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DAY 1 ALGECIRAS / TANGIER
Jews were already living in Tingis (Tangier) under the Phoenicians
occupation, but the community really developed in the 18th century.
In the 20th century, many families emigrated to South America
and particularly to Venezuela.
Arrival at Tangier port by ferry (or hydrofoil) from Algeciras.
Welcome by our staff and transfer to your hotel. Lunch in a local
restaurant and sightseeing of Tangier : the medina, "Grand
and Petit Socco", the Synagogues street, the Kasbah square
overlooking the ocean and the Spanish coasts , the Hercules' caves
at Cape Spartel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 2 TANGIER / TETOUAN / CHECHAOUENE / MEKNES (330 km/205 mi)
Tetouan had an important Jewish community mainly coming from Medieval
Spain and some members were amongst the most eminent Rabbis such
as Jacob Marrache, Menahem Attias….or Itshaq Ben Oualid.
The synagogue bearing his name is being renovated.
After breakfast, departure to Tetouan and visit of the medina,
exterior of the Royal palace, the Mellah Jewish quarter, Bab Remouz.
Then continuation to Chechaouene holy town, nestled between two
mountains. The medina, the kasbah, the Uta El Hammam square, the
great mosque Jamaa El Kebir from the 15th century. Lunch in Chechaouene,
then continuation to Meknes. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 3 MEKNES/VOLUBILIS/FEZ (130 km/81 mi)
A few centuries ago, Meknes had an important Jewish community
with Spanish origins and renowned Rabbis such as Raphael Berdugo,
Daniel Toledano, David Benmidan Patron of Meknes…. The community
although reduced, is still very active in commerce.
After breakfast, visit of the Ismaïlian capital famous for
its 40 km/25 mi long walls with its monumental gates such as Bab
Mansour, the old and new Mellah Jewish quarters, the Royal stables.
Lunch in a local restaurant and then continuation to the ruins
of the Roman city of Volubilis where you will see a Hebrew epitaph
proving the existence of a Jewish community during the Roman occupation.
Continuation to Fez. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 4 FEZ
Fez was renowned during the Medieval time for its talmudic studies
and eminent Rabbis : Monsenego, Benaïm, Ibn Danan, Cohen…
The numerous synagogues testify of the importance of the community
in Fez. The Ibn Danan synagogue has recently been renovated, and
Masano and El Fasyin renovation will start soon.
After breakfast, the whole day is devoted to the visit of Fez,
the religious capital of Morocco : the old Mellah Jewish quarter
also called "Foundouk El Yhoudi", the Jewish cemetery
with its engraved tombs, Ibn Danan renovated synagogue, Attarine
and Bou Inania Medersas, the Nejjarine fountain, the Karaouine
& the Andalous mosques. Lunch in a Moroccan palace in the
medina. Afternoon, visit of Fez el Jdid where you can see exterior
of the Royal Palace and the adjacent new Mellah. Dinner and overnight
at the hotel.
DAY 5 FEZ / MIDELT / ERFOUD (450 km/280 mi)
After breakfast, you leave for Midelt through the mountains and
the cedar woods of the middle Atlas, passing by Ifrane, a charming
ski resort and Azrou an important handicraft centre specialised
in the work of cedar wood. After the Zad pass (2,178m/7,146ft)
you arrive in Midelt for lunch. The Jewish community increased
during the French protectorate in the first half of the 20th century,
but most of them have now moved to bigger cities such as Casablanca.
Continuation to Erfoud via Errachidia and the Ziz valley dotted
with palm trees. Dinner and accommodation in Erfoud (possibility
to sleep under nomad's tents in Merzouga dunes).
DAY 6 ERFOUD / RISSANI / TINERHIR (200 km/124 mi)
The Moroccan Jews established in the Tafilalet region on the Sultan's
trading route between Fez and the Sahara to Sudan , used for the
commerce of gold.
Early morning, an optional jeep excursion to see the sunrise over
the sand dunes of Merzouga. Back to the hotel for breakfast and
continuation to Rissani holy city where Moulay Ali Cherif, ancestor
of the Alaouite dynasty is buried. Visit of the kasbah of the
17th century and the Ksar Abbar ruins, and continuation to Tinerhir
via the Tinejdad road. Visit of the magnificent Todra canyons
with rocks reaching 250 m/820 ft. Lunch in an auberge situated
at the feet of the canyons. Dinner and overnight in Tinerhir.
DAY 6 TINERHIR / EL KELAA / OUARZAZATE / ZAGORA (370 km/230
mi)
Moroccan Jewish families settled along the Draa and Dades regions
and used to live in good harmony with Berber tribes.
After breakfast, departure to the Dades canyons for a visit and
then continuation to Ouarzazate via the thousand kasbah route
and the Dades valley. Lunch in Ouarzazate and continuation to
Zagora. After passing the Tizi'n'Tiniffit pass (1,660 m/5,446
ft) the road descends to the Draa valley leading to Agdz situated
at the foot of the rock face of the jbel Kissane. Then the road
follows the oued (river) Draa with palm groves laid out along
the banks and dotted with about 50 kasbahs and ksours. Then on
to Zagora, the "gate of the desert". Dinner and overnight
in Zagora.
DAY 7 ZAGORA / MHAMID / OUARZAZATE (350 km/218 mi)
After breakfast, excursion to M'hamid village the last settlement
before the sand dunes of the Sahara desert. Return to Zagora with
a stop for a walk and relaxation on the sand dunes of Tinfou.
Visit of Tamegroute Zaouia and its famous library containing a
large collection of rare books and Korans dating from the 12th
century. Lunch in Zagora. Return to Ouarzazate with a stop at
a local house for a Moroccan tea ceremony. Dinner and overnight
at the hotel.
DAY 8 OUARZAZATE / AIT BENHADDOU / OUARZAZATE (2 x 33 km/21
mi)
Morning free until 11 a.m. Departure to the fortified village
of Aït Benhaddou, the most spectacular fortress in the South
of Morocco, which has served as decor for many films. Lunch on
the terrace facing the kasbah. On the way back to Ouarzazate,
visit of the kasbahs of Tiffoultoute and Taourirte, former residences
of the Glaouis who were the powerful pachas of the region. Dinner
and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 9 OUARZAZATE / MARRAKESH (210 km/131 mi)
After breakfast, departure to Marrakesh via the Tizi'n'Tichka
pass offering an impressive landscape in the heart of the Atlas
mountain chain. Lunch in a typical restaurant in Marrakesh. Afternoon
at leisure for relaxation. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 10 MARRAKESH
Marrakesh had a strong Jewish community specialised in commerce
and handicrafts and there are till some Jewish families settled
in this attracting city.
After breakfast, the entire day is devoted to the visit of Marrakesh,
the second oldest Imperial city, known as the "Pearl of the
South", founded by the Almoravides at the end of the 11th
century, including the Saadian tombs, the Bahia palace, the Mellah
Jewish quarter, the Koutoubia and Dar Si Saïd museum and
the Menara garden. Lunch at the hotel. Afternoon, visit of the
souks and handicraft quarters and the famous Djemaa El Fna square
with its non stop entertainment. Moroccan dinner under tents with
horse fantasia show in the palm grove. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 11 MARRAKESH / OURIKA / MARRAKESH (2 x 60 km/37 mi)
After breakfast, excursion to Ourika a beautiful valley in the
Atlas mountain, with nice view points and small pisé villages
inhabited by Berber tribes. Lower down, the Ourika rivers meanders
through orchards, fields and gardens. Lunch in an auberge facing
the snow capped mountain and overlooking the river. Return to
Marrakesh. Rest of afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight
at the hotel.
DAY 12 MARRAKESH / ESSAOUIRA (175 km/109 mi)
In the 18th century, the Alaouite Sultan Mohamed Ben Abdallah
charged some prominent Jewish families to promote international
trade from the port of Essaouira.
After breakfast, departure to Essaouira, ex Portuguese Mogador
stronghold. Fish lunc in a local restaurant. Visit of the fishermen
port and the Mellah Jewish quarter. Two historical synagogues
should be renovated soon "Slat Rabbi Haïm Pinto and
Slat Attias". Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 13 ESSAOUIRA/SAFI /OUALIDIA/ELJADIDA/CASABLANCA (400 km/249
mi)
There were Jewish communities in the ports of Safi and El Jadida,
who were active in commerce and handicrafts.
After breakfast, departure to Oualidia via the picturesque coastal
road. Stop in Safi to visit the Mellah in the Northern part of
the medina and the Portuguese fortress. Then continuation to Oualidia
for a fish lunch in a local restaurant with view over its superb
bay. Continuation to El Jadida, sightseeing of the town including
the famous citadel, built under the Portuguese occupation in the
16th century. Continuation to Casablanca. Dinner and overnight
at the hotel.
DAY 14 CASABLANCA / RABAT / CASABLANCA (100 km/62 mi)
Casablanca holds the most important and active Jewish community
and most of the Jewish institutions are established in Casablanca,
the economic capital.
After breakfast, panoramic tour of the city : the central market,
the Mohamed V square, exterior of Hassan II Mosque, the corniche,
the Anfa residential quarter. Lunch in a local restaurant. Visit
of the Judeo-Moroccan Museum housing beautiful Moroccan Jewish
antiquities, arts and crafts, paintings…Dinner and overnight
at the hotel.
DAY 15 CASABLANCA AIRPORT (35 km/22 mi)
Transfer to Casablanca Mohamed V airport. Assistance to the boarding
formalities and farewell from our staff.
Optional Kosher meals in Kosher certified restaurants in a few
important cities.
Possibility to attend a religious service in a Synagogue in a
few important cities.
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