The Glorious Kingdom of Morocco and the Sahara Desert 6 Nights - With THY Departing on November 16 (November Semester Special)

1st Day İstanbul – Casablanca – Marrakech

Meeting 3 hours before the flight in front of the Turkish Airlines counter at Istanbul Airport international departures terminal. After baggage and ticket procedures, departure to Casablanca at 11:50 with Turkish Airlines flight TK 617. After arrival in Casablanca at 14:50 local time, our Marrakech city tour begins with our vehicle waiting for us at the airport. After our arrival in Marrakech, we begin to discover Marrakech, whose narrow streets will take you back centuries, and whose 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, the Bahia Palace, which offers a wonderful impression of what it was like to be a noble in Morocco in the 19th century, the Koutoubia Minaret, one of the city's most important symbols, the Majorelle Gardens, home to a collection of plants from all over the world, and Djemaa El Fna Square, the heart of the city, called the “Courtyard of Souks and Wonders,” are among the places we will see. After the tour, transfer to our hotel and free time. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. 
 

2nd Day Marrakech – Essaouira – Marrakech

After breakfast at the hotel, we join the UNESCO World Heritage Grand Essaouira Tour. Essaouira, which has hosted civilizations on its shores since ancient times, is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and is known for its medina (city center) surrounded by old white city walls, narrow streets, and traditional markets. The city center, listed by UNESCO as a “World Heritage” site, is a quiet seaside town that offers a relaxing escape, in addition to being a fishing port. Compared to Marrakech, the city has a very peaceful atmosphere. Over the years, this atmosphere has attracted many world-famous artists such as 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, 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, where the elegance of traditional Moroccan architecture meets 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.
 

3rd Day Marrakech – Film Studios – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate

After breakfast at the hotel, departure to Ouarzazate. Our first stop on 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 proceed 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 makes visitors feel as if they are traveling back in time with its high adobe walls, corner towers, and narrow streets. Taken onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987, Aït Ben Haddou offers incredible shots for photographers, especially with its structures turning red at sunset. Our final stop on the tour is our hotel in Ouarzazate, which has hosted many Hollywood films and Hollywood artists, where we arrive and give free time. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
 

4th Day Ouarzazate – Sahara Desert (Merzouga)

After breakfast at the hotel, we set off towards the Sahara Desert. With the desert on one side and the Atlas Mountains on the other, our first stops will be Todra Valley and M'gouna (Rose City). Then we head to our hotel in Merzouga (Sahara Desert). Upon arrival, we settle into our rooms and enjoy the desert. Don't forget to photograph the sky in the desert darkness at night and the sunrise in the morning. Accommodation at our camp in the desert.
 

5th Day Sahara Desert (Merzouga) – Ifrane – Fes

After breakfast at the hotel, Ifrane, located at an altitude of 1,700 meters and notable for its orderly city plan, is called “Switzerland of Morocco” because of its clean air, wide avenues, and chalet-style architecture with sloping roofs. We set off for Fes, which we will visit here. In accordance with the tradition of naming Berber countries after their capitals, as in the examples of Tunisia and Algeria, the country of Morocco 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 is listed as a World Heritage Site and is one of the largest and oldest urban pedestrian zones in the world.  On our old city tour, the Bou Inania and Al Attarine Madrasas, exceptional examples of Islamic architecture, the Andalusian Mosque, the Karaouine University, one of the world's oldest institutions of higher education, Nejjarine Square, and the artisans' bazaar will be seen. The tannery where leathers are processed in the Medina still uses techniques that have remained unchanged since the Middle Ages. Transfer to our hotel after the tour. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. 
 

6th Day Fes – Blue Chefchaouen – Meknes – Rabat – Casablanca

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 enchanting town is famous for its blue-painted buildings and is therefore also known as the “Blue City.” Chefchaouen, whose every corner and street is painted in different shades of blue, attracts visitors not only with its natural beauty but also with its unique atmosphere. As you stroll through the narrow streets of the city, you can discover traditional bazaars, handicraft shops, and local restaurants. The city also bears traces of local culture and lifestyle; the local people, who keep the Berber tradition alive, 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, 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. On our city tour in Meknes, which has the distinction of being one of the country's four royal cities, we will see the city's most important symbols: the Bab Mansour city gate, a stunning example of Moorish 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 the panoramic city tour we will do after arrival, the Hassan Tower and the Mohammed V Mausoleum, built in memory of the grandfather of the current king, pioneer of Morocco's independence, and the Royal Palace are among the places we will see. After the tour, transfer to our hotel in Casablanca. Overnight stay and dinner at the hotel.
 

7th Day Casablanca – Istanbul

After breakfast at the hotel and checkout, our Casablanca city tour begins. Morocco's main port, the city famous for the 1942 Hollywood film Casablanca, which took its name from the city, is the country's economic center as well as its most populous city. As you walk through the streets of the city, you can see the influences of Islam, French, and Berber heritage from its rich cultural past. Among the places we will see are Mohammed V Square, the heart of Casablanca; United Nations Square, where Morocco's past and present are magnificently blended; the majestic Hassan II Mosque (exterior), famous for having the world's 2nd longest minaret; the Old Medina; the Hobus district, famous for its open-air markets; and Ain Diab and Corniche on the seaside along the Atlantic Ocean coast. After the tour, we head to the airport at the time to be announced by our guide.  After baggage and ticket procedures, departure to Istanbul at 16:45 with Turkish Airlines flight TK 618. Arrival at 23:25 local time and end of our tour.