Airboat Tours by Arthur · Des Allemands, LA · Family run since 1994
Into the swamp
where most tours can’t go.
Airboat rides through Louisiana marsh and deep cypress swamp with the Matherne family, 25 minutes southwest of New Orleans airport.
Log 01 · Pick your ride
Set the throttle.
See the price.
Two boats, four tour lengths, shared seats or the whole boat to yourselves. Choose and the needle shows what you'll pay, what the minimum is and what the extra time buys you.
| Boat | 1 hour | 90 min | 2 hours | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small airboat6 passengers · shared | $60 | $80 | $100 | 3 riders, or $180 / $240 / $300 total |
| Small airboatprivate | $350 | $460 | $570 | Whole boat |
| Large airboat14–16 passengers · shared | $50 | $65 | $80 | 7 riders, or $350 / $455 / $560 total |
| Large airboatprivate | $650 | $800 | $980 | Whole boat |
Log 02 · The film
Ride along.
The film from Arthur's own website. It loads from Vimeo when you press play.
Log 04 · Small airboat
Six seats. Up to 60 mph.
The fast one: up to 60 mph, with room for six.
- From $60 per person, shared · minimum 3
- From $350 for the whole boat
Log 04 · Large airboat
Up to 16 seats. Coast Guard approved.
Room for a bigger group, so everyone rides together.
- From $50 per person, shared · minimum 7
- From $650 for the whole boat
Field notes · Out on the water
What's out there.
Alligators through the warm months, roughly 300 species of birds year round, plus nutria, turtles, snakes, raccoons, deer and waterfowl. Photos from Arthur's own gallery.
Plates 01–03 · From Arthur's galleryDes Allemands, LA
Log 05 · The Mathernes
Chad was
driving at eight.
The captains are US Coast Guard Captains and commercially fish alligator, crab and shrimp in the same water they show you. All of them grew up on the bayou.
- 1994
Capt. Arthur Matherne Jr.
After years in a chemical plant and in commercial fishing, Arthur decided Louisiana needed its first airboat tour company and started one. He's mostly semi-retired now.
- Today
Capt. Chad Matherne
Raised driving airboats from the age of eight, then twelve years in the oilfield. Chad has taken over the family business.
- The crew
Capt. Jeremy Dufrene
A lifelong resident of the bayou, like every captain on the crew.
Capt. Brad "Woody" Prine
From Tickfaw, and living in Luling since 2008. Also a lifelong bayou resident.
We had an amazing tour with Chad! He was so knowledgeable and fun.
- Booking
- By phone, 8am–7pm, seven days a week. Tell them how many are riding and when, and they'll find you a boat.
- Reservations
- Not required, but highly recommended.
- Ride hours
- Open 7 days, except major holidays. Tours start as early as 8:30am; the last leaves about an hour before sundown.
- The dock
- 4262 US-90, Des Allemands, LA 70030Find the dockGoogle MapsApple Maps
- Named 2025 Best Tour in LouisianaRead it on Yelp
- Family run since 1994Family owned & operated
- US Coast Guard captainsLifelong bayou residents
- Tours from $50Per person, large boat, 1 hour
- Home of the sunset tourSpotlight run after dark