This two-week-long journey will take you through Morocco’s most important landmarks and reveal the country’s Jewish heritage. Begin in Casablanca. Next, explore the charming « Blue City » (Chesaouen) and then visit Fes’ medieval medina. You can then travel deep into the Sahara Desert to ride a camel or camp under the stars. You can end your trip with a visit Essaouira or other picturesque coastal towns in Morocco, before returning to Casablanca.
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Casablanca: Arrival | Casablanca |
Day 2 | Visit the Hassan II Mosque & Museum for Moroccan Judaism | Casablanca |
Day 3 | Transfer to Chefchaouen via Rabat & Ouazzane | Chefchaouen |
Day 4 | To Fes via Moulay Idriss or Volubilis & Meknes Create your tour |
Fes |
Day 5 | Guided Tour of Fes’ Jewish Quarter and Medina | Fes |
Day 6 | Excursion to Sefrou: Jewish Heritage Tour and Artisan Craft Centre | Fes |
Day 7 | Explore Fes and continue to azrou | Azrou |
Day 8 | Erfoud Merzouga and the Sahara desert | Erg Chebbi |
Day 9 | To Ouarzazate via Rissani, Alnif & Boumalne Dades | Ouarzazate |
Day 10 | To Marrakech via High Atlas Mountains and the tichka pass | Marrakech |
Day 11 | Marrakech guided Tour and Hammam | Marrakech |
Day 12 | To Essaouira Argan Oil Tour and Jewish Heritage Tour | Essaouira |
Day 13 | To Casablanca via Atlantic Coast & Portuguese Ports | Casablanca |
Day 14 | Casablanca: Departure |
Morocco is your home! Take a private, comfortable transfer to Morocco! Casablanca Transfer from the airport to your hotel. Then, spend the rest of your day exploring the city by yourself. The medina (old city) is where you can start. Casablanca’s medina, which is just 250 years old, is much more recent than the ones of Fes And Marrakech It’s a great place to experience a typical Moroccan neighborhood. You can wander through the cobbled streets and pick up fresh fruit or souvenirs. Continue onwards to the Habbous , Casablanca’s New Medina The French built the, which was completed in the 20th century.
Keep an eye out in the Habbous for Art Deco architecture and visit some shops that sell crafts. djellabas Traditional Moroccan robes Then, walk down to the promenade at the beach. Boulevard de la Corniche Sometimes referred to as « Morocco’s Miami ». You can stop here to eat in one of the fine restaurants along the waterfront or look out over the Atlantic from at the top of the building. El Hank Lighthouse . Ingrid Bergman, Humphrey Bogart and others will be following you in the evening. Rick’s Cafe This recreates the iconic scene from the film.
Next day, visit Casablanca’s impressive Hassan II Mosque. It was inaugurated in 1993. The massive structure can hold 105,000 worshippers, with 25,000 inside and an additional 80,000 outside. Admire the extravagant design of this structure, which features gilded ceilings, details in wood, marble and carved stones. The minaret, which is 690 feet tall (210 m) high, is the highest structure in Morocco and second in height in the world. It is one of few mosques that non-Muslims are allowed to enter.
You can visit some locations that are specific to Moroccan Jewish heritage in the afternoon. The Museum of Moroccan Judaism is the first. It was originally a Jewish orphanage. There will be historical jewelry, manuscripts and a reconstructed jewel-making shop. Next, you can visit Temple Beth El, which is a beautifully restored synagogue featuring exquisitely-colored stained glass windows. You can also shop and relax at the Habbous if you have more time in the afternoon. Enjoy a Moroccan dinner at one of the fine dining restaurants in the city.
Today’s route takes you from Casablanca towards Chefchaouen. To visit the Hassan Tower on the way to Morocco’s capital, Rabat. This tower of red sandstone, standing at 144 feet (44m) high, is the Almohad Dynasty’s most impressive building. It was originally the minaret for an unfinished 12th-century mosque. The modern Mausoleum for Mohammed V is located directly across from the Hassan Tower. This structure houses the tombs of Mohammed V, Moroccan king and his two sons Prince Moulay Abdallah (King Hassan II)
Continue on to the town of Ouazzane Many Moroccan Jews consider this a holy place. They make a pilgrimage each year to the town to see Rabbi Amram Ben Diwan’s grave. This rabbi, who was born in Jerusalem, is well-known for his many miracles in Morocco. Continue on your journey until you reach Chefchaouen in the middle of the country. Rif Mountains . This picturesque town is known as « Blue City » for its colorful sky-blue alleys and archways. You can explore the town on your own or take a break to relax in. Outa el-Hammam The main square.
Tomorrow morning, leave Chefchaouen behind and head south to Fes, Morocco’s fourth Imperial City. Visit Volubilis on the way to Fes, one of Morocco’s most well-preserved Roman ruins. Explore the complex’s many temples, large merchant houses, and mosaics. Next, visit MoulayIdriss which is Morocco’s first Islamic capital. This site has a long-standing cultural significance. This is the only Moroccan round minaret. You can eat lunch here or wait until the prosperous imperial city Meknes.
Explore Meknes to find the Ville Imperiale You can visit gardens, palaces and the impressive gate of this area. Bab al-Mansour The Mausoleum of Moulay ismail The, and Royal Stables . Continue on to Fes by taking the road. After arriving at Fes, you can settle in your hotel. riad Traditional house with a courtyard. You can wander the medina at the pace of your choice in the evening. You can stop for a mint tea, eat a delicious Moroccan meal, shop handicrafts or just sit down at a cafe to watch the world pass by.
Create your tour
After breakfast, meet your guide to begin your exploration of Fes’ historic medina. It is filled with charming alleyways. You will hear stories from your local guide and be shown the hidden corners of the medina. This will allow you to see both the daily routine and the grandeur of the historic madrasas (religious schools) as well as the magnificent palaces and other buildings. A visit to Fes’ rich Jewish heritage will allow you to learn more about the Mellah (Jewish quarter) as well as the Jewish cemetery, where both Rabbi Raphael Moshe Elbaz & Rabbi Lahou Harroch are buried.
You can also visit some of Fes’ most famous tanneries or mosaic workshops later on to get to know the artisan community. You can meet local artisans, see them at work and learn more about their art, not only in Fes, but also beyond its walls. You can then spend the remainder of the day as you wish. Enjoy a relaxed dinner at a local restaurant in the evening.
Meet your guide in the morning for a full-day tour of the city. Sefrou . Sefrou, a walled village nestled in the slopes the Middle Atlas Mountains It is located approximately 18 miles (29km) southeast of Fes. It was established as a market place in Roman times and as a stop for traders traveling from the Mediterranean to reach the Sahara Desert. The town has been a melting pot for many cultures over the years. A third of Sefrou’s inhabitants were Jewish before most Moroccan Jews fled the country after the French left in the 1960s and 70s.
Visit the following places while you are in town: Craft Center of Sefrou . This stunning complex is situated near the old town and houses several workshops where artisans make woodworks, ceramics, and woven rugs. There are even silk buttons for Djellabas. Before you return to Fes, you will have the opportunity to view their work and learn more about their craft before returning to your hotel for the evening.
Enjoy a hearty breakfast before you embark on a guided tour to discover more of the UNESCO-listed Medina. After you have satisfied your appetite, ask your guide to suggest lunch options. There are many fine restaurants hidden behind small doors.
After lunch, leave Fes and continue on to the Middle Atlas Mountains. You’ll be able to see Ifrane National Park’s huge cedar tree forests about an hour into your journey. The park is home to the endangered Barbary macaque monkeys. They are the only African monkeys north of the Sahara Desert. After passing through the park you will reach Azrou. This beautiful Berber town is known for its jewelry and rug making. You can enjoy dinner here and then relax before going to bed.
You can get an early start by heading out of the Middle Atlas Mountains into the Sahara Desert area. You should first stop in Midelt. This is because of its large apple production. Pay attention to the Moulouya river nearby, which allows the fruit to grow in desert. Continue onward and traverse the Tizi N’Talremt Pass to enter the Ziz Val. This area is known for its hidden oasis and clusters palm trees. For lunch, you can stop at Errachidia.
After lunch, continue to the lively market town of Erfoud. This is known for its date festival and fossil mining as well as its artisan workshops. Then, visit a local artisan group and then go back to the road. Soon you will see the sand waves at the Ergchebi. The vast dunes cover 22 miles (35 km) and some reach heights of 656 feet (200m). As you prepare to take a camel ride through these dunes, you will be able to stop by Merzouga. Later, you will return to your camp for dinner and an even more relaxing evening around the campfire. You will spend the night under the stars in a traditional tent.
You will be rewarded by a sunrise over the sand dunes if you wake up early. Enjoy breakfast at camp before you travel across the desert to Merzouga. You will meet your driver at the hotel and start your scenic drive to Ouarzazate. Stop in Rissani along the way. It is a great place to stroll around a traditional market, especially during the days when many animals are being sold and bought. Rissani even has a « donkey parking area! »
The rest of the day can be spent exploring the desert landscape that borders the Sahara. The landscape will be filled with high mountains, desert plains, and plateaus. You can stop briefly in Alnif for a visit to the fossil workshops. Then, stop for lunch at Boumalne Dades near the picturesque Dades Gorge. End your day in Ouarzazate. This town has been featured as the backdrop to many television and film productions.
Cross the street today High Atlas Mountains Ouarzazate is a separate entity from Marrakech. You can wind your way up the desert slopes by following the Tizi n’Tichka Pass . You’ll have amazing views from the top of the mountain range, and Marrakech’s plains below. Keep an eye out for Mount Toubkal North Africa’s highest mountain, to the west. As you descend the mountain’s north-facing slopes, you will notice a drastic change in the climate and landscape as you pass deep valleys and large almond and walnut orchards.
You’ll soon leave the peace and tranquility of the mountains and desert behind as you step into the bustle and bustle Marrakech. After you have arrived, check in to your accommodation and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at a slower pace. Marrakech’s main square is open in the evening. Jemaa el-Fna The square is alive with performers, snake charmers and food stalls. You can enjoy a meal at one of the many cafes around the square while you watch the action unfold.
Take a guided tour of Marrakech’s old medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city’s vibrant nightlife is a must-see. souks You will be amazed at the array of colourful crafts, clothes, spices, and other goods for sale in souks. Begin your tour by walking through the narrow alleyways of the souks with your guide. Then, grab something to eat. Continue your tour by visiting the El Badi Palace This was once the home of a large Spanish and Moroccan Jewish community. The historic Saadian Tombs The Marrakech Jewish Cemetery .
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon in a traditional Moroccan hammam (traditional bathhouse). You will learn about the history and experience a traditional scrub. Hammams often offer spa treatments, including massages using local products such as argan oil. Take a stroll through the medina for street food or visit a restaurant to experience Marrakech’s culinary delights. The city is home to many top Moroccan chefs.
Check out of your hotel, then transfer to Essaouira. This picturesque coastal city is known for its beaches and historic old town. You’ll travel three hours from Marrakech through rolling plains, argan forests, and a few other places. Argan oil, a major export from Morocco, is well-known for its beauty and health benefits. Visit a group of women who make argan oil in your area. Keep an eye out for goats high up in tree branches, enjoying the argan oil. It’s quite the sight!
Enjoy a seafood meal in Essaouira later on with the help of your driver. It is possible to watch fishermen return with their catch and sell their products at the city’s fishing harbour. Essaouira is home to a lot of Jewish heritage. Your guide will take the group to Essaouira’s mellah in the afternoon. It is one of the most well-preserved Jewish quarters anywhere in Morocco. This is a wonderful example of coexistence and an interesting place to visit. You’ll be able to visit it once you get there. Bayt Dakira The Jewish Cultural Institution, with a Museum, Synagogue and Research Center.
The coastal route takes you back to Casablanca, with a few stops along the way in other seaside towns. First, stop by Safi for stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and its surfing beaches. Next, visit El Jadida for a tour of its Portuguese fortresses and cistern. After exploring the ramparts, visit the Church of the Assumption and taking a break for lunch, you can return to the city.
Then, continue on. Azemmour . Over the years, this small city inspired many Moroccan artists. Some of them have even chosen to live in it. Despite its proximity to Casablanca’s cosmopolitan art scene, life in this community remains traditional. Take inspiration from Azemmour’s 16th-century crumbling medina, wedged between the Oum Er-Rbia The ocean and Mother of Spring River. After arriving in Casablanca, check in to your hotel and relax before you head out for dinner or exploring the city.
After checking out of your hotel, take a final walk along Casablanca’s boulevards if you have the time. Next, take a private vehicle to transport you from your hotel to Casablanca Mohammed V Airport CMN (a 45-minute trip). Enjoy a safe and pleasant journey to your destination or home.
Please keep in mind that the itinerary provided is merely a suggestion. If it does not suit your needs, feel free to reach out to us. We will be happy to create a customized tour itinerary specifically designed to meet your preferences and the length of your stay. We offer personalize tours and trips throughout Morocco. The cost of the tour is based on the number of participants, with a lower cost per person for larger groups. The transportation fee remains constant, and the cost will be divided among participants. The price also varies based on the quality of the chosen accommodation. For a precise quote, please get in touch with us.
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