Manavgat Fish Owl Tour: A Unique Birdwatching Experience

Price: € 200
( $ 206 / € 200 / ₺ 7,462 / £ 169)

Explore Manavgat’s unique wildlife and observe the elusive Brown Fish Owl. Enjoy expert-led dawn boat tours or night lantern walks for a memorable experience.

Select Tour Date & Participants

Prices may vary periodically

Activity Features:

  • Departure Location: Side
  • Available Days:
    Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
  • Total Duration (Including Transfers): 4 Hours
  • Guiding & Support: English , Turkish
  • Booking Confirmation: Immediate Approval.
  • Voucher Type: Both Printed and Mobile Accepted.
  • Online Booking: Quick, Easy, and Secure.
  • Cancellation policy: Flexible
  • Fast-Track Entry: No Waiting in Line.
  • Tour ID: 33

Top Reasons to Choose This Tour:

  • Observe the rare Brown Fish Owl in its natural habitat near Manavgat.
  • Choose between early morning boat tours or nighttime lantern walks.
  • Expert guides ensure ethical and successful birdwatching experiences.
  • Tour locations vary seasonally based on owl behavior and conditions.
  • A unique opportunity to witness one of Europe’s rarest bird species.

What to Expect:

Discover the Rare Brown Fish Owl Near Manavgat

The Brown Fish Owl is among Europe’s rarest bird species, with its only population in the region found in Turkey. Known for its elusive nature and unique habitat, the owl is considered endangered on a European scale. Since 2011, Vigo Tours has been organizing exclusive tours for bird watchers, offering a remarkable opportunity to observe these majestic creatures in their natural environment.

Tour Highlights:

  • Natural Habitat Exploration: Witness the Brown Fish Owls in the pristine surroundings of Antalya, Manavgat, and Akseki under the guidance of experts.
  • Flexible Observation Options: Choose between dawn boat trips on a tranquil lake or night walks using torchlight.
  • Seasonal Lake Observation: Observe on the lake between April and June.
  • Nighttime Mountain Observation: Watch the owls at night using torchlight.
  • Expert Guidance: Tours are led by experienced guides who have been following Brown Fish Owls for years and ensure all required permits are secured.
  • Silence and Care: Observers must maintain quiet and avoid sudden movements, as owls are sensitive to sound and light.

⚠️ Important Note: This tour is specifically designed for bird watchers. Friends, family members, or children who are not bird enthusiasts should not join.

Tour Details:

  • Duration: 5 hours (including transportation)
  • Schedule: Available on selected dates
  • Activity Level: Moderate (Those with walking difficulties may wait in the vehicle.)
  • Photography Opportunities: Dependent on participants’ camera night shooting skills.

Observing the Brown Fish Owl is a rare and unforgettable experience, requiring patience, care, and the expertise of knowledgeable guides. Vigo Tours ensures a well-organized and respectful journey into the habitat of this endangered species.

Contact Vigo Tours now to join this extraordinary experience near Manavgat!

Price included:

  • Price: Night observation requires a minimum of 2 participants
  • Price: Lake observation requires a minimum of 5 participants
  • Transfers: A maximum of 4 participants can be accommodated
  • Food and beverages
  • Hotel accommodation
  • Additional persons

Pick Up Place:

The guide can pick up and transfer a maximum of 4 people from hotels in Side and the surrounding area using his own vehicle. If there are more than 4 participants, they will need to use their own vehicles.

Pick up Point:

The meeting point is the security entrance of the hotel. For hotels without a security entrance, the meeting point will be in front of the hotel. Observers coming from other cities will have their meeting point determined separately.

Details to know:

Discover the Brown Fish Owl Near Manavgat with Vigo Tours

Experience the rare opportunity to observe the Brown Fish Owl (Ketupa zeylonensis) in its natural habitat with expert guidance and licensed tours by Vigo Tours.

Tour Highlights:

  • Night Observation: Conducted with specialized lantern light to maximize viewing success.
  • Licensed and Permitted Tours: Operated under official permits from Türkiye Nature Conservation and National Parks authorities.
  • Boat Observation: Early morning tours on the dam lake to locate nesting sites near Manavgat.
  • Controlled Viewing Environment: No camera flashes or personal torches to minimize disturbance.
  • Expert Guidance: Experienced guides lead ethical and effective observation sessions.

⚠️ Important Notes:

  • Following the guide and maintaining silence is crucial for a successful observation.
  • Unauthorized entry into owl habitats is prohibited and can result in penalties.
  • Observation by boat on the lake starts at sunrise and concludes no later than 08:30 - 09:00.

Observation Details:

  • Night Tours: Lanterns are used for discreet observation, ensuring minimal disruption to the owls.
  • Lake Tours: Begin before sunrise and focus on one or two nesting areas, depending on initial success.
  • Photography: Flash photography is prohibited; results depend on night shooting skills.
  • Habitat: Brown Fish Owls are found in Antalya, Manavgat, and Akseki surroundings.

Why Vigo Tours?

  • Possesses an observation license for all permit-required areas.
  • Contributes to conservation through observation taxes for each participant.
  • Provides respectful and memorable wildlife encounters.

Discover the elusive Brown Fish Owl with Vigo Tours. Reserve your spot now for an unforgettable experience!

 

Additional information:

Fish Owl Observation Tour – Explore Ketupa Zeylonensis in Its Natural Habitat

Discover the majestic Brown Fish Owl (Ketupa zeylonensis) in its natural surroundings near Manavgat. Choose from two observation options: an early morning boat tour on the serene dam lake or a nighttime lantern-guided walk along a mountain stream. The tour locations are carefully selected based on seasonal conditions and the behavior of the owls, ensuring the best chance for sightings. Join this unique experience to witness one of Europe’s rarest bird species in its habitat.

 

Period & Price:

15 March 2025 / 15 December 2025 - Price

Location Night Obs.
XX
Lake Obs.
XX
Side € 200.0 € 375.0

Add-ons / Extras Price
Add. pers. night obs. € 50.0
Add. pers. lake obs. € 75.0
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Have a question?

Hello, Thank you very much for contacting us. We did 1 of our last 3 tours by boat on the lake, and 1 male adult, and a juveline were seen at the mouth of the nest (May 24). On the edge of a stream in the mountains, 2 juveniles were seen in the last 2 tours (Wednesday at 21:15 and last night at 21:45). It is difficult but not impossible to see fish owls for about 2 weeks when the chicks hatch in early May (from May 5). For 2 pairs on the lake; Their habitat was slightly damaged but they were not affected by the wildfire. They just became harder to see for a while. Now the situation appears to be back to normal. Best regards, Vigo Tours

Hello, Thank you very much for contacting us about Brown Fish owl observation. We think that when the boat tour traffic on the lake ends in 2020 due to the Corona pandemic, and thus there is no situation to disturb the fish owls, the fish owls have returned to a completely nocturnal state. In addition, boat tour traffic on the lake was very low in 2021. Currently, the fish owls in the lake are not seen during the day. A few attempts in the morning have failed. Unfortunately, there is no boat tour allowed on the lake at night, and there is no boat equipped to make a night tour on the lake anyway. In our night zodiac controls, fish owls were observed at the same known points, but extremely shy and stressed. For all these reasons, we are not doing a fish owl observation tour by boat on the lake this year. Due to this situation of the fish owls in the lake, instead of the lake, we are making a night tour for 1 pair of fish owls by a stream in the Taurus Mountains with the light of a lantern. Unfortunately, 2 failures were experienced in a total of 15 observations we made with the light of a lantern for this 1 pair of fish owls on the mountain since April. One of them was that the observing guest wanted to return, and the search for fish owls was terminated at an early hour. As you know, it is not possible to give a guarantee in bird watching, especially for rare species. We are doing our best. Sometimes it takes 3 hours to find fish owls. We think that the situation in the lake will return to normal in 2023. Best Regards, Vigo Tours
Hello, Thank you for contacting us. First of all, I must say that mid-April is the perfect time for bird watching in the Antalya region. ** The fish owls in the lake have been found again. (I guess you didn't fully read the description on the web page). Both fish owl pairs are in the same place and appear healthy but very nocturnal, probably due to the trauma of the big wild fires last year. We saw both pairs of fish owls with the night zodiac and with official permission. Boat tours on the lake cannot be done at night. ** Last year, and so far this year, when I couldn't see owls in the lake in a few observation attempts, I made my tours with a pair of fish owls by a small creek next to Akseki, at night, with the light of a lantern. I will make an observation tour to the same place again on Wednesday night. ** The owls in the lake (and those in Akseki) are currently incubating. Fish owls in the lake are still not seen in the morning. They may be more relaxed together when the chicks hatch, but that will probably be in mid-May. ** Snowcock can be seen with Demirkazık (Mr. Başar or his uncle). Same with Radde's. Both of them are not bird species of Antalya region, they are birds of high mountains. ** Bird watching tours with Vigo Tours: 1- Boat trip on the lake for fish owls (private) * Very early in the morning (5:30 - 08:30) ** 2- Full day shore bird watching + Akseki mountains and night fish owl watching with a lantern on the mountain. return to hotel 23:30 - may be earlier return according to the time to find the bird. (06:00 - 23:30) ** 3- At night, only fish owl on the mountain (19:30 - 23:30). According to the time to find the bird, there may be an early return ** Red fronted Serin is okay near Akseki but white throated robin is too early to see. From May is possible ** My available dates are: 15, 19 or 20 April ** Best regards, ** Mehmet Özcan Kilic, Birdwatching guide
Hello, Thank you for contacting us. Brown fish owls at Oymapinar lake have unfortunately been not seen since the beginning of last year. So the fish owls at Oymapinar lake were disappeared long before the big wild fire in 2021 in the area. The reasaon might be a very dry winter of 2020 and 2021. So, they left their habitats due to no water and food along their habitat. At the both spot they disappeared beginning of last year. Now we are doing searching for them at the lake. Hopefully we will find them. For fish owls Tours we do night watching with ones near a stream near Akseki by a lantern light. Last friday and yesterday we were there and 1 (mail) was seen. The female is probably is on egg. Kind regards, Vigo Tours

7 Overall Rating

(5.0)

Total: (7 Review)

7 Review Summary

Service:

(5.0)

Organization:

(5.0)

Price:

(5.0)

Security:

(5.0)

21.07.2024

Fantana Ciprian

(5.0)

FIsh Owl

I booked the Brown Fish Owl night tour for mid July. The guide was punctual and it is clear that he knows his birds. After a search of app 2.5 hours a bird (or perhaps 2 different individuals) has been spotted twice and offered good views. An amazing experience with a mythical beast. Recommended for bird afficionados.

21.07.2024

Michael Noonan

(5.0)

Fantastic trip! After a bit of work we managed great views of this wonderful bird. Well worth the price, everything very well organised

20.05.2024

Mike King

(5.0)

Brown Fish Owl night tour

Although ultimately unsuccessful we had a good evening looking for Brown Fish Owl with Mehmet. The owl had just gone missing for a few nights which was no fault of anyone. Mehmet searched with my wife and I until midnight trying very hard to find the owl for us. Even Scops Owl wasn't responding probably due to the cold. I will return soon and will use Vigo Tours again.

29.04.2024

Mark Mckeown

(5.0)

Mehmet knows his stuff and has great regard for the welfare of the Brown Fish Owl. Hello tried very hard for us to see it and we did

02.06.2023

Tom chinnick

(5.0)

Brown fish owl

Excellent This trip really did live up to expectation. The weather was not great, but my guide persevered and we got brilliant views and photographs of BFO. Extremely friendly, knowledge guide- highly recommended Thank you

16.05.2023

Gabriel Leite

(5.0)

Great guide and tour

Ótimo tour. O guia muito esforçado. Não parou até encontrarmos a coruja. Ainda paramos em outros locais e vimos mais duas espécies. Conhece muito bem a região.

09.10.2020

Yusuf Caner

(5.0)

Amazzzinng

Owls are awesome. Thanks vigotours!

)

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