Magnificent Kingdom of Morocco and Sahara Desert 7 Nights – with Air Arabia Airlines, December 27 (New Year’s Special)

Meeting in front of the Air Arabia Airlines counter at Sabiha Gökçen Airport’s international departures terminal 3 hours before the flight. (It is necessary to be at the airport on the evening of the day before the departure date specified in the tour.) After baggage and ticket procedures, departure for Casablanca at 00.20 on Air Arabia Airlines flight 3O438. Upon arrival in Casablanca at 03.25 local time, departure for Marrakech in our vehicle waiting for us at the airport. After arriving in Marrakech, we begin exploring the city, which will take you back centuries with its narrow streets and takes its name from the word “mur akush,” meaning “Land of God” in the language of the Berbers, the oldest indigenous people of North Africa. One of the country’s most important tourist destinations, Marrakech 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 19th-century noble in 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 Miracles,” will be among the places we visit. Following our tour, transfer to our hotel and free time. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. 
 

Following breakfast at the hotel, we join the Unesco World Heritage Magnificent Essaouira Tour. Essaouira, whose streets have 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 on Unesco’s “World Heritage” list, is a tranquil coastal town where art and culture intertwine, in addition to being a fishing port. The city has a very peaceful atmosphere compared to Marrakech, offering visitors a relaxing escape. 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 cultural center. The town most recently hosted the filming of the famous Game of Thrones series. During our tour, the Essaouira ramparts and Essaouira Castle, Essaouira Port, where the fish market is located, and the world-famous Medina are among the places we will visit.  In Essaouira, bearing the elegance of traditional Moroccan architecture alongside 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 stay at the hotel.
 

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Ouarzazate. Our first stop 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 continue to Ait Ben Haddou, a historic village famous for its traditional earthen architecture. Located at the foot of the Atlas Mountains on the ancient Saharan caravan route, this impressive settlement offers 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 at sunset when its buildings take on reddish hues. 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 views of the desert on one side and the Atlas Mountains on the other, our first stops will be the Todra Valley and M’gouna (Rose City). We then head 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 darkness of the desert at night and the sunrise in the morning. Accommodation at our camp in the desert.
 

After the breakfast we will have at the hotel, Ifrane, located at an altitude of 1,700 meters and notable for its well-planned urban layout, is known as the “Switzerland of Morocco” due to its clean air, wide avenues, and chalet-style architecture with sloping roofs. From here, we depart for Fez, which we will visit. In keeping 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 Fez. Surrounded by walls and built around the Fez River, which flows from west to east, the city is also known as the “Mecca of the West.”  The city center of Fez 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. In the tanneries in the Medina, where leather is processed, techniques unchanged since the Middle Ages are still used. Transfer to our hotel after the tour. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel. 
 

After breakfast at the hotel, we join the ‘’Magnificent Blue City Chefchaouen’’ tour. Located in northwestern Morocco, at the foothills of the Rif Mountains, this charming town is famous for its blue-painted buildings and is therefore also known as the "Blue City." Painted in different shades of blue on every corner and street, Chefchaouen attracts visitors with its unique atmosphere as well as its natural beauty. As you wander through the city’s narrow streets, you can discover traditional bazaars, handicraft shops, and local restaurants. The city also bears 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 have made this city one of Morocco’s most attractive and unforgettable destinations. After our tour, transfer to our hotel. Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel.
 

After breakfast at the hotel, 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 Antiquity. Known as the “city of a hundred minarets,” Meknes is home to many remarkable structures. During our city tour of Meknes, one of the country’s four imperial cities, the places we will see include the striking Bab Mansour city gate, featuring Moorish-style architecture and one of the city’s most important symbols; the Agdal Basin, built by Moulay Ismail; Lahdim Square; and Dar El Makhzen (the Royal Palace). After our tour, we depart for the magnificent capital, Rabat. Following our arrival, during our panoramic city tour, we will see the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, built in memory of the grandfather of the current king and a pioneer of Morocco’s independence, and the Royal Palace. After our tour, we depart for Casablanca. Following our arrival, 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 the city with the highest population. As you stroll through the city’s streets, you can see Islamic, French, and Berber influences reflecting its rich cultural heritage. The places we will see include Mohammed V Square, the heart of Casablanca; United Nations Square, where Morocco’s past and present are wonderfully blended; the Hassan II Mosque (from the outside), famous for its magnificent structure and for having the world’s second-tallest minaret; the Old Medina; the Habbous district, famous for its open-air markets; and Ain Diab and the Corniche along the Atlantic coast. After our tour, we transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
 

After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, free time. Then depart for the airport at the time specified by our guide. After baggage and ticket procedures, depart for Istanbul at 16:50 on Air Arabia flight 3O437. Arrival at 23:40 local time and the end of our tour.