Discover Jewish Heritage & Historic Morocco – 15-Day Itinerary

Your private driver will greet you at the airport and take you to your accommodation in Casablanca. You have the rest of the day to relax or discover the city at your own pace. You can begin your Casablanca adventure with a walk through the Old Medina, which dates back to the 19th century. Then, explore the Habbous, or “New Medina,” a French-built neighborhood with art deco buildings and colorful markets.

Continue your stroll along the Boulevard de la Corniche, a seaside promenade that offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. You can enjoy the sandy beaches and the attractions along the way. If you are a fan of the classic movie Casablanca, you might want to dine at Rick’s Café, a replica of the iconic film set.

Start your day with a trip to Rabat, Morocco’s capital, where you can admire the Hassan Tower monument, a stunning example of the Almohad Dynasty’s architecture. The Hassan Tower is the minaret of a 12th-century mosque that was never finished. The only parts that remain are the red sandstone tower, which is 144 feet (44 m) tall, and about 200 columns. Opposite the Hassan Tower is the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, where the Moroccan king Mohammed V and his two sons, Prince Abdallah and King Hassan II, are buried.

After that, head to Ouazzane, a sacred city for many Moroccan Jews. Every year, they come to the city to pay their respects at Rabbi Amram ben Diwan’s tomb. This rabbi, who was born in Jerusalem, performed many miracles during his life in Morocco.

Then, drive to Chefchaouen, the “blue city” named after its blue-painted buildings. You can wander around the town as you like, or relax in Outa el-Hammam, the main square. Don’t forget to try a maqlouba (upside-down) coffee, and watch the local women wash their clothes and fetch water from the spring. Chefchaouen is a great place to shop for handcrafted items, such as wool clothes, woven blankets, cedarwood furniture, and more.

Bid farewell to Chefchaouen and head south to Fes, one of the four “imperial cities” of Morocco. Before you depart, enjoy some more time in Chefchaouen’s medina, or catch the sunrise from the Spanish Mosque if you are an early riser.

Along the way to Fes, stop at Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts the best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco. Stretch your legs and explore the large complex, where you can see temples, wealthy houses with heating systems, and stunning mosaics. Then, continue to Moulay Idriss, the first Islamic capital of Morocco and a place of great religious importance. The city is home to the only round minaret in Morocco. You can have lunch here, or save your appetite for Meknes.

In Meknes, visit the Ville Impériale area, where you can admire gardens, palaces, the majestic gate of Bab al-Mansour, the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, and the Royal Stables. Many of these buildings were made with materials from Volubilis, so keep an eye out for Roman columns in surprising places! Finish the day at your riad (a traditional house with a courtyard) in the Fes medina.

After breakfast, join your tour guide and discover the old medina of Fes, a maze of quaint streets and lanes. Discover the beauty and history of Fes’ old medina, a labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys. Learn about the Jewish heritage of Fes on your tour. You’ll see the mellah, the old Jewish quarter of the medina, and the Jewish Cemetery, where two famous rabbis are buried.

In the afternoon, meet the artisans of Fes and visit their tanneries and mosaic workshops. See how they create their amazing products and hear about the significance of their crafts, both in Fes and beyond. Later, enjoy some rest at your riad, or go back to the medina and explore more with your new insights.

Join your guide in the morning for a day trip to Sefrou, a fortified town on the foothills of the Middle Atlas Mountains, about 18 miles (29 km) from Fes. Sefrou was a trading hub in the Roman times and a caravan stop between the Mediterranean and the Sahara. The town has a rich cultural diversity. Before the French left in the 1960s and 1970s, a third of Sefrou’s people were Jewish Moroccans.

In Sefrou, visit the Craft Center. This lovely complex is near the old city and has many workshops where artisans make woodworks, ceramics, woven rugs, and silk buttons for djellabas (traditional robes). You can watch them and learn about their crafts. In the evening, return to Fes for dinner.

Spend the morning discovering more of Fes’ old medina. See the city’s historical sites, such as the Bou Inania Madrasa and the Royal Palace of Fes, shop for some souvenirs, and have a leisurely lunch. Then, leave Fes and drive up to the Middle Atlas Mountains.

An hour after Fes, you’ll enter Ifrane National Park’s huge cedar tree forests. This park is home to the Barbary macaque monkeys, an endangered species and the only African monkeys north of the Sahara Desert. After the park, you’ll arrive at Azrou, a lovely Berber town famous for its rug and jewelry making. You can dine and rest here before sleeping.

Leave the Middle Atlas Mountains and enter the desert region early in the morning. Stop briefly in Midelt, the “apple city” of Morocco, where the Moulouya River enables the apples to grow in the desert. Then, cross the Tizi-n-Talremt Pass and reach the Ziz Valley, a scenic oasis with palm trees. Have lunch in Errachidia and visit the Musée des Sources de Lalla Mimouna, where you can see the natural spring named after a Muslim saint who is honored by Moroccan Jews.

After lunch, drive to Erfoud, a lively market town famous for its date festival and its fossil mining and crafts. Soon, you’ll spot the Erg Chebbi, a huge sand dune in the Sahara Desert. It covers 22 square miles (35 km²) and has some dunes that are over 656 feet (200 m) high. Take a break near Merzouga and get ready for a thrilling camel ride through the dunes. Later, return to camp for dinner and a night of traditional Berber music by the fire.

Rise early and enjoy the sunrise over the dunes. Have breakfast in camp and return to Merzouga. Your driver will be waiting for you to start your long journey to Ouarzazate. You can visit Rissani on the way, a historic town with a traditional market, where you can see animals being traded. Rissani also has a “donkey parking lot”!

Travel through the isolated, barren landscape near the Sahara. You’ll see desert plains, high mountains, and plateaus. Stop briefly in Tinghir, a Berber town with a Jewish heritage. Explore the old quarter and learn about its history. Then, head to the beautiful Dadès Gorge, where the mountains have red and mauve stripes, and have lunch in Boumalne Dadès. Finish your day in Ouarzazate, a famous film location.

Visit Aït Benhaddou, Morocco’s most famous kasbah and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a guide. This old ksar is a stunning example of earthen architecture from the 11th century, when it was a key stop on the trade route between Marrakech, Ouarzazate, and the desert.

After seeing the site, leave the Sahara and head to the city. Climb the arid slopes of the High Atlas Mountains through the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. Then, enter the vibrant Marrakech. Relax for the rest of the afternoon. In the evening, go to the lively main square, Jemaa el-Fna, for dinner.

Discover the old medina of Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a guide. In the city’s vibrant souks, you will be amazed by the variety of colorful crafts, clothes, and spices on offer. Wander through the souks’ narrow alleys, then have a snack and resume your private tour of the city. See El Badi Palace, a place that was once a mellah. A large community of Spanish and Moroccan Jews lived here. The Saadian Tombs and Jewish Cemetery of Marrakech are also worth seeing on your tour.

End your day by relaxing in a traditional Moroccan hammam. Learn about the hammam’s history, and enjoy a refreshing scrub with traditional methods. Many hammams also have massages and a wide range of spa treatments, using local products like argan oil. Finish your day with a final walk through the medina to try some street food, or go to one of the city’s many restaurants to taste Marrakech’s unique cuisine.

Go to Essaouira, a town famous for its beaches and surfing. As you reach the coast, you’ll see a unique forest, where argan trees grow. Visit a local women’s association that makes argan oil, and look for goats eating the argan fruits on the tree branches.

In Essaouira, walk the impressive walls, explore the medina, or relax by the fishing harbor. Essaouira has a rich Jewish heritage and a well-preserved Jewish quarter. It’s a great example of a community of coexistence and a wonderful place to discover. For lunch or dinner, try some of the city’s fresh seafood.

Join your guide in the morning and go to the fishing harbor. Essaouira’s harbor is busy and a good place to watch the fishermen bringing and selling their catches. After walking around the area and having a delicious lunch by the sea, see the new Jewish cultural center, Bayt Dakira, which has a museum, synagogue, and research center. In the evening, explore more of the city on your own. You can also listen to some live music at one of the many places in the medina.

Return to Casablanca along the coast, stopping at some other seaside towns on the way. First, see Safi, famous for its surfing beaches and ocean views. Then, visit El Jadida and its amazing Portuguese cistern. Walk the walls and see the Church of the Assumption, then have lunch in the town.

Next, go to Azemmour. Many Moroccan artists have lived here and been inspired by its traditional life and old medina, near the river and the sea. When you get to Casablanca, relax at your hotel, then go out for dinner and some night fun.

Your Moroccan adventure comes to an end as you get ready to leave from Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport. Your driver will take you to the airport with enough time for check in. Have a safe trip!