4 Days Birding tour Marrakech to Atlas Mountains and Boumalne Dades

Tour dates: Any dates from September till May, please let us know your specific dates for the trip!

Price of the tour: The price depends on the number of participants on the tour; for the price, please contact us!

Starting/ending of the Tour: Marrakech Airport, Morocco

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Detailed Itinerary For4 Days Birding tour Marrakech to Atlas Mountains and Boumalne Dades

Day 1:Marrakech - High Atlas Mountains - Oukaimeden

Meet and welcome you anywhere in Marrakech we will drive up into the High Atlas Mountains and visit Oukaimeden (2600m).
As we drive along the cultivated fields, we should find a good mix of resident species such as Southern Gray Shrike, Little Owl, Sardinian Warbler, Spotless Starling, Moroccan Magpie, Moussier’s Redstart and House Bunting. Slightly higher up, among the rocky slopes, we will search for Blue Rock Thrush and the endemic Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker. When we reach the ski resort at Oukaimeden, we will check the snowline for the handsome African Crimson-winged Finch. Other species here include Rock Sparrow, Black Wheatear, African Chaffinch, Alpine Chough and Atlas Horned Lark.

Day 2:High Atlas Mountains - Ouarzazate - Boumalne du Dadès

After an early breakfast, we leave the mountains behind. From the flat plains of Marrakech, we drive to Boumalne du Dades via the Tizi-n-Tichka pass (2260 meters) a spectacular and long drive. On the pass, we’ll try to see the “Tristram’s Warbler.” This species has very specific habitat requirements away from its wintering grounds and is not always easy to find.
As the road climbs into the hills, we may start to see some raptors, such as the long-legged buzzard and Bonelli’s eagle, both possible. Before reaching Boumalne Dades, we’ll stop in Amerzgane to look for the rare “Maghreb Wheatear and Desert Lark. Before reaching our hotel in Boumalne Dades, we’ll stop to explore the barrage of Mansour Eddahbi. 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 Boumalne du Dades.

Day 3: Boumalne Dades - Tagdilt Track - Dades Gorge

After a good night’s sleep we make an early morning visit to the famous Tagdilt Track. Despite the nearby rubbish tip this is still an excellent area for some very special birds. Careful searching could reveal Cream-coloured Courser, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Thick-billed, Bar-tailed, Desert and Temminck’s Horned Lark, as well as Red-rumped and Desert Wheatear and Trumpeter Finch. We also keep searching overhead for Lanner ,Pharoah Eagle Owl , Long-legged Buzzard and Mourning Wheatear . In the afternoon we will head for spectacular Dades Gorge, where the towering pink rock walls are home to Crag Martin, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Bunting and Bonelli’s Eagle. and here we have our first chance of North-west African endemic Tristram’s Warbler.

Day 3: Boumalne Dades - Ouarzazate - High Atlas Mountains- Marrakech

Today we will dedicate the day to calmly return to Marrakech, following the same road as on our arrival. We will make numerous stops to walk, both on the rocky plateau and in the High Atlas. This will be an additional and excellent chance to keep enjoying the majestic landscapes and the avian specialties of Morocco. We will arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon If time allows some more birding in the Marrakech area, then transfer to the airport where the trip ends.

NOTE: This is a flexible itinerary that 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, Lanner Falcon, Cream-coloured Courser, Laughing Dove, Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker, Desert Lark, Thick-billed Lark, Desert Wheatear, Red-rumped Wheatear, Maghreb Wheatear, White-crowned Wheatear, Tristram’s Warbler, Common Bulbul, Alpine Chough, 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, and 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 are 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.