11-Day Morocco Jewish Tour

This Morocco Jewish tour has more to offer than just pretty views.. It is a great learning opportunity overflowing with Moroccan Jewish heritage alongside the starry Sahara Desert tour. This tour is one of the best Jewish Tours of Morocco. Visit and taste the famous Moroccan Jewish recipes by opting for Kosher food or Shabbat services. You can costumize your tour to fit your requirements and interests. Inquire for any customizations you’d like to add!

Highlights

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

Brief Itinerary of the Morocco Jewish Tour

Detailed Jewish Heritage Tour of Morocco Itinerary

Day 1: Unwind in Marrakech

Welcome to your first day of the Morroco Jewish tour, starting in Marrakech! Also known as 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 professional driver will take you to wander through the lively entertaining Jemaa El Fna Square, an 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: a Guided Day in Marrakech

Marrakech was home to a thriving strong community of native and Spanish Jews. They specialized in commerce and handicrafts, and were famed for their rabbinical schools and scholars. Start your Jewish heritage-centered tour of Marrakesh with a visit to the Jewish Mellah. Its well-kept cemeteries and synagogues.Continue on to the 19th Century Bahia Palace, and the 16th-century Ben Youssef Madrasa Islamic school to appreciate the exquisite zellij, 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, and then the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque. Next, 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. Majorelle isfamous for his botanical interest by growing plants and trees from around the world. Finally, finishyour guided visit in the Djmaâ el Fnaâ Square and enjoy an authenticMoroccan Dinner. Return to your riad (a traditional Moroccan house with an interior garden) in the evening to prepare for Day 3.

Day 3: Marrakech → Essaouira – Morocco Jewish History

After an included breakfast, head on your way to the Phoenician town Essaouira. You’ll 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 is surrounded by hand-painted blue, white and yellow houses It is famed for its ramparts, Islamic-Jewish history, skilled craftsmen, stunning art galleries, enthusiastic artist community and fresh seafood.This awe inspiring seaside 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. Witness artisans at work making their inlaid wooden Thuya tables,boxes and sundry items in lemon or briar wood inlaid with mother of pearl. This isthe purple dye produced by the crushed shellfish that were exported from the offshore Purple Islands by the conquering Romans. It was used to color the togas of the rich in Rome. 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. It’s very well-kept, with gravestones dating back to 1776. Jewish people from around the world gather here for an annual pilgrimage to visit Rabbi Haim Pinto’s grave (the hiloula of Chaïm Pinto, held in September). Even now, the home of Rabbi Haim Pinto’s stands a remarkable historic and religious site.t is an active synagogue that is used when 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. Unwind after a long day to spend the night in your hotel/Riad in Essaouira.

PS: We also provide an Essaouira day trip from Marrakech

Day 4: Essaouira → Agadir → Taroudant

Refreshed after an amazing night, have a full breakfast, then leave Essaouira along the exquisite coastal road to Agadir. This road is famous for its beautiful sandy beaches and resorts.Along the way,see goats perched on the branches of the Argan trees, white storks, collared doves, swallows and bulbuls.

Arrive at Agadir, to visit the Kasbah of Agadir Oufla, a small fortified communal granary.Enjoy a delicious lunch overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. From here, the tour goes to Taroudant, or “Little Marrakesh.“ Drive through 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,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.

Explore Tarouddant, bordered by the dramatically stark Western High Atlas Tichka Plateau. To the south you’ll find Anti Atlas, one of the oldest Medinas in the Kingdom of Morocco. Well-known for its beautiful gardens, tanneries, ochre coloured ramparts, gateways, bustling alleyways, and colourful souks of fine tooled cotton and wool;

Tonight, stay in an authentic palace in Taroudant

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

After Breakfast, set forth to the fascinating Berber village of Arazane where you will visit the 500-year-old Dodi Synagogue.Continue south to the small town of Taliouine where you will stop for a lunch to experience a tagine with saffron. This lunch is in a very old saffron-production region.,Next, visit the local Cooperatives of biological saffron to understand the secrets of cultivation and its benefits. The mountain’s’ dry climate is ideal for this Saffron-producing culture.. Collect saffron by hand, discover saffron’s secrets, and tastedelicious saffron tea.

Next, set off south to Tazenakht to the Tiffoultoute Kasbah, ancient residence of Glaoui (the former Pasha of Marrakech). This Kasbah is alongside the exotic Assif Ounila Valley 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. This is 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. Enjoy visiting places featured in your favorite movies and shows, like Game of Thrones, The Jewel of the Nile, the Gladiator, and the Lawrence of Arabia. From here, head 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.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). You’ll see 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, 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.You’ll see kasbahs ranging in colors from greenish black to dark red and startling lime-white. Onward to the Tafilalet Oases and the end of the Route of 1000 Kasbahs to see the magical Khettara. These are holes that have been dug to give access and air to old underground water canals. In the afternoon, 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, while greeted by refreshing mint tea. Hop on your camel and ride into the desert guided by a professional friendly guide. Enjoy sunset over the golden dunes in the Erg-Chebbi. At the end of a long journey, relish in a delicious dinner with a show: 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 adventure, 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, 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. Visit 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, arrive in Midelt for lunch. During the French protectorate in the first half of the 20th century, the local Jewish community increased here. Most of them now moved to bigger cities such as Casablanca, Tangier, and Marrakech. Continue through the middle Atlas Mountains and cedar wood 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, our adventure will take us to the glorious medieval Medina of Fes.

Day 8: Explore the Medieval Medina

Wake up fresh and rejuvenated after a good night’s rest. Enjoy 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 site, surrounded by 9 miles of ramparts.They are strategically positioned on the old caravan trading crossroads which once connected the Saharan empires with Europe. Reminiscent of 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.Stop at the Royal Palace with its magnificent seven glorious bronze gates. From here, 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 down to the Borj Sud to enjoy the panoramic view of the old Medina. Then move next to visit the ceramics quarter to learn about the unique local pottery handicraft and see the old kilns.

Next, 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,and traditional 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. See a Hebrew epitaph proving the existence of a Jewish community during the Roman occupation. This World UNESCO site of Volubilis contains mansions, incredible mosaics, ancient olive presses, monumental arches and Corinthian columns. Next, see the holy small hilltop town of Moulay Idriss, once the most venerated pilgrimage site in all of Morocco. After, travel to Meknes, the capital of Moulay Ismail’s empire. 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 and the bustling El Hedim Square.The Mausoleum of Moulay Ismailmemorialises 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. Next, visit the new and old Mellah, beautiful well-kept synagogues, and the old Jewish cemetery. Several saints are buried here, including the ‘Patron of Meknes’ Rabbi David Benmidan,

Complete the tour driving to rabat, visiting Mohamed V Mausoleum, andthe neighbouring unfinished minaret of the Great Mosque. You’ll also stop at the delightful 12th century Kasbah of the Oudayas and the King’s Palace to savour the impressive arches, redolent of the finest Islamic architecture.. Next,arrive at the Chellah necropolis, where Jewish peoplelived during the time of the Phoenicians. In the evening, dinealongside the Atlantic Ocean to Casablanca, and conclude your amazing day with a sumptuous dinner and overnight at your luxury hotel.

Day 10:  The Jewish Heritage in Casablanca

Casablanca is home to the largest remaining Jewish community in Morocco. There are kosher restaurants, Jewish schools, over 30 synagogues and Jewish Community Centers. Begin your Jewish tour of Casablanca with a visit to the magnificent Hassan II Mosque, an architectural masterpiece.This is seen as 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 carvings. 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. 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. Enjoy a delicious 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 check-in and register on time for your flight home with. We know you will leave having fully immersed yourself in the Jewish heritage tour of Morocco.