Top New Orleans Outdoor Activities

Venture beyond New Orleans to the wilds of the Louisiana bayous on a small-group kayaking tour of the Manchac and Maurepas swamps. Climb aboard a tandem kayak and paddle through a lush landscape of cypress forests and wetlands teeming with wildlife. No kayaking experience is necessary, as a guide teaches you everything need to know to enjoy this Southern-style adventure.

Cruise through the wild wetlands of Honey Island Swamp on a 2-hour boat tour. Located on the marshy shores of Lake Ponchartrain just north of New Orleans, this protected nature reserve is home to an array of southern wildlife, from egrets and herons soaring above to otters and alligators lurking below the water’s surface. Hear tales of swamp pirates, fishermen’s lore and mysterious creatures from your captain as you glide past hanging moss and swooning cypress trees.

Trade in the urban bustle for the bayou on a half-day trip from New Orleans to the wilds of the Honey Island Swamp. Relax on the ride from your downtown or French Quarter hotel, and then cruise beneath hanging moss and cypress trees while a wetland ecologist shares tall tales and fun facts about this protected nature reserve on the shores of Lake Ponchartrain. Learn about Louisiana’s long-standing fishing industry, and keep an eye out for native critters like otters, turtles, egrets, and alligators lurking beneath the surface.

Escape the city for an afternoon to experience life on the Louisiana bayou with a kayak tour of Manchac swamp. Just a short drive from New Orleans, the swamp offers a sleepy southern landscape of cypress trees, bird calls, alligators, and slow-moving currents that are perfect for beginning paddlers. No kayaking experience is necessary, and pickup from central New Orleans makes it convenient to take a nature break from the Big Easy.

Go for a sunset cruise aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen on this boat trip. Listen to an on-board jazz band and choose to add on a Creole-style dinner buffet as the boat sails along the Mississippi River. Take in the views from the promenade deck and sip New Orleans-inspired cocktails.

Located in the French Quarter, these adventures offer a one-of-a-kind premium experience. Follow clues and solve puzzles to complete your mission together. You might escape...You WILL have fun! Choose to play one of four uniquely immersive games: - Prison Break: Complete a daring escape from the evil warden! - Special Ops: Mysterious Market: Uncover the truth as a secret agent! - The Heist: Recover a stolen masterpiece from an art thief! - Playground: Complete your report card and get to summer break!

Experience life on the Louisiana bayou on this ultimate swamp tour from New Orleans, run by one of the city’s oldest tour companies. Ride on a state-of-the-art swamp boat through the famous wetlands teeming with native wildlife, while learning about Cajun culture from your tale-spinning captain.

Experience the Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve on this pontoon excursion led by a local guide. After a convenient, optional pickup from your accommodation, learn about Southern Louisiana’s distinctive ecology while cruising past magnificent cypress trees and watch for native wildlife like gators and egrets. Enjoy flexible timing and opt for a delicious lunch at Restaurant Des Familes with the 10 a.m. tour.

Take a two-wheeled ride through the raucous history and heritage of New Orleans on a bike tour that takes you from the lively streets of the French Quarter to the swampy bayous at the edge of the town. Learn about the city's founding as you follow a flat and leisurely route down oak-lined avenues, through leafy parks, and past creepy cemeteries to reach Bayou St. John. It's a great way to get off the tourist track and see the diverse neighborhoods of the Big Easy.

Get amazing aerial views of New Orleans on this 15-mile helicopter tour. While listening to guided commentary from your pilot through your headset, you and just a two other passengers will fly over Jackson Square, the French Quarter, City Park, and Lake Pontchartrain, among other landmarks.

Immerse yourself in the rich culture and natural splendor of New Orleans’ mystifying swamps and wetlands on a 2-hour New Orleans swamp tour and wetlands adventure. Relax in the luxurious interior of a New Orleans swamp tour boat as you cruise past cultural highlights like a Cajun cemetery, an Indian burial mound and a traditional fishing village. Scour the scenery for fascinating flora and fauna like snakes, turtles and alligators while listening to interesting commentary from your professional guide.

Explore this beautiful city on a three hour tour on our custom made ultra comfortable Electric Bikes. get a complete and thorough look at new Orleans past and present. Visit famous landmarks in the French Quarter and learn about the rich history and incredible people that influenced the culture of our city. Cruise through historic Marigny, Treme, Bywater and Bayou St. John neighborhoods. See one of our amazing above ground cemeteries. If you love history, incredible sights, architecture, tales of residents past and want a taste of the real New Orleans then this tour is a must see!

SMALL GROUP LOUISIANA SWAMP TOURS! Swampin' Grounds Tour Co. is an authentic Louisiana Swamp Tour! Small groups and expert guides make your experience personal to you. We pride ourselves on customer service and guest experience. We offer two hour small group swamp tours just outside of New Orleans in Louisiana's Honey Island Swamp, one of the country's most unclaimed wetlands. We will travel by boat through cypress swamps in search of alligators, boar, and birds of prey! Being true to our name as an ECO tour we DO NOT feed the wildlife. Our expert, coast guard certified guides will use their knowledge and experience to share with you the history of this beautiful area and show you all the diverse wildlife of Louisiana's swamps.

Are you ready to experience one of the best excursions New Orleans has to offer? Adventures of Jean Lafitte offers personal Alligator Tours through Louisiana’s beautiful backcountry. Gather your whole crew and come experience the “road less traveled”! You’ll be touring 20,000 acres of tidewater cypress swamp. During your 1 hour 30 minute tour you’ll have opportunities to see alligators, snakes, turtles, egrets, herons and ibis, and we sometimes see hawks, owls and bald eagles. We are approximately 35-45 minutes from New Orleans. If you do not have transportation to our location we offer pick-up and drop-off services to all hotels located in the Greater New Orleans area for an additional fee. Because we are located about 40 minutes outside of New Orleans, cab and uber services are not available.

See New Orleans beyond just the French Quarter on a bike tour that gets you out into less-touristy neighborhoods like Faubourg Tremé and Storyville. Learn about the city's multicultural origins and follow the evolution of jazz, stopping to hear local lore and snap photos at landmarks like Congo Square and the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 2. The flexibility of both a small group size and two-wheeled tour is a great way to expand your view of the Big Easy.

Biking through the Garden District, under the canopy of live oak trees, is a beautiful way to take in the history and celebrity of the district. This casual bike ride covers a lot of ground and gives our guests a unique look into the lives of those who first settled there.

Explore the French Quarter and Marigny aboard a relaxing horse and carriage during this small-group tour in New Orleans. Discover the history, culture, and legends that surround this historic city as you see landmarks including the St. Louis Cathedral, Napoleon House, and French Market. You also get insider tips from your guide about the best places to eat, drink, and explore in New Orleans.

Get your flying chops in beautiful New Orleans with a personal 50-minute flying lesson! No prior experience is needed for this excursion, which includes a 20-minute on-ground lesson and 30 minutes of flying time in the company of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified instructor. You’ll help guide the small plane through take-off and landing, and — once airborne — maneuver over New Orleans’ famous sights such as the French Quarter, the Mississippi River and the sleepy Louisiana bayous.

Marvel at the sparkling lights and unparalleled views of New Orleans by night as you soar overhead on a helicopter tour.

This owner-operated company provides a truly local perspective. When you ride with Paved Paradise Tours you are riding with one of the owners, ensuring that your experience is of the highest quality. See the city through the eyes of someone who loves what they do, who loves the City of New Orleans, and who wants you to love it too.

Biking the Garden District in New Orleans is a great way to learn about the neighborhood’s rich history and culture. Skip the hassles of traffic and parking as you make your way to antebellum mansions, historic cemeteries, and celebrity homes, all while hearing entertaining tales about the area from your guide.

Soak up the atmosphere of the bayou on this 8-hour cultural tour from New Orleans. Visit the Oak Alley Plantation House, dating from 1837, and view the stately row of 28 evenly spaced mature oaks that line the driveway. Follow your guide, dressed in period costume, through the mansion, the blacksmith shop and the onsite restaurant. Then, learn about life in the bayou's waterways aboard a swamp and wetlands boat tour. See the amazing variety of flora and fauna native to the area and hear about life in the Barataria Swamps from your native guides. Round-trip transportation from New Orleans is included.

Explore the Louisiana swamp on a 2-hour boat tour that takes you through a variety of ecosystems. Travel with a small group limited to six people, riding in a customized flatboat that can navigate places that other tour boats cannot reach. Look for native wildlife like alligators, turtles, snakes, and a variety of birds, and hear commentary about Louisiana’s swamplands from your guide.

Sail down this Mississippi River on a classic Paddlewheeler boat on this New Orleans river cruise. Enjoy illuminating narration from a licensed historian and stop part-way through the trip to learn about the Battle of New Orleans. Then, get back aboard the vessel and enjoy a cash bar while admiring the views.