General Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Morocco in Spring. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they took this tour. Although we do our best to make sure what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
TRAVEL TO LONDON: This tour is organized by our British company, Sunbird, and starts and ends in London. The cost of the group flights between London and Morocco are included in the tour cost. You can choose, however, to make your own travel arrangements to Morocco. You would receive a corresponding discount in the tour cost should you decide to do this. Please read the Important Travel Information for Participants on Sunbird Tours.
ENTERING MOROCCO: US citizens traveling to Morocco must bear a valid passport. Visas are not required for American tourists traveling in Morocco for less than 90 days. If you have Israeli stamps on your passport you may be refused entry. Citizens of other nations should contact their nearest Moroccan Embassy or Consulate for entry requirements.
MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: Ycan view maps of Morocco in the University of Texas series here. To adjust the map’s size, click on the lower right corner. You can review the U.S. department of State background notes on Morocco here.
HEALTH: It is essential that you consult your own doctor to obtain the latest information on health for international travelers. Visitors are not required to have any international certificates of vaccination unless coming from areas affected by cholera or yellow fever. It is recommended that everyone have up-to-date typhoid and tetanus protection. Please consult your physician and review the latest CDC advisories here.
CLIMATE: It is generally warm to hot and dry throughout the year but in spring it can be cooler in the north and very cold in the mountains and desert areas. Temperatures range from 10-15°C (50-60°F) at night to daytime highs of 15-30°C (60-90°F) in lowland areas. In the mountains temperatures are 5-10°C (10-20°F) lower. Rainfall is low in the desert (a shower every four years or so) but moderate in the Atlas (where at this time of year it may still fall as snow) and along the coast. We may experience the odd windy day.
PACE OF TOUR AND DAILY ROUTINE: Usually we drive to various locations and make fairly short and slow walks from the vehicle. There are several longer strolls (two hours or so). To enable us to see so much of the country there are a few longer drives but the scenery is always changing and there will be birding stops as and when we see anything of interest. Breakfasts are usually between 06.00 and 07.00 and are often very simple with coffee, juice, bread and jam. There will be a couple of early starts where we return to our hotel for a late breakfast. On several days lunch will be a picnic at a birding site.
ACCOMMODATION: Our hotels will range from comfortable, modern hotels to local auberges or Youth Hostels. Although basic the owners of these are very friendly, the food is typically good and, most important of all, they are close to the birds! Being set away from the major towns some of these hostels offer unrivaled views of the night sky.
DRESS: Dress will be informal throughout the tour.
TRANSPORT: The transport for the tour will be by a small bus.
SMOKING: We request that you do not smoke in the vehicle or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists etc. If you are sharing a room with a nonsmoker, please do not smoke in the room. If any location where the group is gathered has a stricter policy than the WINGS policy, that stricter policy will prevail.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS AND SUNBIRD TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours, and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Morocco in Spring will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Updated: July 2008