Per person
11,900 Mad11 days – 10 nights
Casablanca – Rabat – Meknès – Fès – Erfoud – Merzouga – Ouarzazate – Marrakech – Casablanca
We invite you to discover beautiful Morocco by exploring its cities while living its history, its architecture, its cultural diversity as well as its world renowned hospitality. We offer to organize visits to its medinas (ancient part of the cities), its monuments and its vibrant souks (markets).
During the trip, you will be able to experience the history and ancestral traditions of the Moroccan Jewish community.
Day 1: Casablanca – Rabat (1h /86km)
Arrival in Casablanca Mohamed V international airport, welcomed by our tour guide
Transfer to Rabat.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 2: Rabat – Meknès – Fès (2h15 /210 km)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure for a visit of the city of Rabat.
Hassan Tower is the proud minaret of an uncompleted mosque. The construction of this architectural treasure began in 1195, during the reign of the Almohade leader, Yacoub El Mansour. The tower was intended to be the tallest minaret in the world, along with the adjoining mosque. However, at the death of Yacoub El Mansour the construction work stopped, and the site remained unfinished.
Then Mohamed V Mausoleum a more recent historical building. It houses the tomb of King of Morocco, Mohamed V and his two sons, King Hassan II and Prince Moulay Abdallah. The building is viewed as a masterpiece of modern Alaouite dynasty’s architecture.
A stroll through visit Kasbah des Oudayas. Located at the mouth of the Bou Regreg River. It was built in the twelfth century by the Almohads. Originally, this Kasbah was intended for military defense of the settlement. Later on, the Kasbah gave its name to the whole city, within the walls. Kasbah des Oudayas is a city within the city with winding, narrow streets and houses nestled inside the protective rampart it is part of the larger city of Rabat. In 2012, it has been designated by UNESCO as part of the world’s heritage, along with other sites in the city.
Then visit of the mellah (Jewish district) where several Moroccan jewish families still own a home.
The mellah of Rabat was built in 1808 under the reign of the sultan Moulay Slimane ben Mohamed, when the Jewish community of Rabat was forced to move in this district on top of the cliffs overlooking the river at Bouregreg a short distance from the Gate Bab Diouana.
The mellah comprises of several streets bearing the names of prominent Jewish figures of Rabat such as Rabbi Shalom Zoaui or David Cohen.
Free time for lunch.
Departure for Meknes, another Moroccan imperial city.
Visit of the landmarks such as Bab El Mansour, Place Hedim and the mosque of Moulay Ismail.
We will visit the Meknes mellah; it’s Synagogue and we will go on pilgrimage to the tomb of Rabbi «David Benmidan».
Departure for Fès, renowned for its historic medieval culture, the house of one of the most influential Talmudic scholars of all times, Rabbi Isaac Alfasi, as well as the Maïmonide in the years 1160 to 1165.
Check-in the hotel
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: Fès
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure with your guide for the visit of the city of Fès.
Visit of the Medersas Bou Anania, a name meaning « school ».This is an Islamic university. The Marinid sultan Marinid Abou Inane commissioned it in 1350. The Medera is one of the buildings dedicated to teaching Islamic Sciences.
Visit of the Médersa el-Attarine built in 1320, of modest size, to accommodate approximately 60 students at a time, known as the most ornate in the city.
Then onto the Qarawiyyin Mosque, built in 859, is one of the oldest universities in the world. Its limited dimensions, coupled with its artistic architecture give it a feel of being a true gem, sculpted in the finest of details.
Free time for lunch.
A visit of the mellah with its synagogues.
The largest is the synagogue Aben Danan. Built in 1600, it has recently been renovated into a museum about the Fès jewish community, followed by the visit of the cemetery of Safroud where prominent Jewish rabbis such as rabbi Lahou Harroch and rabbi Raphaël Moshe Elbaz are buried.
The Bou-Khessissat Street is the most beautiful street of the mellah with its quaint houses with balconies overlooking the street. Whereas Arabic houses have inclosed balconies with view over the interior patios.
Mellah in Arabic comes from the word ”salt” in Arabic. In the ancient times, salt was very valuable and Jewish people used it as a monetary value.
Also, isolated from the rest of the city, Jewish quarters were located within the fortified part of the city surrounding the royal palaces, that way, people could benefit from the direct protection of the sultans.
The Jewish community had the exclusive trade monopoly of precious metals, which was highly beneficial for the community and the trade of gold and silver was highly lucrative and offered the best savings.
Dinner with show at the restaurant Palais de la medina, with Andalusian and Judeo Moroccan music.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: Fès – Erfoud (6h30 min /420 km)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure for Erfoud, through Midelt and Errachidia.
Free lunch on the road.
Arrival in Erfoud.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: Erfoud – Merzouga (100 km /1h)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure for a visit of the cities of Erfoud and Rissani.
Free lunch on site.
Departure on all terrain vehicule for the sand dunes of Merzouga.
Camel rides on the dunes for a unique sight of the sunset on top of the dunes
Camel ride back to the camp for an open air night under the stars. Overnight in traditional tents
woven with camel hair, the exact replicas of tents used by the nomads from the desert
Dinner at the restaurant Khaima, with traditional local folk music.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: Merzouga – Ouarzazate (5h00 /370 km)
Breakfast at the bivouac camp.
Departure for Ouarzazate.
Drive through the Todra Canyon, a 2500 m high cliff, crossed by a river with crystal clear water.
Free lunch on site.
Drive to Kellaa M’Gouna, renowned for its”roses festival”. Short stop for photographs.
Arrival Ouarzazate, check in your hotel.
Dinner with a show from local musician and dancers (Ahouach).
Overnight.
Day 7: Ouarzazate – Marrakech (4h30 /250 km)
Breakfast at the l’hôtel
Visit of the movies studios de l’atlas, the first movie studios in Morocco, built over 30 hectares. Several blockbuster movies have been filmed in the studios, such as ”the Jewel of the Nile” with Michael Douglas, Ali Baba and the 40 thieves with Fernandel, Gladiator, by Ridley Scott, Mission Cleopatra by Alain Chabat, and many more…
Departure for the ochre city via the tizin-tichka Pass
Free lunch on route
Arrival in Marrakech, check-in the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8: Marrakech
Breakfast at the hotel.
Optional: Early morning departure for Marrakech Palm Grove for a 1 hour hot air balloon ride. 
Tea break on site.
Departure with your guide for a day visit of the historical sites of the city of Marrakech, also named the ochre city.
Visit the Majorelle Gardens, conceived by the painter Jacques Majorelle in 1917. He created this garden around his workshop. This is a living work of art, full of exotic and rare plants: cacti, lilipads, varieties of jasmines, bougainvillea, palms, coconut and banana trees, etc.
Visit the Yves Saint Laurent museum, located near the gardens. The museum houses part of the « Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent » collection, which includes high fashion clothes and accessories, as well as designs and various objects, prominently displayed as an exhibit.
Walk to the Koutoubia a religious landmark; it was restored by the Almohades beginning in 1162, a bare-bones mosque built near the old souks of librarians, where the moniker « Koutoubia » (mosque of the librarians) originates.
Visit of the Saadi Ruins the only remaining vestiges of the Saadi dynasty, which reigned between 1524 and 1659, they house the tombs of the Saadi royal family.
Visit the Bahia Palace recognized for its grand architecture, it was built in the 19th century, and was inspired by both Arab and Andalusian styles.
The palace’s foundation began in 1880 under orders from Vizir Sidi Moussa, then head of the Moroccan kingdom. He wanted a luxury resort to please one of his lovers, he thus presented her with a palace containing about 160 rooms, and this must explain the nickname given to the structure, «The Palace of the Beauty».
After lunch, visit of streets of the first mellah of Marrakech, built in the 16th century in 1558, just outside of the Badi Palace of the Saadi Sultan Abdallah.
You will visit the synagogue of Marrakech built in 1492 when a large number of jewish people found refuge in Morocco during the inquisition that took place in Spain and Portugal. This synagogue in the heart of the mellah is said to be the oldest in the world. The legend claims that it was built at the same time as the second temple in Jerusalem.
Then we will take to the garden of Menara, an extensive garden planted with olive trees, built during the Almohade dynasty. In the center of the garden a basin was built adjacent to a pavilion. It was designed as a reservoir to irrigate nearby agricultural lands and olive and orange groves.
Late afternoon, walk through Jmaa El Fna Square, a bustling hub at the heart of Marrakech. There to your delight, you will see live snake charmers, monkey trainers, storytellers, musicians and numerous forms of arts, such as games, henna tattooing, where you will also have the opportunity to learn the art of henna designing.
Tea break at the Clock Café. The walls of this delighted place resonate with strange words from various storytellers who delight the visitors with stories and legends in the Moroccan Dialectal Arabic as well as in English. In this legendary trendy café, the atmosphere is electrifying, warm and convivial, even if customers do not understand the words spoken. Various concerts, jam sessions and evenings filled with Gnaoua music are the trademark of Clock Café, making it an inescapable breathtaking spot in Marrakech.
Dinner and show at Palais Dar Soukkar (with authentic musicians and dancers from Marrakech)
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9: Marrakech – Casablanca (2h40 /240 km)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning free to stroll around the city at leisure.
Optional: enjoy a two hours quad or camel ride excursion through the Palm Grove of Marrakech with a private guide.
Or 2 hours relaxation in a SPA where you can be pampered with a Hammam and Massage.
Free lunch.
Departure for Casablanca.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Casablanca
Breakfast at the hotel.
Followed by the visit of the city.
Casablanca is homer to the largest Jewish community in Morocco. It has numerous places of worship.
We will start with a guided visit of the Habbous, Place des Nations Unies and the Hassan II Mosque, the second largest mosque in the world. Then we will take you to a visit of the mellah and its numerous synagogues such as Beit-El, Em Ha-Banim and Neve Shalom.
Beit-El is known as one of the most beautiful asset of a vibrant Jewish community. The synagogue has several unique stained glass windows and multiple art pieces.
We will then proceed to the visit of the old Jewish cemetery, located in the mellah, in the heart of the old medina. Open and serene, the white headstones are well cared for with inscriptions in French, Hebrew and Spanish. Every year, the inhabitants of Casablanca celebrate the ”Hiloula” in commemoration of the jewish Saint Eliahou.
Free lunch.
Then visit of the Jewish Museum created by Simon Lévy l’Oasis en 1997 with the help from the Moroccan Jewish Cultural Heritage Foundation.
Initially, the collection of the Museum comprised essentially of objects pertaining to Moroccan cultural traditions.
Since the Museum opened, it has been enriched with several artifacts recovered from abandoned synagogues across Morocco.
Dinner at restaurant la Sqala, a typical Moroccan restaurant
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Casablanca – Mohamed V Airport
Breakfast at the hotel.
End of the trip, departure for the international airport Mohammed V Casablanca for your return flight.
Rates:
Rates per person, in double rooms: 11.900 MAD/1.333 USD
Supplement for single rooms: 4.500 dhs / 495 USD
The price includes:
The price does not include:
Caution:
The above rates will be subject to availability, at time of confirmation.