Morocco Jewish Tour                                             (10 Days – 9 Nights) – Departs Daily Year- round

The Kingdom of Morocco has long been a land of tolerance and coexistence. The 2,500 year old Moroccan Jewish community has a magnificent and little-known history and culture rooted in Africa and the Muslim world.
From the Ocean to the Sahara…This fascinating adventure takes you on a journey to cover Morocco’s natural, historic and Jewish highlights. You’ll get a taste of the exotic charms of the wild Atlas Mountains with its snow capped peaks, lush oasis, intrigues of the marketplace, camel caravans, great Imperial cities with their Kasbahs and the old Jewish Quarters. If you wish to discover the great Jewish culture and take a sneak peek back into time, then this is the Moroccan tour to explore Moroccan Jewish and to experience the rich Jewish and Arab cultures along with Berber, Spanish, Roman and other influences.

Day 1: Casablanca

Upon arrival at Casablanca airport, your first treat is a panoramic drive through the city of Casablanca to view the Royal Palace, the architecture of Place Mohamed V, Anfa, the residential area and the Marabout of Sidi Abderrahman (a holy shrine built on a rocky outcropping in the Atlantic ocean to which women travel from all over Morocco in search of miracles) and explore the romantic beachfront with its world famous shops, restaurants and nightclubs. We will visit the famous Hassan II Mosque. Recently built, it is the largest in the world outside Mecca. Then we will visit the Mellah (Jewish Quarter) with its temples and synagogues such as Beth-El, the largest synagogue and an important community center, The Jewish cemetery in the Mellah is open and quiet, with well-kept white stone markers in French, Hebrew and Spanish. We will visit the Museum of Moroccan Judaism of Casablanca, this is the first Jewish Museum in an Arab country. It presents religious, ethnographic and artistic objects that demonstrate the history, religion, traditions and daily life of Jews in the context of Moroccan civilization.

Overnight

Day 2: Rabat

After breakfast we depart to Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Experience walking to the bustling Medina, followed by a visit to the Kasbah of the Oudayas, the Great Mosque, the unfinished Hassan Tower ; it is the counterpart of Marrakech’s Koutoubia Mosque and the Giralda Cathedral in Seville, Spain, all of which were built by the Almohad Dynast and the magnificent Mohammed V Mausoleum (Mohamed VI. Revered by Muslims and Jews alike, Mohamed V was able to save Moroccan Jews from the fate of their European brethren during the Vichy regime’s occupation in World War Two) Next we will visit the Jewish quarter with its narrow lanes and colourful courtyards, the near-by Mellah has a beautiful synagogue just inside its gates, while the main synagogue is found a few blocks onward in the New City. You will drive past the ramparts and the walls of Mechouar that encompass the Royal Palace. Outside the city walls of Rabat, we will visit another walled city, the ancient ruins of Chellah, where Jews are believed to have lived during the time of the Phoenicians. Then we will visit the Kasbah des Oudayas, situated on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with magnificent views.

Overnight

Day 3: Rabat ▬ Volubilis ▬ Meknes ▬ Fez

Breakfast, departure for Meknes Travel through lush rolling hills studded with the fertile plains of ancient olive groves and vineyards which await you in the Ismalian capital of Meknes. Known as Moroccan Versailles" which was founded at the end of the 17th Century by Moulay Ismail, where the Jewish presence is evidenced by Hebraic epitaphs dating from the Christian era as well as Greek inscriptions that still appear in local Synagogues. You may wish to visit the aging Talmud Torah in the Jewish Quarter and the new Mellah (Meknes had two of them: the original one and the 20th-century new Mellah). Visit the tomb of Rabbi David Benmidan, who was the "Patron of Meknes" and is another pilgrimage shrine. In the new Mellah there are 11 synagogues of which eight are still in use today.
After sightseeing tour of the city, your journey will continue until you reach Moulay Idriss. For those who are unable to make the pilgrimage to Mecca for the Hajj duty, it is of equal merit to make five trips to Moulay Idriss, the holiest Muslim site in all of Morocco. Afterward, you will visit the extensive ruins at Volubilis, once the Roman capital of North-western Africa, which is an archeological site and is among the most extensive in the world. You will complete the last leg of the day’s journey, and will arrive at Fez in the evening.

Overnight

Day 4: Fez

Breakfast at your hotel. The whole day will be devoted to the sightseeing of Fez, the oldest cultural and spiritual imperial city of Morocco, which was founded in 790 B.C by Moulay Idriss II. Spend a memorable morning taking a special look at the Jewish history and culture of traditional Morocco. Explore the Mellah (Jewish district) of Fes, founded in 1438 and once home to tens of thousands of Jews, 40 synagogues, the Bet Din, communal ovens, ritual baths and schools. Visit the vast Jewish cemetery opposite the gates of the Royal Palace and the nascent Jewish Museum at the Em HaBanim synagogue. Visit the recently restored Ibn Danan synagogue – the oldest extant synagogue in Fez. In the afternoon we will explore Medieval Medina, the Medersas, the El Qaraouiyyin Mosque, Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II the founder of Fez in the ninth century who encouraged the Jews to move to Fez and the sumptuous Najjarin fountain, Then we will visit countless souks and the famous tanneries to observe various craftsmen performing their work reminiscent of ancient techniques.

Overnight

Day 5: Fez ▬ Ifran ▬ Midelt ▬ Erfoud ▬ Merzouga

After breakfast, we will leave Fes and its magnificent history heading to the magical south of the Morocco. In some small villages in the south, we will come across Jewish Heritage as quite good numbers of the Jews used to live all over the south of Morocco in co-existence with the local Berbers of the area. We will leave through the scenic Middle Atlas Mountains and charming cities of Ifran and Azrou. The latter is very famous for its craftsmanship. Stop lunch in small town of Midelt, we will continue south along the Ziz River until it finally dies out in the Sahara desert and you arrive at Erfoud, This town was the major Jewish population center of the Tafilelt, where Jews lived and financed the caravan trade with Sub-Saharan Africa from as early as the eighth century. Jews worked as merchants and artisans as late as the twentieth century. Highlights will include also the Jewish cemetery; it is sandy but otherwise well-preserved….We leave the van and ride the Land Rover taking the road of Merzouga to attend to lie down it of the sun in dunes of Erg Chebbi that constitute the big curiosity of the corner. It is real moving sculptures in the shape of draperies whose colours vary according to the intensity of light. They stand as the living defensive walls to doors of the desert.

Overnight (under Nomadic tents)

Day 6: Erfoud ▬ Tinghir ▬ Mgouna ▬ Ouarzazate

After breakfast, we will start the city tour of Tinghir where a good number of Jews used to live during the 20th century. We will visit the Jewish quarter, the area where Jews used to live in co-existence of the local Berbers, and the Jewish Cemetery. After time we will enjoy some time walk along the very beautiful valley and on the banks of the river to appreciate the beauty of a very long oasis of more than 40 km rich with palm trees and many sorts of fruits. After the visit of Tinghir, we will head to Ouarzazate through the route of the one thousand and one Kasbahs. On the way, we will pass via the Dades Valley, one of the longest valleys in Morocco, and El Kelaa M’Gouna. The latter is famous for cultivating roses, and every year, there is a big festival celebrating this beautiful crop. The festival always attended by thousands of people from all parts of the world and every year, the local people elects the most beautiful lady of the area and crow her. In Kelaa Mgouna also, many products extracted from roes are to be expected. We will continue our tour to Morocco’s Hollywood Ouarzazate.

Overnight

Day 7: Ouarzazate ▬ Ait-ben Haddou ▬ Marrakech

Depart for Marrakech and on your way, you will visit the "seat" of Glaoui tribal power, Kasbah Taourirt, considered as one of the most beautiful kasbahs in Morocco. Continue the trip to the wonderful fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, the most spectacular fortress village in the south of Morocco and the film making village where many great films were shot. Continue to Marrakech through the Tizi-n-Tichka pass (2260m) the highest pass over the Atlas Mountains.

Overnight

Day 8: Marrakech

After breakfast, we will have a full day city tour of Marrakesh to discover its rich Jewish Heritage along with some other historical monuments of the city. Our city tour will include the former and current synagogues within the Mellah near which we will also find an original Jewish cemetery, several centuries old. The cemetery is now below ground-level, completely covered, and hidden by a second "generation" (level) of graves. The current cemetery, at ground level, dates back about 200 to 300 years. Though the cemetery is still in use, it is extremely full and has only one small area remaining for future burials. There are no divisions for Orthodox or other branches Judaism, but only for Jewish burials. Our city tour of Marrakesh will also include the defining landmark of the city, the 12th century tiled minaret of the Koutoubia. Next to it, the Saadian tombs and Menara garden. Later we will enjoy sometime walk around the famous Jamaa El Fna square with its snake charmers, fortune tellers and arrays of food.

Overnight

Day 9: Marrakech ▬ Essaouira ▬ Marrakech

You will take a full day excursion to Essaouira city to relax and enjoy this splendid small city on your own. Essaouira is known for its annual festival of "Gnaoua music". The city is a very welcoming and attractive city with a beautiful old Medina which is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site that never ceases to seduce its visitors. The attractiveness of Essaouira is reflected in its beautiful architecture, cultural treasures, curving sandy beaches, and stunning combination of ocean view, Essaouira's highlights include: Place Moulay El Hassan, The Skala, the old Portuguese harbour, the ramparts, the Jewish district and cemetery.

Overnight

Day 10: Marrakech / Casablanca airport

After breakfast, private transfer to Marrakech or Casablanca airport for your departing flight.


Accommodation Information

Night	City	Class	Hotels & Riads
1 Night	Casablanca	3* / 4* / 5*/ 5*L	Please specify your desired hotel category The list will be provided upon request
1 Night	Rabat	3* / 4* / 5*/ 5*L
2 Nights	Fez	3* / 4* / 5*/ 5*L
1 Night	Merzouga	3* / 4* / 5*/ 5*L
1 Night	Ouarzazate	3* / 4* / 5*/ 5*L
2 Nights	Marrakech	3* / 4* / 5*/ 5*L

• Single supplements & Group discount are available upon request
• Children fare ( please see our terms & conditions )

Notes

• You can modify the itinerary according to your specific budget, dates, interests or cities of arrival or departure
• The tour can be shortened, extended or modified to end wherever as the guests wish

Included Services

• Private air-conditioned vehicle
• Private English speaking driver for the entire trip
• First class accommodation
• Daily breakfasts & some dinners
• Certified tour guide in Rabat, Fez, Marrakech
• 4 wheels drive to Merzouga dunes
• Camel trek
• Entrance fees to historical sites / museums
• Departure transfer

Excluded Services

• International air fare
• Travel Insurance
• Lunches / drinks
• Personal spending

Please contact us for more information