Get to know the birds of the Sahara desert
Explore the birdlife of the mighty Atlas mountains
Enjoy the many landscapes and cultures of Morocco
or request a private tour
The Birding Tour of Morocco
Our Morocco birding tour starts at the interesting city of Marrakech. From here we will enjoy birding as we cross the mighty Atlas mountains and huge predesertic valleys towards the outstanding immensity of the Sahara desert. A fantastic combination of the best birding areas in Morocco, outstanding scenic views, amazing food and a bit of cultural immersion.
Tour highlights
This is a perfect tour to discover the birding specialities of North Africa while enjoying its impressive sets of landscapes. While the desert is probably the highlight, the mountain scenery and the plains are also really beautiful. The birdlife is very interesting, with a high content on regional endemics, desert species, Wheatears, Larks and Warblers.
Tour itinerary
We set off birding right at our meeting in Marrakech in the morning, looking for Maghreb Magpie right in town! We'll enjoy birding on route as we cross impressive scenery and the snow-capped mountains of the Atlas, including the Tizi-n-Tichka pass. Some of our targets include African Blue Tit, the Moroccan subspecies of Red Crossbill, African Chaffinch. Night near Boumalne Dades
One of the most productive sites when it comes to birding in Morocco is the Tagdilt track. Three of the top species we hope to find here are Thick-billed and Temminck's Larks and African Long-legged Buzzard. Fuerther ahead towards the desert we will look for the impressive Pharaoh Eagle Owl with the help of a local guide that follows them closely in their breeding cliff. Sometimes there's chances to find Lanner Falcons as well. A journey that will take us to the gates of the desert at sunset. Night in Merzouga near the sand dunes
A day to be spent in the Sahara desert looking for the local specialities. We'll try to get Desert Warbler, Desert Sparrow, Brown-necked Raven, Hoopoe Lark and Crowned and Spotted Sangrouses. On this day we'll count with the invaluable help of a local guide,4x4 drivers and a local shepherd we've been teaming up to locate Egyptian Nightjars in dayroost. We will arrive back to our lovely hotel near the sand dunes in the early afternoon and enjoy some time to relax
A transfer day with multiple stops along the route. We'll be looking for Fulvous Chatterer, Trumpeter Finch and other targets that we might have missed previously. Night near Boumalne Dades
This transfer journey will incorporate some nice birding stopovers on our way to Ouarzazate. We'll focus on the species that we may have missed, allowing multiple stops on the way across the rocky plains and impressive scenery. Once near Ouarzazate we will scan the shores of the Al Mansour reservoir which will hopefully provide much more than birds. Night in Ouarzazate
Today we will check some new corners not visited before. It is a relaxed transfer day back to Marrakech, in which multiple nice little stops for birding will take place. Fingers crossed for Seebhom's Wheatear while crossing the Atlas! We sometimes witness the tricky bird migration that happens in the higher mountains. We will hit Marrakech in the late afternoon and allow some free time for those who may want to explore the city
Today we will make a day-trip to the High Atlas. First, the we'll walk a delightful track across a cedar forest near the Ourika valley to look for one of the most charismatic birds in Morocco, the Moussier's Redstart and the wary Levaillant's Woodpecker. Once at the ski resort of Oukaïmeden (2700 m high) we will be looking for purely mountain species such as Crimson-winged Finch, Atlas Shore Lark, Alpine and Red-billed Choughs and Rock Sparrow. In the afternoon we will head back to Marrakech and visit together its bustling main square for a delicious last supper
After enjoying our last breakfast together -binoculars on!- the tour ends. We hope this Grand Morocco Birding Tour has very much pleased you!
What wildlife to expect
Birds
The birdlife in Morocco includes desert-dwelling species, good varietys of Larks, Wheatears and warblers. This tour is scheduled to chance some migrants too. We can expect to see some 100-120 bird species, among them:
- North African Long-Legged Buzzard
- Falcons: Barbary & Lanner
- Cream-Colored Courser (difficult)
- Spotted & Crowned Sandgrouses
- Owls: Little & Pharaoh Eagle-Owl
- Levaillant's Green Woodpecker
- Egyptian Nightjar
- Swifts: Little & Pallid
- Larks: Maghreb, Greter Hoopoe, Thekla, Thick-billed, Desert, Bar-tailed, Temminck's and Atlas Shore
- Redstarts: Black & Moussier’s
- Wheatears: White-crowned, Maghreb, Black, Desert, Red-rumped, Seebohm's
- Warblers: Tristram's, Spectacled, African Desert
- Common Bulbul
- Fulvous Babbler
- Laughing Dove
- Brown-Necked Raven
- Desert Sparrow
- Trumpeter Finch
- African Crimson-winged Finch
- House Bunting
Reptiles
In the warmer regions the reptile community is notorious after March. Our sightings to date include, for example:
- Oudri's Fan-footed Gecko
- Small Spotted Lizzard
- Dumeril's Fringe-toed Lizard
- Moroccan Hairstreak
- Bribon's Agama
- Moroccan Spiny-tailed Lizard
Butterflies
Generally scarce but interesting. Over the last years this tour in early spring has produced some nice butterflies, such as:
- Greenish Black Tip
- Plain Tiger
- Moroccan Hairstreak
Other wildlife
Fat Sand Rat, Occidental Gerbil, Barbary ground squirrel
We guide this bird watching tour in Morocco by means of Andalucía Slow Tours, S.L., a local travel agency accredited by the Spanish Tourist Board with number CIAN 297083-2.
SHARED TOUR
23-30 March 2026
* You can also book this as a private tour with guaranteed departure or on different dates (read below)
PRICES (2026)
Price per person: 1850 €
TOUR PARTY
Min. 6 - max. 12 fellow travellers (1 guide)
Tour leader: Álvaro Peral
PRIVATE TOUR
Flexible dates.
(Best from mid June till late August).
FARES (2026)
Private tour for a solo traveler: TBA €.
Private tour for 2 pax: TBA €.
Private tour for 3 pax: TBA €.
Private tour for 4-7 pax: TBA €.
All prices are per person.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Ground transport in a comfortable minibus
- Professional guiding services (in English)
- Guidebooks and daily checklist
- 4x4 birding trip in the desert
- Accidents insurance
- All taxes
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- Flights to/from Marrakech
- Airport transfers
- Accomodation (read below)
- Food or drinks (read below)
- Personal costs
- Travel insurance
ACCOMODATION
We will be based in a variety of family-owned riads and hotels. We prebook and you pay at arrival. Hotels take credit cards.
Average price for hotels in 2025 was 65 eur per night per single room including half board, i.e. some 450 eur in total -orientative-
FOOD & DRINKS
We will often enjoy breakfast and dinners directly at our accommodation. Lunch stops are often roadside restaurants with traditional and nice cuisine. We usually fill up our checklists while enjoying dinner around 8pm. Moroccan food is healthy and delightful. Tajine and mint tea is the most common choice. Skewers, salads and omelettes are commonly served. There are options for vegetarians. For food and refreshments outside our hotels we pay as a group with our travel kitty in cash, estimated in some 120 eur per person for the entire tour
PACE
This tour is quite accessible. We'll walk across orchards, desert and high mountain. Most of the walks are easy and short. Gentle pace always. Daily average driving time is almost 4 h
WEATHER
Generally sunny, warm and nice temperatures with too little chances of rain. Please note warm clothes are necessary during the evenings and when up in the Atlas, where there may even be some snow
WHAT TO BRING
Hat, sunscreen, hiking shoes, light jacket, a pair of warm socks
Give something back to Africa
By booking our tour you are contributing to the local economy. We will be hiring local drivers. We will also help promoting the nature tourism, which is a key to protecting Moroccan birds and habitats
What your guide says
Morocco is a country of contrasts and birding is the best way to visit and enjoy it's remote and achingly beautiful landscapes
Álvaro Peral, 2025
