Louisiana Bayou Swamp Tour from New Orleans: Covered Boat

See alligators and cypress from a covered boat while a captain tells you the swamp's real stories.

A covered boat swamp tour departing from Downtown New Orleans hotels includes round-trip transportation by air-conditioned coach and a 90-minute slow-boat tour led by a professional captain, who shares bayou wildlife facts, local history and Cajun comedy. The boat is covered, so weather does not stop the tour. Pickup and return to your hotel are included in the transportation option.

Step-by-step itinerary

Louisiana Bayou Boat Tour

• Travel from hotel by air-conditioned coach
• Join slow boat tour with professional captain
• Learn about swamp wildlife and bayou history
• Enjoy Cajun comedy during the tour
• Return to hotel by coach

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel in Downtown New Orleans in an air-conditioned coach. The drive takes you out to the bayou, where you board a slow boat captained by a professional guide who knows the waterways and the wildlife that lives there. The boat itself is covered, which means you stay dry and shaded regardless of rain or sun: a real difference on a Louisiana afternoon.

Once on the water, you spend 90 minutes moving slowly through the swamp. The captain points out alligators, birds and cypress trees, and explains how people have lived and worked in the bayou for generations. You'll hear Cajun comedy woven through the facts, which keeps the pace light. The slow speed of the boat means you can actually see the animals and take photos without the rush of a speedboat tour.

After the boat tour, the coach brings you back to your hotel in Downtown New Orleans. If you book the option with transportation, your entire day (pickup, the drive, the tour and the return), is handled. If you book the boat tour only, you arrange your own way to the launch point.

What’s included

• Round-trip air-conditioned coach transportation from Downtown New Orleans hotels.
• 90-minute covered boat tour led by a professional captain.
• bayou wildlife viewing and history narration.
• Cajun comedy during the tour.

Options for this experience

2 options

Swamp tour on a covered boatGuide in English · 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00Covered boat swamp tour: Kindly arrive at our location, 1265 LA-3127 Luling, LA 70070, at least 30 minutes before your tour begins.

Covered boat swamp tour, including transportation from New OrleansGuide in English · 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00Pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesFriday and SaturdayDepartures at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 43 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ragin Cajun Swamp Tours, LLC

Is this one for you?Book with transportation if your hotel is in Downtown New Orleans and you want the whole day arranged (pickup, the tour and the return) without renting a car or figuring out how to reach the bayou. Book the boat tour alone if you're already out that way or have your own transport and just want the water experience.

Traveler reviews

3.50★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What kind of wildlife will I actually see on the Louisiana bayou?

Alligators and birds are the main wildlife the captain points out during the slow-boat tour. Cypress trees and the swamp landscape itself are what frame the whole experience. The slow pace of the boat gives you time to spot them without missing anything.

Is the boat covered, and what's the weather situation?

Yes, the boat is covered, so you stay protected from rain and sun during the 90-minute tour. This means the tour runs in most weather conditions without you getting soaked.

How does the transportation work if I book the tour with pickup?

An air-conditioned coach picks you up from your hotel in Downtown New Orleans, drives you to the bayou launch point, waits while you take the boat tour, and brings you back to your hotel afterward. The whole trip is round-trip from your door.

How long is the actual boat tour on the water?

The slow-boat tour lasts 90 minutes. The captain leads it and shares information about swamp wildlife, bayou history and local culture throughout.

Can I book just the boat tour without the coach transportation?

Yes, you can book the covered boat tour alone if you have your own way to reach the launch point. The transportation option is separate, so you choose whether to add the round-trip coach pickup from your hotel.