Birdwatching · BIRDWATCHING TOURS

The 15 Best Birdwatching Tours in the World

397 tours  ·  from $8 a head

Guided walks, colony boardwalks, estuary boats and full days with a scope. These 15 are the ones worth planning a trip around, each with its price, its season and what the guide actually supplies.

Penguin Parade, & Wildlife Encounters Eco Tour from Melbourne - Moonlit Sanctuary: the strongest daytime stop
Australia Birdwatching Tours, Birdwatching Tours, Melbourne Birdwatching Tours, Penguin Tours, Penguin Tours in Australia, Penguin Tours in Melbourne, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife

Penguin Parade, & Wildlife Encounters Eco Tour from Melbourne

1.Penguin Parade, & Wildlife Encounters Eco Tour from Melbourne

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,774 reviews · from $118Our pick

Join Go West Tours for a full-day trip from Melbourne to Phillip Island. You’ll see Brighton’s bathing boxes, feed kangaroos at Moonlit Sanctuary, visit the Nobbies, and watch little penguins come ashore after sunset. Guides such as Cloe, Jools, Aleks, and Graeme add plenty of local color.

“Our tour guide Cloe was excellent. Very nice tour would highly recommend it for amazing experience.!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cape Town: Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Day Tour with Pickup - Pickup, the Sprinter, and the shape of the day
Birdwatching Tours, Cape Town Birdwatching Tours, Penguin Tours, Penguin Tours in Cape Town, Penguin Tours in South Africa, South Africa Birdwatching Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Cape Town: Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Day Tour with Pickup

2.Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Day Tour with Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3,362 reviews · 10 hours · from $52

Join guides such as Sylvie, Talent, Gordon, or Isaac for a packed Cape Town day by luxury Sprinter. See seals, African penguins, Cape Point, Chapman’s Peak, Bo-Kaap, and Muizenberg, with hotel pickup, cold water, USB ports, and time for lunch in Simon’s Town.

“Great day with Sylvie our guide and Karl our driver. Really enjoyed all the stops, including lunch. Highly recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cape Point and Boulder's Penguins Full Day Tour - Bo-Kaap and the first look at Cape Town
Birdwatching Tours, Cape Town Birdwatching Tours, Full-Day, Penguin Tours, Penguin Tours in Cape Town, Penguin Tours in South Africa, South Africa Birdwatching Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Cape Point and Boulder’s Penguins Full Day Tour

3.Cape Point and Boulder’s Penguins Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,118 reviews · from $34

You’ll visit Boulders Beach, Cape Point, and the Cape of Good Hope by comfortable double-decker coach, with English commentary from a local guide such as Paul, Horea, Mark, or Brahm. Expect penguins, wildlife, scenic coastal stops, and an optional hike.

“Meticulously planned tour and included all the stops you'd want in this region. The guides were friendly, punctual, and extremely knowledgeable which all made for a wonderful experience. Highly recommended and thankful I took this tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cape of Good Hope & Boulder Penguins Full-Day Tour from Cape Town - Bo-Kaap and the Atlantic suburbs
Birdwatching Tours, Cape Town Birdwatching Tours, Full-Day, Penguin Tours, Penguin Tours in Cape Town, Penguin Tours in South Africa, South Africa Birdwatching Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Cape of Good Hope & Boulder Penguins Full-Day Tour from Cape Town

4.Cape of Good Hope & Boulder Penguins Full-Day Tour from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,347 reviews · from $48

Spend about nine hours exploring the Cape Peninsula in an air-conditioned minivan with hotel pickup. Walk through Bo-Kaap, visit Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak, Cape Point, Simon’s Town, and Boulders Beach. Guides such as Rodney, Candice, Mabee, and Nana are known for lively storytelling, careful driving, and helpful photo stops.

“My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our day. The scenery along Chapman’s Peak Drive was stunning! Boulder’s Beach and Cape of Good Hope were also highlights of the day. Thanks Peter for being an amazing guide! Highly recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Melbourne: Penguin Parade, Koalas & Kangaroos - Brighton Beach Boxes and the first coastal views
Australia Birdwatching Tours, Birdwatching Tours, Melbourne Birdwatching Tours, Penguin Tours, Penguin Tours in Australia, Penguin Tours in Melbourne, Tour Reviews

From Melbourne: Penguin Parade, Koalas & Kangaroos

5.Penguin Parade, Koalas & Kangaroos

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,932 reviews · 12 hours · from $112

Travel from Melbourne in a small air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide such as Dirk, Matt, Toni, or Charlie. Feed kangaroos at Moonlit Sanctuary, visit Brighton Beach and the Nobbies, then watch little penguins return from the sea. Expect a long, well-filled day and a chilly evening.

“our guide Mattie was fabulous! love his sense of humor and great knowledge of the places we visited. so kind.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point Small Group Tour Cape Town - Table Mountain and the cable car question
Birdwatching Tours, Cape Town Birdwatching Tours, Penguin Tours, Penguin Tours in Cape Town, Penguin Tours in South Africa, South Africa Birdwatching Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point Small Group Tour Cape Town

6.Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point Small Group Tour Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,797 reviews · from $62

This 10-hour Cape Town tour links Table Mountain, Bo Kaap, Chapman’s Peak, Boulders Beach, Cape Point, Simon’s Town, and St James Beach. You travel with a shared guide and driver in a group of up to 15. Guide names vary, with Talent and Sylvie among the highly praised leaders.

“Tour was as advertised, and run very professionally. Silvie was a great guide, who kept things on track with a sense of humor.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cape Town Tour: Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point+Pickup - Table Mountain delivers the day’s biggest view
Birdwatching Tours, Cape Town Birdwatching Tours, Penguin Tours, Penguin Tours in Cape Town, Penguin Tours in South Africa, South Africa Birdwatching Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Cape Town Tour: Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point+Pickup

7.Cape Town Tour: Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point+Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,671 reviews · 10 hours · from $65

Spend 10 hours touring Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula in a shared Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or Toyota Quantum GL. Your English-speaking guide takes you from Bo-Kaap and Table Mountain to Boulders Beach, Cape Point, Simon’s Town, and Muizenberg. Entry tickets and lunch cost extra.

“Jeff by far has been the most helpful and knowledgeable tour guide that I’ve ever had. He made the trip so special by explaining everything and also being a very approachable and friendly person. His organization helped us to stay on plan throughout the day and enjoy every single stop to its maximum.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Maspalomas: Palmitos Park Ticket with Dolphin and Bird Shows - Start with the dolphinarium
Birdwatching Tours, Dolphin Watching, Spain Birdwatching Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Maspalomas: Palmitos Park Ticket with Dolphin and Bird Shows

8.Maspalomas: Palmitos Park Ticket with Dolphin and Bird Shows

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,507 reviews · 1 day · from $44

Spend a full day at Palmitos Park, 10 kilometers from Maspalomas Lighthouse, exploring tropical gardens, an aquarium, butterfly house, reptiles, primates, and four scheduled shows. Your $44 ticket includes entry, dolphin and bird performances, exotic birds, parrots, and free parking. Expect steep paths and several hours of walking.

“We got the dolphin experience and it the staff went above and beyond with the display. Highly recommend”

Check availability →Read our full review

High Red Dunes with Camel Ride, Sandboarding, Falcon Show and VIP BBQ Dinner - Lahbab’s red dunes and the 4x4 ride
BBQ, Birdwatching Tours, Dining Experiences, Dinner Experiences, Dubai Birdwatching Tours, Falconry & Birds of Prey, Show, Tour Reviews, UAE Birdwatching Tours, VIP

High Red Dunes with Camel Ride, Sandboarding, Falcon Show and VIP BBQ Dinner

9.High Red Dunes with Camel Ride, Sandboarding, Falcon Show and VIP BBQ Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,453 reviews · from $80

Spend about seven hours with Oscar Knight Tours on a Dubai desert safari led by an English-speaking guide such as Iqbal, Noor, or Ashraf. Expect red-dune bashing, sandboarding, a camel ride, falcon photography, henna, sunset seating, and a BBQ dinner with belly and Tanoura shows.

“The most fun we had in Dubai! Iqbal was amazing! A host, driver, and photographer extraordinnaire! Sand bashing was wild! Sand boarding so fun too! Book this experience! You won't be sorry you did!”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Melbourne: Phillip Island Penguin Parade & Koalas Tour - From central Melbourne to Phillip Island
Australia Birdwatching Tours, Birdwatching Tours, Melbourne Birdwatching Tours, Penguin Tours, Penguin Tours in Australia, Penguin Tours in Melbourne, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Melbourne: Phillip Island Penguin Parade & Koalas Tour

10.Phillip Island Penguin Parade & Koalas Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,408 reviews · 9h 30m · from $123

Travel from Melbourne to Phillip Island with an English-speaking driver-guide such as Fiona, Vicky, or Graham. Visit the Koala Conservation Reserve, The Nobbies, Cowes, and the Penguin Parade. Expect a long but well-paced day, about 300 km of driving, chilly evening air, and no photography during the penguin viewing.

“Well organised, ran to time and was exactly what we expected. Fiona the driver and guide was excellent!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Húsavík: Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins by Speedboat - The 40-minute start in Húsavík
Birdwatching Tours, Iceland Birdwatching Tours, Puffin Tours, Puffin Tours in Iceland, Safari, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Húsavík: Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins by Speedboat

11.Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins by Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,221 reviews · 2 hours · from $175

Join Gentle Giants in Húsavík for a two-hour RIB safari across Skjálfandi Bay. A guide such as Matteo or Carla may lead you to puffins, dolphins, humpbacks, or blue whales. The boat carries up to 12 people, moves quickly between sightings, and includes warm safety overalls.

“It was PERFECT! Thank you for everything . We had a lucky to see a biggest whale in the world - BLUE whale! I recommend this tour to everyone”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Melbourne: Phillip Island Penguin Parade Eco Tour - Moonlit Sanctuary: the most hands-on stop
Australia Birdwatching Tours, Birdwatching Tours, Melbourne Birdwatching Tours, Penguin Tours, Penguin Tours in Australia, Penguin Tours in Melbourne, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Melbourne: Phillip Island Penguin Parade Eco Tour

12.Phillip Island Penguin Parade Eco Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,211 reviews · 12 hours · from $109

Spend 12 hours exploring Moonlit Sanctuary, Cape Woolamai in summer, The Nobbies, and the Penguin Parade from Melbourne. Your English-speaking guide handles the long drive, while an app offers audio information in 16 languages. Expect wildlife, cold coastal air, and a late return.

“Great trip, Simon is great driver, guide, and entertainer 😆😆”

Check availability →Read our full review

Dubai: Bedouin Camp, Dune Safari, Falcon Show & BBQ Dinner - Sandboarding and the sunset pause
BBQ, Birdwatching Tours, Dining Experiences, Dinner Experiences, Dubai Birdwatching Tours, Falconry & Birds of Prey, Safari, Show, Tour Reviews, UAE Birdwatching Tours

Dubai: Bedouin Camp, Dune Safari, Falcon Show & BBQ Dinner

13.Bedouin Camp, Dune Safari, Falcon Show & BBQ Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,186 reviews · 6 - 6.5 hours · from $80

You’ll spend 6 to 6.5 hours with an English, Arabic, or Hindi-speaking guide, riding 4x4s across Dubai’s dunes, sandboarding, watching a falcon display, and reaching a Bedouin-style camp for camel rides, henna, shisha, buffet BBQ, and live shows. Pickup covers Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman.

“Everything its so good and Enjoy. The service, food and the guide driver. But the time was soo fast. Maybe more time.”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Melbourne: Puffing Billy and Penguin Parade Combo Tour - Meeting at The Hotel Windsor
Australia Birdwatching Tours, Birdwatching Tours, Melbourne Birdwatching Tours, Penguin Tours, Penguin Tours in Australia, Penguin Tours in Melbourne, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Melbourne: Puffing Billy and Penguin Parade Combo Tour

14.Puffing Billy and Penguin Parade Combo Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,184 reviews · 12 hours · from $165

Spend 12 hours with an English-speaking guide such as Lorraine, Matt, Terry, or Nathan, pairing a Puffing Billy steam-train ride with the Nobbies and Phillip Island Penguin Parade. Transport, train fare, and parade entry are included, while lunch and dinner are at your own cost.

“I joined a one-day tour to Puffing Billy and the Penguin Parade, and it was truly amazing! Our guide, Lorraine, was the heart of the trip—warm, energetic, and so knowledgeable. From the very start, she shared fun stories and insights, making the whole ride lively and engaging. Even though the weather wasn’t perfect, Lorraine made sure we didn’t miss a thing. She helped us spot wild kangaroos and wallabies, and the highlight was at the Nobbies, where we saw tiny penguin chicks in their burrows—absolutely magical! Riding the historic Puffing Billy through the misty Dandenong Ranges felt like stepping back in time, with eucalyptus trees surrounding the railway. Ending the…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Penguin Parade: General Viewing Ticket - Arrive before sunset for the Visitor Centre
Australia Birdwatching Tours, Birdwatching Tours, Penguin Tours, Penguin Tours in Australia, Tickets, Tour Reviews

Penguin Parade: General Viewing Ticket

15.Penguin Parade: General Viewing Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,069 reviews · 2 hours · from $22Best value

Watch Little penguins cross Summerlands Beach after sunset, then follow them along the boardwalk toward their burrows. General Viewing includes tiered grandstand seating, the Visitor Centre, café access, and wheelchair-friendly facilities. Bring warm clothes, and leave all cameras and phones switched off.

“Make meals available after the Penquin Parade, not everyone wants dinner before 5pm.”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Birdwatching Tours

★ 5.0CAPE OF GOOD HOPE AND PENGUINS PRIVATE FULL DAY.7 reviews
★ 5.0Cape Agulhas and Stony Point Penguin TourFrom $2495 reviews
★ 3.1Boulders Penguin Colony Prebooked Entry TicketFrom $2910 reviews
★ 5.0Full-Day Private Tour with Cape Point & PenguinsFrom $20222 reviews
★ 4.6Halfday African Penguin tourFrom $7727 reviews
★ 5.0Cape Point Cape of Good Hope, Penguins Private Half day TourFrom $1655 reviews
★ 5.0cape point and penguin ,muizenberg, bookappFrom $369 reviews
★ 5.0Cape Point & Penguins: Private Cape Peninsula Tour.From $2513 reviews
★ 4.9Cape Peninsula & Penguins Beach Half Day Tour from Cape TownFrom $368 reviews
★ 5.0Private Tour:Cape Peninsula &Penguin Beach, Cape Point &moreFrom $3083 reviews
★ 4.6Cape of Good Hope and Penguins Private Tour with Entry FeesFrom $2367 reviews
★ 4.7Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Small Group Tour from Cape TownFrom $464 reviews
★ 4.9Cape of Good Hope: Sightseeing and African Penguins TourFrom $4428 reviews
★ 5.0Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Private TourFrom $1755 reviews
★ 5.0Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Private TourFrom $914 reviews

Keep browsing

Penguin Tours141Puffin Tours28Flamingo Tours37Falconry & Birds of Prey32Bird Sanctuaries & Bird Parks33Private Birdwatching Tours61
Scroll to Top

Explore birdwatching tours

Pick a bird, a colony or a coastline.

By bird

Penguin ToursPuffin ToursFlamingo ToursFalconry & Birds of PreyPelicans & Seabirds

The big colonies

Boulders BeachPhillip IslandIcelandic PuffinsPatagoniaCape Kidnappers

How you go

Private Birding DaysBirding Boat TripsBird Parks & SanctuariesEvery Birding TourAll Reviews

Where

South AfricaAustraliaIcelandthe USAMexico