Morocco Jewish Tour

Morocco Jewish tour has more to offer than just a pretty sight of Morocco. It is a great learning opportunity matched with an enriched serving of Moroccan Jewish heritage on the side and the starry Sahara Desert experience (with a luxurious night under a private tent in the luxury camp), a beautiful Sephardic presence and sweet welcoming locals.  Visit Morocco and taste the famous Moroccan Jewish cuisine by opting for, Kosher food or Shabbat services. You can costumise your Morocco Jewish tour to fit your requirements and interests.

Highlights

dot circle icon Explore the Moroccan Jewish Heritage of Mellahs, Cemetries and Synagogues.
dot circle icon Watch acrobats and snake charmers entertain in Marrakech’s Jemaa el-Fna Square
dot circle icon Understand the impact of the Jewish heritage on the Moroccan culture.
dot circle icon Visit the marvelous Kasbahs & the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Morocco.
dot circle icon Wander the medieval maze bustling of alleyways of the fascinating old Medina in Fes.
dot circle icon Experience starry sky and ride friendly Camels in Sahara desert.

Brief Itinerary of Morocco Jewish Tour

Detailed Morocco Jewish Heritage Itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech

Welcome to Morocco! Your first day of your Morocco Jewish tour. Welcome to Marrakech!  a.k.a the “Red City” for its old red sandstone walls, Marrakech has always been a major travel destination in Morocco. Upon your arrival to the pearl of the south, you will be greeted by your private driver and transferred to your Riad / Hotel, where you will check in and relax. As soon as you feel refreshed, your Morocco Travels’ professional driver will take you to wander through, the lively entertaining Jemaa El Fna Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its snake charmers, acrobats, storytellers and musicians. After a traditional dinner of welcome overlooking the lively Square, return to rest at your accommodation in the old Medina of Marrakech

Day 2: Marrakech – Guided Trip

Marrakech was a home of a thriving strong community of native and Spanish Jews, specialized in commerce and handicrafts, famed for their rabbinical schools and scholars. Start your Morocco Jewish tour of sensuous Marrakesh with a visit to the Jewish Mellah with its well-kept cemeteries and synagogues, continue on to the 19^th Century Bahia Palace, and the 16th-century Ben Youssef Madrasa Islamic school to appreciate the exquisite zellij, the carved cedar ceilings, and calligraphy. Wander around the labyrinth of narrow alleyways to Indulge your senses and explore the colorful bustling souks of Marrakech. Visit Dar Si Saïd Museum, then move next to the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque, check out the lavishly-decorated 500-year old Saadian Tombs. From here drive to the Menara Gardens.  In the afternoon, explore the Majorelle Gardens—one of the must-see attractions in Marrakech, famous for his botanical interest by growing plants and trees from around the world. Finally, finishing your guided visit in the Djmaâ el Fnaâ Square enjoying a quintessentially Moroccan Dinner. return to your riad (a traditional Moroccan house with an interior garden) in the evening.

Day 3: Marrakech →Essaouira

Start this Morocco Jewish tour the right way with a healthy breakfast accompanied by a splendid day trip to the ancient Phoenician town Essaouira, set out at around 8:30 AM for almost a 3-hour drive west to the Atlantic coast. Abandoned by the Portuguese in 1541, the mesmerizing fishing town surrounded by hand-painted blue, white and yellow houses, is famed for its ramparts, Islamic-Jewish history, skilled craftsmen, stunning art galleries, enthusiastic artist community and fresh seafood, also this awe inspiring seaside Essaouira is very well-known for its annual Gnaoua Music Festival, which is a grand event that attracts more than 300,000 people in June!

Essaouira invites you to wander through the narrow alleyways which make up this enchanting Medina to witness artisans at work making their inlaid wooden Thuya tables and boxes and sundry items in lemon or briar wood inlaid with mother of pearl – the purple dyes produced by the crushed shellfish were exported from the offshore Purple Islands by the conquering Romans to color the togas of the rich back home. Visit the fishermen port, the Mellah and its two historical synagogues – the Slat Rabbi Chaïm Pinto and Slat Attias.

Leave for a walk around the Jewish cemetery, just outside the city gates, is well-kept, whose oldest known gravestone dates from 1776, with about 500 in the old cemetery and about 3,500 in the new. Jews from around the world gather here for an annual pilgrimage to visit Rabbi Haim Pinto’s grave (the hiloula of Chaïm Pinto is held in September). Even now, the home of Rabbi Haim Pinto’s stands a remarkable historic – religious site, it is an active synagogue that is used when the pilgrims visit this holy place.

You’ll be pleasantly surprised to find what this artist-colony town has to offer with its many seafood restaurants where you might take your dinner. Overnight at the hotel/Riad in Essaouira.

PS: We also provide an Essaouira day trip from Marrakech

Day 4: Essaouira →Agadir →Taroudant

Refreshed after an amazing overnight, have a full breakfast, then leave Essaouira along the exquisite coastal road to Agadir, famous for its beautiful sandy beaches and resorts, along the way you will see goats perched on the branches of the Argan trees, you may see also the White Stork, the National Bird of Morocco and you will doubtless see Collared Doves, Swallows and Bulbuls. Arrive at Agadir, then visit the Kasbah of Agadir Oufla, a small fortified communal granary and enjoy a lunch overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. From here, the drive goes to Taroudant “Little Marrakesh “through Sous Valley scenery and along a route that’s a reserve for the indigenous argan trees. Argan oil is highly prized for its culinary, cosmetic and medicinal uses and is only produced in Morocco, and is certainly a trademark of Morocco around the world. Enjoy awe-inspiring landscapes while your private tour guide shares amazing stories of the sites, you will visit. Explore Tarouddant, bordered by the dramatically stark Western High Atlas Tichka Plateau and to the south by the Anti Atlas, it is one of the oldest Medinas in the Kingdome of Morocco. Well-known, with its beautiful gardens, tanneries, ochre coloured ramparts, gateways, bustling and winding alleyways, colourful souks of  fine tooled cotton and wool; antiques, spices and deeply-grained aromatic burl wood from the Thuja. Tonight, you’ll stay in an authentic palace in Taroudant

Day 5: Taroudant →Taliouine→Tazenkht → Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah → Ouarzazate

After Breakfast we now set forth to the fascinating Berber village of Arazane where you will visit the 500-year-old most interesting Dodi Synagogue, then continue south to the small town of Taliouine where you will stop for a lunch to experience a tagine with saffron in a very old major saffron-producing area, visit the local Cooperatives of biological saffron to understand the secrets of cultivation and benefits. The mountains’ dry climate is ideal for such a culture. saffron by hand, discover saffron’s secrets, and taste delicious saffron tea.

We now set off south to Tazenakht and from here to the Tiffoultoute Kasbah, ancient residence of Glaoui (the former Pasha of Marrakech, towards the alongside the Assif Ounila Valley to reach the magnificently exotic and the UNESCO-protected kasbah of Ait Benhaddou. Wander around the maze lanes passing by 11th-century muddy dwells before climbing up to the old Granary, a perfect spot to admire the Aït Benhaddou Kasbah and the surrounding valley. As you continue to explore the kasbah, keep an eye out for the ancient camel caravan trade routes that once connected Marrakech and the Sahara Desert and enjoy visiting places featured in some famous movies, such as the Game of Thrones, The Jewel of the Nile, the Gladiator, and the Lawrence of Arabia.  From here to Ouarzazate to stay the night in an old Kasbah.

Day 6: Ouarzazate →Tinghir →Erfoud →Sijilmassa →Merzouga

Delight in a full breakfast, then tour one of the world’s largest cinematographic studios to learn how the nearby regions and breathtaking Sahara Desert landscapes have been portraited in fiction and non-fiction movies. Continue driving along the palm’s grove of Skoura and make a stop at Kelaat M’Gouna (Citadel of the M’Gouna Tribe) where thousands of small, pink Damascene roses are grown to make the beloved rose oil essence used in the beauty and medicinal products. After passing the Glaoui kasbah of Aït Youl, you will reach the Berber small town of the Boumalne Dades, then continue driving through the arid landscapes to the small town of Tinghir, located at the mouth of the fabulous Todra Gorges,  here enjoy a leisurely walk in and around the gorge and venture up between the high limestone cliffs with their exotic shaped erosions and beautiful green vegetation, Kasbahs ranging in colors from greenish black to dark red and startling lime-white. Onwards to the Tafilalet Oases and the end of the Route of 1000 Kasbahs where you will see the magical Khettara, holes that have been dug to give access and air to old underground water canals. In the afternoon, you will arrive at Erfoud, the gate of Sahara Desert, where meteorites as well as crocodile teeth, shark, pterosaur and Spinosaurus fossils continue to be found. Catch the first sightings of the massive sand sea of Erg Chebbi looming on the horizon, before you will be greeted by mint tea. Hop on your camel and ride into the desert guided a professional friendly guide to enjoy sunset over the golden dunes in the Erg-Chebbi. Enjoy a delicious dinner while being entertained with traditional music and drums. You have the opportunity to overnight in a Berber tent. There is nothing comparable to the star-filled sky as you spend the evening in the Sahara Desert.

Day 7: Erg Chebbi →Ziz  Palms’ Oasis →Middle Atlas Mountains →Ifrane →Fez

Continuing our Morocco Jewish tour heritage adventure, we will rise early to witness the magical sunrise over the dunes. Test your skills on the dunes by a Sandboard, join an optional quad ATV tour, or just relax at your luxurious tent.

After breakfast, you will begin your journey towards Fez with a first stop in the 8th-century caravan town of Rissani, once called “Sijilmassa,” recognized by the World Monuments Fund as an important trade crossroads linking Morocco, Europe, Sudan, Mali and Ghana in medieval times. You will visit also the Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif, the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty, which rules Morocco to this day before paying a visit to the 150 years old synagogue and the Jewish quarter (Mellah). As you cross the spectacular valley of Ziz Palms, you will arrive in Midelt for lunch. During the French protectorate in the first half of the 20th century, the local Jewish community has increased here. Still, most of them have now moved to bigger cities such as Casablanca, Tangier, and Marrakech. Continue through the middle Atlas Mountains and cedar woods forests to Ifrane, a charming ski resort. En route, pass Azrou, an important Berber town specialized in cedar wood handicraft. While driving, feast your eyes on the stunning panoramic views and cherish nature the cool healthy breeze. After this, the journey takes you to the glorious medieval Medina of Fes.

Day 8: Explore the Medieval Medina

Wake up fresh and rejuvenated after a good night’s rest, and have a hearty breakfast at your beautiful Riad/ Hotel in Fes. Today is devoted to a guided tour to Fez Medina, A fascinating two-thousand-year-old religious Morocco’s capital, surrounded by 9 miles of ramparts, strategically positioned on the old caravan trading crossroads which once connected the Saharan empires with Europe. Welcome to this exciting reminiscent of a Jerusalem, it contains more places of worship than any other city in Morocco (more than two hundred holy shrines and mosques). Start your private tour in Fez from the impressive Dar el Makhzen to stop at the Royal Palace with its magnificent seven glorious bronze gates. From here you walk to the Mellah with its intense atmosphere and fine Mauro-Hispanic architecture, continue to the nearby Jewish cemetery and the Ibn Danan well-kept synagogue, which testifies the importance of the Jewish community Fez. Head now to the Borj Sud to enjoy the panoramic view of the old Medina, then move next to visit the ceramics quarter where you learn about the unique local pottery handicraft and see the old kilns. Off now down to start your Walking Tour of the bustling labyrinth of the ancient Fes Medina, visit the colorful tanneries and explore the narrow streets lined with fresh fruit, mounds of spices, intricately woven Berber carpets, beautiful brassware, Jewish-originated silverware, traditional and modern Jewelry. Visit the el-Attarine, the Bou Inania Medersas, and the marvellous Karaouine university-mosque. Stop for lunch at a traditional restaurant in the heart of the medina, nearby the delightful Nejjarine Square famous with its fountain and caravanserai. End your day trip in the blue gate “Bab Boujloud” then return back to your hotel or riad for dinner after a day full of contrasting culture and journey into centuries of history.

Day 9: Roman Ruins in Volubilis → Meknes → Rabat →Casablanca

Start your Morocco Jewish tour day the right way with a healthy breakfast accompanied by a splendid trip to the well-preserved ruins of the Roman city of Volubilis where you will see a Hebrew epitaph proving the existence of a Jewish community during the Roman occupation; the World UNESCO site of Volubilis contains mansions, incredible mosaics, ancient olive presses, monumental arches and Corinthian columns. through the holy small hilltop town of Moulay Idriss, once the most venerated pilgrimage site in all of Morocco, to Meknes, the capital of Moulay Ismail’s empire, was once called “the Moroccan Versailles”, strategically located in the foothills of the Middle Atlas and surrounded by fertile plains and abundant water supplies. It was Birthplace of the famous 18th century scholar and cabbalist Ribbi Hayyim Ben Moses Ibn Attar. Start your journey here, driving through the Ramparts and monumental gates, visit the glorious Bab al-Mansour, the bustling El Hedim Square, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail which memorialises the Alaouite Sultan who protected the Jews while securing control of the Moroccan empire, continue on to visit the granaries, the Royal Stables, and the House of Water. From here to visit the new and old Mellah, beautiful well-kept synagogues, and the old Jewish cemetery, where several saints are buried including the ‘Patron of Meknes’ Rabbi David Benmidan,

You will complete the tour driving to rabat, visit Mohamed V Mausoleum, the the neighbouring unfinished minaret of the Great Mosque, known also as the Hassan Tower. and the delightful 12th century Kasbah of the Oudayas and the King’s Palace to savour and photograph the impressive arches, redolent of the finest Islamic architecture of the. Next you arrive at the Chellah necropolis, where Jews are have lived during the time of the Phoenicians. In the evening you will alongside the Atlantic Ocean to Casablanca, conclude your amazing day with a sumptuous dinner and overnight at your luxury hotel.

Day 10:  The Jewish Heritage in Casablanca

Casablanca, home to the largest remaining Jewish community in Morocco eating in kosher restaurants, attending Jewish schools, worshipping in over 30 synagogues and enjoying recreation at Jewish Community Centers. Begin your Jewish tour of Casablanca with a visit to the magnificent Hassan II Mosque, an architectural masterpiece, and a symbol of an Islam open to the world sitting pretty on an outcrop overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Unique to Morocco, it is the only mosque where non-Muslims are permitted to enter. During your guided tour inside the mosque, feast your eyes on the intricate marble work, gilded cedar ceilings, stone and wood carving. From here, drive to visit the Temple Beth-El, the main Jewish Synagogue, famous for Its uniquely beautiful stained-glass windows attracting tourists from around the world. Not just this, but experience the Jewish culture by paying a visit to witness the ethnography in its finest form at the Museum of Moroccan Judaism. It is truly a historic marvel! Move down now to the Habous Quarter in the New Medina, a mix of European art deco and Moorish style, pre-dating the French protectorate, take a stroll along the King’s Palace. After all these appealing sites enjoy an optional visit to Temple Em Habanim and the Neve Chalom.

In the evening, drive alongside the Atlantic Ocean to the seaside resort of Aïn Diab to end your day tour in Casablanca with a scrumptious dinner at the Rick’s café and a good night’s sleep at your luxurious hotel in Casablanca.

Day 11: Transfer to the airport in Casablanca-CMN/Marrakech-RAK

Our team will assure your direct transfer to the Airport to do your check-in and registration in a good time for taking your flight home with a good knowledgeable experience and best memories about Jewish Heritage Tour in Morocco.