Magnificent Morocco and the Sahara Desert – 6 Nights with Turkish Airlines, December 27 (New Year’s Special)

Meeting in front of the Turkish Airlines counter at the international departures terminal of Istanbul Airport 3 hours before the flight. Following the baggage and ticket procedures, departure for Casablanca at 11.50 on Turkish Airlines flight TK 617. Upon arrival in Casablanca at 14.50 local time, our Marrakech city tour begins with our vehicle waiting for us at the airport. Following our arrival in Marrakech, we begin exploring the city, which will take you centuries back with its narrow streets and derives its name 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” due to its famous red walls. During our city tour, the Bahia Palace, which offers 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 landmarks; the Majorella 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 Miracles,” are among the places we will see. Following our tour, transfer to our hotel and free time. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. 
 

After breakfast at the hotel, we join the Unesco World Heritage Magnificent Essaouira Tour. Essaouira, which has hosted civilizations since ancient times, is located on the Atlantic coast and is known for its medina (city center), surrounded by white old city walls, narrow streets and traditional markets. Essaouira, whose city center is included in the ‘’World Heritage’’ list by Unesco, is a tranquil coastal town where art and culture intertwine, in addition to being a fishing port. The city has a quite peaceful atmosphere compared to Marrakech, offering visitors the opportunity for a relaxing escape. Over the years, this atmosphere has also 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 most recently hosted the filming of the famous Game Of Thrones series. During our tour, the Essaouira walls and Essaouira Castle, Essaouira Port, where the fish market is located, and the world-famous Medina are among the places we will see.  In Essaouira, which bears the elegance of traditional Moroccan architecture alongside traces of modern life, you will also have the opportunity to shop while exploring the city. After the tour, we return to our hotel in Marrakech. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
 

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Ouarzazate. Our first stops along the way will be the film studios and Ait Ben Haddou. 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 proceed to Ait Ben Haddou, a historic village renowned for its traditional earthen architecture. Located at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, on the ancient Saharan caravan route, this impressive settlement gives visitors the feeling of traveling back in time with its tall adobe walls, corner towers, and narrow streets. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, Aït Ben Haddou offers photographers incredible shots, especially with its structures taking on reddish hues at sunset. The final stop of our tour is our hotel in the city of Ouarzazate, which has hosted many Hollywood films and artists, where we will have free time. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
 

After having breakfast at the hotel, we set off towards the Sahara Desert. Accompanied by desert views on one side and the Atlas Mountains on the other, our first stops will be the Todra Valley and M’gouna (the Rose City). We then travel to our hotel in Merzouga (the Sahara Desert). Upon arrival, we settle into our rooms and enjoy the desert. Do not forget to photograph the sky in the darkness of the desert at night and the sunrise in the morning. Accommodation at our camp in the desert.
 

Following breakfast at our hotel, we head to Ifrane, located at an altitude of 1,700 meters and known for its well-planned urban layout. It is referred to as the “Switzerland of Morocco” due to its clean air, wide avenues and chalet-style architecture with sloping roofs. From here, we depart for Fes. In accordance with the tradition of naming Berber countries after their capitals, as in the examples of Tunisia and Algeria, Morocco also takes its name from the city of Fes. Built around the Fez River, which flows from west to east, the walled city is also known as the “Mecca of the West.”  Fes city center has been listed as a World Heritage Site and is one of the largest and oldest urban pedestrian areas in the world.  During our old city tour, we will see the Bou Inania and Al Attarine Madrasas, unique examples of Islamic architecture; the Andalusian Mosque; Karaouine University, the world’s oldest institution of higher education; Nejjarine Square; and the artisans’ bazaar. The tanneries in the Medina, where leather is processed, use techniques that have remained unchanged since the Middle Ages. Transfer to our hotel after the tour. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel. 
 

After breakfast at the hotel, we join the ‘’Magnificent City Blue Chefchaouen’’ tour. Located in northwestern Morocco at the foot of the Rif Mountains, this fascinating town is famous for its blue-painted buildings and is also known as the "Blue City" for this reason. Chefchaouen, with every corner and street painted in different shades of blue, attracts visitors with its unique atmosphere as well as its natural beauty. While strolling through the city’s narrow streets, you can discover traditional bazaars, handicraft shops and local restaurants. The city also bears 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 have made this city one of Morocco’s most appealing and unforgettable destinations. After our tour, we set off for 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 structures. During our city tour in Meknes, one of the country’s four royal cities, the magnificent Bab Mansour city gate with its Moorish-style architecture, Agdal Basin built by Moulay Ismail, Lahdim Square and Dar El Makhzen (Royal Palace) are among the places we will see. After our tour, we depart for the Magnificent Capital Rabat. Following our arrival, during the panoramic city tour, Hassan Tower, the Mohammed V Mausoleum built in memory of the grandfather of the current king and a pioneer of Morocco’s independence, and the Royal Palace are among the places we will see. After our tour, transfer to our hotel in Casablanca. Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel.
 

Following breakfast at the hotel and check-out, our Casablanca city tour begins. Morocco’s main port, Casablanca is famous for the 1942 Hollywood film of the same name and, besides being the country’s economic center, is also its most populous city. As you walk through the city’s streets, you can see Islamic, French and Berber influences reflecting its rich cultural heritage. Mohammed V Square, the heart of Casablanca; United Nations Square, where Morocco’s past and present are magnificently blended; the Hassan II Mosque (from the outside), famous for its magnificent structure and being home to the world’s second-tallest minaret; the Old Medina; the Hobus district, famous for its open-air markets; and Ain Diab and the Corniche along the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean are among the places we will see. Following our tour, departure for the airport at the time to be announced by our guide.  After baggage and ticket procedures, departure for Istanbul at 16.45 on Turkish Airlines flight TK 618. Arrival at 23.25 local time and the end of our tour.