What To Expect On A New Orleans Swamp Tour

It would be easy to enjoy New Orleans, Louisiana, without even leaving the city centre.

The city is known for its diverse array of sumptuous cuisine , infamously haunted cemeteries, stunning buildings, streets rich with (often dark) history and more music than you could consume in a lifetime.

The swamps and bayous that skirt much of the mighty Mississippi, however, are worth spending a day trip or two exploring.

With literally hundreds of swamp tours available online and in tour guide shops, we’ve compiled a list of what to expect, how to choose your mode of transport and how to enjoy the swamp without getting stung (literally and in the hip pocket).

1. The difference between a swamp and a bayou

You’ll see lots of both on a tour and it’s worth knowing the difference. A swamp is an area of land that is always saturated with water. Look out for the big marshy flooded-looking areas surrounding New Orleans – that there is a swamp.

Bayous are the small, sluggish connective outlets of waterways that you’ll be idling, paddling or zipping through on the tour. They crisscross the entire state like a giant system of veins.

2. Choose your swamp transport

Flat-bottomed boat

Starting with the cheapest and most accessible option, the flat-bottomed boat (or pontoon boat) is by far the most spacious choice. You’ll also find the majority have wheelchair-accessible on-ramps. These boats move slowly through the bayous and are generally headed up by a Cajun captain narrating everything you see.

This choice will allow you plenty of time to take in the nearby scenery, seated in the shade in relative tranquility. Though, in peak season you might be sharing the experience with up to 40 new best friends.

Airboat

Like the feeling of wind in your hair? The airboat is for thrill-seekers. It’s a little bit more pricey, but restricted to a much smaller group. It will take you much further into the swampland of the bayous due to the sheer speed these boats can reach.

Airboats are open-top and have a very loud engine, but you don’t need to be too worried about the noise as they give you earmuffs for the journey. Be sure to pack sunscreen and a tie-on hat (you don’t want it to blow off). You should also be aware that airboats aren’t required by Louisiana law to have seatbelts, though they do have handrails. Thankfully the noise of the engine will drain out the screams.

Airboat tour operated by Louisiana Swamp Tours

Kayak

By far the most eco-friendly tour option, kayaks are the least invasive way to see the swamp. Opting for the people-powered option means there won’t be any loud noises to scare away the animals. You’ll also get an unhindered view of the alligators, unlike when you’re on a boat and you’re left to try to get a look-in through the crowds of tourists hanging off the barriers, but it does mean that you’re also closer to them. The tour guides will joke that they haven’t lost a customer yet, but you’ll be warned to keep your elbows tucked in at all times “just in case".

Pro tip:

Most of the swamp tours aren’t within walking distance from the French Quarter or the CBD. If you don’t have a rental car, ensure your tour includes a pickup service in the price (or for a small fee) to help you avoid any hidden costs.

3. Expect creatures great and small

There is every chance you’ll get to see a plethora of native swamp critters such as alligators, wild boars, raccoons, nutrias (semi-aquatic giant river rodents), snapping turtles, snakes, owls, herons, eagles and river otters.

It’s not likely you will see every animal on that list unless you are the luckiest traveller in the universe, but you will definitely see a gator. In the warmer months you won’t be able to travel more than 10 metres without spotting one, and in the winter the captains often coax them to the boats with marshmallows.

There is no law in Louisiana that prohibits the feeding of alligators and according to many boat captains, crocodilians don’t digest sugar so the marshmallows go straight through them. Factual or not, it’s not advisable to give wild animals manmade food. It also encourages them to lose their natural instincts around humans (like being timid).

Alligators floating on a Louisiana swamp

4. Expect unpredictable weather

Louisiana is one of the wettest states in the USA. It rains around 60+ inches per year, which equates to about 1.5 metres of water.

The boats will still run in the rain, but a poncho won’t protect you from getting cold in the wind of an airboat so be sure to pack accordingly. All boat companies will cancel a tour in the event of a thunder and lightning storm.

Conversely in the summertime, it gets very clammy and hot in the slow-moving, humid swamp air. Sweet relief from the heat may occur only when the boat is moving. Be sure to spray on mosquito repellant in the warmer months as a precaution and don’t forget the antiperspirant.

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5. Don’t expect creature comforts

Half-day or two- to three-hour tours don’t usually offer refreshments – and that includes water. Be sure to pack your own water bottle as you definitely can’t drink the swamp water. Packing snacks or eating a big breakfast is a great idea, though you’re not allowed to eat on the boat. Snacks may be available from the swamp tour shop, but they’ll definitely be over-priced. Longer day trips may provide you with lunch, but check the fine print.

Don’t expect to find any toilets onboard either. If the lapping of the swamp water against the boat suddenly brings on the urge to relieve yourself, you’ll have to hold it.

Factor in a tip for the captain. Twenty percent of the tour price is the usual standard, but watch the rest of the group and follow their example if you’re unsure.

A good rule of thumb when visiting any wild environment is: take only pictures, leave only footprints.

Want more NOLA? Head to our Louisiana guide for all the insights

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

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It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

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4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

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What to expect on an exhilirating New Orleans swamp tour