The Sahara Desert and One Thousand and One Nights
Highlights:
• With Air Arabia Airlines • 7 Cities • No visa required! • 6 nights 7 days • Half BoardIstanbul - Rabat
We meet three hours before the flight at the international departures terminal of Istanbul Airport. After baggage, ticket, and boarding procedures, our flight to Rabat begins with an Air Arabia scheduled service.
Rabat – Marrakech
After baggage, ticketing, and boarding procedures, our flight to Rabat begins on an Air Arabia scheduled service. Upon arrival at Rabat Airport, we transfer to Marrakech by our private bus waiting for us at the airport. For those who wish, we depart for our optional Majorelle Garden & Bahia Palace & Marrakech Medina Shopping (80 Euro) tour. We visit the Majorelle Garden, one of the most beautiful places in Marrakech. Founded by French furniture designer and painter Jaques Majorelle and brought to its present form by the famous fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, we continue our tour with information about argan oil and exotic spices, and visit Bahia Palace, decorated with the country’s distinctive zellige tilework. After the tour, transfer to our Marrakech hotel and free time to rest. Then, for those who wish, we depart for the optional Evening Dinner Chez Ali Fantasia Show (65 Euro) . We enjoy a pleasant dinner made up of traditional Moroccan flavors in a carefully decorated Berber tent, and during our meal we watch dance shows by folk groups from various regions of Morocco. After dinner, in a hippodrome area, we watch the Fantasia show, performed on horseback for hundreds of years, the equestrian acrobatic show, the wedding procession, and the oriental dance performance, and we end our night with wonderful memories. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
Route: Rabat – Marrakech 330 Km (3 Hours 41 Minutes)
Food and drink recommendation of the day: You should definitely try the freshly squeezed fruit juices in Jmaa el fna square
Marrakesh – Essaouira – Marrakesh
After the breakfast we will have at the hotel, departure for our Essaouira & Atlas Ocean tour (80 Euro), which will be organized as an extra for our guests who wish to join. In this region, where Morocco’s argan trees are most abundant, we first visit an Argan Oil Cooperative and receive information about argan oil. Then we arrive in the city of Essaouira, located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. A world-famous former Portuguese city that reminds us of old Bodrum. Declared a “World Heritage” site by UNESCO, the city is not only a fishing harbor on the Atlantic coast and a seaside town where art and culture are intertwined, but it has also been the setting for many productions such as Orson Welles’s Othello and, more recently, the widely watched series Game of Thrones. The city’s fortress, fishing harbor, and Medina, which was built by adapting old Roman cities, are among the places to see. You can explore the city among its narrow, maze-like streets that you will never tire of wandering through, and enjoy pleasant shopping. After our tour, transfer to your hotel in Marrakech and free time to rest. Afterwards, our guests who wish can join the Marrakech Local Restaurant Dar Soukkar Dinner (75 Euro), which will be organized as an extra. While enjoying the menu specially prepared for us at Dar Soukkar, one of the favorite venues of Marrakech nightlife, we watch dazzling shows by modern and traditional dancers and enjoy the evening until late hours with live music and DJ performances. Dinner and accommodation at our hotel.
Route: Marrakech – Essaouira 175 Km (3 Hours), Essaouira-Marrakech 175 Km (3 Hours)
Food and drink suggestion of the day: You should try fresh seafood and fish.
Shopping suggestion: World-famous Moroccan argan oil and cosmetics based on argan oil can be purchased.
Marrakesh – Ouarzazate – Atlas Film Studios
After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Ouarzazate. Along our route, after arriving in Ouarzazate, which has been used as a set for many Hollywood films such as The Message, Jewel of the Nile, The Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander the Great, and Babylon, as well as for the television phenomenon Game of Thrones in recent years, we head to our hotel. Then, for those guests who wish, we depart for our extra Atlas Film Studios tour (25 Euro). On our tour, we visit the Atlas Film Studios, which has hosted the sets of many films and series such as The Message, Jewel of the Nile, The Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander the Great, and Babylon. After our tour, transfer to our hotel in Ouarzazate and free time. Dinner and accommodation at our hotel.
Route: Marrakech – Ouarzazate 193 Km (3.5 Hours)
Food and drink recommendation of the day: You should try Morocco’s special Mint Tea.
Ouarzazate – Erfoud
After breakfast at the hotel, we set off toward the Sahara Desert via Tinghir. Our day will pass like a road story. Along the way, the desert will be on one side and the Atlas Mountains on the other. Water channels, Todra Valley, and M'gouna (the city of roses) are among the places we will visit. For our guests who wish, we depart for our optional Sunset Activity in the Sahara Desert Jeep and Camel Safari tour (80 Euro). We are heading to the sand dunes where we will go on a desert safari. After our tour, transfer to our hotel in Erfoud and free time. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.
Route: Ouarzazate – Sahara Desert (Erfoud) 345 Km (5 Hours)
Food and Drink Recommendation of the Day: You should try grilled kebab skewers or stew.
Erfoud – Midelt – Ifrane – Fes
After the breakfast we will have at the hotel, we depart for Fes. After the photo break we will take in the magnificent Ziz Valley, free time for lunch in the town of Midelt, which is on our route. Then, Ifrane, located in the Atlas Mountains, known as the little Switzerland of Morocco, which we will visit next; is a remarkable tourist center with its ski resort and Swiss-style architecture. After the coffee break we will have here, we continue to Fes. Fes has been protected by UNESCO. Upon our arrival in Fes, after the walk we will take at the monumental gate of the royal palace, Bab-el Makhzen, and in the surrounding Jewish quarter, Mellah, we transfer to our hotel. For our guests who wish, departure for the Palace Medina Dinner and Entertainment, which will be arranged as an extra (50 Euro). In the Riad Palais Medina, decorated with tiles, reflecting the typical architecture of the historic city of Fes, we taste select dishes of Moroccan cuisine accompanied by traditional Moroccan music, folklore, and dance performances. Dinner and accommodation at our hotel.
Route: Sahara Desert (Erfoud) – Ifrane 400 Km (6 Hours 30 Minutes) Ifrane – Fes 65 Km (1 Hour 30 Minutes),
Food and Drink Recommendation of the Day: You should try trout and apple pie in Midelt.
Shopping Recommendation: You can buy precious fossil pieces, rose water and rose essence cosmetic products, and authentic Berber rugs.
Fes - Casablanca
After breakfast at the hotel, we will first depart for our Fes Medina tour. Following our tour, which includes the Attarine Madrasa, Karaouine University, Nejarine Square, Moroccan-specific jewelry and copper items, and the leather tanneries, transfer to Casablanca. Casablanca, which hosted negotiations between the parties and very intensive espionage activities during World War II, owes its fame to the famous “Casablanca” film, which depicts the period and is remembered for the line “Play It Again, Sam.” Today, Casablanca is an industrial city with one of the largest ports in Africa and in the country; among the places we will see are Mohammed V Square, the Hassan II Mosque in panoramic view, and the lively waterfront Corniche. After our tour, dinner and accommodation at our hotel.
Route: Fes-Casablanca 300 Km (3 Hours)
Food and Drink Recommendation of the Day: You should try Moroccan mint tea.
Casablanca – Rabat – Istanbul
We start the day with breakfast at the hotel. First, we head to Rabat, the capital of the country. Rabat, surrounded by eucalyptus and Portuguese cork oak forests, is located on the banks of the Bou Regreg River. Since the exiled king announced his return from this city, Rabat has been the country’s capital. After our visits to Kasbah Oudaya, the Hassan Tower, and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, we head to Rabat Airport at the time determined by our guide. After baggage, ticket, and boarding procedures, our flight to Istanbul begins. After a comfortable and pleasant flight, arrival in Istanbul and the end of our tour.
What's Included
Not Included
ACCOMMODATION NOTES, FLIGHT DETAILS, AND OTHER INFORMATION
Hotel check-in time is between 15:00 and 17:00 / Check-out time is between 10:00 and 12:00.
Departure and arrival times are local times.
Flights marked with * arrive at the destination on the calendar day 1 day after the departure date.
Prices are not valid for groups; please ask for our special prices.
In our Morocco tour, the following points should be noted: men should not wear shorts; women should not wear spaghetti straps, mini skirts, leggings, or shorts; for mosque visits, a long-sleeved cardigan and headscarf are required.
The Moroccan dirham (MAD) is valid in the country, and 1 € is approximately equal to 10 dirhams. Turkish lira is not valid in the country. We recommend bringing Euros or USD for exchange.
The local time zone of the Kingdom of Morocco is GMT+1, and there is a (-2 hours) difference with Turkey. During some periods, this difference may increase to 3 hours.
3O 523 IST RBA 22.50 – 01.50*
3O 522 RBA IST 15.15 – 22.00
October & November & December
30 523 IST RBA 01.40 04.30
30 522 RBA IST 18.00 00.45*
IMPORTANT NOTES
Our tour program is organized with a minimum participation requirement of 40 people. If sufficient participation is not achieved for the trip, the final cancellation notification date by the agency is 21 days before the tour departure. Any tour canceled due to insufficient participation will be notified to you through your agency.
In cases where only category information is provided without naming the hotel(s) in the tour program and/or there are alternative options for the same destination, the hotel(s) will be announced by your agency 48 hours before the tour departure.
During periods such as fairs, congresses, concerts, events, sports tournaments, etc., hotels may be used at distances greater than the specified km or in a different city. In such a case, you will be informed by your agency 48 hours before the tour departure.
The panoramic city tours included in the tour package are tours organized for the general introduction of the cities, lasting no more than 2-3 hours, conducted only by narration from the vehicle and not including museum or archaeological site entrance fees. Panoramic tours and other tours specified in the program are also subject to local authorities not permitting visits or entry on the relevant day and time, or not taking place due to closed roads, or when weather conditions make the tour impossible. In such cases, Lidya Tour is not responsible for the tours not being carried out. Some tours may be conducted by public transportation or on foot where roads are closed or vehicle access is not allowed, if possible.
Triple rooms are subject to hotel availability, and the bed assigned to the third person in such rooms is smaller than standard beds. Triple rooms consist of 1 large bed + 1 extra bed. Since extra beds are foldable and called coach beds, tour participants are deemed to have accepted the possible cramped conditions in the rooms and the bed type for third-person and/or child reservations. Child discounts are valid only for one child staying with 2 adults and matching the relevant age group. No bed guarantee is provided by hotels for children aged 0-2.
Breakfasts included in the tour program are served in hotels according to the breakfast culture of the country visited and generally as a limited menu called continental breakfast, consisting of butter, jam, bread, tea, or coffee, and may be served in a separate hall allocated to the group for groups.
Since tour flights are group tickets, flight times may change. You can confirm the current flight details with your agency. Updated times will be communicated by your agency together with the tour information.
Tour flight times must be confirmed before purchasing a domestic flight. If the guest purchased the domestic connection flight from a different product provider independently of the agency, they cannot request any refund from the agency in the event of the tour being canceled by the agency or in the event of a schedule change. The guest accepts in advance any financial and moral losses that may arise due to cancellation or changes of the tour when purchasing the tour. Lidya Tour cannot be held responsible for this.
According to airline rules; if the outbound flight of round-trip tickets purchased as a round trip is not used, the return flight is canceled by the airline.
Our guests participating in the tour without flight arrangements must be present at the tour starting point on their own means and without any delay. Otherwise, they will have to arrange all transfers on their own.
Lidya Tour is not responsible for guests who do not arrive at the specified airport at the times announced in accordance with airline rules for participation in the tour, who do not complete check-in and boarding procedures on time, or who complete check-in and boarding procedures on time but are unable to board the plane and therefore cannot make the flight. Any costs arising from providing new round-trip tickets necessary for guests who miss the plane to join the tour, as well as transfers in the destination area, etc., are their responsibility.
The personal belongings, bags, suitcases, passports/ID cards of the participants are under their own responsibility, and Lidya Tour is not responsible for items forgotten/lost/stolen. If forgotten items are found, there is no obligation to deliver them to the country and/or person, and the expenses incurred during delivery are borne by the owner of the item.
In cases such as illness, loss, or theft, since the integrity and continuity of the group are essential for the guide, the guide cannot accompany guests individually in such negative situations.
When purchasing the tour, it is mandatory to provide the name as it appears on the passport, date of birth, and passport number correctly. Flight tickets are issued according to this information. Ticket cancellation and change penalty fees resulting from incorrect information will be collected from you.
On some airlines, food and beverage services and online check-in may be subject to a fee.
During the tour, seat numbers on the bus cannot be guaranteed.
The times announced by our guide during our tours are the departure times, the time when the vehicle wheels start turning. Our guide, who is responsible for equally considering the rights of all our guests, will move the vehicle without waiting at the meeting times. In such a case, a guest who is late must arrange transportation to the next stop on their own.
The participant accepts in advance that they will join the tours organized and specified in the tour program, will not disrupt the program, and will therefore additionally pay the amount previously notified in the tour program to the tour official during the trip for expenses such as local guide, museum & archaeological site entrance fees, city taxes, and audio systems with headphones if any. The participant has been fully and completely informed about this.
Extra tours are organized by the local agency we work with, with a minimum participation requirement of 20 people. If the required number is not reached, the tours cannot be carried out or the prices, content, and vehicle used for extra tours may vary according to the number of participants. In addition, the days and times of the tours may be changed by the guide depending on the open/closed status of museums and archaeological sites at the destination and weather conditions. During extra tours, a different guide may accompany our guests.
In our classic packages where extra tours are not included, extra tours are optional and not mandatory. Passengers who do not wish to join extra tours organized during the tour are deemed to have accepted waiting at a suitable rest facility along the route. These passengers are dropped off at a roadside rest facility before the extra tour begins and are picked up from the point where they were left after the tour is completed.
In programs where extra tours are included, payment of museum & archaeological site entrance fees is mandatory.
Lidya Tour is an intermediary institution between the airline and the passenger and is subject to the Hague Protocol of 28.09.1955. There may be a risk of delay on scheduled and special flights, or the times before the current trip and flight may change. Lidya Tour is obliged to notify these changes as soon as possible. Our passengers have purchased the tour knowing and accepting that flight details may change.
VISA
There is no visa requirement for Turkish Republic citizens. For visa application, a passport valid for at least 6 months from the end date of travel is sufficient.
For our guests traveling with a Turkish Republic green passport, if the passport issuance date is older than 10 years, they must renew their passport (extensions are not accepted). Otherwise, they may not be allowed into the destination country and/or their flight may not be operated by the airline. In such a case, the responsibility lies with the passenger.
The passport police have the authority to deny you entry into the country. Lidya Tour is not responsible for this; the responsibility lies with the passenger.
In order to avoid problems with customs police at the border of the country to be visited due to torn, worn, wet, and/or similarly damaged passports, such passports must be renewed, and if the destination country applies visas to Turkish Republic citizens, the relevant visa must be in the new passport. Otherwise, the responsibility lies with the passenger.
Since there is a possibility that police officers at country entry and exit may ask for a document showing parental consent when our guests under 18 travel alone or with only one parent, we recommend that our guests under 18 and their parents pay attention to this matter.