Morocco and Marrakech Tour

On to Marrakech

We meet at the Air Arabia counter in the international departures terminal of Sabiha Gökçen Airport, 3 hours before the flight. Please note that you need to be at the airport on the evening 1 day before the stated departure date. After check-in we board Air Arabia flight 3O438, departing at 00.20 for Casablanca. We land at 03.25 local time and drive on to Marrakech in our waiting vehicle.

Marrakech takes its name from the Berber words "mur akush", meaning "Land of God". Its red walls earned it the name "Red City", and its narrow lanes still carry the feel of past centuries.

Our city tour covers the Bahia Palace, a window into the life of a 19th century Moroccan noble, the Koutoubia Minaret, the Majorelle Gardens with plants from around the world, and Djemaa El Fna Square, known as the "Courtyard of Souks and Wonders". After the tour we check in to our hotel for free time. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day trip to Essaouira

After breakfast at the hotel we join the tour to Essaouira, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Set on the Atlantic coast and inhabited since very early times, Essaouira is known for its white-walled medina, narrow streets and traditional markets. It is a working fishing port and a quiet seaside town where art is part of daily life, far calmer than Marrakech. Over the years this atmosphere drew names such as Cat Stevens, Jimi Hendrix and Orson Welles, and the town has also served as a filming location for Game of Thrones.

On our tour we see the Essaouira city walls and fortress, the harbour with its fish market and the medina, with time to shop as we explore. After the tour we return to our hotel in Marrakech. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Film studios and Ait Ben Haddou

After breakfast we set off for Ouarzazate. Our first stop on the way is the film studios and Ait Ben Haddou. We see the studios where The Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander and Game of Thrones were shot, then continue to Ait Ben Haddou, a historic village known for its earthen architecture.

Set at the foot of the Atlas Mountains on the old Saharan caravan route, the village feels like a step back in time, with tall mud-brick walls, corner towers and narrow lanes. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, it is a favourite with photographers, especially at sunset when its buildings turn red.

The day ends in Ouarzazate, a town that has hosted many Hollywood films and actors. We check in to our hotel for free time. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Into the Sahara Desert

After breakfast we head for the Sahara, with the desert on one side and the Atlas Mountains on the other. Our first stops are the Todra Valley and M'gouna, the "City of Roses". We then continue to Merzouga in the Sahara, where we stay tonight.

We settle into our rooms and take in the desert. Do not forget to photograph the night sky in the desert dark and the sunrise in the morning. Overnight at our desert camp.

Ifrane and Fes madrasas

After breakfast at the hotel, we visit Ifrane, situated at an altitude of 1.700 metres and noted for its orderly urban plan. With its clean air, broad avenues and chalet-style architecture featuring sloping roofs, it is known as "the Switzerland of Morocco." From here, we depart for Fes. Built around the Fez River, which flows from west to east, this walled city is also known as "the Mecca of the West." Fes city centre is listed as a World Heritage Site and is one of the world's largest and oldest urban pedestrian zones. During our old city tour, we will see Bou Inania and Al Attarine Madrasas, unique examples of Islamic architecture, Andalusian Mosque, Karaouine University, an ancient institution of higher education, Nejjarine Square and the artisans' bazaar. The tanneries where leather is processed in the Medina use techniques that have remained unchanged since the Middle Ages. After the tour, transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel.

Blue Chefchaouen and back to Fes

After breakfast we join the tour to Chefchaouen, the Blue City. Set at the foot of the Rif Mountains in northwest Morocco, the town is known for its blue-painted buildings, which earned it the name "Blue City". Every corner is washed in a different shade of blue, and the town draws visitors as much with its atmosphere as with its natural setting.

Walking its narrow streets, you can browse traditional markets, craft shops and local restaurants. The local people, who keep Berber traditions alive, give visitors a warm welcome. After the tour we transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Meknes, Rabat and Casablanca

After breakfast we set off for Meknes. Set between the coastal plains and the peaks of the Atlas Mountains, the city has been a crossroads of trade and culture since antiquity. Known as the "city of a hundred minarets", Meknes is one of the country's four imperial cities. Our city tour takes in the Bab Mansour gate with its Moorish architecture, the Agdal Basin built by Moulay Ismail, Lahdim Square and Dar El Makhzen, the Royal Palace.

We then continue to Rabat, the capital. A panoramic city tour takes in the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, built in memory of the current king's grandfather and a leading figure of Moroccan independence, and the Royal Palace.

After the tour we drive to Casablanca, where our city tour begins on arrival. Morocco's main port is the country's economic centre and its most populous city, and it gave its name to the 1942 Hollywood film. Islamic, French and Berber influences sit side by side in its streets.

The tour covers Mohammed V Square at the heart of the city, United Nations Square where Morocco's past and present meet, the Hassan II Mosque (from the outside), with the world's 2nd tallest minaret, the Old Medina, the Habous district known for its open-air markets, and the Atlantic seafront of Ain Diab and the Corniche. After the tour we transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Free time and flight home

After breakfast and hotel check-out, free time. At the time announced by our guide we transfer to the airport. After check-in we board Air Arabia flight 3O437, departing at 16.50 for Istanbul. We arrive at 23.40 local time, and our tour ends.