1. Day Istanbul – Casablanca – Marrakech
At Istanbul Airport, meet 3 hours before departure in front of the Turkish Airlines counter at the international departures terminal. After baggage and ticket procedures, depart for Casablanca on Turkish Airlines flight TK 617 at 12:05. Upon arrival in Casablanca at 15:00 local time, we meet our vehicle and depart for Marrakech. After arriving in Marrakech, we begin exploring this city whose narrow streets will take you centuries back in time. Its name comes from the Berber word “mur akush,” 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. On our city tour, we will see Bahia Palace, which offers a wonderful impression of what it was like to be an aristocrat from 19th-century Morocco; Koutoubia Minaret, one of the city’s most important landmarks; 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 “Court of Souks and Wonders.” After the tour, transfer to our hotel and free time. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
2. Day Marrakech – Essaouira – Marrakech
After breakfast at the hotel, we join the UNESCO World Heritage magnificent 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 white old city walls, narrow streets, and traditional markets. Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Essaouira is not only a fishing port but also a peaceful coastal town where art and culture are intertwined. The city offers visitors a relaxing escape and has a much calmer atmosphere compared to Marrakech. Over the years, this atmosphere has attracted many world-famous artists such as Cat Stevens, Jimi Hendrix, and Orson Welles, turning the city into an art and culture center. The town also hosted the filming of the famous Game of Thrones series. On our tour, we will see the Essaouira walls and fortress, the Essaouira Port with its fish market, 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.
3. Day Marrakech – Film Studios – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate
After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Ouarzazate. Our first stops along the way are the film studios and Ait Ben Hadou. Here we will see the film studios where The Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander, and the television phenomenon Game of Thrones were filmed, then continue to Ait Ben Haddou, a historic village famous for its traditional earthen architecture. Located at the foot of the Atlas Mountains along the old Saharan caravan route, this impressive settlement offers visitors a true sense of time travel with its high mud-brick walls, corner towers, and narrow streets. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987, Aït Ben Haddou offers incredible photo opportunities, especially when its structures turn red at sunset. Our final stop on the tour is Ouarzazate, a city that has hosted many Hollywood films and stars, where we arrive at our hotel and have free time. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
4. Day Ouarzazate – Sahara Desert (Merzouga)
After breakfast at the hotel, we head toward the Sahara Desert. With desert scenery on one side and the Atlas Mountains on the other, our first stops will be Todra Valley and M’gouna (the Rose City). We then continue to our hotel in Merzouga (Sahara Desert). Upon arrival, we check into our rooms and enjoy the desert. Do not forget to photograph the desert sky at night and the sunrise in the morning. Accommodation will be at our camp in the desert.
5. Day Sahara Desert (Merzouga) – Ifrane – Fes
After breakfast at the hotel, we set out for Fes via Ifrane, located at an altitude of 1,700 meters and notable for its orderly city layout. Due to its clean air, wide avenues, and chalet-style architecture with sloping roofs, it is known as the “Switzerland of Morocco.” We continue to Fes. In keeping with the Berber tradition of naming countries after their capitals, as in Tunisia and Algeria, Morocco is also said to have taken its name from the city of Fes. Built around the Fez River flowing from west to east, the walled city is also known as the “Mecca of the West.” The old city tour we will conduct will include Bou Inania and Al Attarine Madrasas, excellent examples of Islamic architecture, the Andalusian Mosque, Karaouine University, one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the world, Nejjarine Square, and the artisans’ bazaar. In the medina, tanneries still use techniques unchanged since the Middle Ages. After the tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
6. Day Fes – Blue Chefchaouen – Fes
After breakfast at the hotel, we join the “Magnificent Blue Chefchaouen” tour. Located in northwestern 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 attracts visitors not only with its natural beauty but also with its unique atmosphere. As you wander through the narrow streets, you can explore traditional bazaars, handicraft shops, and local restaurants. The city also reflects traces of local culture and lifestyle; the Berber-inhabited local people 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, transfer to our hotel. Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel.
7. Day Fes – Meknes – Rabat – Casablanca
After breakfast at the hotel, we head to Meknes. Located between the coastal plains and the peaks of the Atlas Mountains, the city has been a commercial and cultural crossroads since ancient times. Meknes, the “city of a hundred minarets,” is home to many historic structures. During our city tour in Meknes, one of the country’s four imperial cities, we will see the magnificent Bab Mansour city gate with its Moorish-style architecture, the 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, we will take a panoramic city tour and see Hassan Tower, the Mohammed V Mausoleum built in memory of the current king’s grandfather, a pioneer of Morocco’s independence, and the Royal Palace. After the tour, we head to Casablanca. Upon arrival, our Casablanca city tour begins. The country’s main port, famous for the 1942 Hollywood film Casablanca, which was named after the city, is Morocco’s economic center and the most densely populated city in the country. As you walk through the city streets, you can see the Islamic, French, and Berber influences of its rich cultural past. In Casablanca, we will see Mohammed V Square, the United Nations Square, where Morocco’s past and present blend magnificently, Hassan II Mosque (from outside), famous for its grand structure and being the world’s second tallest minaret, the Old Medina, the Habous district known for its open-air markets, and Ain Diab and Corniche along the Atlantic Ocean coast. After the tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
8. Day Casablanca – Istanbul
After breakfast at the hotel and check-out procedures, free time. Then, at the time to be announced by our guide, transfer to the airport. After baggage and ticket procedures, depart for Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK 618 at 16:55. Arrival in Istanbul at 23:25 local time, and the end of our tour.