InterContinental Tour Portugal & Morocco
On this 10-day tour we will look for most of the birding specialties of the regions while enjoying the most varied and spectacular landscapes in both countries.
Overview Portugal 4 day Tour
Portugal’s landscape is remarkably diverse within a small area, supporting a rich avian fauna. The birding tours organized by Portugal Birding enable bird enthusiasts to explore multiple habitats teeming with species, all accessible without lengthy travel.
Just half an hour from Lisbon’s city center and its airport, two key wetland protected areas—Tagus Estuary and Sado Estuary—are ideal starting points. They host an impressive array of birds such as Greater Flamingo, White Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Squacco Heron, and Purple Heron. Raptors like Booted Eagle and Black-winged Kite are common here, alongside ground- feeding species including Little Bustard and Collared Pratincole. Visitors can also spot Pallid Swift, Bluethroat, Dartford Warbler, Savi’s Warbler, Melodious Warbler, alongside Iberian Chiffchaff, Grey Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, and a variety of waterfowl, gulls, terns, and other waders.
A further drive of about an hour takes travelers to Alentejo, where diverse habitats such as plains and hills host additional unique birds. The plains of Castro Verde are home to species like Great Bustard, Common Crane, Red Kite, Montagu’s Harrier, Lesser Kestrel, and Eurasian Stone-curlew. Black- bellied Sandgrouse, Great Spotted Cuckoo, European Roller, Calandra Lark, Tawny Pipit, and Rufous Bush Robin further enrich this frontier of bird diversity. Meanwhile, the scenic Guadiana Valley Natural Park’s cliffs and hills are favored by Black Stork, Iberian Imperial, Golden and Bonelli’s Eagles, along with vultures—Cinereous and Griffon. The area also supports European Turtle Dove, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, White-rumped Swift, Iberian Green Woodpecker, Eurasian Crag Martin, Red-rumped Swallow, Black-eared Wheatear, Blue Rock Thrust, Golden Oriole, Spanish Sparrow, Hawfinch, Rock Bunting. In these are we also can see striking birds, including Little Owl, Red- necked Nightjar, Eurasian Hoopoe, Common Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, Sardinian Warbler, Spectacled Warbler, and Iberian Magpie
Itinerary: Portugal 4 days
Pick up at Lisbon Airport or your Lisbon accommodation and set out for
south area of the river Tagus. Explore multiple zones and diverse ecosystems
within the Tagus Estuary Natural Reserve, such as the mudflats and salt marshes
at Hortas, the Atalaya salt pans, Ribeira das Enguias, Samouco, and the rice
paddies and grazing lands of Barroca d’Alva. Spend the night at Hotel TRYP
Montijo, or a similar hotel.
Continue discovering notable locations and landscapes in the Tagus
Estuary Natural Reserve. Today’s itinerary includes open fields, rice paddies, reed
beds, lagoons, mudflats, and salt marshes in the Ponta da Erva region, as well as
the Cork Oak forests of Pancas. Boat tour in the river to check some nesting
colonies. Overnight at Hotel TRYP Montijo or similar.
Depart to Mértola in the Alentejo area and tour the expansive plains of Castro Verde. Overnight at Hotel Museu in Mértola, or a comparable hotel.
Explore the rugged terrain and scenic overlooks of Guadiana Valley Natural Park, visiting sites such as Mértola, Mina de São Domingos, and Casével. Head back to Lisbon at the end of the day. Overnight in Lisbon
Overview Morocco 6 day Tour
On this 6-day tour we will explore the southern half of Morocco, from Marrakech to the High Atlas and the Sahara.
We will look for most of the birding specialties of the region while enjoying the most varied and spectacular landscapes in the country. We’ll seek species like the Pharaoh Eagle-Owl, Egyptian Nightjar, Crowned Sandgrouse, Maghreb Wheatear, Streaked Scrub-Warbler, and African Crimson-winged Finch in this beloved birding destination.
The places we will visit are very welcoming and relaxed. Spring is ideal for visiting this region due to the pleasant weather and the diversity of Maghreb endemic species.
Itinerary: Morocco 6 days
Marrakech – Tiz-In-Tichka – Al Manssur reservoir – Boumalne Dades
Our driver will pick you up from Marrakech airport or your hotel. Our journey to Boumalne Dades includes stops as we cross the High Atlas mountains via the Tizi-n- Tichka pass, the highest in Northern Africa at 2,260 meters above sea level. Along the way, we’ll search for Levaillant’s Green Woodpecker, African Blue Tit, and the African subspecies of Common Chaffinch. We’ll pause for lunch and local birding opportunities, where we may spot Moussier’s Redstart and Long-legged Buzzard. Descending into the southern Atlas Mountains, the landscape becomes drier as we head towards the stony deserts near Ouarzazate. Before arriving at our hotel in Boumalne Dades, we’ll explore the Mansour Eddahbi barrage. Here, we hope to observe Marbled Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, Black-winged Stilts, Maghreb Lark, Cormorants, Herons, and various waders. Enjoy dinner and accommodation in Boumalne Dades.
Boumalne Dades – Tagdilt Track – Merzouga
Head to the Tagdilt Track, very close to our hotel, in search of: Cream-colored Courser, Thick-billed Lark, Greater Hoopoe Lark, Temminck’s Lark, Desert Lark, Bar-tailed Lark, Red-rumped Wheatear, etc.
Next, we will search for the majestic Desert Owl and the Lanner and Maghreb Wheatear. By the late morning we will continue heading to the East, towards the Sahara. Along the way, we will explore some of the numerous ouadis (seasonal dry rivers) and large palm groves to look for some emblematic species of the region such as the Streaked Scrub- Warbler and Brown-necked Raven. We will arrive in Merzouga in the late afternoon and have dinner at the hotel.
Merzouga – Erg Chebbi Dunes Excursion
Today we will dedicate the whole day exploring the sandy dunes and the nearby stony deserts of Erg Chebbi dunes , who will show us some of the most sought-after birds of this part of the world. Egyptian Nightjar, Brown-necked Raven, Hoopoe Lark, Desert Sparrow, African Desert Warbler, Crowned and Spotted Sandgrouse and a selection of migrant passerines will be all possible. In addition, we might visit the Dajet Srj, better knwon as the Merzouga lake, where we could see Greater Flamingo, Ruddy Shelduck, Marbled Duck. This later visit will depend on how much water the lake will have since it is usually dry after periods with no rain. By the end of the day we will be transferred back to our hotel In Merzouga .Dinner and accommodation in Merzouga
Merzouga – Todra Gorges – Ouarzazate
After a relaxed breakfast, Next we will visit the spectacular palm grove of Rissani where we will look for the elusive Fulvous Babbler and the Maghreb Lark. At mid- morning we will start our return to the West, following a different road from our arrival in order to enjoy a greater variety of landscapes .During the second part of the day we will visit the famous Todra Gorge and admire the spectacular views of the traditional towns and huge walls where Tristram’s Warbler , Bonelli’s Eagles, Blue Rock-Thrushes and Crag Martin, might be found. Dinner and accommodation in Ouarzazate.
Ouarzazate – Aïd Benhaddou – Ourika Valley
One of Morocco’s renowned ksars is Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll stop for a visit, allowing time to explore its narrow streets, and abode buildings, or browse souvenirs. After about an hour at the ksar, we’ll journey back, crossing the Atlas Mountains via the Tiz-n-Tichka pass.
Following our customary lunch at Restaurant Tichka, 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.
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.
Tour conditions
Tour dates: April 2026 (exact dates to be defined)
Starting/ending of the Tour: Lisbon airport | Marrakech Airport
Price of the tour: 3500€ / Person, with minimum of 3 persons.
Single supplement (500€)
Price includes:
– Comfortable transport
– Accommodation
– Guiding services with daily check lists and 24/7 support.
– Park fees
– Our Birding trip includes all meals
Price Excludes:
– Flight Tickets
– Drinks, snacks and hotel extras
– Travel insurance
– Itens of personal nature and tips
