10-DAY BIRDING TOUR FROM FES TO MERZOUGA DESERT
10-DAY BIRDING TOUR FROM FES
10-DAY BIRDING TOUR FROM FES TO MERZOUGA DESERT AND ATLANTIC COAST AND Atlas
Price includes:
- Comfortable transport
- 9 Nights hotel accommodation with Half-board
- Guiding services
- breakfasts & Dinners
Price excludes:
- Flight Tickets
- Lunches & drinks
- Travel insurance
- Item of a personal nature and tips
Detailed Itinerary For 10- Days Birdwatching Morocco tour: Fes to Mezougza Desert And Atlantic Coast And Atlas Mountains
Day 1: Fes - Ifrane - Ziada
We will start our journey by picking you up from your hotel in Fes. Driving south-east to Azrou, we will stop firstly to search for Lesser Kestrel in Ifrane town and then at excellent sites in the Middle Atlas for Maghreb Owl, Atlas Flycatcher, Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker, Seebohm’s Wheatear. In the Cedar forests, we may also see Wood Lark, Firecrest, and the local races of Great Spotted Woodpecker, African Blue Tit, and Barbary Apes, and excellent chances exist to see—night excursion for Maghreb Owl and Evening search for Duponts Lark. Dinner and accommodation in Zaida
Day 2: Zaida - Errachidia - Erfoud - Merzouga
We will leave early to search for Dupont’s Lark near Zaida this tough high-plain species disappearing amongst the Tussocks. During our walk we should see Thekla and Short-toed Larks, After breakfast, we will head south to the edge of the Sahara desert. en route, we may see Eurasian CragMartin, Desert Lark, Black Wheatears, and White Crowned Wheatears while, in spectacular Valley, Rock Bunting and Blue Rock thrush can be found. Finally, after another exciting stop, we arrived at our Desert hotel for the two nights. Dinnes and Accommodation in Merzouga.
Day 3 : Merzouga - Erg Chebbi dunes - Rissani
We have two full days dedicated to exploring the sandy dunes, palm groves, wadis, and nearby stony desert of Erg Chebbi – the largest dune system in morocco. this remote area holds several key target birds and we’ll have plenty of time to search for them in a very relaxed manner.
our target species here and amongst the stark desert landscapes, as well as several remote cafes, will be the superb the attractive Desert Sparrow, Fulvous Babbler, Greater Hoopoe Lark, African Desert Warbler, and Brown-necked Raven.
There are sometimes seasonal lakes that attract numerous wildfowl and waders_ an amazing sight out here in the desert! it is also worth scanning the skies for visible migration and as the day warms up it is possible to see good numbers of storks and raptors rising on the thermals and heading north towards their breeding grounds.
other species in this area include Spotted and Crowned Sandgrouse and Lanner Falcon, Short-toed, Desert and Bar-tailed Larks, Desert and Spectacled Warblers, Trumpeter Finch, and Southern Grey Shrike. We will also be here at a good time of the year to seek out Egyptian Nightjar at a day roost. Dinner and Accommodation in Merzouga.
Day 4: Merzouga - Goulmima - Todra gorge - Tagdilt track - Boumaln Du dades
After an early look at the desert around our hotel, we will head west and stop at a site to search for Scrub Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, and Trumpeter Finch. Next, we travel westwards and stop at Todra Gorge for Tristram’s Warbler, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock-Thrush, Rock Dove, Crag Martin, and possibly Beneli’s Eagle! then to Tagdilt Track. The stony desert here is at quite a high altitude. Larks are well Represented with Thekla, Desert Short-Toed, Thick-Billed, and Temmink’s Larks, Desert and Red-Rumped Wheatears. Dinner and Accommodation in Boumalne Dades.
Day 5 : Boumaln Dades - tagdilt track - Ouarzazate
We will begin at the Tagdilt Track again, to look for any species we may have missed yesterday, then head west, searching the roadside stone deserts for the rare wheatear « Maghreb Wheatear ». Before reaching our hotel in Ouarzazate we’ll stop to explore the Barrage at Mansour Eddahabi. here we have the chance to see Marbled Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, Black Winged Stilts, and Maghreb Lark, as well as Cormorants and Herons and a selection of waders. Dinner and Accommodation in Ouarzazate.
Day 6: Ouarzazate – Anti Atlas Mountains – Souss Valley – Taroudant – Agadir
A long drive to the west will take us over the Anti Atlas mountains, into the Souss Valley, and on to Agadir. Initially, we will keep our eyes open for various larks by the roadside and for wheatears. In the Souss Valley, we could see Black-crowned Tchagra, Laughing Dove, Cirl Bunting, and Spanish Sparrow. Over the town of Taroudant, there may be Little and Pallid Swifts. Finally, after another exciting stop, we arrived at our Hotel in Agadir for the night.Dinner and accommodation in Agadir
Day 7-8: Agadir – Sous Massa National Park - Oude Massa
The Atlantic Coast -An early start will get us to the Atlantic coast in time. The morning will be spent in the Sous Massa National Park. We will walk all along this important spot for the endangered Bald Ibis, one of the world’s rarest birds with a significant bird population, and we will search the vegetation along the water’s edge for skulking Squacco Heron, while the distinctive call of Black-crowned Tchagras rings out from dense cover. Marbled Duck, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Black-shouldered Kite, Glossy Ibis, Squacco and Purple Herons, Ruddy Shelduck, Plain Martin, and potentially Tawny Eagle are among the more easily observed birds. Savi’s, Western Olivaceous, and Moustached Warblers, Zitting Cisticola, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Pallid Swift, Red-rumped Swallow, Common Bulbul, and Spotless Starling are all possibilities.
After lunch we’ll drive into the Souss Valley’s semi-arid steppes, looking for Lesser Short-toed Lark, Cream-colored Courser, Stone Curlew, or sandgrouse. Later in the afternoon, we’ll visit the Oued Sous, a lovely region known for waders, terns, and enormous flocks of roosting gulls such as Slender-billed, Audouin’s, and the Mediterranean. Greater Flamingo, Zitting Cisticola, and Sardinian Warbler Dinner and accommodation in Agadir.
Day 9: Agadir – High Atlas Mountains
Today we will journey back from Agadir, across the Atlas Mountains, to Marrakesh. En route, we will make several stops to look for any interesting species and enjoy stunning Moroccan scenery. we’ll descend into the picturesque L’Ourika valley in the Atlas foothills. Before dinner, we may go birdwatching around our hotel grounds, spotting Moussier’s Redstart and Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker.
Enjoy dinner and accommodation in the Atlas Mountains.
Day 10: Ourika Valley - Oukaimeden - Marrakech
Our last full day in Morocco will focus on birding in the Atlas Mountains, particularly at Oukaimeden ski resort. This renowned site offers excellent chances to spot the elusive African Crimson-winged Finch. Other notable species include Seebohm’s Wheatear, Barbary Partridge, Horned Lark, Alpine and Red-billed Choughs, and Rock Sparrows.
Moussier’s Redstart and Mistle Thrush also breed in these mountainous regions. After a delightful lunch at Oukaimeden, we’ll explore the lower mountain areas for migrating birds. We’ll then return to Marrakech’s medina.
If our return flight schedule allows, we’ll visit prominent buildings in Marrakech’s medina before heading to the nearby international airport to conclude our trip.
NOTE: This is a flexible itinerary which may be adjusted to allow for changes in arrival and departure times, weather conditions and other related
ORE INFORMATION
By reserving this tour, you can enjoy a hassle-free experience our experienced local guide will provide you with informative commentary and insight about the birds and their habitats, making it an enriching and educational experience
Some key species of this tour:
Pharaoh Eagle Owl, Marbled Duck, Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli’s Eagle, Barbary Falcon, and Lanner Falcon. Cream-coloured Courser, Spotted Sandgrouse, Crowned Sandgrouse, Laughing Dove, Egyptian Nightjar at daytime, Little Swift, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker, Desert Lark, Bar-tailed Lark, Thick-billed Lark, Hoopoe Lark, Desert Wheatear, Desert Sparrow, Red-rumped Wheatear, Maghreb Wheatear, White-crowned Wheatear, Scrub Warbler, Tristram’s Warbler, African Desert Warbler, Saharan Olivaceous Warbler, Common Bulbul, Fulvous Babbler, Alpine Chough, Brown-necked Raven, Alpine Accentor, Trumpeter Finch, Crimson-winged Finch, House Bunting, Temminck’s Lark, Atlas Horned Lark, Moussier’s redstart,…etc
Accommodation:
We stay in a selection of comfortable hotels, all rooms are en-suite.
Food: All hotels provide a simple breakfast typical of Morocco, consisting of fresh bread, butter, honey and jam. Fruit juice and tea or coffee is also available. For lunch we will have picnic lunches when out in the field. Evening meals will be a mixture of local and international dishes.
Walking:The tour is not strenuous. Leisurely walking, very occasionally over moderately rough terrain, is the only physical requirement on most days. Most birding is done close to our vehicle, though we will need to walk to see mountain species, and some exertion will be required in mountain environments. There will be the option to stay close to the vehicle, should anyone wish to go back.
Brief Itinerary
1st day: Fes » Ifrane» Zaida
2nd day: Ziada» Errachidia » Erfoud » Merzouga
3rd day: Merzouga » Erg Chebbi » Rissani
4th Day:Merzouga » Goulmima » Todra Gorge »Tagdilt Track »Boumalne Dades
5th day: Boumaln Dades » tagdilt track » Ouarzazate
6th day: Ouarzazate » Anti Atlas Mountains » Souss valley » Taroudant » Agadir
7th day: Agadir » Oud Massa » National Park
8th day: Boumaln Dades » tagdilt track » Ouarzazate
9th day: Ouarzazate » Anti Atlas Mountains » Souss valley » Taroudant » Agadir
10th day: Agadir » Oud Massa » National Park
11th day: Agadir » Cap Ghir» Tamri
12th day: Agadir » High Atlas Mountains » Marrakech » airport
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