Louisiana Airboat Swamp Tour

Looking for something exciting and different to see while visiting New Orleans?

My wife Pamela and I visited NOLA in June of 2011 and had a blast, but wanted to kick it up a notch, so we opted for an Airboat Tour of the swamps.

If you don't know what an airboat is, think about a flat bottom boat, with a 500+ horsepower V8 engine strapped to it and a huge prop to push it along. These things can do 60+ mph across the water, and due to their construction, they can go across solid ground too. They are so loud you have to wear hearing protection (Not just the engines, but the prop noise).

Amazingly enough, they are stable, in spite of having a flat bottom. The big prop pushes through two rudders and that allows the steering and the stabilization.

Our captain was very knowledgeable about the family owned swamp (1700 acres I believe they own), and highlighted how they are able to hunt there, but more importantly, they are very concerned with the conservation of the habitat, because of course, it is their livelihood and will be passed down for generations to come.

Just a few words about the tour company.... This is a family operation. Cousins, etc... This is not a typical commercially owned business without a heart. These people grew up in the swamps, they are not transplanted in there just to pilot a boat around and tell you "canned" stories.

They will take the time to explain things, stop the boat, grab a huge frog, feed and actually pet a monster 1000ft gator, grab a baby gator out of the water and let you touch the thing.

This family has helped in many disasters, from floods, to oil spills, to hurricanes in disaster recovery and assessment.

Considering a tour? I suggest a dusk tour! It is not only cooler, but the swamp is pretty spooky as it gets dark!

I wouldn't bother with any other place, go straight here:
http://www.airboattours.com/

Took us about 30 minutes to drive there from the French Quarter...

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• airboat
• air boat
• tour
• swamp
• swamp boat
• air boat tour
• Louisiana
• LA
• NOLA