Morocco - Atlas to Sahara in Spring 2025

01 May 2025 - 13 May 2025 (13 days)

EUR3,395 - 4 Spaces Available on this guaranteed departure

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Tour Leader: David Hoddinott

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Tour Leader: Robert Williams

Tour price (Per person): EUR3,395 * USD3,690 * GBP2,842 * AUD5,607

Single Supplement: EUR350 * USD380 * GBP293 * AUD578

Morocco - Atlas to Sahara in Spring 2026

30 Apr 2026 - 12 May 2026 (13 days)

EUR3,395 - Spaces Available

Book Now

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Tour Leader: David Hoddinott

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Tour Leader: Stephan Lorenz

Tour price (Per person): EUR3,395 * USD3,690 * GBP2,842 * AUD5,607

Single Supplement: EUR370 * USD402 * GBP310 * AUD611

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

relaxed pace, some long drives, undemanding walking

Accommodation

comfortable hotels

Ease of Birding

easy open country birding

Number of Species Expected

175 – 210

Other Attractions

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

Photographic Opportunities

excellent

What our clients say about us

Dušan Brinkhuizen
MA, Morocco 2024

The tour leaders were fantastic. Their knowledge was amazing and they were very interested in making sure we all saw the birds. They also made sure all our needs were met. I would definitely tour again with Dave Hoddinott and Dusan Brinkhuizen!

David Hoddinott
GE, Morocco 2018

David Hoddinott is an excellent birding tour guide. He has an ease with him that makes him enjoyable at all times. On this tour he was indefatigable, knowledgeable, even-keeled, and receptive to ideas and suggestions. He faces the birding with enthusiasm--- No signs of burnout. Morocco itself exceeded my expectations in the quality and quantity of birds/birding. Overall, the tour exceeded expectations.

Glen Valentine
LG, Morocco 2018

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!

Glen Valentine
SD, Morocco 2018

I had an amazing trip. The guides, Glen Valentine and Mark Beevers, were knowledgeable and caring. Everything ran smoothly and efficiently. Thanks for an excellent trip!

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.

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