Jewish Heritage Morocco

( 5 Star )

Visit: Casablanca-Rabat-Fes-Meknes – Volubilis-Erfoud - Ouarzazate - Asni-

Itinerary
Inclusion / Exclusion
Dates Pricing

Upon arrival at Casablanca airport we will meet your representative who will introduce you to an expert guide and tour director.Time permitting we will be guided through the city of Casablanca to see the ArtDeco architecture of the old French quarters stopping at the most important synagogue of the city and walking through the Jewish quarter. And We will visiting the Jewish Museum of Casablanca created by the Foundation of the MoroccanJewish Cultural Heritage to preserve the rich past of the Jewish civilisation in Morocco. We will also stop to see HASSAN II mosque, one of the largest in the Islamic world. Our lunch will be in a kosher restaurant in Casablanca before we leave for Rabat.Dinner and overnight in Rabat

After breakfast at the hotel. Today we start with a discovery of the capital of Morocco, Rabat with its royal Palace area (19th), the Necropolis of Chellah (14th) with the Roman ruins of Sala Colonia (1st), the Kasbah Oudaya (12th) with its Andalusian gardens, and the History Museum where we will see a tombstone with Hebrew inscriptions discovered in the Roman archaeological site of Volubilis. We end by a visit to the Mausoleum of King Mohamed V who has a special place in the heart of every Jewish person of Moroccan origins for his bold and daring reply to Hitler during the Second World War when he refused to supply a list of all the Moroccans of Jewish faith. After an optional lunch we drive to the city of Fez across the agricultural plains. Dinner and overnight in Fes

After breakfast, we start with a visit of the “Mellah”; the Jewish quarter built by the Jews who had been driven out of Spain. First we enter the cemetery where the Rabbi’s, Judges and Saints of the Jewish community in Fes are buried. We will meet a member of the Jewish community of Fes, Mr Edmond GABBAY who is in charge of the cemetery and also preserving the Jewish heritage. We will walk in the streets of the Mellah to admire the beautiful Moorish architecture the Jews brought from Southern Spain and we will stop to visit the Synagogue AbenDanan (17th century) and El Fassiyine, which is older. Both synagogues have been restored recently. From here we will go to see the Blue gate of Fes, one of the main entrances to the 9th century old Medina (Fes El Bali). We will visit the 14th century Medressa and see where the house of the Jewish philosopher, Maimonides, was. Lunch will be in the Jewish club of Fes to enjoy some of the specialities of the Jewish cuisine in Morocco.We will continue our walking tour in the colourful animated souks, handicrafts centres, commercial squares and medieval monuments of the old Fes. Overnight stay in Fes.

After breakfast ,This morning we will go for a short drive to Meknes, another old capital of Morocco built around 1672 by the King Moulay Ismail and was once inhabited by a large Jewish community. Visit Bab El Mansour gate with magnificent proportions, the granaries that are as big as a cathedral, and the stables where hundreds of horses were kept and the pool covering almost ten acres used once to irrigate the gardens of the Royal Palace. Visit the Jewish quarter and its two old cemeteries and the former Hebraic Thalmud-Thora School. After an optional lunch we will continue to Volubilis, the most important archaeological site in Morocco, known for it refined mosaics and monuments. More than 2000 years ago, a Jewish population lived here as mentioned on some tombstones either in Hebrew or Greek. In the late afternoon we will drive back to Fes across the foothills of the Rif Mountains.Overnight in Fes

After breakfast Today we will discover the geographical contrasts of Morocco, as we will be heading south across the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas Mountain and the arid rocky mountains of the High Atlas. We will enjoy marvellous landscapes, green plateaus, small lakes, forests and along this long drive we end up admiring the desert zones and amazing rock formations along the gorges of the Ziz valley down to the Oasis of Tafilalet. Dinner and overnight in Erfoud

After breakfast , visit the old oasis Tafilalet that saw once the birth of the current Moroccan dynasty in the 17th century. We will visit the town of Rissani, which was a major caravan centre in medieval times and later, the residence of a few members of the royal family. We will see an old Jewish cemetery, the Jewish quarter where an old synagogue can be visited. From here we drive to the 14th century ksar Ouled Abdelhalim, an old fortified village where the chiefs of the Tafilalet oasis lived once.After a traditional lunch next to this old village we will go for a real adventure in a 4X4 vehicle across the desert to the spectacular sand dunes of the Sahara. We will then go for a camel ride to admire a beautiful sunset before we end in our private camp for a memorable night in the Sahara desert. Dinner and overnight in Desert Camp

After breakfast, in our camp, we will drive westwards across several oases before we get to the breath-taking canyons of Todgha. This is one of the most spectacular valleys of the South of Morocco where we will be making many stops to take pictures, admire the scenery and hike. When we arrive in the deep gorges we will start a walk dominated by the amazing 1000 ft deep canyon. After lunch we continue to the valley of the Dades and the country of roses, also known as the road of “The one and Thousand Kasbahs”.Dinner and overnight in Ouarzazate

After breakfast,We will start the day with an interesting visit to the Kasbah of Ouarzazate and the Unesco protected village of Ait Ben Haddou where we will visit some of its old and beautiful Kasbahs. We may want to have an early lunch here before we take one of the most beautiful roads in Morocco across the TiziN’Tichka pass (7000 ft) to Marrakech. En route, we will stop to visit the sanctuary of Rabbi David Ou Moshe in the Berber village of Agouim. Overnightin Marrakech

After breakfast This morning we will be guided through the 16th century Jewish quarter ‘The Mellah’ to see its beautiful Moorish architecture and colourful spice and herbs markets. We will enter the synagogue to see the shrines of Rabbi Hanania Hacohen and Rabbi Mordekhai Ben Attar who are important tombs for the Jewish community of Marrakech. We will visit the oldest synagogue in Morocco dating back to the year 1492, synagogue “Salat Laazama” is still in use and gives the opportunity to learn more about the Jewish community of Marrakech. We will enjoy lunch in a Jewish home of the Mellah, an occasion to meet a local Jewish family. In the Afternoon, we will visit the colourful artisan quarters and the famous animated square of Marrakech. We will end the day in the main synagogue of Marrakech, the Synagogue Beth El where we can meet the rabbi. Overnight in Marrakech

After breakfast today we will take a trip to the shrines of some of the most important Rabbi’s in the region of Marrakech. First, we visit the sanctuary of Rabbi Shlomo Ben Lahnech located in one of the most spectacular valleys south of Marrakech and meet the Jewish family in charge of this holy place. After visiting the valley of Ourika, we will cross the mountains to the valley of Asni and visit the shrine of Haim Ben Diwane in the village of Ouirgane. Lunch in the mountain resort of ‘La Roseraie”after which we will be driven to the village of Amizmiz to visit the shrine of Rabbi Raphael Hacohen. Overnight in Marrakech

After breakfast the last day of our tour will be spent in the city of Mogador (Essaouira) to discover its rich Jewish History. The Jewish community of Essaouira was the most important in Morocco since 1760 when the city was founded. We will drive to the Atlantic coast this charming city and start by visiting the shrine of Rabbi Haim Pinto in the old Jewish quarter; we continue exploring the city starting at the Old Portuguese fortress dating back to the 16th century, the pleasant markets, the fishing port, the museum and the art galleries. After an optional sea food lunch we will drive back to Marrakech.Dinner and overnight in Marrakech

After breakfast transfer and assistance to Marrakech airport for departure

Inclusion

11 Nights Accommodations at hotels as shown or similar / with daily Breakfast A/C Private deluxe Transport at disposal High qualified English Speaking Guide throughout Entrance fees to monuments throughout the program Meals as mentioned in the itinerary Transportation by 4wd jeep in the desert Camel Riding in the desert VIP Fast Track at the airport (arrival & departure flights)  Water in the car during the Tour  All Local taxes

Exclusion

International / Domestic Airfare Optional activities Meals, drinks, tips and other personal expenses or services not specified on the program Personal equipment Travel insurance Gratuities Voluntary tips for guides or drivers Travel and medical insurance Personal expenses Certain meals not included please refer to Inclusions

Note

1.Optionals on request at additional costs. 2. These are starting from fares subject to revision at the time of booking. Hotels La Tour Hassan or Similar Palais Faraj or Similar Palais De Désert Luxury Desert Camp Berbere Palace Villa Des Orangers