About this trip

Best of Turkey and Morocco Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Istanbul

Welcome to Turkey. Arrival at Istanbul International Ataturk Airport. Meet, assist and transfer to hotel. Its original name is Byzantium then Constantinople. It is a most fascinating city, which actually crosses two continents Europe and Asia. It is a city of amalgamation of bazaars, minarets, mosques, churches, palaces, and restaurants catering to every one's taste, museums, customs and twelve million people. Overnight stay in Istanbul

Day 2: Istanbul to Cappadocia by flight - Cappadocia Tour (B)

Early morning pick up from hotel and transfer to Istanbul airport for flight to Cappadocia . Arrival to Cappadocia. Our Tour guide will meet you at the airport and start for Cappadocia tour. First meeting with Cappadocia, visiting Three Sisters Fairy Chimneys in Urgup which are the most popular and seen on advertisements. That's why people carved some pigeon houses to keep them in certain places. You will see that the houses for the pigeons are like the houses for the people. Then we descend into the center of the earth in the Ozkonak Underground City one of the largest and the deepest of 200 others in Cappadocia. After the tour program transfer to your hotel

Day 3: Full Day Cappadocia Tour (B)

Optional Hot Air Balloon Experience. In the morning, first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley; a journey in the past with its troglodyte houses, visit to Pasabag "fairy chimneys" where the voice of wind mixes with the "songs of fairies" near Zelve. Lunch break in Avanos, center of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC and a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop. Afternoon, visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century). Continue to Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. After the tour program transfer to your hotel. Stay overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 4 : Cappadocia - Konya - Pamukkale (B, D)

Early departure for Pamukkale. On the way visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the world-wide famous mystic. Drive to Pamukkale and overnight in a Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale. Swim in thermal pools till 22.30

Day 5 : Pamukkale - Kusadasi (B, D)

In the morning visit the famous white travertine cascades and the ancient Hierapolis with the Theatre, Apollo Temple and magnificent Necropolis, the graveyard. Then drive to Kusadasi and overnight.

Day 6 : Kusadasi - Ephesus - Istanbul by flight (B)

First visit the Artemis Temple where is one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World. Continue to Ephesus, Walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, among them The State Agora, Odeon, Memnius Monument, the Temple of Domitian, , Polio Fountain, Curetes Street, The Trajan Fountain, The Baths of Scholastica, Hadrian Temple, Latrina, Celcus Library, the gate of Mihridates and Mazues, Commercial Agora and The Grand Theater are two of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus. Grand theatre was built in 3rd century B.C and it was later expanded to 24.000 spectators by the Romans in the 1st century A.D.After Ephesus, Visit House of Virgin Mary. This house is located on the Aladag Mountains 5 miles from Ephesus. At the third Ecumenical Council of 431 in Ephesus, it was claimed that Mary came to Ephesus with St. John in 37 A.D. and lived there until her death in 48 A.D. After the discovery of the house, the Archbishop of Izmir declared it a place of pilgrimage in 1892. On July 26, 1967, Pope Paul VI visited this place and prayed here. After Ephesus tour Drive to Izmir airport for our flight back to Istanbul. Arrival to Istanbul, met by our representative and transfer to the hotel for overnight

Day 7: Full Day Istanbul Tour (B)

09.00 a.m. After breakfast pick up from hotel and our journey begins in Istanbul, the only city in the world situated on two continents. Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul - it's three names span more than 2600 years, nearly 1600 of them as the capital of two of the greatest empires the world has known, Byzantine and Ottoman. We visit the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Hippodrome, where chariot races and the Byzantine riots took place. Visit Grand Bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul.

Update for St. Sophia interior visit: Live guiding is not allowed in St. Sophia after the 15th of January 2024. Guests must have their smartphones and headphones during their visit. If guests do not have headphones, they can buy them at the entrance at the cost of US$3.5. The system is similar to audio guide system. Guests who do not have smartphones will follow the signs and the given information on the signs. For more information, https://ar.demx.org.tr can be visited on your smartphone.

Day 8 : Istanbul - Casablanca (B, D)

After breakfast check out from the hotel and private transfer to Istanbul airport for your flight to Casablanca / Morocco. Arrive at Casablanca Airport, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. Overnight: Casablanca.  Note: Istanbul- Casablanca flight is not included in the package price. It should be booked as part of your international flights. Airfare is approximately $350- $450 per person with non-stop Turkish airlines or Royal Air Maroc.

Day 9: Casablanca-Rabat (B, D) 95km

After breakfast, we will have a half-day sightseeing tour of Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco. We will visit Hassan II Mosque (outside) - the largest mosque outside Mecca, the Mohammad V square, Royal Palace and Habous district and the residential area of Anfa. We will have our (optional) lunch in one of the fish restaurants located at seafront. After lunch we will follow the Barbary Coast to the imperial city of Rabat; the administrative capital city of the Kingdom. We will see Mechouar (ramparts and walls surrounding the Royal Palace), the fortified Oudaya Kasbah, the marvelous Mohamed V mausoleum and Hassan Tower. We will check-in to our hotel in Rabat for dinner and overnight. Overnight: Rabat

Day 10: Rabat-Meknes-Fez (B, D) 220km

Departure to Meknes and visit of the Ismalian capital, famous for its 40km long walls, visit of the Bab Mansour, and the Jewish quarter. After lunch break continue to visit the impressive ruins of the Roman city of Volubilis with photo stop in the holy city of Moulay Idriss. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel in Fez. Overnight: Fez

Day 11: Fez (B, D)

The whole day is devoted to the city-sightseeing of Fez, the spiritual capital of Morocco: the medieval Medina and the Bou Anania Medersa, the Nejjarine fountain, the Foundouq Nejjarine: Museum of woods, Moulay Idriss mausoleum, and the outside of Karaouine mosque. Afternoon: visit of the esplanade of the Royal Palace with its sumptuous golden door and then sightseeing of Fez Jdid. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.Overnight: Fez

Day 12: Fez-Beni Mellal-Marrakech (B, D) 485km

Departure to Marrakesh passing by the Berber village of Immouzer du Kandar and Ifrane (In case of bad wheather in winter time, itinerary can be modified via Meknes, Adaroch passing by farms and of husbandry cows, Mrirert, Khenifra). Lunch break and a moment of relaxation in Beni Mellal, one of the agricultural centres of Morocco. Overnight: Marrakech

Day 13: Marrakech (B, D)

Visit of historical Marrakesh famous by its beautiful palaces and monuments: The Bahia Palace or Medersa Ben Youssef , the Koutoubia Minaret and Menara Gardens. Lunch break in an old palace in the medina. Afternoon: Explore Secret Garden; Rebuilt in the mid19th century by an influential Caid. Complete our sightseeing with a stop at the famous Jamaa El Fna Square with its surrounding souks and handicraft quarters. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel. Overnight: Marrakech
Optional: Fantasia Dinner

Day 14: Marrakech-Casablanca (B, D) 220km

Enjoy a morning at leisure for shopping at the souks. After lunch break departure to Casablanca. Overnight: Casablanca

Day 15: Casablanca (B)

Transfer to Casablanca airport for flight back home. Thank you for visiting Turkey and Morocco!

End of Services

In some departures Morocco will be the first and Turkey the second country to visit.

Turkey part of this tour can be also operated in reverse itinerary (Istanbul- Ephesus- Pamukkale- Konya- Cappadocia- Istanbul) depending on hotel availabilities and other operational conditions. All sightseeing stays same.

Price

Accommodation

What's Included

Package Includes