15 Apr 2027 - 28 Apr 2027 (14 days)
EUR3,695 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth
Tour Leader: Mark Beevers
Tour price (Per person): EUR3,695 * USD4,339 * GBP3,184 * AUD6,643
Single Supplement: EUR370 * USD434 * GBP319 * AUD665
30 Apr 2027 - 13 May 2027 (14 days)
EUR3,695 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth
Tour Leader: Julian Parsons
Tour price (Per person): EUR3,695 * USD4,339 * GBP3,184 * AUD6,643
Single Supplement: EUR370 * USD434 * GBP319 * AUD665
Morocco, with its breathtaking scenery, rich history, mouthwatering cuisine, and superb birding, is an essential destination for both birders and travellers. As a former French protectorate, it stands out among Muslim countries for its warm hospitality, strong cultural identity, and relatively relaxed approach to tourism. The country’s diverse geography supports a wide range of habitats—from the snow-capped Atlas Mountains and red sand dunes of the Sahara to lowland woodlands, wetlands, and productive agricultural regions.
Bustling cities and towns provide a cultural feast, where mud-walled buildings flank winding souks brimming with handmade carpets, crafts, and aromatic spices. Birders are equally rewarded: Morocco is home to a remarkable range of North African endemics and regional specialties, including Moussier’s Redstart, Tristram’s Warbler, Barbary Partridge, Levaillant’s Woodpecker, Fulvous Babbler, Maghreb Magpie, Atlas Wheatear, African Blue Tit, and Atlas Pied Flycatcher. One of the tour’s primary targets is the Endangered Northern Bald Ibis, now surviving in just two wild colonies in Morocco and a reintroduced population in Spain.
Our journey begins in Casablanca, exploring the productive scrub, wetlands, and fields of Zaër, Sidi Boughaba, Larache, and Merja Zerga, where we search for specialties such as Great Bustard, Double-spurred Francolin and White-headed Duck.
From there, we head inland to the scenic Middle Atlas around Ifrane and Midelt, where we target Atlas Pied Flycatcher, Levaillant’s Woodpecker, Houbara Bustard, Moussier’s Redstart, and the elusive Dupont’s Lark. Entering the spectacular Sahara Desert near Merzouga and Erg Chebbi, we seek desert specialists including Desert Sparrow, African Desert Warbler, Egyptian Nightjar, Cream-colored Courser, Pharaoh Eagle-Owl, and up to four species of sandgrouse.
Continuing west, we bird the famed Tagdilt Track, set against the backdrop of snowcapped High Atlas, in search of desert larks (including Thick-billed and Greater Hoopoe-Lark), wheatears, Trumpeter Finch, and more sandgrouse.
Reaching the Atlantic coast, we visit Agadir and Oued Massa, key areas for the Northern Bald Ibis, as well as the range-restricted Marbled Duck and a variety of wetland and estuarine species. The tour concludes in the High Atlas Mountains at Oukaimeden, where we’ll search for high-altitude species such as (African) Crimson-winged Finch, Alpine and Red-billed Chough, as well as further opportunities for Levaillant’s Woodpecker and Moussier’s Redstart.
Northern Bald Ibis; Atlas Pied Flycatcher; Double-spurred Spurfowl; Levaillant’s Woodpecker; Fulvous Babbler; Moussier’s Redstart; African Blue Tit; Maghreb Magpie; (Maghreb) Tawny 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; Greater Hoopoe-Lark; Temminck’s, Calandra, Thick-billed, Desert, (Maghreb) Crested & Dupont’s Larks; (African) Crimson-winged Finch; Tristram’s, Spectacled, Streaked Scrub & African Desert Warblers; Desert, Red-rumped & Atlas Wheatears; Desert Sparrow; (Western) Purple Swamphen; Marsh Owl; European Turtle Dove; Common Cuckoo; Eurasian Golden Oriole; Common Nightingale; chances for Great & Houbara Bustards.
Gundi; Barbary Macaque; Fat Sand Rat; Red Fox; Barbary Ground Squirrel; chances for Barbary Sheep.
mountains, woodlands, coastal lagoons, open ocean, wadis, stony & sandy deserts, wetlands
temperate and pleasant, cold in high mountains
8 with 1 Rockjumper Leader / 9 - 12 with 2 Rockjumper Leaders
MODERATE TO CHALLENGING: This tour requires a good level of fitness, stamina, and overall health. It’s best suited for experienced birders who are comfortable with a more active itinerary. Please note that it may not be ideal for avid photographers, new birders, or those with mobility or health concerns.
Moderate to easy. Suitable for most birding / wildlife interest levels.
Comfortable.
Fairly easy. Most species provide good visuals in open conditions, but several target species may require repeat efforts. Others are low density (ie: Great Bustard)
175 – 210
Atlas Mountains, medieval cities, Erg Chebbi dunes, great food
Good to very good. Lighting can be challenging. No dedicated hides or feeders.
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.
Another wonderful Rockjumper tour. My sister and I were happy to reconnect with Glen Valentine, with whom we'd been on 2 tours before, and enjoyed meeting Mark Beevers who certainly knows the ins and outs of Morocco birding as well as anyone could. Both guides are excellent birders, of course, and very hard working, making sure we all had the best chance possible of seeing every bird. For the first time ever, though I always try to keep my expectations realistic, I came away with 30 of my 25 targets! This was a great trip, I would gladly travel with either Glen or Mark again. I should mention the food and accommodations were terrific too!
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.
The guides, Glen Valentine and Mark Beevers, were excellent and got us on nearly all the target birds for the trip. Their knowledge of North African birds added to the enjoyment. Both the touring van and hotel accommodations were very comfortable, making the tour of Morocco delightful. A tour not to be missed.
Another wonderful Rockjumper tour. My sister and I were happy to reconnect with Glen Valentine, with whom we'd been on 2 tours before, and enjoyed meeting Mark Beevers who certainly knows the ins and outs of Morocco birding as well as anyone could. Both guides are excellent birders, of course, and very hard working, making sure we all had the best chance possible of seeing every bird. For the first time ever, though I always try to keep my expectations realistic, I came away with 30 of my 25 targets! This was a great trip, I would gladly travel with either Glen or Mark again. I should mention the food and accommodations were terrific too!
Morocco - Atlas to Sahara in Spring 2025 - May 2025
Morocco - Atlas to Sahara in Spring II 2024 - May 2024
Morocco - Atlas to Sahara in Spring I 2024 - May 2024
Morocco - Hoffman 2024 - March 2024
Morocco - Atlas to Sahara in Winter (Small Group) 2023 - November 2023
Morocco - Atlas to Sahara in Spring 2023 - May 2023
Morocco - Atlas to Sahara in Spring 2022 - May 2022
Morocco - Atlas to Sahara 2020 - February 2020
Morocco - Atlas to Sahara in Spring 2018 - May 2018
Morocco - Atlas to Sahara 2018 - February 2018
Morocco - Minkoff 2017 - April 2017
Morocco - Atlas to Sahara II 2017 - February 2017
Morocco - Chamberlain 2016 - April 2016
Morocco - Atlas to Sahara 2016 - February 2016
Morocco - Glendinning North & East 2015 - March 2015
Morocco - Atlas to Sahara I 2015 - February 2015
Morocco - Atlas to Sahara 2014 - February 2014
Morocco - Atlas to Sahara 2013 - February 2013
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