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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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