Jewish Heritage & Historic Morocco – 15 Days

Meet your driver at the airport when you arrive in Casablanca. You can spend the rest of your day relaxing or exploring the city with a self-guided tour. Start your Casablanca visit with a walk through the Old Medina. Casablanca’s historic Medina (old town) is just 200 years old, despite its name. The Habbous or « New Medina » can be viewed afterwards. This neighborhood was built by the French in the 1930s and offers an interesting example of art deco architecture. You can also find crafts and delicious food at the nearby markets.

Next, take a stroll along the Boulevard de la Corniche. This is an area on the oceanfront often called « Morocco’s Miami ». You will find many beaches along the long waterfront. If you are looking for a place to eat at Rick’s Cafe to recreate the iconic scene from the film,

Begin your day by visiting the Hassan II Mosque. It was inaugurated in 1993. Admire the lavish interior with its gilded ceilings, details in wood, marble and carved stone. The minaret, which is 690 feet tall (210 m) high, is the highest structure in Morocco. It also ranks 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.

The morning is spent in Morocco’s capital Rabat to visit the Hassan Tower Monument, which is one of the most impressive buildings of Almohad Dynasty. The Hassan Tower, a minaret from an unfinished 12th-century mosque, is located in the heart of Rabat. The red sandstone tower, standing at 144 feet (44m) tall and with about 200 columns, is all that remains of the old mosque. The modern Mausoleum for Mohammed V is located across from the Hassan Tower. It has around 200 columns and stands at 144 feet (44 m) high.

Continue on to the town Ouazzane. This is a holy place for many Moroccan Jews. 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 during his lifetime.

Continue your journey to Chefchaouen. This is because of its blue-painted buildings. You can explore the town at your leisure or take a break in Outa el Hammam. This square is the main one. You should order a maqlouba (upside down) coffee. Enjoy it while you watch the women wash their clothes in the nearby spring. You can find handcrafted wool garments and blankets, cedarwood furniture and other artisan work in Chefchaouen.

Leave Chefchaouen behind and head south to Fez, one of Morocco’s « imperial » cities. If you’re up early enough, you can take time to explore Chefchaouen’s medina or view the sunrise from the Spanish Mosque.

Visit Volubilis on the way to Fes. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to some of Morocco’s most well-preserved Roman ruins. You can take a break from the car and explore the complex. There are many intact mosaics, large merchant houses with visible heating systems, and temples. Move on to 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.

You can visit Meknes’ Ville Imperiale region, which includes gardens, palaces and the impressive gate of Bab al-Mansour. Also, you will find the Mausoleum for Moulay Ismail. The Royal Stables. Many of these palaces were built with materials from Volubilis. Be on the lookout to find Roman columns in unusual places! Your riad (traditional house with courtyard) will be your final stop in the Fes medina.

Create your tour

After breakfast, meet your tour guide to begin your exploration of Fes’ historic medina. It is filled with charming alleyways. Fes is home to a rich Jewish heritage. You’ll be visiting the mellah and the Jewish Cemetery where Rabbi Raphael Moshe Elbaz as well as Rabbi Lahou Harroch, on your tour.

Visit the famous tanneries or mosaic workshops to get to know the artisans. You will meet local artisans, see them at work, and learn more about their art, not only in Fes, but also beyond its walls. For a moment of respite, you can return to your riad. Rest and relax for the remainder of the day. Or, you can return to the streets of Medina to test your new knowledge.

Meet your guide today for a day-long tour of the city Sefrou. Sefrou, a walled city nestled in the Middle Atlas Mountains is located approximately 18 miles (29km) southeast from Fes. It was originally a market town during the Roman era. Later, it became 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 Craft Center in Sefrou while you’re there. This stunning complex is situated near the old town and houses several workshops where artisans make woodworks, ceramics, and woven rugs. There are also silk buttons for Djellabas (traditional robes). You will have the opportunity to view their work and learn more about their craft. Later, you will return to Fes for dinner.

You can spend the morning exploring Fes’ medieval medina. You can visit the Bou Inania Madrasa and the Royal Palace of Fes. After shopping, enjoy a leisurely lunch. After leaving Fes, head up into the Middle Atlas Mountains.

You’ll find Ifrane National Park’s large cedar tree forests about an hour from Fes. 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 have 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 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 Tizin-Talremt Pass to reach the Ziz Val. This valley is known for its hidden oases, clusters of palm trees, and other beautiful scenery. For lunch, you can stop at Errachidia. Visit the Musee Des Sources de Lalla mimouna to see the natural mineral spring. « Lalla Mimouna, » a name derived from a Muslim saint that is celebrated and honored by Moroccan Jews, means « Lalla Mimouna ».

Continue on to the lively market town of Erfoud after lunch. This is known for its date festival, and for its fossil mining and artisan factories. Soon you will see the sand dunes of the Erg Chebbi off to your left. The vast sea of dunes extends over 22 miles (35 km2) and some dunes reach heights of 656 feet (200m). As you prepare to take a camel ride through the dunes, take a break near Merzouga. Later, return to camp to enjoy dinner and traditional Berber music by the locals.

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 long journey to Ouarzazate. Before you set out across the desert plains, stop in Rissani. It is a great place to stroll around a traditional market on days when many animals are 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 surrounding you will include high mountains, desert plains, and plateaus. You can stop briefly in Tinghir on the way to see a Berber community that once thrived. To get a feel for the past, walk through the streets in the old quarter. Continue on to the scenic Dades Gorge through dramatic scenery of mauve-striped and rusty-red mountains. Stop for lunch at nearby Boumalne Dades. End your day in Ouarzazate. This town has been used as a backdrop to many TV and film productions.

Begin your day with a guided tour to Ait Benhaddou. This is Morocco’s most renowned kasbah (fortification) site and UNESCO World Heritage Site. This fascinating old ksar (Berber palace), is believed to date back to the 11th century when it was an important point along the trans-Saharan route that connected Marrakech, Ouarzazate and the southern desert.

After you have explored the site, it is time to return out of the Sahara Desert towards the city. You will wind your way through the Tizi N’Tichka Pass, climbing the dry desert slopes in the High Atlas Mountains. Soon you’ll be in the bustle of lively Marrakech. Spend the rest of your afternoon relaxing. For your evening meal, you can wander to the lively square Jemaa El-Fna.

Take a guided tour of Marrakech’s old medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city’s vibrant souks (markets) will amaze you with the array of colorful goods, clothing, and spices on sale. Take your time exploring the narrow alleyways of the souks, then stop for a bite and continue your private tour. Visit El Badi Palace. This place was once a mellah. This place was once home to a large Spanish and Moroccan Jewish community. You must also visit the Saadian Tombs, and Jewish Cemetery Marrakech during your tour.

You can end your day in a traditional Moroccan Hammam (traditional bathhouse). You can learn about the history and experience a traditional scrub. A lot of hammams offer massages, as well as a wide range of spa treatments that use local products such argan oil. Take a stroll through the medina for street food or visit one of the many restaurants in the city to experience Marrakech’s unique culinary style.

Today’s destination is Essaouira. This town is known for its excellent surfing and beaches. As you approach the coast, you will find a forest that is unique in the world. This forest is the only one where argan trees can grow. You can stop by the local women’s association that makes argan oil and look out for goats high up in the trees.

Enjoy exploring the magnificent walls and the medina while you wait or relax by the bustling fishing harbour upon your arrival in Essaouira. Essaouira has a rich Jewish heritage, and is one of the most well-preserved Jewish quarters. This is a wonderful example of coexistence, and it’s worth exploring. Enjoy fresh seafood at lunch and dinner.

Your guide will meet you at the port and take you to the fishing harbour. The harbor of Essaouira is lively and you can see fishermen returning with their catch and selling their products. After enjoying a walk around the area, you can visit the newly opened Bayt Dakira Jewish cultural center. It has a museum and synagogue as well as a research center. Spend the evening exploring the city on your own. You can also enjoy live music in one of the many venues located around the medina.

Continue on the coast route back to Casablanca, stopping briefly in other seaside towns along the way. First, stop by Safi for stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and its surfing beaches. Next, visit El Jadida to see its stunningly beautiful Portuguese cistern. After exploring the city’s ramparts, visit the Church of the Assumption. Then have lunch in the city.

Then, continue on to Azemmour. Over the years, this small city has been a source of inspiration for many Moroccan artists. Some have even chosen to live in it. Despite its proximity to Casablanca’s cosmopolitan arts market, life in this community remains traditional. Azemmour’s 16th-century, crumbling medina is a great place to get inspired. It is located between the Er-Rbia and the ocean. After arriving in Casablanca, check in to your hotel and relax before you venture into the city for dinner or some night exploration.

Au revoir Morocco !!! With plenty of time to check in, your driver will pick up you and take you to the airport