lafayette la swamp tour

McGee's Swamp Tours immerses guests from around the world into Louisiana's beautiful,

vast, and mysterious Atchafalaya Swamp by offering swamp tours and airboat rides that are entertaining, eco-sensitive and educational.

A V AILABLE TOURS:

SWAMP TOURS

90-minute tours through the swamp. Perfect for families with young children, tour groups and school field trips. Relaxing, educational, & entertaining.

AIRBOAT RIDES

Let the wind blow through your hair as you “fly” through the swamp on an exhilarating 90-minute tour! Airboats are great for reaching the deepest parts of the swamp.  

GUIDED PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS

The beauty of Louisiana's swamps is world famous! Our guides will show you where the best photos can be captured! Sunrise and sunset trips are both available.

CANOE RENTALS

Self-guided canoe trips. A more adventurous way to experience the swamp! We provide the gear, you choose the trail and distance. Great for taking it slow.

ABOUT THE SWAMP

The Atchafalaya Basin Swamp, located in South Louisiana, is a 1.4 million acre wilderness, and home to hundreds of species of birds, fish, and reptiles.

MEET OUR STAFF

McGee's Cajun tour guides have one very important thing in common... a passion and love for the swamp! They take great pride in sharing this beautiful area with you.

Louisiana's swamps and wildlife are often misunderstood. If you have questions about the swamp and our tours, you're probably not the first to ask.

Your browser is not supported for this experience. We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

Visitors Guide

Request a copy, e-newsletter, click to sign up, swamp tours.

The perfect way to view all the outdoor bounty Lafayette and the surrounding areas have is to take a swamp tour. Glide through cypress trees while keeping an eye out for various wildlife and alligators while learning about the swamps and bayous of Cajun Country from a local boat captain. There are typically two types of swamp tours. The first is the exciting air boat tour that travels at high speeds through the swamps and bayous. The second is the more leisurely boat tour that can hold more people for larger groups. Whether you're looking for high paces adventure or a casual boat ride through the bayou, one of our members below can create the perfect outdoor experience.

Trip Ideas & Itineraries

Self guided tours & trails, free things to do, parks & gardens, sports & recreation, arts & culture, museums & history, things to do with kids, inspiration journal.

Lafayette's blog showcasing the food, music, culture and history at the heart of Cajun & Creole Country.

You can go ahead and tell the kids that Santa Claus is real. According to the History channel, St. Nicholas was an actual person—a Turkish monk in the year 280 AD, known as…

Lafayette Weekly

A weekly curated playlist by local musician Philippe Billeaudeaux featuring music by Lafayette, LA musicians with a weekly rundown of live music happening in and around the area…

November Events Spotlight

If you're looking to spend some time in the Hub City and want to know what events are happening, you're in the right place. We'll give you a weekly rundown of live…

Acadiana's Local Breweries

Lafayette is carving a name for itself in the craft brewing business. See below for incredible local breweries you can stop by and visit! Adopted Dog Brewing Image courtesy of…

Getting to Lafayette

The city of Lafayette, LA is located in the center of Lafayette Parish at the intersection of I-10 and I-49 between New Orleans and Houston and only 35 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico.

Lafayette by Plane

Lafayette by train, lafayette by bus, lafayette by car.

   Swamp Tour -$25 per seat - 1.5 hrs - Lafayette - Louisiana

For a swamp tour that is more than just a boat ride.

About Cajun Country Swamp Tours

  Owner, Walter “Butch” Guchereau, grew up on a small Cajun farm located on the banks of the Bayou Teche in Breaux Bridge, La. From early on his father introduced him to the swamps of Cajun Country. By hunting, sport and commercial fishing and just plain exploring he came to know the swamps like his own backyard. Butch put himself through college by working summers on dredge boats located in Louisiana on the Mississippi and Atchafalaya River systems where he experienced the dynamic forces that have built the land of Acadiana over the last 25,000 years. He learned how the rivers, bayous, wetland areas, man’s interventions and coastal erosion are all intertwined and constantly changing. The time he has spent in the swamplands of Cajun Country coupled with college degrees in Zoology and Botany has given Butch a rich insight into the ecology of Louisiana swamps.

This knowledge has been taught to Cajun Country Swamp Tour boat captains to make your tour educational, entertaining, and enjoyable ( More than just a boat ride ). Your swamp tour is taken personally by us because we know that for many of you this maybe your only trip to Cajun Country and it is important to us that everyone’s swamp tour in Cajun Country is both pleasurable and memorable. 

Our tour boats are open Cajun crawfish skiffs powered by an extremely quiet, environmentally friendly, 4-stroke outboard motor with the water intake fixed so that shallow water muck and thick vegetation are not a problem. This very quiet motor, and the relatively small size of the swamp tour boat allows for some great wildlife viewing.

My swamp tour guides and I have spent most of our lives either learning about or earning an income from the swamps of Cajun Co untry - this is where we want to be. The swamps are our passion and Joie de Vivre (Joy of Life), and sharing a few hours with people who love and enjoy nature and the great outdoors is an enjoyable experience for us. Our personal experiences and observations along with my educational background enables us to give you an insightful eco-journey into the swamplands of the Atchafalaya Basin that is educational, enjoyable and entertaining; and just maybe with a serving of Cajun Hospitality this will not be your only trip to Cajun Country.

Located only minutes from Lafayette; an hour from Baton Rouge; 1.5 hours from Lake Charles; and 2.5 hrs from New Orleans, Louisiana... In the heart of Cajun Country!

Slide title

 For the Love of Nature!

Master tour guide , Shawn Guchereau touring since 2011 

We see alligators all year round

Tour boat for larger groups or multi-group tours. Seats 20

Gorgeous sunset tours!

upclose and personal

One of the best bird watching areas in North America

Roseate Spoonbills

Great Blue Heron 

White Egret "Plumes!"

Black-bellied whistling tree ducks

Black-Crowned Night Heron.

Awwe, It's a Baby owl :)

Turtle Drama ?

A bird eating an alligator... Whaaat???

You would've had to have been there!

Smile for the camera !

An Aww (sha) gator

AWw  (sha) gators hatch around September

 Lake Martin is zoned as a non-commercial area...there is no office or store front when you arrive. Tour guides meet all guests at the Lake Martin public boat landing for departure. Look for our blue banner next to the boat dock. Please be sure to make a bathroom stop before you arrive and also PLEASE watch your speed down Lake Martin road. Thank you:)

South entryway to the lake is closed at Prarie hwy 353. Please use front entrance at Hwy 31 to Lake Martin rd. If your gps has you turning onto prarie hwy, pass it up and it will reroute you to the front entrance. Please call us if you have any questions.

Cajun Country Swamp Tours

337-319-0010

1209 Rookery road, Breaux Bridge, Louisiana 70517

                                  Copyright © All Rights Reserved.

Protect Your Trip »

The 9 Best Louisiana Swamp Tours of 2024

Explore Louisiana's famous swamps and bayous on one of these tours.

Getty Images

Swamp tours are a popular activity for any visit to Louisiana. In addition to alligators, Louisiana's swamps and bayous offer a chance to see bears, beavers, foxes, nutrias and racoons, as well as dozens of amphibian and reptile species.

We've determined the following Louisiana swamp tours to be the best based on traveler reviews and expert opinion. What's more, several of the recommended tour companies are located close to New Orleans and offer transportation.

Airboat Adventures – Small Boat Tours: Lafitte

Price: From $89 Duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes

One of the best swamp tours near New Orleans , this small-group excursion accommodates up to 10 passengers and features a multitude of reptiles, birds and other swamp residents. Riders frequently report enjoying the high-speed trips as well as the experienced guides and, of course, the plentiful wildlife on display.

Shuttle service between New Orleans hotels and Airboat Adventures' Lafitte location is available for an additional fee of $30 per person. Note: Airboat passengers must be at least 5 years old. The company also offers tours in its larger airboats and pontoon boats.

Check prices and availability on:

Cajun Encounters – VIP Swamp Tour: Slidell

Price: From $94.99 Duration: Two hours

This small-group excursion traverses the Honey Island Swamp via a flat-bottomed boat, which has the ability to maneuver narrow waterways. The excursion puts travelers within close proximity of alligators, bears, river otters and numerous types of birds, including great horned owls and bald eagles. Tour-takers consistently find the boat guides informative and entertaining, and enjoy the array of observable plant and animal life.

Tours are available several times daily. Cajun Encounters, located on the West Pearl River in Slidell, also offers pickup service from several French Quarter hotels as well as its New Orleans tour office ( 941 Decatur Street ) for an additional fee. Note that children under age 13 are not permitted on this tour; however, they are allowed on the company's larger swamp tours.

New Orleans Kayak Tours – Manchac Swamp Kayak Tour: Ponchatoula

Price: From $59 Duration: 2.5 hours

Many swamp tours rely on motorized boats to navigate Louisiana's waterways, but this tour uses kayaks to explore the peaceful Manchac Swamp. Thanks to the swamp's calm waters, this outing is suitable for paddlers of all experience levels. Trip-takers tend to appreciate the guides' educational commentary, as well as the frequent animal sightings. If you're interested in the paranormal, ask your tour guide about the haunted history of Manchac Swamp — it is believed to be haunted by a voodoo priestess.

Departure times may vary by season, but start times of 9 and 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. are typical. From March through September, there's an additional 4:30 p.m. departure time. Transportation from New Orleans (the Rampart Treehouse/10 pizza ) is available for an additional $25 per person.

Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours – Swamp Airboat Tour: Marrero

Price: From $98 Duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes

Traverse southern Louisiana's swamps and bayous and the canals connecting them aboard a powerful airboat on this top-rated expedition. Tour-takers generally enjoy both the numerous wildlife sightings and the informed commentary by the guides.

Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours operates multiple airboats, with tours departing at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. daily. Winter hours vary. Transportation between select New Orleans locations and the company's Marrero base is available for an additional fee. Hotel pickup starts up to 90 minutes before tour departure times. Note: Children younger than 5 are not permitted on this tour.

Louisiana Tour Company – New Orleans Swamp Tour by Tour Boat: Marrero

Price: From $35 for adults; $15 for kids Duration: 2 hours

Glide through the wetlands within the Barataria Preserve aboard a covered boat built for comfort. Along with restrooms and cushioned seats, boats are equipped with guides who will regale you with amusing and informative commentary as you keep your eyes peeled for wildlife and sights like an ancient Native American burial mound and a Cajun fishing village.

Hotel pickup in New Orleans is available for an additional fee. Boat rides start at 9:40 a.m., 12:10 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. daily with a seasonal 4:15 departure time, and hotel pickups start about 90 minutes prior to start time. In addition to swamp tours, the company also offers plantation and airboat tours, among other options.

Ultimate Swamp Adventures – Covered Pontoon Swamp Boat Tour: Westwego

Price: Adults from $32; kids from $15 Duration: 2 hours

Cruise Bayou Segnette on this excursion, which features captains versed in the local culture and habitat. Past participants describe the guides as highly entertaining and enlightening and report seeing many alligators and birds. Tours are offered multiple times a day all year long. They depart at 9:45 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., with an additional 4 p.m. start time in months with sufficient evening sunlight.

Transportation from New Orleans hotels is available for an additional fee, and shuttle service begins about an hour prior to designated departure times. The large covered vessels can accommodate up to 68 passengers. Ultimate Swamp Adventures, located in Westwego about 10 miles from New Orleans, also offers airboat tours.

Tips on Trips and Expert Picks Newsletter

Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

Atchafalaya Basin Landing Airboat Swamp Tours – Traditional Swamp Boat Tour: Henderson

Price: From $39 Duration: 1.5 hours

The Atchafalaya Basin has bragging rights as the biggest U.S. river swamp – even bigger than the Florida Everglades . A variety of swamp creatures inhabit its nearly 1 million acres of bayous, swamps and lakes. Tourgoers consistently sing the praises of the striking scenery and the friendly, professional staff. Additionally, by opting for the swamp boat tour, you can ride through even more of the basin than during the company's namesake airboat tours.

McGee's Louisiana Swamp & Airboat Tours – Swamp Tours: Henderson

Price: Adults from $35; kids from $25 Duration: 1.5 hours

Enjoy an up-close look at the Atchafalaya Basin's unique ecosystem on this tour. Reviewers say the tour is well-suited for families with children, and applaud the guides for their insightful and compelling narration. Tours happen three times daily, departing at 10 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m.

In addition to the swamp boat tours (which welcome up to 48 passengers), rides in smaller airboats, as well as seasonal sunset tours, are also available. Henderson, where McGee's is based, is located 45 miles west of Baton Rouge .

Check prices & availability on:

Champagne's Swamp Tours – Swamp Boat Tour: Breaux Bridge

Price: Adults from $28; kids from $23.50 Duration: 1.5 hours

The Cypress Island Nature Preserve at Lake Martin is home to hundreds of bird species, as well as alligators and other wildlife. This tour provides opportunities to see some of these spectacular creatures up close. Guides regularly win accolades for their knowledge of the local flora and fauna.

Reservations are required and can be made by contacting the company directly. The Champagne's Swamp Tours storefront in Breaux Bridge, which is approximately 50 miles southwest of Baton Rouge, opens daily at 8 a.m. (excluding some holidays). The company's boats are wheelchair-accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Atchafalaya Basin is largely considered the most famous swamp in Louisiana. It is the largest river swamp in the U.S.

Dress comfortably (think: loose layers) and bring a light jacket in the event it rains or you get chilly while you're out on the water.

Spring and summer are prime time for alligator sightings, though you'll likely see them no matter when you visit.

You'll increase your chances of spotting alligators by booking a morning tour, as wildlife is typically most active during this time (as well as late evening).

You may also be interested in:

• The Best New Orleans Ghost Tours
• The Best New Orleans Cemetery Tours
• The Best New Orleans Plantation Tours

Tags: Tours , New Orleans , Louisiana , Travel , Vacations , Louisiana Vacations , Southeast Vacations , US Vacations

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

The best holiday travel hacks.

Rachael Hood Nov. 5, 2024

The Best Napa Valley Wine Tours

Amanda Norcross Nov. 5, 2024

The Ultimate Cruise Packing List

Gwen Pratesi and Amanda Norcross Nov. 4, 2024

Holiday Gifts That Pack Well for Travel

Rachael Hood Nov. 4, 2024

The Most Festive Holiday Hotels

Rachael Hood Nov. 1, 2024

The 10 Best Denver Tours

Lyn Mettler Oct. 31, 2024

Best U.S. Cross-Country Skiing Resorts

Sharael Kolberg Oct. 30, 2024

Best NYC Hotels for Christmas

Jessica Colley Clarke Oct. 29, 2024

Top Things to Do in Vermont

Amanda Norcross and Mariya Greeley Oct. 28, 2024

The Best Maui Tours

John Rodwan Oct. 28, 2024

Cajun Swamp Tours On Beautiful Lake Martin, Louisiana 

Champagne’s swamp tours.

Only Swamp Tour with public Restrooms

* Please call us for special tour times that works best for your party, special arrangements can be made.

Store Open Daily 9:00 am Closing Time Varies

Free rv camper parking.

The proximity of the RV parking to the heart of Lake Martin ensures that travelers are never too far from both the conveniences of their vehicle and the allure of the swamp. FREE RV Camper sites-only with Swamp Tours

*(self contained only)

Bird Watching

Lake Martin is a favorite destination for Louisiana Bird Watching or Birding for tourists from all over the world.

Only swamptour with facilities

We are the only swamptour on lakemartin with store and restroom facilities for our guest only.Also private parking , back decks on water to hang out and wait around for to your swamptour.

Something for the whole family to remember their trip from Champagne’s Swamp Tours!

OUR FACILITIES

Champagne’s Cajun Swamp Tours offers the only air condition seated waiting area on the lake.  Our outdoor deck area provides a beautiful scenic vista just to relax…

At Champagne’s Cajun Swamp Tours, visitors have the unique opportunity to come up close and personal with…

KAYAK & CANOE RENTALS

Swamp tours.

Enjoy all the beauty and excitement of the Lake Martin Cypress Island Preserve Swamp on one of our relaxing authentic Cajun Lake Martin swamp tours.  Our swamp tour rates are very reasonable.  

SWAMP TOUR BOATS

The Swamp Tour will explore the difference between swamps and bayous.  This swamp is know for its amazing wildlife and beauty…

RV AND CAMPER PARKING

The proximity of the RV parking to the heart of Lake Martin ensures that travellers are never too far from both the conveniences of their vehicle and the allure of the swamp.

337-230-4068

[email protected]

1151 Rookery Rd. Breaux Bridge, LA 70517

Kayak /CANOE Rentals

Swamp Tour Rates

Directions to SWAMP/ STORE ON LAKE MARTIN

Only SWAMPTOUR With Restroom

FACILITIES ON lakemartin

Cajun Swamp Kayak Tours

1151 Rookery Rd Breaux Bridge, LA 70517

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE