Jewish History Morocco Tour 9 Days/ 8 Nights
Route Details:
Itinerary
Day 1
Casablanca - Rabat
The Morocco Tour will start by meeting your driver at Mohamed V Airport in Casablanca, the largest city in Northern Africa and the economic capital of the kingdom after the sightseeing which will include the United Nations place, Mohammed V square, the residential area of Anfa, external visit of the famous Hassan II Mosque one of the largest in the world, and one of the few Mosques open to non-Muslims in the country, and the beautiful Ain Diab corniche the nightlife of the city lined up with restaurants and swimming pools. Casablanca is home to the largest Jewish community in Morocco and has numerous congregations, active communal institutions a visit to the Jewish Museum in Casablanca, this is the first Jewish Museum in an Arab country. We stop at the Beth El synagogue, then we head along the Atlantic coast to Rabat.
Day 2
Rabat - Meknes - Volubilis - Fez
After breakfast, we visit the capital of Morocco Rabat, our sightseeing begins with the Kasbah of the Oudayas, the exquisite Mohamed V Mausoleum tomb who saved Moroccan Jews from the occupying Vichy regime during World War II. Explore Rabat’s Jewish cemetery and sites, visit the imposing Hassan Tower built in 1196, the 14 century Necropolis of Chellah and the ramparts and walls of the Mechouar surrounding the Royal Palace.
We continue to fez via Meknes city the former imperial city built at the end of the 17th century by King Moulay Ismail. The city 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 and a place of pilgrimage where the tomb of Rabbi’ David Ben midan, “The Patron of Meknes” is located. The crowded old Mellah, there is also the new Mellah (Jewish quarter), which contain eleven Synagogues, eight of which are still in use.
The highlights will include the old ramparts, the Moulay Ismail stables and granaries. Also visit the gate of Bab el Mansour, one of the most beautiful gates in Morocco; and the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum and Lahdim square. After lunch we will then continue to Moulay Idriss the holiest city in Morocco in the creation of the country’s first Arab dynasty and where the founder of Islam in Morocco is buried, then Volubilis the settlement of the great Roman empire, Morocco’s largest and best preserved Roman ruins then we continue to Fez.
Day 3
Walking Fez City Tour
Day 4
Fez - Ifrane - Midelt - Erfoud - Merzouga Desert
Morning departure to Erfoud via the Middle Atlas Mountains and the cedar forest, passing by through the Berber villages and towns of Imouzzer, Azrou and Ifran a charming ski resort well-known for its wood carving. It is said that Ifran was the capital of a Jewish Kingdom in the distant past.
We will stop in a small town, Midelt, for an optional lunch before continuing to Erfoud. Along the way, we will pass by Errachidia and the Ziz valley dotted with palm trees, which are the source for the annual Date Festival in Erfoud. You will then come across a totally different face of this country. Here, you will find the huge sand dunes Merzouga, the Saharan dune field closest to Europe where you can sit and gaze at this barren beauty, walk up one of the dunes.
Nearby Erfoud is the point of departure for your Sahara desert immersion we set out on a sunset excursion to the breathtakingly beautiful sand dunes at Merzouga on the edge of the Sahara in the enormous silence we watch the sun set over the desert as we take a camel ride along the dunes to experience an unforgettable ride according to the Bedouine way of life. The «desert ship» would carry you through sand dunes and spectacular scenery. It will be followed by a magical guided-tour and the admiration of a star studded sky. Then a bivouac would be set up around a wood fire. You would appreciate the Bedouin traditional dinner. Accommodation will be provided under a nomadic tent to beneath the innumerable stars of the clear desert sky and awake with the sunrise to watch the colors of the desert changing in front of your eyes.
You have the choice of spending the night in a hotel in Erfoud after exploring the sunset with camel ride in dunes or spending the night there in Merzouga under a nomad tent.
Day 5
Merzouga - Rissani - Tinghir - Ouarzazate
After break taking view of the sunrise, return to Erfoud for orientation including Jewish cemetery, we visit the nearby city of Rissani, the holy city where Moulay Ali Cherif, ancestor of the Alaouite dynasty is buried, with its 18th-century Ksar, a virtually impenetrable warren of alleys; then continue on to the ruins of 17th-century Ksar Abbar fortress.
Continuing South to the Land of a Thousand Kasbahs where many Kasbahs, once the fortified houses of Berber warlords, are still seen, some crumbling and some still inhabited by Berber families, the day features one beautiful scene after another, including the village of Tinghir, a stunning mountain oasis rising on a series of river-side terraces lush with palm trees; and the spectacular Todra Gorge from its plunging depths to its 1000 foot high cliffs.
Lunch on the way, continue to Tinghir and visit its Mellah gateway and the ancient and colorful Jewish quarter, then we visit Kelaa Mgouna, known for its roses, then continue to Ouarzazate a desert outpost in the Southern Kasbah region used as a location backdrop by many epic films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Alexander the Great and Jesus of Nazareth… offering an old town with its maze of narrow streets and a new town, we reach the city in late afternoon.
Day 6
Ouarzazate - Ait ben haddou - Marrakech
Morning departure to Kasbah Tourirt the old Glaoui Palace and the near by Mellah Jewish quarter. Then road towards Ait ben haddou kasbah. The UNESCO World Heritage site in Southern Morocco’s most interesting and scenic villages, visit its old synagogue. Then as we begin our descent from the High Atlas, visit through typical villages with fortified walls and stone houses with earthen roofs. Lunch in Tizi N’Tichka, different panoramic view by the sneaky road of high Atlas mountains (alt 2260M). Overnight at charming Riad in Marrakech Medina.
Day 7
Marrakech Walking City Tour
Day 8
Marrakech - Essaouira - Marrakech
Day 9
Departure Transfert - Casablanca airport
Tour Included:
- Pickup and drop-off in your accommodation or airport
- Vehicle with A/C and fuel
- English speaking driver/guide
- Nights en-suite accommodation
- Camel ride in Sahara desert
- Night in nomadic tent under star’s
- Sandboarding
Not included:
- International airfare
- All beverages and alcohols
- Dinners in imperial cities
- Optional activities
- Tips for any personal
