Birdwatching · TOURS

The 15 Best Guided Birding Days in the World

235 tours  ·  from $17 a head

Everything with a guide, a boat or a minibus attached, in one list. The 15 below are the trips worth a whole day, priced and timed, with the rest of the catalogue underneath.

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 $34Best value

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

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

5.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

6.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

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

7.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

Melbourne: Puffing Billy & Healesville Sanctuary Scenic Tour - Leaving Melbourne in a small guided group
Australia Birdwatching Tours, Melbourne Birdwatching Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Melbourne: Puffing Billy & Healesville Sanctuary Scenic Tour

8.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.”

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

9.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

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

10.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

Early-Bird Tasting Tour of Pike Place Market - What you actually eat during the two hours
Food & Drink, Markets, Shopping Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, USA Birdwatching Tours

Early-Bird Tasting Tour of Pike Place Market

11.Early-Bird Tasting Tour of Pike Place Market

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,154 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $76

Start at 9:00 am with a licensed local guide and a group of no more than 12. Taste smoked salmon, produce, pastries, cheddar biscuits, chocolate, and other market foods while learning Pike Place history. Guides such as Lucky, Chip, Bob, Woody, and Jerry also share ideas for where to eat and shop afterward.

“We arrived at the Fish market 45 minutes before the tour. However, there were no instructions as to where to park. Online, it stated there was valet parking. There was no valet parking. It took us 20 minutes to find parking. When we got to the fish market and asked at the information desk where the meeting place was, we found out that we needed to take the elevator from floor 6 to ground and then walk 3 blocks to the meeting location. We arrived 9 minutes late and the tour had already left. We have used Viator for years, and this was the first time we have had issues.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cape Town: Table Mountain, Cape Point, Penguins Group Tour - Bo-Kaap starts the morning with color and character
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: Table Mountain, Cape Point, & Penguins Group Tour

12.Table Mountain, Cape Point, & Penguins Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,063 reviews · from $62

Spend a full day touring Cape Town’s biggest sights by air-conditioned bus, from Table Mountain and Chapman's Peak to Cape Point, Boulders Beach penguins, Muizenberg, and Bo-Kaap. Guides such as Nuria, Armando, Gabriel, and Albert bring local history, humor, and flexible planning when weather changes.

“We were out and about for 10 hours and we saw a lot in that time. The drive down the coast gave us a beautiful insight in to Cape Town and the surrounding area. We had a lovey stop for lunch at Seaforth in Simons Town after we had visited the penguins at Boulders Beach. I loved our first stop which was Table Mountain.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Small Group Tour from Cape Town - Bo-Kaap’s painted streets set the tone
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 of Good Hope & Penguins Small Group Tour from Cape Town

13.Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Small Group Tour from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,054 reviews · from $44

Spend 8 to 9 hours touring the Cape Peninsula by minibus, with stops at Bo-Kaap, Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak, Boulders Beach, Cape Point, and St James Beach. Guides such as James, Gordon, Lueya, and Sylvie are praised for clear storytelling, but entrance fees, lunch, and optional boat trips cost extra.

“Places you visit are nice. However, the organization aspect is very lacking, despite small group there was 0 incentive to cater to the specifics of the group, interaction with the guide was minimal, most places he actually stayed in the car and jRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Boat Tour - Lundey and Akurey, two close-up bird-watching stops
Birdwatching Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Iceland Birdwatching Tours, Puffin Tours, Puffin Tours in Iceland, Puffin Tours in Reykjavik, Reykjavik Birdwatching Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Boat Tour

14.Puffin Watching Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,052 reviews · 1 hour · from $64

Join Special Tours Iceland at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour for a one-hour ride aboard the wooden Puffin Express, Old Skuli. Cruise to Lundey and Akurey with an English-speaking guide, binoculars, and a stated 100% puffin-sighting guarantee. Guides such as Patrick and Joe add humor and bird facts.

“Our trip was excellent - our guide Vera was very informative and interesting. Andreas our Captain was very knowledgeable and helped me onto and off the boat very carefully and attentively for which I was very grateful as I have accessible problems. A great experience thank you so much.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Húsavík: Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour - From Hafnarstétt 11 to the open bay
Birdwatching Tours, Iceland Birdwatching Tours, Puffin Tours, Puffin Tours in Iceland, Tour Reviews, Tours, Whale Watching

Húsavík: Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour

15.Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 979 reviews · 2 hours · from $198

Join a guide and captain aboard a 12-seat RIB for two hours on Skjálfandi Bay. From April 15 to August 20, the route includes Lundey, or Puffin Island. Guides such as Austin, Iñaki, and Ignacio add wildlife insight, while the fast boat helps you reach whale sightings quickly.

“Amazing tour with very knowledgable staff! I remember Robert the boat drivers name but spacing the tall guides name from spain- both were AMAZING. Made sure we saw some whales and were equally as excited about it. Amazing guide!! Im sorry i dont remember your name but you were awesome!!❤️❤️”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Tours

★ 5.0Cape Agulhas and Stony Point Penguin TourFrom $2495 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 & 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
★ 3.7Cape of Good Hope Penguins Seals & Chapmans Peak Shared TourFrom $459 reviews
★ 4.8Cape of Good Hope & Penguins Shared TourFrom $353 reviews
★ 5.0Cape of Good Hope and Penguins Full-Day Private TourFrom $2113 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