Jewish Heritage Tour 12 Days 11 Nights ~ Roundtrip from Casablanca

Upon arrival at the Casablanca airport, our driver will be there with a personalized sign to welcome you.  This bustling port city, on the Atlantic Ocean, is the commercial hub of western Morocco.   Overnight accommodation in a hotel or riad.  BB

After breakfast, you will first visit the Temple Beth-El, the Em Habbanim School and the Neve Shalom Synagogue.  From there we will go to the Museum of Moroccan Judaism.  Our final stop in Casablanca will be the Hassan II Mosque, the second largest functioning mosque in Africa, and the 7^th largest in the world.  We will drive to see the famous Rick's Cafe from the movie 'Casablanca' before heading north to Rabat.   Overnight accommodation in a hotel or riad.  BB

Today you will start exploring Rabat, where the ancient and modern collide in the tree-fringed boulevards of this European-flavored, administrative capital of Morocco.  Your tour will include a visit to the Jewish mellah, where a few Jewish families still live.  Among other sights to be seen will be the Kasbah des Oudayas with its beautiful Andalusian gardens located at the mouth of the river Abu Regrag.  The Kasbah was originally built in the 12^th century by the al Mohades dynasty.  A highlight of the day will the Hassan Tower, another UNESCO site in Rabat, which is part of an incomplete mosque also built by the same dynasty in the 12^th century.  At the same location is the mausoleum of Mohamed V and Hassan II with its own amazing architecture.  While at this site you will also walk to have a view of the stunning performing arts center.  Following the visit in Rabat, we will continue to Meknes, the Ismaili capital in the 17^th century with its immense arched and mosaic tiled gate of Bab Mansour which leads into the former Imperial City.  Meknes, with the old and the new mellahs, had a Jewish community with Spanish origins.  Its prominent rabbis included Raphael Berdugo and Daniel Toledano, and David Benn Imdan, ‘the patron of Meknes’.   You will also see a granary and the Sahrij Souani, used for irrigation and planting. We will stop for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing, for half an hour, to the Roman ruins of Volubilis.  On your visit to this historical site, you be accompanied by a local guide.  Volubilis was a part of the Roman Empire and dates to 225 BC.  Here, from the same period, are the most beautiful mosaics in Morocco.  Your guided tour will increase your knowledge of the Roman Empire.  We will then continue the drive to Fes through the beautiful foothills of the Rif mountains.  Overnight accommodation in a hotel or riad.  BB

After breakfast, our local informative guide will take you on an adventure through Fes (or Fez) the intellectual, cultural, and spiritual capital of Morocco.  Fes is primarily known for the Fes El Bali, or walled medina, another UNESCO site, with its medieval architecture, vibrant souks, and old-world atmosphere.  Fes was equally renowned in the Middle Ages for its Talmudic studies and its eminent Rabbis, including the great Maimonides. The numerous synagogues testify to the importance of the Jewish community in Fes.  We will visit the old mellah, the first Jewish quarter built in the country, as well as the well-kept Jewish cemetery with its engraved tombs and the renovated Ibn Danan Synagogue.   Afterwards, we will start outside the medina to see the Royal Palace Gate before entering the medina to experience the sensory stimulating souks.  Exotic spices, vibrant materials and beautiful metal works are just some of the sights you will experience.  As well as spending the morning wandering by the souks, you will visit sites with cultural and historical interest including the famous Medrasa Bouanania, the Karaouine Mosque and the oldest university in the world (built by a woman).  You will also visit the famous tanneries and the Najjarine Fountain.  After a Moroccan lunch, at a local restaurant in the heart of the medina, you will be driven to one of the fortresses to experience an amazing panoramic view of the entire medina.  From there we will visit a pottery cooperative.  Time permitting, we will take a drive through modern Fes to experience a different atmosphere.   Overnight accommodation at your hotel or riad.   BB

We will begin our journey from Fes, traveling southeast towards Merzouga via Midelt and Ziz.  The first stop will be at the town of Ifrane, referred to as the “Switzerland of Morocco” with its alpine style architecture and nearby slopes and forests.  The second stop will be at the cedar forest in Azrou to see Barbary apes.  Our drive towards Erfoud and Rissani will continue.  There will be several stops to take beautiful photographs and one for lunch at your discretion.  We will also stop at a welcoming traditional Berber village where you can interact with local inhabitants. Throughout the day, you will be amazed by the stunning contrast and diversity of the countryside.  As we continue south, the scenery becomes even more stunning and beautiful where the Ziz Valley meets the High Atlas Mountains and creates a breathtaking gorge.   We will arrive in Merzouga in the late afternoon.   Overnight accommodation in a hotel.   BDB

After breakfast in your hotel, we will drive to Erfoud to visit the Jewish cemetery and the Shrine of Shmuel Abu Hatzeira.  On the return to the Merzouga area we may stop and visit the souk in Rissani which occurs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.   Locals come to trade necessary items such as fruits, vegetables, meat, dates, nuts, crafts, spices and even donkeys, sheep, and goats.   This fascinating souk is also a social meeting place where the local communities come to meet each other and hear news of the area. Seven kilometers south of Merzouga is the village of Khamliya.  These inhabitants are direct descendants of the slaves that had been brought from Sudan.  You will spend time enjoying their Gnawa music.  Nearby is Dayet Srij, a seasonal salt lake.  It is often dry in summer, but when full, it attracts a wide range of migratory and desert birds, including desert warblers and flamingos.  This area attracts photographers from all over the world when the birds are present.  Lunch will be at one of the local restaurants in the area. In the afternoon, you will start the guided camel ride, led by an experienced camel driver.  He will lead you across the sand sea of Erg Chebbi and make sure you watch the best sunset of your lifetime.   Overnight accommodation at a luxury desert camp equipped with flush toilets and hot showers.   Dinner and Berber drumming entertainment are included at the camp.   BDB

Today your camel driver will wake you up to watch a beautiful sunrise.  You will see the sun cover the golden sand dunes of Merzouga and the rocky barren Sahara Desert.  After your breakfast at the camp, you will return to Merzouga by camel, or opt for a 4-wheel drive return trip. From Merzouga we will drive to the Dadès Valley for another excellent day.  We will first visit the Todra Gorges, the highest and narrowest gorges in Morocco.  You may have an opportunity to hike for an hour in the area.   We will continue to Tingher to visit its mellah and colourful Jewish quarter.  After lunch, the drive continues to the Dadès Valley.  You will be amazed at the rock formations known as “monkey toes” or “monkey fingers” and sandcastles found in the area.   Overnight accommodation in a hotel.   BDB

After breakfast we will drive to Ouarzazate crossing the Dadès Valley.  We will pass through interesting Berber villages, including Kalaa Mgouna.  It is called the “rose town” as it is famous for the cultivation of rose petals.  One of our main stops will be the Skoura oasis.  Here amongst the palm trees are found numerous ancient kasbahs, some sadly in ruins.  You will visit the famous Amridil Kasbah, a historic fortified residence.  Built during the 17th century, it is considered one the most impressive kasbahs in Morocco.  It is also renowned for the filming of the movies ‘Ali Baba and 40 Thieves” and ‘Lawrence of Arabia’.  We will then continue onto Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood of Africa’’ – whose geography and beautiful landscape have attracted many world class movie producers.  After lunch, if time permits, we will visit the Taourirt Kasbah, Ouarzazate’s main landmark.  This impressive 19^th century fortress has approximately three hundred rooms and twenty riads, or traditional houses built around a courtyard.  Close to this kasbah is a movie studio, said to be the biggest in the world.   The movies ‘Kingdom of Heaven’, ‘Gladiator’, ‘Body of Lies’ and ‘Star Wars’ were filmed here.   Overnight accommodation in a hotel or riad.   BB

Today we are travelling to Marrakech.  But first we will stop at the Ksar of Äit Ben Haddou, twenty-five kilometers from Ouarzazate.  This spectacular fortified village, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a striking example of southern Moroccan architecture. Today, this ksar has also become an attractive location for movie producers.  We will then travel across the High Atlas Mountains with stunning vistas and over the famous Tizi n’Tichka Pass, with views of Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa.  There will be opportunities to take pictures along the way.  We will stop for lunch in the village of Taddart before arriving in Marrakech in the late afternoon.   Overnight accommodation in a hotel or riad.   BB

After your breakfast you will be met by our informative local guide to begin your exciting day tour.  Marrakech, a former Imperial City, is now a major economic center and home to Mosques, Palaces, and Gardens.  This densely packed walled medieval city dates from the Berber Empire in the 12^th century.  In 1558, the mellah of Marrakesh, the second oldest in the country, was established outside the walls of El Badi Palace.  It became a thriving commercial community in the 16^th and 17^th centuries.  Your local guide will ensure that you see the sites with historical and cultural interest, including the Rabbi Hanania Hacohen Cemetery, the burial place of Rabbi Mordechai Ben Attar and Kabbalist Hananiah Ha-Cohen, known as the ‘’patron saint of Marrakech’’.  You will also visit the Saadian Tombs, the Bahia Palace, the Ben Youssef koranic School, and the Koutoubia Mosque.  And of course, you will walk through the famous Jemaa el Fnaa Square. Lunch will be in a recommended restaurant before we drive through the new city to visit the beautiful gardens of Majorelle.   Overnight accommodation in a hotel or riad.   BB

Today we will drive approximately 3 hours to the charming coastal town of Essaouira, formerly known as Mogador. Essaouira is rated by UNESCO as the most beautiful city in Morocco.  Also, the beaches surrounding Essaouira are rated as ‘Blue Flag’ meaning they have met high environmental and quality standards.  During the drive we will pass through Argan forests, stop, and see goats in trees and visit one of the women’s cooperatives which produce argan oil for cosmetic, medical, and culinary use. After arriving in Essaouira you will be met by our knowledgeable local guide for a wonderful tour of the town.  Essaouira was established in the mid eighteenth century by Sultan Sidi Mohamed ben Abdallah on the site of a sixteenth century Portuguese fortress.  It quickly became a major trading post between Africa and Europe.  During that period, the Jewish Quarter or mellah was established to extend the Sultans protection to the Jewish inhabitants allowing Jews and Muslims to coexist in a peaceful community.  The Jewish community was an integral part of Moroccan society and had a significant role in Essaouira’s economic development.  Your tour will take you through the mellah, visit the recently re-opened Simon Attias Synagogue and the Jewish cemeteries. From there you will visit the Skala fortress, see the magnificent canons and watch falcons, and gulls hover above the nature reserve on the Purpuraires Islands.  To the north of the Skala you may see surfers, windsurfers and kite surfers all taming the waves.  Be sure to ask your guide to show you the many places in Essaouira immortalized in film.  Your guide will take you to the fishing port with its bustling fish market and through the medina where you will learn more of the town’s fascinating history and see many artisans at work including the Thuya (a local wood) carvers.  In the late afternoon, we will return to Marrakech.   Overnight accommodation in a hotel or riad.   BB.

After your breakfast and depending upon your departure time, we will drive you to the airport in time for your flight.  Here we say goodbye and your tour ends.