Hope I'm posting in the right place here. I fancy treating myself to a guided package somewhere outside Europe as it's over 20 years since I've been on a no-hassle birding 'all-inclusive'! I'm tempted by Morocco as I've never been to Africa, yet being within the West Pal I'll still be familiar with many species there. I had a budget of £1,000 but that doesn't seem to go that far these days so might have to up it slightly. Can anyone reccommend a good tour/ tour company? I don't mind paying for flights separately but would want everything else included. Any ideas?
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cheapest guided bird tour package outside Europe? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Jhanlon
- Start date
Surreybirder
Ken Noble
I know this is not what you are asking but have you considered a 'package holiday' to Cyprus? You could do it comfortably within £1,000 and it is so easy to get around there - lots of people speak English and there are some good guide books. It's in the Western Pal, too, though it's obviously not Africa (might even be Asia, geographically?). During migration there are countless birds to see. I've never been able to afford a 'bird tour' but I've had some wonderful hols in Cyprus.
Just a thought,
Ken
Just a thought,
Ken
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mountain man
Guest
Evenin' Mr Hanlon, have a browse through Naturetrek's budget birding tours:
http://www.naturetrek.co.uk/wildlife-holidays/wildlife-holidays.asp?ID=7
I think they're all around £1,500. This one to Kazakhstan looks pretty splendid:
http://www.naturetrek.co.uk/wildlife-holidays-in-asia/detailsdb.asp?ID=190
http://www.naturetrek.co.uk/wildlife-holidays/wildlife-holidays.asp?ID=7
I think they're all around £1,500. This one to Kazakhstan looks pretty splendid:
http://www.naturetrek.co.uk/wildlife-holidays-in-asia/detailsdb.asp?ID=190
cheers Monsieur McKinney - meant to ask you the other day when we were talking BBi. Have you been with Naturetrek yourself? Good experiences?
Richard Klim
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...except the 'budget' Kazakhstan tour is now £1,895 minimum (almost double the stated budget) - no longer cheap for a 1-week trip.
Unfortunately prices for Kazakhstan tours have spiralled in the last few years (despite Borat's unhelpful PR). No more £995 bargains. :C
Richard
mountain man
Guest
Mornin' James, I haven't been with them myself (yet) but I know someone who does one of these 'budget' tours every year with them. He raves about them. I don't think they quote prices on their website (?) but I've got a brochure with 2010 prices in and they seem decent. Perhaps you'd be better going as far away from Europe as possible, thus fooling you into it seeming like better value!
They do, just click on the tour you're interested in.
N.b. the price [almost always] includes flights from London.
Steve Lister
Senior Birder, ex County Recorder, Garden Moths.
Birdfinders is the company which offer the cheapest prices for tours to most destinations.
Morocco, February 17-28 (ten full birding days) 2010 all inclusive is £1350. I did the trip in 2007 and it was very good, and since then they have improved the logistics by changing the return airport from Casablanca to Marrakech. The itinerary covers all the specialities of Morocco except for the far south (what was Western Sahara).
Naturetrek 'bargains' are not such good value as they were when they first started. In my opinion. But for some long-haul destinatons they are worth considering, especially if you have the time to do two back-to-back in places like Ecuador.
Steve
Morocco, February 17-28 (ten full birding days) 2010 all inclusive is £1350. I did the trip in 2007 and it was very good, and since then they have improved the logistics by changing the return airport from Casablanca to Marrakech. The itinerary covers all the specialities of Morocco except for the far south (what was Western Sahara).
Naturetrek 'bargains' are not such good value as they were when they first started. In my opinion. But for some long-haul destinatons they are worth considering, especially if you have the time to do two back-to-back in places like Ecuador.
Steve
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Thanks for all this guys. I did look at Birdfinders and in my brief search that one was the cheapest Morocco trip I could find. I think if I went to Cyprus I'd do it myself whereas this trip is a one-off treat and I don't mind paying out for a full tour. Also I've been to Greece twice, once to the mainland on a birding holiday and once to Zante on a non-birding one! I guess I was kind of hoping there might be a 7 day Morocco trip for less but if there is I haven't found it yet.
cheers
James
Sadly the Birdfinders tour is full for next year.
Wingspan Birdtours based in Andalucia seem quite reasonable and offer a similar holiday, led by Bob Buckler.
http://www.wingspanbirdtours.com/ten-daytour-southernmorocco.asp
Has anyone been with them?
MSA
I may be relaxed but I'm not drunk....
Depending upon your definition of "guided tour package" if you are happy to book the flight and the tour separately I reckon you could get quite an interesting holiday for less than £1k. Just out of interest, I googled flights to The Gambia; there seem to be several return options for about £200 from Gatwick or Manchester. You could then book with a local company (this month's Birding World has an ad for one - http://www.birding.footstepsgambia.com - £575 full board; might be worth seeing if anyone here has experience of using this co) or sort out a package with a local guide - Steve G would help you here, I'm sure!
guided bird tour
Have you considered Eilat (Israel)?It's the best country i've birded, although my 6 weeks in China comes a close 2nd.You should see many birds that are rare/scarce at home added to superb raptor migration.You could easily do it unguided.All the info is there on the net,a hire car is imperative,El Dan was by far the cheapest last time i was there.
Have you considered Eilat (Israel)?It's the best country i've birded, although my 6 weeks in China comes a close 2nd.You should see many birds that are rare/scarce at home added to superb raptor migration.You could easily do it unguided.All the info is there on the net,a hire car is imperative,El Dan was by far the cheapest last time i was there.
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
My wife (then girlfriend) had a very enjoyable trip to this place
http://www.serradostucanos.com.br/
a few years back. I just e-mailed our requirements, Andy, the owner, made his suggestions, and we went for a fortnight, did a bunch of excursions, and saw some great stuff. Brief account here
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=43794
Don't remember the cost off hand, but it was pretty competetive compared to what the tour companies were offering. Ok, so we probably didn't score such a big species list, but I still felt it was very good value for money.
Look here for an off the shelf package without flights they offer
http://www.birderstravel.com/tours/view/19/index.html
Hope you have a blast wherever you end up going.
James
http://www.serradostucanos.com.br/
a few years back. I just e-mailed our requirements, Andy, the owner, made his suggestions, and we went for a fortnight, did a bunch of excursions, and saw some great stuff. Brief account here
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=43794
Don't remember the cost off hand, but it was pretty competetive compared to what the tour companies were offering. Ok, so we probably didn't score such a big species list, but I still felt it was very good value for money.
Look here for an off the shelf package without flights they offer
http://www.birderstravel.com/tours/view/19/index.html
Hope you have a blast wherever you end up going.
James
Serra dos Tucanos is also easily combined with a stay at Regua, where guiding is also available.
http://www.regua.co.uk/
It's probably cheaper to organise visits to these places yourself than through a tour company, although the prices have tended to increase quite a bit in recent years. Both places are still excellent value though - you'd probably see well over 300 species in a couple of weeks.
Steve Babbs
Well-known member
I would say Morocco would be a unusual choice as it's so easy to do yourself. I'm not the tour group type but I have a friend who has been on several naturetrek bargain tours and seems pretty happy with them. Although as already said there don't seem to so many real cheapies around.
