Morocco Jewish Tour

Today your Jewish tour of Casablanca begins with a breathtaking trip to the Hassan II Mosque, standing atop a point overlooking the beautiful Atlantic. During the guided tour, you'll have the rare opportunity to study the intricate marble works, spectacularly gilded cedar ceilings, and stunning stone and wooden carvings. Later, you'll tour the main synagogue of the city, the Beth-El Temple, renowned for its exquisite stained-glass windows and a popular attraction for travelers from across the globe. You'll then visit the Museum of Moroccan Judaism to gain further insight into the culture. After, you'll head to the Habous Quarter in the New Medina and experience a unique fusion between European art deco and Moorish style. Here, you'll visit both the Temple Em Habanim and Neve Chalom. Before you depart Casablanca, you'll enjoy a delightful Kosher lunch. Then, you'll make the journey to Rabat, where you'll view the Hassan Tower Mosque and the Mausoleum of King Mohammed V, before visiting the walled ruins of Chellah with its ancient Jewish dwellings. Lastly, you'll marvel at the incredible views of the Atlantic from the Kasbah Oudaya.

After having a hearty breakfast, we set out for the town of Tetouan, known for its longstanding Jewish community. Established after the Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492, it has served as the major center of intellectual and religious activity in the north of Morocco. There is a well-maintained Mellah in the traditional Andalusian style that was built in 1808. It is unique for still having a majority of Jewish residents who continue to practice their Judeo-Spanish language and traditions. An interesting historical landmark is the cemetery, particularly the Castillian section that is the burial ground of the earliest settlers from Spain. Within the Mellah are three active synagogues, with the oldest one contained within the Rabbi's house, and being the most picturesque with several associated legends. Notable is the fact that the first Universal Alliance school was established in Tetouan in 1862 when Morocco regained control of the city from Spain. We will journey onward to the famous blue-washed city of Chefchaouen, where we will stay the night, enjoying dinner at our hotel.

Today you will visit enchanting Chefchaouen and Ouazzane, a holy city venerated by both Muslims and Jews alike. At Ouazzane, witness one of the largest pilgrimage gatherings for Moroccan Jews, the Hiloulah. Continue onto Meknes, also known as "the Moroccan Versailles", to explore the Hebraic and Greek inscriptions found in local Synagogues and the tomb of Rabbi’ David Benmidan, “The Patron of Meknes”. After lunch, drive towards Fez, home to the well-preserved Roman city of Volubilis and its traces of Jewish settlement. Spend the night in the medieval city of Fez.

Today, you will experience the grandeur of Fez Medina, the ancient religious capital of Morocco, surrounded by 9 miles of ramparts. We will begin the guided tour at the imposing Royal Palace, with its seven awe-inspiring bronze gates. Then, we will visit the Mellah district, with its vibrant atmosphere and distinctive Moorish-Hispanic buildings, before going to the Jewish cemetery and Ibn Danan synagogue, a testament to the scope of the area's Jewish community. From there, we will climb to a high point to appreciate the sprawling view of the old Medina. We will then make our way to the pottery quarter, observing the unique local craftsmanship, and continuing into the bustling maze of narrow lanes. Here, you can explore the vibrant markets, stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables, piles of spices, handwoven carpets, brassware, silverware and jewelry of both traditional and modern styles. We then visit El-Attarine, El Bou Inania Medersas, and the marvelous Karaouine university-mosque. After a lunch stop in the heart of the medina, at the picturesque Nejjarine Square, we will finish the tour at Bab Boujloud, the iconic Blue Gate. Our journey will end after returning to your hotel accommodation for an overnight stay with breakfast.

Today, we are departing from Fez and venturing to a different part of Morocco. We will cross the Middle Atlas Mountains and make a brief stop in Ifrane, which is known as the "small Switzerland" and home to the first ski resort in the nation. We will be able to take in the stunning sights of mountains and plains, as well as see a species of native monkeys, the Maggot Monkeys, living in the cedar forests around Azrou. We will break for lunch in Midelt to celebrate the annual Apple Festival. Afterwards, we will continue on to Errachidia, the city named after Prince Moulay Rachid in 1971, and pass through the Ziz Valley and the Arfoud Gate of the Sahara Desert. In Arfoud, Jews were a large part of the population and were merchants and artisans up until the 20th century. We will end our journey in Merzouga, below the Erg Chebbi sand dunes of the Sahara Desert. There, travelers will have the option of riding camels or taking a jeep to watch the sunset, and spend the night in a desert camp under the stars, where dinner will be served.

Following a delicious breakfast at the dunes of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga, we set off for the old irrigation system located in the oasis of Ziz. The arid landscapes of our journey gave way to the picturesque town of Tinghir and its spectacular Todra Gorges. Here we explored the area between the limestone cliffs and marvelled at their strangely beautiful erosions along with the exotic, multi-colored Kasbahs. After lunch, we headed to Tineghir and its ancient and vibrant Jewish quarter, Mellah. As we continued our journey, we found ourselves in the Rose Valley, where thousands of tiny pink Damascene roses grow. Our final destination of the day was the town of Ouarzazate, often referred to as the "Hollywood of Africa," where we stopped for dinner and to spend the night at a hotel.

Following a delicious breakfast, visitors will embark on a unique journey to one of the world’s foremost cinematic hubs - Atlas Studios. Participate in an insightful tour of the mesmerizing local landscapes and Desert that have been featured as both fictional and realistic backdrops in many famous films. The journey will continue to the historic Ait Benhaddou Village - a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987 - with its impressive list of cinematographic works such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth and Gladiator. After lunch, the tour will continue to Marrakech via the stunning Atlas Mountains and a possible detour to the Rabbi David Oumouchy and the Moulay Ighi. End the day by checking in to the hotel and a delicious dinner.

Today's sightseeing journey will take us to the vibrant city of Marrakech, renowned for its Jewish community and renowned rabbinical schools. We’ll start at the Mellah, home to the Negidim and Salat el Alzama synagogues, then visit the cemetery of Rabbi Hanania Ha-Cohen and Rabbi Pinhas Cohen. Our tour continues to the magnificent Bahia Palace and the 16th century Ben Youssef Madrasa Islamic school, where we can explore its intricate Zellij, cedar ceilings, and calligraphy. Afterwards, take a stroll through the narrow alleyways and souks of the city. We'll then visit the 12th century Koutoubia Mosque and the 500-year old Saadian Tombs, before heading to the Majorelle Gardens for some botanical wonders. To conclude, we'll visit the Djemâa El Fna square before returning to the hotel.

After your morning meal, you'll have the exciting opportunity to explore the postcard-perfect coastal city of Essaouira. Noted for its gleaming white buildings and bright blue skies, many celebrities have been known to admire Essaouira, including the Rolling Stones, Orson Wells, and Jimi Hendrix. Be sure to take a stroll through the ancient Jewish quarter, the Mellah, which makes up 10% of the town. During the 18th century, the city's historic Medina was built up, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city puts on an annual Gnawa music festival, which honors the Islamic art form of North Africa. Furthermore, a committee was founded by former citizens of the city (many of them Jewish), and they have kept up with the upkeep of the cemeteries and are planning to restore two of the city’s original synagogues.

We take a picturesque coastal route from Essaouira to Casablanca, making stops to explore the charm and history of each city. In Safi, we journey through the ancient Mellah and visit Oulad Ben Zmirou, home to an established Jewish community, as well as their influential Portuguese fortress. We break for lunch in Oualidia, where we partake in a local fish dish while admiring the view of the bay. El Jadida's 18th century Portuguese citadel, formerly the Jewish quarter, is our next stop, and we end the day in Casablanca, the bustling economic capital.

Head to the airport to wrap up your trip from the Jewish Heritage Tour in Morocco! Soak in your amazing experiences and cherish the memories you've made while you take off back home.