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Pontoon Boat Experience: Peaceful Group Ride Through the Louisiana Bayou

About this Experience

What you'll do:

Looking for a chill, scenic way to experience Louisiana’s iconic swamplands with your group? Hop aboard a guided pontoon boat tour with Airboat Adventures and cruise through the bayou while spotting alligators, birds, and other local wildlife—all at a laid-back pace perfect for mixed groups and all ages.

Start your adventure at their waterfront facility, where you can grab drinks at the on-site bar (yes, you can bring them on the boat—but outside alcohol isn’t allowed). And no need to worry about transportation—round-trip rides from downtown New Orleans are available, so all you have to do is show up ready to relax and take in the views.

Why we love it for your party:

  • Scenic, relaxed swamp cruise for all ages and group types

  • Spot alligators and bayou wildlife with expert guides

  • On-site bar for pre-tour drinks (BYOB not permitted)

  • Bring drinks from the bar onboard the pontoon boat

  • Optional transportation available from downtown New Orleans

  • Perfect for bachelorettes, birthdays, families, and friend groups

About this experience partner:

Airboat Adventures has been a trusted name in Louisiana swamp tours for over 20 years. Their pontoon boat experience is a calm, comfortable, and group-friendly way to explore the wetlands—offering incredible views, knowledgeable guides, and an easygoing alternative to the high-speed airboat rides.

Additional information:

  • Location: ~35–45 minutes from downtown New Orleans

  • Duration: Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes

  • What’s included: Guided pontoon boat ride, life jackets, optional transportation

  • Alcohol policy: No outside alcohol; bar on site with drinks allowed on the boat

  • Transportation: Round-trip available from downtown New Orleans

Explore Book This Experience

Visit the experience booking site to check availability and book your experience.

Reviews

See All

5 (20 Ratings)

JF

J F.

October 2025 • Other Party

Great experience for the family or any group of people. Had a great tour guide and was very knowledgeable about the history of Louisiana. Would recommend this to anyone wanting to see a little more than just pavement. And you will definitely get up close and personal with american alligators.

jv

j v.

October 2025 • Other Party

Our tour with guide-captain Shane was excellent! With the fast airboat he brought us to small canals where we found the alligators. Attracting them with a few marshmellows on a stick was awesome, especially when they jumped partly out of the water to catch the sweet. Good news is that the sweet is not harming the animals as the sugar is not digested.

SD

Stacey D.

October 2025 • Group-Trip Party

This was the most amazing tour! The website pictures do not do justice to how cool this excursion is. We encountered over 10 alligators and our guide interacted with most of them, including letting us feed them! The swamp and marshlands are breathtaking to experience from a boat. My entire group would do it again if we could!

NM

Nai M.

October 2025 • Other Party

Awesome experience, great stuff. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and kept us intrigued. The crocodile 🐊 eat mashmellow! What am still in 😲 shock but worth seeing in person!

KH

Kyleah H.

October 2025 • Other Party

So this was tricky. I thought we were going on an airboat. But we got put on a pontoon instead. I was very bummed at first but the captain changed it all! The pontoon had music when we were just cruising and because it was shaded we didn't roast in the sun so we fully enjoyed ourselves. The captain was full of knowledge and funny. We got amazing pictures of the gators. Raccoons and landscape. I was not disappointed at all! My kiddo also loved it as he was able to walk back and forth to see everything. 10/10 would recommend and if you get the pontoon trust me you will not regret it at all!

Ka

K a.

October 2025 • Other Party

We had an amazing airboat swamp tour with Mark! He was so knowledgeable about the area and just where to go. He has a great speaking voice. His relationship with the gators was amazing. His buddy Growler was so cute and his interaction with growler was heart warming. It was a wonderful experience.

nt

norman t.

October 2025 • Group-Trip Party

This tour was fun. You need to ask for Ronny Bundy. The best tour guy ever. I'd pay money just to have drinks with him. The stories Rony can tell. Back to the tour. I think it went for an hour. They got drinks, a gift shop where you can buy various things and a poncho if you need one. The have the fast boats and more calmer boat option too. Good for big groups or small groups. We saw allot of swamp wild life. This place was like 45 min from downtown NOLA. Good for all ages. But remember asknfor Rony if you can. Rony is the American version of Crocodile Dundee =)

BF

Barbara F.

October 2025 • Group-Trip Party

I would give this excursion 6 stars if I could. From start to finish it was fantastic. The communication before the excursion was great - we knew where we'd be picked up, at what time and what the bus would look like. We knew what to take and what to expect. The transfer to Jean Lafitte from near our hotel was super. It was comforting to know that we would be taken direct to the Airboat Adventure. Checking in at the site was easy, and the waiting area and bar were very clean and tidy. We were introduced to Mark, our captain for the trip, and he was a lot of fun! We saw loads of Alligators, different sea/water birds, buzzards, fish and even a raccoon (or Cajun Koala, as Mark called it!). Mark was funny, knowledgeable and an excellent tour guide. Our trip back to New Orleans was very comfortable too and we were dropped back at our pick up spot. All in all, a very well organised and executed trip! Thanks for the experience!

GP

Gabrielle P.

October 2025 • Group-Trip Party

So awesome! Our captain, Captain TikTok, was so amazing. He even kissed a few gators! He gave us an opportunity to take some amazing pictures and gave everyone who wanted a chance to feed the gators too. We had nice slow moments strolling through the bayou and awesome fast moments too. 10/10 recommend. Also, they have a bar that sells drinks and frozen daiquiris that you can bring on the boat with you!

TP

Tina P.

October 2025 • Other Party

We were were a large group for our family vacation. Our tour guide was absolutely fantastic. Very knowledgeable about the history of the land, animals that live around and what and how the property has been used and maintained. Took the time to answer all questions no matter how big or small they were. My 14yr old did not want to go and was fighting it tooth and nail. But as the ride went on my son became more relaxed and enjoyed the tour. We all had a great time.

S

STLA_1020

October 2025 • Group-Trip Party

Such an amazing experience. The boat ride is extremely smooth and relaxing. Ear protection is provided and definitely encouraged. We saw 12+ gators. One our guide got out of the boat with and got on land and was doing some pretty cool stuff with them. We found a big one and he showed us how friendly they can be. They were right on time with boarding. It was very organized and safe. I would highly recommend this for anyone who wants to experience some gators

FG

Frank G.

October 2025 • Group-Trip Party

This trip into the bayou of Louisiana is highly recommended! I took the small group with just 6 people. Besides seeing a lot of crocodilians, the sceneries itself are mesmerizing. The airboat guide and driver is native to the area and is very well versed with a lot of information about this area. It’s such a shame what climate changes and the raising of sea level is doing to the bayous. Come to visit this place is a must if you are in the area, I would come here as just a stand alone trip.

CL

Carmen L.

October 2025 • Other Party

Went into this adventure not really knowing what to expect but it was so much fun. We got to see some gators up close along with other wildlife. Our guide Adam was great! He was very knowledgeable about the history of Louisiana and the wildlife. It’s obviously is warm being out on the boat so try to do the early morning tour if possible. Highly recommend !

A

Amanda

October 2025 • Group-Trip Party

Took a ride on the pontoon and it was such a great experience! The captain was amazing, making it a calm and enjoyable trip. We saw raccoons and alligators up close, and the scenery along the bayou was absolutely beautiful. Truly a wonderful and memorable outing!

SJ

Sandra J.

October 2025 • Group-Trip Party

Really fantasic tour. Do take the boats with a roof, you will get som much more out of the tour. The airboats is very loud and are experienced more like an attraction. Thank you Adam for a lovley guided tour. It was really something.

BJ

Becky J.

October 2025 • Other Party

Super fun! The shuttle driver was very quiet so if you're looking for a shuttle with information about the city, this isn't the one for you. Dale was on time and polite and explained all of steps needed to check in at the airboat office once we arrived. The airboat ride was amazing! We saw lots of gators, birds, and raccoons (maybe the best part 😍) and were given so many options for pictures and videos. 10/10 would recommend this tour. The picture package at the end was a bit high but I still bought it because I'm a sucker haha.

JB

Jenna B.

October 2025 • Other Party

This was such an awesome experience! From the gift store, to the bar and the group photos, this place had it all! Our airboat captain, Larry, was the highlight of the whole trip. He started off by saying he wasn’t a botanist or historian, but that must’ve been a lie because he shared so much knowledge and we learned so much🙂 We were able to see a lot of gators, great blue herons and even saw 2 bald eagles. Would definitely recommend this place! P.S. buy your photo package at the end, it’s so worth it!

LT

Linda T.

October 2025 • Other Party

Our guide was AMAZING!!!! I can’t imagine a better tour!! I am blanking on his name. Sorry!! He grew up here and it showed. He actually interacted with one of the alligators!! He kissed the gators nose a few times and got him to open his mouth! WOW!!! He said he could only do that this time of year - never in the summer! It was fantastic!! Thank you for a great tour!!!

AF

Angie F.

October 2025 • Other Party

We had an amazing experience. Captain Ronnie was a great guide. He was very knowledgeable and patient. He let us feed the gators multiple times. He pointed out multiple other animals for us to see as well and slowed down so we didn't miss them. I would definitely do this tour again.

ES

Ekaterina S.

October 2025 • Other Party

Amazing and fun experience. Our guide knew all the best spots where alligators hide. We saw plenty both small and big ones. Worth the money ! Definitely consider going if you are visiting New Orleans. Taking a tour including transportation is very handy, just don’t be late! They wait 5 min max outside your hotel. If you come in August like us I would recommend a morning 9:45 tour when it’s not that hot outside yet. You will be done by noon.