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Morocco Travel’s
Jewish Culture and
History tour takes
you to sites of
major cultural and
historical
importance
to
Morocco’s Jewish
community, whose
rich history in
North Africa
stretches back two
thousand years. In
the course of the
tour,
you will visit
all of Morocco’s
ancient capital
cities and see the
most interesting
highlights of these
“Imperial Cities.”
This seven-day,
six-night itinerary
is detailed below:
Day 1 – Casablanca
Your Dar Morocco
Travel driver will
meet you at
Casablanca’s
Mohammed V airport.
Depending on the
time of your arrival,
you may go directly
to your hotel to
check in or you may
start the tour of
Casablanca
immediately. During
the city tour,
you’ll see the
bustling city center
with its Art Deco
architecture and
lovely seaside
neighborhoods. Visit
the Museum of
Moroccan Judaism,
which features
artifacts of Jewish
cultural life in
Morocco, including
clothing, ancient
texts, and ritual
objects. You’ll also
tour the Jewish
neighborhood and its
active synagogue.
Visit the Hassan II
mosque, which is the
second largest
mosque in the world
and one of the
few
open to non-Muslims.
You’ll return to
your hotel in time
for a leisurely
dinner.
Day 2 – Rabat,
Meknes, Fes
Depart for Rabat,
Morocco’s capital
city, and once there,
see the outside of
the royal palace and
tour the mausoleum
of the late King
Mohammed V, which is
always guarded by
royal cavalry. You
will also see the
Hassan Tower and the
Oudaya Kasbah, which
sits high above the
Bou Regreg River
opposite Sale, the
historic home of the
Barbary pirates.
From Rabat, you’ll
continue to Meknes,
where you’ll have
lunch in this former
imperial capital
city, built by
Moulay Ismail in the
17th century. You’ll
see the ruins of the
royal stables, which
once housed 12,000
horses, and
experience the
austere beauty of
the mausoleum of
Moulay Ismail.
Other
sights in Meknes
include a Jewish
neighborhood with a
cemetery and school.
Continue to
Volubulis, the ruins
of the largest Roman
settlement in
Morocco. Arrive in Fes for dinner in
your hotel or riad.
Day 3 – Fes
You will spend the
entire day on a
guided tour of Fes,
which was founded
1,000 years ago by
Moulay Idriss.
During your walking
tour of the
labyrinthine old
city (this is a day
for comfortable
shoes), you will
start in the Jewish
neighborhood, where
you will visit
an
ancient synagogue
and see the Royal
Palace. From there,
you will see the
outside of the 13th
century Karaouine
mosque,
tour the Bou
Inaniya madrassa,
and visit the souq
to learn about
Moroccan crafts.
After lunch in the
medina, you’ll see
the newer city,
including the
potter’s district,
which is home to Fes’
famous blue pottery.
You may have dinner
at your hotel or in
the medina.
Day 4 – Ifrane, Beni
Mellal, Marrakech
The drive from Fes
to Marrakech is a
long one, but in
crossing the Middle
Atlas Mountains,
you’ll see some
lovely scenery. You
will
go through
Ifrane, home to a
ski resort and
Morocco’s
prestigious private
Al-Akhawayn
university, on the
way to Azrou and the
Tadla Valley before
having lunch in Beni
Mellal. Your drive
will take you
through some of
Morocco’s richest
agricultural land
before you arrive in
Marrakech for dinner
at your hotel or
riad.
Day 5 – Marrakech
Enjoy a full day
exploring Marrakech
with a local guide.
You’ll see the
historic Koutoubia
Mosque, known for
its four distinct
faces,
and the
Saadian tombs,
crossing the Jewish
neighborhood on the
way to the Bahia
palace, which
showcases the finest
examples
of design
elements such as
decorative tile,
painted, wood,
carved plaster, and
calligraphy. You
will tour the souks
and end your
day in
Jama’a el-Fna, which
is a UNESCO heritage
site. In Jama’a
el-Fna, you’ll see
snake charmers,
story-tellers, henna
artists,
and dancers.
This square has been
the heart of the
medina since the
12th century, a home
for performers,
travelers,
and snake
oil sellers. Stop
for a glass of fresh
squeezed orange
juice and enjoy the
carnival atmosphere.
If you’re feeling
brave,
sample a
sheep’s head (or
have dinner at your
hotel /riad).
Day 6 – Marrakech
You have the option
to spend the day
exploring Marrakech
on your own or
relaxing at your
hotel. Your driver
can take you to see
other sights such as
the Majorelle garden,
which features a
collection of exotic
plants, or the ruins
of the Badia palace,
still magnificent in
their arrested decay.
Alternately, take a
round trip to lovely
Ourika valley in the
mountains or to
Essaouira, the
former Portuguese
garrison town on the
coast.
Day 7 – Departure
Your driver will
take you to the
airport for your
departure. |
