Day 1 Istanbul – Casablanca – Marrakech
Meeting at Istanbul Airport, international departures terminal, in front of the Turkish Airlines counter, 3 hours before the flight. After baggage and ticket procedures, depart for Casablanca on Turkish Airlines flight TK 617 at 11:50. Following arrival in Casablanca at 14:50 local time, we begin our Marrakech city tour with our vehicle waiting at the airport. Upon arrival in Marrakech, we start exploring this city, whose narrow streets will take you back centuries, and whose name comes from the word “mur akush” in the language of the Berbers, the oldest indigenous people of North Africa, meaning “Land of God.” Marrakech, one of the country’s most important tourist centers, is also known as the “Red City” because of its famous red walls. During our city tour, we will see Bahia Palace, which gives a wonderful impression of what it was like to be a nobleman in 19th-century Morocco; the Koutoubia Minaret, one of the city’s most important symbols; the Majorelle Gardens, home to a collection of plants from around the world; and Djemaa El Fna Square, the heart of the city, known as the “Courtyard of Souks and Wonders.” After the tour, transfer to our hotel and free time. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 Marrakech – Essaouira – Marrakech
After breakfast at the hotel, we join the UNESCO World Heritage Grand Essaouira Tour. Essaouira, which has hosted civilizations since ancient times on its coast, is located on the Atlantic Ocean and is known for its medina (city center) surrounded by old white city walls, narrow streets, and traditional markets. Its city center is listed as a “World Heritage” site by UNESCO. In addition to being a fishing port, Essaouira is a tranquil coastal town where art and culture intertwine. It offers visitors a relaxing escape, and compared to Marrakech, it has a much calmer atmosphere. Over the years, this atmosphere attracted world-famous artists such as Cat Stevens, Jimi Hendrix, and Orson Welles, turning the city into a center of art and culture. The town also hosted filming for the famous Game of Thrones series. During our tour, we will see the Essaouira walls and castle, the Essaouira Port where the fish market is located, and the world-famous Medina. While exploring Essaouira, which combines the elegance of traditional Moroccan architecture with traces of modern life, you will also have the opportunity to enjoy shopping. After the tour, we return to our hotel in Marrakech. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 Marrakech – Film Studios – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate
After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Ouarzazate. Our first stops on the way will be the film studios and Ait Ben Haddou. Here we will see the film studios where The Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander, and the television phenomenon Game of Thrones were filmed, and then continue to Ait Ben Haddou, a historic village famous for its traditional earthen architecture. Situated at the foot of the Atlas Mountains on the ancient Saharan caravan route, this impressive settlement with its high mud-brick walls, corner towers, and narrow streets gives visitors the feeling of traveling back in time. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987, Aït Ben Haddou offers incredible photo opportunities, especially at sunset when its structures turn shades of red. At the end of our tour, we arrive at our hotel in Ouarzazate, a city that has hosted many Hollywood films and actors, and enjoy free time. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 Ouarzazate – Sahara Desert (Merzouga)
After breakfast at the hotel, we set off toward the Sahara Desert. With desert on one side and Atlas Mountains on the other, our first stops will be Todra Valley and M’gouna (the City of Roses). Then we continue to our hotel in Merzouga (Sahara Desert). Upon arrival, we settle into our rooms and enjoy the desert. Do not forget to photograph the sky in the desert darkness and the sunrise in the morning. Accommodation will be at our camp in the desert.
Day 5 Sahara Desert (Merzouga) – Ifrane – Fez
After breakfast at the hotel, we head to Fez, stopping first at Ifrane, located at an altitude of 1,700 meters and notable for its orderly city plan. Because of its clean air, wide streets, and chalet-style architecture with sloping roofs, it is known as “Switzerland of Morocco.” We then continue to Fez. Following the tradition of naming countries after their capitals in Berber lands, just as in the cases of Tunisia and Algeria, Morocco also takes its name from the city of Fez. Built around the Fez River, which flows from west to east, this walled city is also known as the “Mecca of the West.” The old city tour we will conduct will include the Bou Inania and Al Attarine Madrassas, fine examples of Islamic architecture, the Andalusian Mosque, Karaouine University, the world’s oldest institution of higher education, Nejjarine Square, and the artisans’ bazaar. In the Medina, the tanneries where leather is processed still use techniques unchanged since the Middle Ages. After the tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 Fez – Blue Chefchaouen – Meknes – Rabat – Casablanca
After breakfast at the hotel, we join the “Magnificent City Blue Chefchaouen” tour. Located in the northwest of Morocco, at the foot of the Rif Mountains, this enchanting town is famous for its blue-painted buildings and is therefore also known as the “Blue City.” Every corner and street is painted in different shades of blue, and Chefchaouen captivates visitors not only with its natural beauty but also with its unique atmosphere. As you wander through its narrow streets, you can explore traditional markets, handicraft shops, and local restaurants. The city also carries traces of local culture and lifestyle; the Berber people living here, who preserve their traditions, offer visitors a warm welcome. Chefchaouen’s unique blue atmosphere and natural beauty make it one of Morocco’s most attractive and unforgettable destinations. After the tour, we head to Meknes. Located between the coastal plains and the peaks of the Atlas Mountains, this city has been a commercial and cultural crossroads since ancient times. Meknes, the “City of a Hundred Minarets,” is home to many structures. In Meknes, one of the country’s four imperial cities, our city tour will include Bab Mansour, the city gate with its stunning Moorish-style architecture; Agdal Basin, built by Moulay Ismail; Lahdim Square; and Dar El Makhzen (the Royal Palace). After the tour, we head to the magnificent capital Rabat. Upon arrival, our panoramic city tour will include Hassan Tower, the Mohammed V Mausoleum built in memory of the grandfather of the current king, a pioneer of Morocco’s independence, and the Royal Palace. After the tour, transfer to our hotel in Casablanca. Overnight and dinner at the hotel.
Day 7 Casablanca – Istanbul
After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, our Casablanca city tour begins. Morocco’s main port, famous for the 1942 Hollywood film Casablanca after which the city was named, is the country’s economic center as well as its most populous city. As you walk through the streets, you can see the influences of Islam, France, and the Berbers, reflecting its rich cultural past. Among the places we will see are Mohammed V Square, United Nations Square, where Morocco’s past and present blend magnificently, Hassan II Mosque (from the outside), famous for its grandeur and being the second tallest minaret in the world, the Old Medina, the Hobus district known for its open-air markets, and Ain Diab and Corniche along the Atlantic Ocean coastline. After the tour, we will transfer to the airport at the time specified by our guide. After baggage and ticket procedures, we depart for Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK 618 at 16:45. Arrival at 23:25 local time, and the end of our tour.