THE TOUR AT A GLANCE...

Day 1. Departure. Copenhagen – Marrakech

This morning from Copenhagen Zurich to Marrakesh, where we land in the afternoon.After arriving in Marrakesh, we make a transfer to the hotel where we have two nights. A stroll around the hotel can provide Common Bulbul, Little Swift, House Bunting and maybe Maghreb Owl Strix mauritanica  - split from Tawny Owl.

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Day 2. Marrakech - Oukaimeden – North African endemics

Our Morocco tour explores the magnificent High Atlas at Oukaimeden. African Crimson-winged Finch, Barbary Partridge, Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker, Moussier’s Redstart, Seebohm’s Wheatear (formerly treated as a race of Northern), North African Blue Tit, ssp  subpersonata of White Wagtail, House Bunting and various egrets and herons. Among more common European species like Hawfinch, Pallid Swift, Western Jackdaws (here at its southern limit), Firecrest, Short-toed Treecreeper, Meadow Pipit, Winter Wren, Mistle Thrush,  Eurasian Jay, European Robin, Common Wood Pigeon, Cirl Bunting and Great Spotted Woodpecker, etc. The White-throated Dippers reside along the region’s fast flowing mountain-streams. 

Day 3. High Atlas Mountains - Ouarzazate - Boumalne du Dades

"Tristram's Warbler, " Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli's Eagle, Black-bellied Sandgrouse (and perhaps Crowned Sandgrouse), Thick-billed Lark, Temminck’s Lark, Western Mourning, Red-rumped Wheatears, "Maghreb Wheatear,"etc

Day 4. Boumalne du Dades - Tagdilt Track (”The Lark Trek”)

This is without doubt one of the top areas for birding in the Southern of Morocco. Excellent chances for seeing Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Crowned Sandgrouse, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, White-crowned Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Red-rumped Wheatear, Thekla Lark, Great Grey Shrike, Trumpeter Finch, Temminck's Lark, Greater Hoopoe Lark, Desert Lark, Lesser Short-toed Lark, Cream-coloured Courser, Thick-billed Lark, Maghreb (former Mourning) Wheatear, Lanner Falcon,  Pharaoh Eagle Owl, Bonelli’s Eagle, Red-rumped Swallow, Eurasian Crag Martin, Blue Rock Thrush, Black Wheatear, Grey Wagtail, Barbary Falcon, Tristram’s Warbler and Little Owl.

Day 5. Boumalne du Dades - Todra Gorge - Goulmima - Merzouga
Tristram's Warbler, Black Wheatear, Blue Rock-thrush, Rock Dove, Crag Martin and possible Bonelli's Eagle! Next we travel eastwards and stop at a scrubby wadi to seek out the elusive Scrub Warbler, maybe also rewarded with Thick-billed Lark and Trumpeter Finch. Finally after another exciting stop we continue to the northern edge of the Sahara and arrive at our Desert Hotel for three nights. Dinner and accommodation in Merzouga. BD 

Day 6. and 7. Merzouga - Erg Chebbi Dunes – Rissani. Sahara; desert birds
A full two days to explore this fantastic area. Amongst the desert specialists found in this area are such North African endemics as the recently-recognized Maghreb Lark, Hoopoe Lark, Desert Lark, Bar-tailed Lark, Fulvous Babbler, Brown-necked Raven, Spotted Sandgrouse, Crowned Sandgrouse, African Desert Warbler, Saharan Scrub Warbler, the rare and localized Desert Sparrow and House Bunting, as well as the impressive Pharaoh Eagle-Owl, the elusive Egyptian Nightjar and, with luck, the endangered Houbara Bustard. 

Day 8. Merzouga - Tazzarine - Draa Valley - Anti Atlas Mountains - Ouarzazate
Long day. Transfer day from Merzouga to Ouarzazate. Roadside birding could produce plenty of White-crowned Wheatear and Southern Gray Shrike. Barrage at Mansour Eddahbi: Ruddy Shelduck, Black winged Stilts, Maghreb Lark, as well as Cormorants and Herons and a selection of waders. 

Day 9. Ouarzazate - Anti Atlas Mountains - Souss Valley - Agadir
A long drive to the west will take us over the Anti Atlas mountains, into the Souss Valley and on to Agadir at the Atlantic coast. Various larks and wheatears by the roadside. Have to look for Black-winged Kite, Black-crowned Tchagra,  Little Swift, Pallid Swift, Southern Grey Shrike, Woodchat, Spanish sparrow, etc. explore the nearby estuaries of the Oued Sous and Oued Massa, which at this time of year are packed full of migrating waders, gulls and terns.

Day 10. Oued Massa 
South of Agadir is the famous Oued Massa: Target birds: the secretive Black-crowned Tchagra, Moussier's Redstart, Sardinian Warbler, Little Owl, Stone Curlew, Glossy Ibis, Moroccan Cormorant, Laughing Dove and Brown-throated Martin. 

Day 11. Agadir - Tamri Estuary - Essaouira
Early in the morning we will head north, stopping firstly at a beach where there will be Lesser Black-backed Gulls of two races, Audouin's Gulls and a few Yellow-legged Gulls. We will continue north to Tamri in search of one the rarest birds in the world – the Bald Ibis. Morocco supports a colony of about 250 pairs that breed in this coastal area. 

Day 12. Oued Souss - Marrakech
After breakfast at the hotel, we visit the Oued Souss: Flamingos, shorebirds and large numbers of roosting gulls and terns. 

Day 13. Departure home. Marrakech - Airport