Birding Southern Morocco

Tour Code: MAR01

A 10-day birdwatching tour to the deserts, oases and mountains of southern Morocco's kasbah country.

10 days from
£2,295 (Inc flights)
Land only price from
£1,995
book now

Highlights

Summary

Summary

Imagine birding in an oasis of date palms or an orchard of blossoming almond trees, surrounded by a warm desert, and beneath a clear blue sky and the spectacular snow-capped High Atlas Mountains, rising as high as the Alps. The temperature is perfect; at home it is dank and grey! This is the dramatic Kasbah country of southern Morocco and the region on which we will focus during our quest for some of northern Africa’s most exciting species. This comprehensive birding tour of southern Morocco, finely tuned over 20 years of operation, heads south from Marrakech, out into the Sahara at Merzouga before wending its way back west to Morocco’s dramatic Atlantic seaboard at Agadir.

  • The best of North Africa birding – at an unbeatable price
  • 4WD excursions into the Sahara Desert in search of Houbara Bustard, sandgrouse, Egyptian Nightjar, Desert Sparrow, and Cream-coloured Courser
  • Bald Ibis, Tristram’s Warbler, larks and wheatears galore plus many other specialities
  • A popular mix of charming hotels set against stunning, varied scenery
  • The best Moroccan back-up and bird tour driver in the business
  • Possibilities to extend your stay in bustling and colourful Marrakech

Grading

Limited walking, but a busy programme in this comprehensive birding tour.

We begin our journey with a flight to Marrakech. This old imperial capital of Morocco, surrounded by olive and palm groves, and with the towering snowy peaks of the High Atlas forming such a magnificent backdrop, has a truly wonderful atmosphere. If time permits, we will leave the Moroccan capital behind and drive into the alpine zone of the High Atlas Mountains at Oukaïmeden. Amongst beautiful mountain scenery our main target will be African Crimson-winged Finch, although we also hope to see Alpine and Red-billed Choughs, African Chaffinch, Atlas Coal Tit, Atlas Long-legged Buzzard and Atlas Horned Lark too. For those who prefer to take an afternoon flight from London, there is the option to meet at the group hotel in the evening instead.

We next take a spectacular drive south over the snowbound High Atlas mountains to Ouarzazate, a French garrison town beside a Glaoui kasbah, sandwiched between the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas mountains where we will stay for one night. From here we will drive eastwards along the Dades Valley to Boumalene Dades, where an overnight stay will enable us to explore the Dades and Todra Gorges; the former with its bizarre limestone erosions and impressive ksour (fortified villages) and kasbahs, the latter a dramatic narrow gorge whose towering pink cliffs are home to Crag Martins and Bonelli’s Eagles. By contrast, a wide and stony desert close to Boumalene may reward us with a variety of larks and sandgrouse.

We now continue our journey eastwards to Erfoud, through an increasingly desolate and barren landscape, broken only by the occasional oasis. A stay of two nights here, in this ‘gateway to the Sahara’, will allow us the chance to enjoy some of the best desert birding that Morocco has to offer. The palmeries and gardens of Erfoud are the haunt of large numbers of Common Bulbuls and a good variety of other passerines, but it is the sandy wadis and stony desert not far from the town, and the first great sand dunes of the Sahara at Merzouga, two hours to the south, that will warrant most attention. Here we will search for such elusive species as Desert Sparrow, Cream-coloured Courser and Fulvous Babbler, plus a variety of ‘desert’ larks and even sandgrouse. The ruins of Rissani, fast being consumed by the travelling sands of the Sahara, are also worth a visit, illustrating as they do a fascinating 1,000-year period of Moroccan history.

Breaking the journey in Ouarzazate, we now return westwards to Taroudant, an attractive ochre-walled town, and 16th century imperial capital of Morocco, set at the head of the fertile Sous Valley. The long drive to Taroudant will not be without interest. Thick-billed Larks, Thekla Larks, Barbary Falcons, and other pre-Saharan species may be seen on the way, whilst fine views of the High and Anti-Atlas mountains, and the historic kasbah at Taliouine, are further ingredients of a satisfying drive.

At Taroudant, from our fine hotel that nestles in the city walls, we will visit the Argana woodland and olive and citrus groves of the nearby Sous Valley. Here we may find such species as Black-winged Kite, Spotless Starling, Spanish Sparrow, and a variety of finches and warblers. In particular we will be looking for the very local Fulvous Babbler, a sought-after inhabitant of palm groves. We complete our tour with two nights in a very comfortable hotel on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, at Agadir. From this base we are within easy striking distance of the Oued Massa lagoon and Tamri, where recent Naturetrek groups have had great success locating the endangered Bald Ibis. This small wetland is one of the most rewarding birdwatching sites in Morocco, and amongst its spectacle of herons, ducks, waders, gulls, terns and raptors, we have a good chance of some less common species such as Greater Flamingo, Bald Ibis and Black-crowned Tchagra. Even some American and southern African vagrants regularly appear here!

Finally, at the end of our week of spring sunshine and avian activity, we will catch a convenient, direct flight home from Agadir.

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly Marrakech
Day 2
Ouarzazate
Day 3
Boumalne Dades
Day 4/5
Erfoud
Day 6
Ouarzazate
Day 7
Taroudant
Day 8/9
Agadir
Day 10
Agadir - Fly London
cloud_downloadDownload Full Itinerary
What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation: An interesting mix of characterful and comfortable hotels, all with private facilities.
  • Food: All included in the price.
Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Thu 20th Feb – Sat 1st Mar FULL £2,295
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£345
Thu 13th Mar – Sat 22nd Mar FULL £2,295
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£345
Thu 27th Mar – Sat 5th Apr FULL £2,295
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£345
Thu 2nd Oct – Sat 11th Oct SPACES £2,295
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£345

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Thu 19th Feb – Sat 28th Feb SPACES £2,295
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£345
Thu 12th Mar – Sat 21st Mar SPACES £2,295
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£345
Thu 26th Mar – Sat 4th Apr SPACES £2,295
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£345
Thu 1st Oct – Sat 10th Oct SPACES £2,295
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£345 
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Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists


The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.


Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours


We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.


The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.

Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:



Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection


Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.


 




Our specialist recommends...






"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."

Byron Palacios - Tour Leader




  


 


All Birdwatching Tours

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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire
Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!