Tour Itinerary
Day 1: (Sunday) Arrival in Casablanca
Shalom Alechem! Welcome to the Casablanca airport, we hope you had a pleasant flight. Here you will be greeted by a Zayan Travel tour manager, who will welcome you to the city of the French colonial legacy and escort your luggage to the hotel. Based on your time of arrival, a well put orientation accompanied by an amazing visit to the Hassan II mosque awaits you. With your first visit being in the heart of the largest Jewish community in Morocco, get ready for visits to numerous congregations, active communal institutions, and many highly recommended kosher restaurants. Not just this, but experience the Jewish culture unlike never before by paying a visit to the Mellah (Jewish Quarter) with its glorious temples and synagogues such as the Beth-El, Em Habanim, and Neve Chalom. After all these appealing sites and attractions, history awaits your arrival at the museum of the jowes. Birthed in the Jewish Community of Casablanca in 1997, the Museum of Moroccan Judaism of Casablanca will not only provide you with a blast from the past but you will also experience ethnography in its finest form. It is an amusing site that withstood the test of time – truly a historic marvel! An enticing plan on its own comes to an end with a scrumptious dinner at the Rick's café and a good night's sleep at your hotel in casablanca.
Day 2: (Monday) Royal Rabat
Start your day the right way with a healthy breakfast accompanied by a splendid trip to the Mohamed V Mausoleum, the Hassan Tower and Place des Oudayas Time for the next entrée, we then go to Fes, stopping at the ancient ruins of Volubilis along the way and the holy district of Moulay Idriss I, where the grave of the founder of Islam in Morocco resides. After which, a delicious meal awaits you followed by a retreat to Meknes, known to be the “Moroccan Versailles” - a masterpiece established by Moulay Ismail in the 17th Century. Here you will have a glimpse of the glorious Bab Mansour, the ancient medina, Hari Souani, and all the other majestic venues.
Day 3: (Tuesday) The Mysteries of Fes
Third times the charm, have a hearty breakfast as you wake up fresh and rejuvenated after a good night’s rest. You will now be unraveling the mysteries of Fes while feasting your eyes on the Moorish style and European art décor. Here you will be gazing at the stunning panoramic views of medina of fes from Borj Sud, and then you will be heading towards the majestic Fes Medina (Old City). Fill your day with enchanting sights of the classic venues of the Old City, encompassing everything from baffling alleys to crowded markets and a lot more!
o The Medersa Bou Inania
o Bab Boujloud (blue gate)
o The Splendid fountain at Place Nejjarine
o Visit Jewish Fes – the Mellah (Jewish Quarter) the ancient jewish graveyard and the synagogue that is today
protectively guarded by its Muslim caretaker
o Visit the Souks Markets – where the skillful weavers, carpet makers, copper beaters, and snail sellers practice
their trade as they did a thousand years ago
o The Chaouwara tanneries
o Local leather and pottery factories
o Free evening and an optional evening performance by Andalus (one that you will never forget) and traditional
Moroccan music. *not on Saturdays
Day 4: (Wednesday) Into The Desert
Sometimes experience has more to do with the journey than the destination, for which we take you on a ride to stand witness to the visual treasures of morocco . Starting your day as early as 8 am, we take you to your first destination, Ifrane. A place constructed when the French Protectorate was a managerial center and as a sweet getaway from the sweltering summer heat, Ifrane now stands tall as a grand monument of the past times. After this, we will take you to Cedar Forest, a breath-taking spectacle of nature. A date you will surely remember, as you stopover at the Ziz Valley, the greatest manufacturer of dates in Morocco. With 283 different varieties, delight your taste buds with the world famous Mejhoul, an expensive delicacy which is equally delicious. After this, you shall enjoy lunch with a Berber family, which will be the best highlight of your lovly trip For a ride of a lifetime, we take you off the road on a powerful (4×4) vehicle to explore Merzouga - with the added option of adding a hint of Moroccan traditions into your trip by riding camels over the sand dunes of Merzouga. On your arrival at the desert camp, music fills the air as dancers move to the beats and your fresh entrée sizzles under the moonlight.
Day 5: Merzouga – Tinrhir – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley - Skoura (Valley of Kasbahs)
Memories made from dusk till dawn to dusk again, you will wake up to the glorious rays of the sun pouring all over the sky and get started for another exciting day. Today you travel back to Erfoud, known for its fossils and fresh dates during the harvest festival in October. From local markets to in between villages, gaze at the monsters of rock: 300m sheer stone cliffs at Todra Gorge where a meal fit for kings awaits you. Get enchanted by the beauty encapsulated in stone as you go through the scenic Dades valley, the home to Monkey Paws. After this, the journey takes you to the glorious Valley of Kasbahs, more formally known as Skoura oasis.
Day 6: (Friday) Skoura - Ouarzazate | Ait Ben Haddou | Telouet | Marrakesh (Prepare for shabath)
Get ready for the next destination as you move towards Ouarzazate, and to the Taourirt Kasbah, which is a fort of the Glaoui family who once controlled the south edge of Morocco. After this, you travel to one of the historically enriched places of all times, the ait ben haddou . Applauded for being one of the most well preserved Kasbahs in Morocco, it is a classic UNESCO World Heritage Site. Buckle up! You are about to time travel into the past as you take a step into the more historic world of Kasbah. A site right out of a movie, and is often used for it, too! With many TV shows taking a liking to the bewitching site, including Game Of Thrones, Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and The Last Temptation of Christ. Not just this, but explore even further as you stopover at Telouet, a less known Kasbah and the once dominant sovereignty of the Gloaui family. Famous for their mastery of finance, a huge part of their wealth came from the charges they levied onto the camel coaches that moved through their zone. Satisfied your wanderlust yet? Let’s satisfy your hunger as well. Here you will get a chance to have a fine lunch experience, matched with an amusing performance by a native and once renowned artist performing just for you. After which we head towards the enigmatic Tizi n Tichka passage, popular for their famous 340 bends. Though in authenticity, there are just 2, left and right. This mind-boggling zigzag creation of the French engineering that scales up to 2,260 m (and 7,400 ft) changed the path of the camel coaches that embarked on their grueling ride from Timbuktu to Marrakech, carrying lots of gold, slaves, and aromatic spices. From twists to turns to a place many people call their home, this enthralling ride takes you through the Tiz n’Tichka passage in the High Atlas Mountains, to finally ending in Marrakesh where you rest in your riad for the night. Light Shabbat candles with a Jewish Moroccan family and experience Kosher food in its purest form!
Day 7: (Saturday) Shabath with a Moroccan Jewish Family
Wakey wakey, the fun isn’t over yet! Have a fulfilling breakfast and head over to Slat al-Azama Synagogue, which is in the vicinity of the riad and Jewish Quarter. Experience the virtue of the holy place and say your prayers before you leave for lunch. Enjoy the full Shabbat lunch experience, where Moroccan Jewish families gather in the city for prayer and rituals. Get to know the families and learn first hand what the Moroccan Jewish families have to say about their culture, history and traditions!
Day 8: (Sunday) The Wonders of Marrakech
Got the feeling that the marrakech medina has more than what meets the eye? Embark on a fun trip through this striking place and unravel its best-kept secrets! You will be wandering through the arms-width streets of the souk with your guide, as he takes you back in time by telling you intriguing tales of the city’s glorious monuments. Discover the legends and stories of the mighty’s might and how they’ve fallen. PS: We recommend you to plan your retreat from Casablanca or Marrakesh tomorrow in the afternoon.
Day 9: (Monday) Marrakech Excursion to Coastal Essaouira, Jewish Heritage Sites of Essaouira
On day 9, you will leave for the seaside essaouira , which is a mesmerizing fishing town surrounded by hand- painted blue, white and yellow houses that look nothing but ethereal! This glorious town is known for its Portuguese and Jewish History, fresh and delectable seafood and enthusiastic artist community. The awe-inspiring artist colony of Seaside Essaouira boasts gorgeous houses with delicate washed hues of white and blue, thuya wood workshops that house skilled craftsmen, stunning art galleries and finger-licking seafood entrees! Once referred to as Mogador by European traders and sailors, Seaside Essaouira is popular for its annual Gnaoua Music Festival, which is a grand event that attracts more than 300,000 people in June! Passionate surfers can fulfill their surfing fantasies at the Plage de Safi beach. Most of the hand-painted houses in this remarkable town belonging to Jews still have the Star of David on top of the doorways. Practicing Jews form around the world gather in this town for an annual pilgrimage, where they visit Rabbi Haim Pinto’s grave who departed in 1845. The Hiloula, as it is known, is celebrated each September to honor Rabbi Haim Pinto. Rabbi Haim Pinto’s home today stands tall as a remarkable historic and religious site. This site is an active synagogue that is used when the Jews or pilgrims visit this holy place. Decades ago the Essaouira was home to several Jewish inhabitants, however today just one family resides there, known as the Jacky Kadoch family. Jack Kadoch is the president of the Jewish community residing in Essaouira. PS: We recommend you to plan your departure from Marrakesh or from Casablanca in the afternoon tomorrow.
Day 10: Depart Marrakech
Your fun-filled trip will come to an end today. Our team will escort you to the airport, where you'll head back home with lovely stories and unforgettable memories of all the remarkable moments you spent in the majestic city of Morocco!
Pricing
* All prices are in US Dollars (USD) per person.
* No hidden fees or charges.
Price Includes
Check All Hotels / Riads
Check Breakfasts daily
Check 3 dinners: 2 in Merzouga + 01 in Skoura
Check Transportation (New air-conditioned vehicle + Free Wifi aboard the car)
Check Professional English Speaking Driver
Check Professional Tour Guides in major cities
Check Guided Camel Safari
Check Night Drum party
Check All entrance fees
Price Excludes
Clear Beverages
Clear Personal Spending
Clear Tips for guides and drivers
Clear Travel Insurance
