adjacent to historic Jean Lafitte National Park. Large and small airboats can accommodate various size groups, private tours, corporate groups. p 504.738.4778 |
Marrero, Louisiana | |
Attakapas Adventures Swamp Tours 1324 Highway 401 Captain Ginger Rushing operates ecological and historical tours on Lake Verret and surrounding bayous and swamps. Sunset cruises. Fishing charters available. p 985.369.8588 or 985.637.8923 |
Napoleonville, Louisiana | |
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ATV rentals & adventure tours, airboat swamp adventures, fishing charters, more p 504.390.8800 |
New Orleans, Louisiana | |
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6201 France Road Airboat swamp tours, kayak rentals, marina, sunset cruises, charter fishing, marina. Reservations required. p 504.266.0014 |
New Orleans, Louisiana | |
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500 Bourbon Street Airboat tours, covered boat tours, plantations, cemeteries, more p 888.481.8188 |
New Orleans, Louisiana | |
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Toulouse Street at the Mississippi River Variety of swamp & bayou tours, airboat adventure tours, bus tours, walking tours, plantation tours, French Quarter tours, more p 800.233.2628 or 504.569.1401 |
New Orleans, Louisiana | |
Lost Lands Environmental Tours 2411 Octavia Street Nature tours, swamp tours, kayak wetlands tours, educational field trips p 504.858.7575 |
New Orleans, Louisiana | |
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442 Jackson Avenue Swamp tours and airboat tours, city tours, plantation tours and more p 504.561.9050 |
New Orleans, Louisiana | |
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3110 Magazine Street #113 Airboat tours into the swamps, bayous, forests and marshes of the Barataria Preserve. City, cemetery, plantation and historical tours also available, as are hotel pickups. p 503.533.4544 |
New Orleans, Louisiana | |
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12601 River Road Swamp tours and airboat tours, as well as plantation, city and walking tours p 877.665.8687 or 504.398.0365 |
New Orleans , Louisiana | |
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Kayak and canoe swamp tours in the Manchac Swamp, overnight camping, swamp landscape photo workshops, fishing charters, birding trips, more p 985.205.1527 |
New Orleans, Louisiana | |
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Kayak tours into area bayous, rivers and swamps, and plantation and city tour combinations p 504.571.9975 |
New Orleans, Louisiana | |
New Orleans Pedal Barge - Swamp Tour Party Offers party boat tours on a variety of different types/sizes boats in the New Orleans area, conveniently located near Westwego, Marrero, Belle Chasse, and Metairie. Also provides e-bike tours. 6301 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA 70043 p 504.264.1056 |
New Orleans, Louisiana | |
Cajun Jack's Swamp Tours 118 Main Street p 985.395.7420 |
Patterson, Louisiana | |
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637 N. Belle River Road p. 337.298.2705 |
Pierre Part, Louisiana | |
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33115 Highway 75 Personalized day and night swamp tours, by appointment, into the Atchafalaya Basin. Night tours in the summer. Family owned by Albert (Al) Wilson. p. 225.385.9562 or 225.692.4114 |
Plaquemine, Louisiana | |
LeBlanc Swamp Tours 4939 Main Highway p 337.654.1215 |
Saint Martinville, Louisiana | |
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Admin Office located at 941 Decatur St. in New Orleans; Swamp tour location is 55345 Highway 90 East in Slidell Honey Island Swamp tours. Also tours of cemeteries, city tours, plantations, custom tours. Hotel pickups available. p 504.834.1770 or 866.928.6877 |
Slidell, Louisiana | |
Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours 41490 Crawford Landing Road; tours depart from Crawford Landing on West Perarl River, Slidell Small boats (both covered and uncovered) allow deep access into the heart of the beautiful Honey Island Cypress Swamp. Boat tours since 1982. Hotel pickup available. p 985.641.1769 or 504.242.5877 |
Slidell, Louisiana | |
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55050 Highway 90 Large and small flatboat swamp tours, night tours, and tours for school groups into the Honey Island Swamp. Hotel pickups available. p 985.649.4200 or 866.597.9267 |
Slidell, Louisiana | |
Airboat Charters of Bayou Dularge 3282 Bayou Dularge Road Captain John Verret, a Houma Indian, and his son provide airboat rides and bowfishing adventures in the evening hours p 985.872.0989 |
Theriot, Louisiana | |
Bayou Woman: Beyond the Bayou Excursions 1917 Bayou Dularge Road Captain Wendy Billiot, "The Bayou Woman", offers bird watching excursions, student excusions, photography excursions, "mini" 2-hour excursions into the bayou, and more p 985.851.7578 |
Theriot, Louisiana | |
Zam's Swamp Tour 141 Kraemer Bayou Rd. p 985.633.7881 |
Thibodaux, Louisiana | |
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363 Louisiana Street Ride in comfort aboard the splendid Swamp Queen, a fully Coast Guard approved vessel, complete with handicap accomodations. Tours depart from the end of Bayou Segnette. Custom, private and corporate tours available. p 504.347.0962 or 800.575.5578 |
Westwego, Louisiana | |
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501 Laroussini Street, 15 minutes from the New Orleans French Quarter. Airboat and covered swamp boat tours. Transportation from New Orleans hotels available. p 800.728.7187 |
Westwego, Louisiana | |
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58235 New Camp Road Tours into the Atchafalaya Basin and Bay Natchez. Minutes from Nottoway Plantation. p 225.247.4156 |
White Castle, Louisiana | |
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The Great Atchafalaya Basin and Swamp
The Atchafalaya Basin is the nation’s largest river swamp, containing almost one million acres of the nation’s most significant bottomland hardwoods, swamps, bayous and backwater lakes.
 Louisiana's Atchafalaya Swamp at Henderson (Staff Photo) |
The Atchafalaya River meanders from near Simmesport southward past Pierre Part down to Morgan City and the Gulf of Mexico. The Atchafalaya Basin is a unique combination of wetlands, bayous, marshes, estuaries,and river delta area. It is often called "America's Wetland", and covers an area 20 miles wide and 150 miles long.
Some interesting facts about the Atchafalaya Basin:
- It’s larger than the Florida Everglades.
- It’s five times more productive than any other river basin in North America.
- About 65 species of reptiles and amphibians inhabit the Basin.
- Over 250 known species of birds fly in the Basin.
- Other species of animals found in the area include the Florida panther, black bear, bobcat, nutria, mink, fox, muskrat, beaver, otter and raccoon.
- The Basin is home to the largest nesting concentration of bald eagles in the south central United States.
- There are more than 100 different species of fish and aquatic life in the Basin.
- The Basin has an estimated average annual commercial harvest of nearly 22 million pounds of crawfish.
- The Basin contains the largest contiguous bottomland hardwood forest in North America and is the largest overflow alluvial hardwood swamp in the United States.
 Atchafalaya Swamp Visitors Center in Butte LaRose, near Henderson on Interstate Highway I-10 (Staff Photo) |
An American-Indian word, "Atchafalaya" (ah-CHA-fa-LIE-ah) means long river. Established in 2006, the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area stretches across 14 parishes in south-central Louisiana.
It is among the most culturally rich and ecologically varied regions in the United States, home to the widely recognized Cajun culture as well as a diverse population of European, African, Caribbean and Native-American descent.
Videos Out in the Louisiana Swamps
Troy Landry talks about "One Eye" on a YouTube video uploaded by the History Channel |
An airboat ride with the Louisiana Tour Company in a swamp near New Orleans, Louisiana in Jefferson Parish |
Tom Gregory narrates a tour into the Honey Island Swamp. Video produced by the St. Tammany Parish Tourist Commission and WLAE-TV |
Photographs of Louisiana Swamps
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