Birdwatching · TOUR REVIEWS

The 15 Best Birdwatching Tours in the World

453 tours  ·  from $8 a head

A boardwalk through a penguin colony, a hull rolling under a raft of puffins, a guide who heard it before you saw it. The 15 below are the birding days that earn a slot in a trip, priced and timed, with the full catalogue underneath.

Penguin Parade, & Wildlife Encounters Eco Tour from Melbourne - Moonlit Sanctuary: the strongest daytime stop
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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.!”

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Cape Town: Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Day Tour with Pickup - Pickup, the Sprinter, and the shape of the day
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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.”

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Cape Point and Boulder's Penguins Full Day Tour - Bo-Kaap and the first look at Cape Town
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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!”

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Cape of Good Hope & Boulder Penguins Full-Day Tour from Cape Town - Bo-Kaap and the Atlantic suburbs
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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!”

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From Melbourne: Penguin Parade, Koalas & Kangaroos - Brighton Beach Boxes and the first coastal views
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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.”

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Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point Small Group Tour Cape Town - Table Mountain and the cable car question
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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.”

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Cape Town Tour: Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point+Pickup - Table Mountain delivers the day’s biggest view
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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.”

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Maspalomas: Palmitos Park Ticket with Dolphin and Bird Shows - Start with the dolphinarium
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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”

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High Red Dunes with Camel Ride, Sandboarding, Falcon Show and VIP BBQ Dinner - Lahbab’s red dunes and the 4x4 ride
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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!”

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From Melbourne: Phillip Island Penguin Parade & Koalas Tour - From central Melbourne to Phillip Island
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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!”

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Húsavík: Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins by Speedboat - The 40-minute start in Húsavík
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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”

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Melbourne: Puffing Billy & Healesville Sanctuary Scenic Tour - Leaving Melbourne in a small guided group
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Melbourne: Puffing Billy & Healesville Sanctuary Scenic Tour

12.Puffing Billy & Healesville Sanctuary Scenic Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,220 reviews · 8 hours · from $162

Spend eight hours beyond Melbourne with an English-speaking guide, riding Puffing Billy from Belgrave to Emerald Lake, visiting Healesville Sanctuary, and sampling chocolate in the Yarra Valley. Guides such as Peter, Mattie, David, and Emily are known for clear commentary and attentive care.

“Matty the tour guide was excellent and went out of his way to make the tour extremely interesting and informative. The whole trip was fantastic. My only complaint is that we ordered lunch at Puffing Billy cafe and it took over 25 mins to arrive so we had only a few minutes to eat lunch before the tour left for the next stop so maybe a mention to others either order a takeaway or take your own packed lunch as there are lovely picnic spots.”

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From Melbourne: Phillip Island Penguin Parade Eco Tour - Moonlit Sanctuary: the most hands-on stop
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From Melbourne: Phillip Island Penguin Parade Eco Tour

13.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 😆😆”

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Puffing Billy Railway: Heritage Steam Train Journey - From Belgrave into the Dandenong Ranges
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Puffing Billy Railway: Heritage Steam Train Journey

14.Puffing Billy Railway: Heritage Steam Train Journey

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,195 reviews · 2 - 4 hours · from $29

Ride Puffing Billy, Australia’s 1900 steam railway, through the Dandenong Ranges from Belgrave or Lakeside. Choose a journey lasting about 2 to 4 hours, learn from friendly volunteers, and enjoy Emerald Lake Park. Sitting on the carriage sill is allowed only between Belgrave and Lakeside.

“We had a wonderful time riding on Puffing Billy. The scenery in the Dandenong region is stunning. The volunteer staff were very efficient and great fun. I travelled with my adult granddaughters and we all had an amazing time. At the age of 74 it’s the first time I have travelled on a train, sitting with my legs dangling over the side!”

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Dubai: Bedouin Camp, Dune Safari, Falcon Show & BBQ Dinner - Sandboarding and the sunset pause
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Dubai: Bedouin Camp, Dune Safari, Falcon Show & BBQ Dinner

15.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.”

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New in Tour Reviews

★ 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

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