Jewish Heritage Tour of Morocco: 11 Day Private Tour

Day 1

Casablanca and Rabat: Modern Meets Imperial

Casablanca to Rabat

Welcome to Morocco. Because Casablanca is home to the largest Jewish community in the country, it is the natural place to begin. Your driver meets you at Mohammed V Airport, and we start with a tour of the city’s highlights. Wander through the Habous Quarter, the so called New Medina, with its mix of French and Moroccan architecture, then pass the lively United Nations Square. We see the great Hassan II Mosque from outside, an architectural marvel standing on the Atlantic, and then step into Casablanca’s Jewish heritage, visiting one of the local synagogues in the old Mellah, such as the beautifully decorated Temple Beth El, to see a community that is still very much alive.

In the afternoon we follow the Atlantic coast north to Rabat, Morocco’s capital and an imperial city. Walk through the peaceful Chellah necropolis, where Roman and Islamic ruins stand side by side under vines, and admire the Andalusian gardens of the Kasbah of the Udayas, which overlook the river. In Rabat’s old Mellah you will notice the distinctive balconies and learn how the quarter remains home to many Jewish families. We also cross the river to the ancient town of Salé, birthplace of the eighteenth century scholar Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar, known as the Or HaChaim.

After a day full of first impressions, enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in Rabat.

Overnight: Riad or hotel in Rabat

Day 2

Imperial Cities and Ancient Ruins

Rabat to Meknes to Volubilis to Fez

After breakfast we travel inland to Meknes, known as the Moroccan Versailles for its grand history under Sultan Moulay Ismail. We enter through the monumental Bab El Mansour gate and stroll across El Hedim Square, which was once the gathering place for imperial announcements and is now a lively plaza. In the old Mellah of Meknes you will see traces of a once thriving Jewish community, including Hebrew inscriptions above doorways and a few synagogues still active in the narrow lanes. Your guide explains that at one time the community supported around eleven synagogues and a rich communal life. Before we leave, we pay our respects at the tomb of Rabbi David Benmidan, a revered rabbi whose resting place has become a site of pilgrimage.

We then continue to Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best preserved Roman city in Morocco. Among its columns, mosaics, and basilicas, it is easy to imagine a crossroads where Romans, Berbers, Jews, and other peoples traded and mixed, a fitting symbol of the country’s cultural mix.

In the late afternoon we arrive in Fez, the oldest of the imperial cities. Settle into your riad or hotel, enjoy dinner, and rest before a full day tomorrow.

Overnight: Riad or hotel in Fez

Day 3

Fez: The Heart of Jewish Morocco

Fez City Tour

Fez was a thriving center of learning and culture for Muslims and Jews alike, and today we explore both. With a local guide, you wander the labyrinthine alleys of Fes el Bali, the old medina, which has barely changed in centuries. In the old Mellah we visit the historic synagogues, among them the seventeenth century Ibn Danan Synagogue, which has been carefully restored and shows what Jewish life was like in medieval Fez. Your guide introduces the scholars who made the city famous, including the talmudist Rabbi Isaac Alfasi and the philosopher Maimonides, who lived here in the twelfth century.

Next we visit the Jewish Cemetery of Fez, a serene and moving place. White washed tombs run along the hillside, including those of venerated rabbis such as Rabbi Lahou Halakh and Rabbi Raphael Moshe Elbaz. Because pilgrims still visit these graves, you can feel how alive the legacy of Fassi Jewry remains.

To place the story in a broader frame, we also see the gates of the Royal Palace and the University of Al Qarawiyyin from outside. By late afternoon you return to your accommodation. Dinner is at your riad or a local restaurant, where you can taste the famous cuisine of Fez, and the evening is yours.

Overnight: Riad or hotel in Fez

Day 4

Middle Atlas Journey to the Desert

Fez to Ifrane to Midelt to Erfoud to Merzouga

We leave Fez and climb south into the Middle Atlas, where the scenery shifts from cityscape to cedar woodland and mountain town. In Ifrane, an alpine style town often called the Switzerland of Morocco, local legend says the area sits near the site of an ancient Jewish kingdom, a reminder of how deep Jewish history in Morocco may reach. Near Azrou, keep an eye out for Barbary macaques in the cedars.

The road then drops to broad, high plains. We pass through Midelt, a market town known for its apple orchards, and follow the Ziz Valley, a ribbon of green oasis winding through bare hills. In the afternoon we arrive in Erfoud, famed for its fossils and date palms, and feel the gateway to the Sahara. From here we continue by 4×4 toward Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes, and as the golden dunes appear on the horizon, you can swap the vehicle for a camel and ride to your desert camp.

Climb a dune to watch the sunset, as the sky turns amber and purple over a sea of sand. After dark, a hearty Berber dinner under countless stars, with music around the campfire, is followed by a night in a comfortable tent in the dunes.

Overnight: Sahara desert camp, Merzouga

Day 5

Oases, Gorges, and the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs

Merzouga to Todra Gorge to Tinghir to Dades Valley to Ouarzazate

Wake to a Sahara sunrise, with the dunes changing color in the early light. You may climb a dune in the dawn hush or simply enjoy the view from camp. After breakfast we depart Merzouga, return by 4×4 to meet your driver in Erfoud, and continue west, leaving the desert behind. Our first stop is the stunning Todra Gorge near the oasis town of Tinghir, where cliffs nearly 300 metres high frame a crystal clear river. Walk a short way in, feeling dwarfed by the red walls, and meet local villagers who often sell fossils and handmade goods by the roadside.

Near Tinghir we explore the remnants of the old Jewish quarter in this Berber town. The earthen buildings of the former Mellah and a simple synagogue, if accessible, are reminders of the coexistence that once existed here, and local residents may share stories of the Jewish families who lived in the community generations ago.

We continue through the Dades Valley, the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, with its fortified mud brick compounds and green palm groves. We pass El Kelaa des Mgouna, the heart of Morocco’s rose growing region, especially fragrant in spring when the Damascus roses bloom, and, if time permits, visit the village of Tiliit, once nicknamed the Jewish Kasbah for its historic Jewish community.

By late afternoon we reach Ouarzazate, often called the Hollywood of Morocco for its film studios. We tour the Taourirt Kasbah, a nineteenth century fortress of the Glaoui family that gives a glimpse of Saharan life of old. Dinner is at your hotel, and after a full day of exploration the evening is for rest.

Overnight: Hotel in Ouarzazate

Day 6

Ouarzazate at Leisure

Ouarzazate and Surroundings

Today is a relaxed day in and around Ouarzazate, and you can shape it to your interests. You might choose to visit Ait Ben Haddou, a famous ksar about half an hour away, known for its striking mud brick architecture and as the setting of many films, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site that offers a glimpse of ancient caravan life.

Alternatively, stay in town and explore the local markets for handcrafted goods or take a guided tour of a film studio to see sets and props from movies shot in the Sahara. History lovers may enjoy the cinema museum or a drive to the Fint Oasis, a green valley hidden among black volcanic rocks. If you prefer a quiet day, your hotel can arrange a spa hammam. Your guide is available to arrange any of these, and dinner tonight is in Ouarzazate.

Overnight: Hotel in Ouarzazate

Day 7

High Atlas Crossing and the Jewish Heritage of Marrakech

Ouarzazate to the High Atlas to Marrakech

After breakfast we begin a beautiful drive to Marrakech over the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, at 2,260 metres. The road offers panoramas of terraced hillsides and villages clinging to the mountains. You may stop at viewpoint cafes or visit local cooperatives, such as argan oil or pottery workshops, to support the community. By early afternoon we descend to the plains and arrive in Marrakech, the fabled Red City.

We start with the city’s Jewish heritage. In the old city we visit the Mellah of Marrakech, historically a walled quarter and home to a thriving Jewish population. Tucked into its lanes is the nineteenth century Lazama Synagogue, also known as Slat al Azama, still used as a community synagogue and gathering place. Not far away is the vast Miaara Jewish Cemetery with its whitewashed tombs, including those of notable rabbis and community leaders. As you walk among the rows, your guide recounts how the Jewish community of Marrakech, once led by sages and scholars, contributed greatly to the city’s life.

We add the Saadian Tombs, ornate royal tombs of the sixteenth century, to understand more of the imperial past, and before evening, there may be time to see the exterior of the Koutoubia Mosque, whose minaret is visible from many parts of the city. Check in to your riad or hotel, enjoy dinner, and relax.

Overnight: Riad or hotel in Marrakech

Day 8

Marrakech and the Ourika Valley Pilgrimage

Marrakech City Tour and Excursion to the Ourika Valley

This morning we continue through Marrakech, an old city where ancient tradition and modern energy blend. Visit the splendid Bahia Palace, a nineteenth century palace known for its intricate tile work and tranquil courtyards, and stroll through the colorful souks of the medina, where artisans craft copper lanterns, leather goods, and more. If it is open, you may also stop by the Jewish Heritage Museum in the Mellah.

Around midday we drive into the Atlas foothills to the Ourika Valley, a lush river valley south of the city. In the valley is the shrine of Rabbi Salomon Bel Hench, a site sacred to many Moroccan Jews, who come on pilgrimage, known as Hiloula. Even when it is not pilgrimage season, the caretakers often welcome visitors to pay their respects at this serene mountainside tomb. It brings a deeper sense of the enduring spiritual connections in Moroccan Judaism.

We return to Marrakech by late afternoon. In the evening, Jemaa el Fna comes alive with storytellers, henna artists, street chefs, and musicians in a nightly carnival. Enjoy dinner from a food stall or a nearby restaurant, taking in the atmosphere, and fall asleep with the sounds of the medina not far off.

Overnight: Riad or hotel in Marrakech

Day 9

A Free Day in Marrakech

Marrakech

This day is intentionally left free, so that you can enjoy Marrakech at your own pace. Revisit a favorite place or discover something new. Perhaps wander through the Majorelle Garden, the peaceful botanical garden once owned by Yves Saint Laurent, which also houses the Berber Museum, or explore the endless alleys of the souks, bargaining for spices, ceramics, or textiles.

For something hands on, join a Moroccan cooking class and learn to make couscous or tagine. If rest is what you need, a traditional hammam offers steam and massage. Your driver guide remains at your service for anything you would like to add, such as a short trip into the Atlas Mountains or a visit to an argan oil cooperative on the edge of the city.

By nightfall, return to Jemaa el Fna or enjoy a quiet evening at a rooftop cafe. This last night in Marrakech is a chance to reflect on the journey so far.

Overnight: Riad or hotel in Marrakech

Day 10

Return to Casablanca

Marrakech to Casablanca

After breakfast, we make the journey back to where it all began. The highway from Marrakech to Casablanca takes about three hours across the fertile plains of central Morocco, and we arrive by early afternoon, with time to see what you may have missed on the first day.

The Museum of Moroccan Judaism, housed in a lovely villa, is a meaningful stop to tie together the themes of the trip. Its collection of Torah scrolls, embroidery, and photographs charts the long history of Jews in Morocco and gives a comprehensive overview. If you prefer another activity, a relaxed walk on the Corniche, a look at the exterior of Rick’s Cafe, or a visit to the modern parts of the city offer a nice contrast.

In the evening we gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant, perhaps trying Moroccan Jewish specialties if they are available, and toast an enriching journey.

Overnight: Hotel in Casablanca

Day 11

Farewell and Departure

Casablanca to the Airport

After breakfast your eleven day journey comes to an end. At the appropriate time your driver transfers you to Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca for your departure flight. If you leave later in the day, you may have time to relax or do some last minute shopping.

We wish you b’ssalama, safe travels, and masalama, goodbye, in the hope that the memories and insights from Morocco stay with you long after you return home.