Magnificent Kingdom of Morocco and the Sahara Desert 6 Nights - With THY on 08 November (November Semester Special)

Day 1 Istanbul – Casablanca – Marrakech Meet 3 hours before the flight at Turkish Airlines counter at Istanbul Airport international departures terminal. After baggage and ticket procedures, depart for Casablanca on Turkish Airlines flight TK 617 at 11:50. Upon arrival in Casablanca at 14:50 local time, our vehicle waiting at the airport will take us to start our Marrakech city tour. Upon arrival in Marrakech, we begin exploring this city that will take you centuries back with its narrow streets. Its name comes from the word “mur akush,” meaning “Land of God” in the language of the Berbers, the oldest indigenous people of North Africa. 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 a noble in 19th-century Morocco; the Koutoubia Minaret, one of the city’s most important landmarks; the Majorelle Gardens, home to plant collections from all over the world; and Djemaa El Fna Square, the heart of the city, known as the “Courtyard of Souks and Wonders.” After the excursion, 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 magnificent Essaouira Tour. Essaouira, which has hosted civilizations since ancient times on its coast, is located on the Atlantic Ocean coast and is known for its medina (city center) surrounded by white old city walls, narrow streets, and traditional markets. Listed as a “World Heritage” site by UNESCO, Essaouira is not only a fishing port but also a peaceful seaside town where art and culture are intertwined. In the city, the atmosphere is much calmer compared to Marrakech, offering visitors a relaxing escape. This atmosphere has attracted many world-famous artists over the years, including Cat Stevens, Jimi Hendrix, and Orson Welles, turning the city into a center of art and culture. The town also hosted the filming of the famous Game of Thrones series. On our tour, we will see the Essaouira ramparts and Essaouira Castle, Essaouira Port where the fish market is located, and the world-renowned Medina. In Essaouira, which combines the elegance of traditional Moroccan architecture with traces of modern life, you will also have the opportunity to enjoy shopping while exploring the city. 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 stop along the way will be the film studios and Ait Ben Hadou. Here we will see the film studios where The Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander the Great, and the television phenomenon Game of Thrones were filmed, and then move on to Ait Ben Haddou, a historic village famous for its traditional earthen architecture. Located at the foot of the Atlas Mountains on the old Saharan caravan route, this impressive settlement with its high adobe walls, corner towers, and narrow streets gives visitors the feeling of a journey through time. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987, Aït Ben Haddou offers incredible photo opportunities, especially at sunset when its structures take on a red hue. 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. 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 Rose City). 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 at night and the sunrise in the morning. Accommodation in our desert camp. Day 5 Sahara Desert (Merzouga) – Ifrane – Fes After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Fes after visiting Ifrane, located at an altitude of 1,700 meters and known for its regular city plan. Because of its clean air, wide avenues, and chalet-style architecture with sloping roofs, Ifrane is referred to as the “Switzerland of Morocco.” We then continue to Fes. In keeping with the Berber tradition of naming countries after their capitals, as seen in Tunisia and Algeria, Morocco also takes its name from the city of Fes. Built around the Fez River flowing from west to east, this walled city is also known as the “Mecca of the West.” The old city tour we will conduct includes the Bou Inania and Al Attarine Madrasas, fine examples of Islamic architecture, the Andalusian Mosque, Karaouine University, one of the world’s oldest institutions of higher learning, Nejjarine Square, and the artisans’ bazaar. In the Medina, tanneries use techniques that have remained unchanged since the Middle Ages. After the tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Day 6 Fes – Blue Chefchaouen – Meknes – Rabat – Casablanca After breakfast at the hotel, we join the “Magnificent Blue City 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 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. While walking through the narrow streets, you can explore traditional markets, handicraft shops, and local restaurants. The city also reflects the traces of local culture and lifestyle; the local people, who preserve Berber 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 depart for 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,” hosts many significant landmarks. During our city tour in Meknes, one of the country’s four imperial cities, we will see Bab Mansour city gate, an eye-catching example of Moorish-style architecture; the Agdal Basin built by Moulay Ismail; Lahdim Square; and Dar El Makhzen (Royal Palace). After the tour, we head to the magnificent capital Rabat. On our panoramic city tour upon arrival, we will see 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 procedures, our Casablanca city tour begins. Morocco’s main port and made famous by the 1942 Hollywood film Casablanca, the city is the country’s economic center as well as its most populous city. While walking through the streets of the city, you can see the influences of Islam, France, and the Berbers in its rich cultural past. Among the places we will see are Mohammed V Square, the United Nations Square where Morocco’s past and present are blended magnificently, the impressive Hassan II Mosque (from the outside), famous for having the world’s second tallest minaret, Old Medina, Hobus district known for its open-air markets, and Ain Diab and Corniche along the Atlantic Ocean coast. After the tour, we will depart for the airport at the time indicated by our guide. After baggage and ticket procedures, depart for Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK 618 at 16:45. Arrival in Istanbul at 23:25 local time, and the end of the tour.