Morocco - Atlas to Sahara in Spring 2025

01 May 2025 - 13 May 2025 (13 days)

EUR3,395 - 1 Space Available on this guaranteed departure

Book Now

client-img

Tour Leader: David Hoddinott

client-img

Tour Leader: Robert Williams

Tour price (Per person): EUR3,395 * USD3,554 * GBP2,805 * AUD5,585

Single Supplement: EUR350 * USD366 * GBP289 * AUD576

Morocco - Atlas to Sahara in Spring 2026

30 Apr 2026 - 12 May 2026 (13 days)

EUR3,395 - Spaces Available

Book Now

client-img

Tour Leader: Stephan Lorenz

client-img

Tour Leader: Quinton Paul Josop

Tour price (Per person): EUR3,395 * USD3,554 * GBP2,805 * AUD5,585

Single Supplement: EUR370 * USD387 * GBP306 * AUD609

Morocco, with its breathtaking scenery, delicious food, rich history and fabulous birding, is an essential destination for all birders and travellers. As an independent country after French rule, few Muslim countries offer the combination of such a friendly atmosphere complimented with strong cultural beliefs and few restrictions on visitors. Interesting habitats are found in the various geo-physical regions and vary from the high snow-covered Atlas Mountains to low lying woodlands and the red sand dunes of the great Sahara Desert. Cities and towns bustle with activity, where mud-walled buildings line souks (long narrow alleyways) that are filled with bazaars selling carpets and crafts, and laden with exotic spices.

What’s more, Morocco is also home to numerous special birds and several North African endemics including the beautiful Moussier’s Redstart, Tristram’s Warbler, Barbary Partridge, Levaillant’s Woodpecker, Fulvous Babbler, African Blue Tit and African Crimson-winged Finch. Our main target however is one of the world’s most endangered birds, the Northern Bald Ibis or Waldrapp, now restricted to only two colonies in Morocco and a recently introduced breeding colony in Spain. We take a pelagic trip off Agadir to see the Critically Endangered Balearic Shearwater before heading into central and eastern Morocco. Our time on the stony gravel plains and sandy deserts are liable to be rewarded with Pharaoh Eagle-Owl, dainty Cream-colored Courser, up to four species of sandgrouse, Desert Sparrow, African Desert Warbler, and numerous larks, including Temminck’s, Maghreb, Thick-billed and the Western Palearctic’s most difficult species Dupont’s. Heading further north, we stop in the pine and oak woodlands near Ifrane for Atlas Pied Flycatcher before continuing onwards to wetlands near Casablanca for the rare White-headed Duck and recently split Western Swamphen. We compete our tour with an early morning trip in search of Double-spurred Francolin.

 

Top Birds

Northern Bald Ibis; Atlas Pied Flycatcher; Double-spurred Spurfowl; Balearic Shearwater; Maghreb Owl; Marbled & White-headed Ducks; Barbary Partridge; Audouin’s Gull; Crowned, Spotted, Pin-tailed & Black-bellied Sandgrouse; Cream-colored Courser; Pharoah Eagle-Owl; Red-necked & chances for Egyptian Nightjars; Levaillant’s Woodpecker; Fulvous Babbler; Greater Hoopoe-Lark; Temminck’s, Calandra, Thick-billed, Desert & Dupont’s Larks; Moussier’s Redstart; Maghreb Magpie; African Blue Tit; African Crimson-winged Finch; Tristram’s, Spectacled, Streaked Scrub & African Desert Warblers; Red-rumped & Atlas Wheatears; Desert Sparrow; Western Swamphen; Marsh Owl; European Turtle Dove; Common Cuckoo; Eurasian Golden Oriole; Common Nightingale; chances for Houbara Bustard.

Top Mammals

Gundi; Barbary Macaque; Fat Sand Rat; Red Fox; chances for Barbary Sheep.

Habitats Covered

mountains, woodlands, coastal lagoons, open ocean, wadis, stony & sandy deserts, wetlands

Expected Climate

temperate and pleasant, cold in high mountains

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper Leader / 9 -12 with 2 Rockjumper Leaders

Tour Pace & Walking

Moderate. Suitable for most birding / wildlife interest levels.

Accommodation

Comfortable.

Ease of Birding

Moderate. Most species provide good visuals in open conditions, but several target species that may require repeat efforts.

Number of Species Expected

175 – 210

Other Attractions

Atlas Mountains, medieval cities, Erg Chebbi dunes, great food

Photographic Opportunities

Good to very good. Lighting can be challenging. No dedicated hides or feeders

What our clients say about us

David Hoddinott
LE, Morocco 2024

Birding for the first time with the legendary David Hoddinott exceeded my very high expectations: he was phenomenal in every way! And having Dusan join us with the larger group was a double bonus! He was great!! Together they made a fantastic team!! And they delivered: with David leading the way, I spotted my elusive target bird, the Saharan Scrub Warbler (the LAST bird family in my 14-year Quest!!), in the first 10-15 minutes of our search!! David said it was the fastest he had ever found it! :-) Our lodging was lovely the Moroccan food really good, and the group the best group most of us agreed we had ever had on any tour.

Mark Beevers
TT, Morocco

Mark’s depth and breadth of knowledge of European birds is amazing, but I was also impressed with his ability to adapt to changing local conditions. One particular incident, where a rarity showed up which required quickly redirecting the group, was handled directly and skillfully. Plus, as a Yank, I enjoyed his English humour.

Clayton Burne
TT, Morocco

As would be expected, Clayton is a skilled and amazingly knowledgeable guide, and a fun person who I enjoyed talking with. I particularly appreciated his patience and understanding in helping me deal with a personal issue that arose.

Mark Beevers
SP, Morocco

This tour (Morocco) more than met my expectations, which I must admit were rather lukewarm. I knew there were not a lot of new birds for me but I signed up for the tour because Mark kept telling me how wonderful Morocco was. Well Mark, you were certainly right. The birds were fantastic, the scenery spectacular, the food way too good, and the geology unbelievable. I'm actually taking an online geology course because of this tour. This tour is truly a special one and I will spread the word to all my birding contacts. Thanks again for such a special experience.

Mark Beevers
MN, Morocco

Morocco was a fun and thoroughly enjoyable tour. How could it not be with David Hoddinott and Mark Beevers as leaders!!! They just make me want to go on more Rockjumper tours to see as many birds as I can. You have no idea how appreciative I am of them. They are great and generous and fun and so focused. I love that. They have an intensity that makes birding fun.

  • Your details

  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • Contact permission

    We would love to send you Newsletters (twice yearly).via Type a message, Promotions/Discounts (weekly), Blog Articles/Image of the Month (monthly) and other content that we think you would find interesting. If you are happy with this then please select your preferences below. If you would like to unsubscribe from previous subscriptions, or leave our mailing list entirely, then please do so by visiting the Preference Centre link at the bottom of these emails.

Route Map

Tour Route Map

English