Jewish Travel Division of EMCO Travel, LLC Since 1993 Toll-free 877-466-2934.  Phone 727-254-4373 Fax: 203-653-5586 email:  info@JewishTravelAgency.com

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JEWISH HERITAGE MOROCCO

Together with our partner in Morocco Hassan Majdi we offer you unique journeys in Morocco

Traces Berbères Voyage

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Marrakech, Valley of Death and Draa 8 nights /9 days

ITINERARY

Day 1:Marrakech: Transfer arrival
Upon your arrival to Marrakech airport, your expert English speaking driver will greet you and escort you to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 2:Marrakech: sightseeing city
Breakfast. This morning, enjoy a peck into the world of Jewish Marrakech. We will visit the Mellah with its synagogues, The Negidim synagogue built at the end of the 19th century, the other synagogue of the mellah is the Salat el Alzama, built at the turn of the century, there is a local legend that the synagogue was built during the Second Temple period by Jews who had never lived in Eretz-Israel and had not witnessed the destruction of the Temple... Then the cemetery where Rabbi Hanania Ha-Cohen, the Lion of Marrakesh and Rabbi Pinhas Cohen are buried.
We then proceed to the Palais el Bahia where our guided tour takes us to several grand halls, gardens and the harem quarter… After lunch at a local Casher Restaurant in the mellah, our tour takes us to visit the eleventh century Almoravide Koubba el Baroudiyn. It is one of the few architectural reminders of the dynasty that presided over the "Golden Age" of the Jews in Spanish Andalucia and Morocco. The Medersa Ben Yusuf, El Badi Palace and Saadian tombs are beautiful demonstrations of the art and architecture of the 16th century Saadians, a dynasty that relied heavily on Jewish traders with Sub-Saharan Africa, including Moroccan-controlled Timbuktu, to finance its wars against Portugal and the Turkish Empire.
After ample time exploring the Djemâa’s sights and sounds, we depart to the the remarkable Chez Ali Fantasia: As an excellent finale to any stay in Marrakech, dinner/show Chez Ali is truly a 1001 Nights’ experience.
Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 3:Marrakech – Ouarzazate
After breakfast, early departure to Ouarzazate via the mountains of the High Atlas, passing through the spectacular Tizi'N'Tichka pass reaching 2 260 m/7 415 ft.
On the way, we will visit the tomb of the Saint Rabbi Habibi Mizrahis located in a village at the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains south of Marrakech. At the highest point on the road to Ouarzazate, Optional visit to a Jewish saint, David Lachkar (or Moulay Ighi), the saint is buried in the stronghold of the most powerful Berber family of the twentieth century, the Glaoui.
Continuation to Ait Ben Haddou,
Arrival, a special visit to the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, registered to the world heritage of the UNESCO this walled village, spangled of notched towers and decorated of motives in the shape of lozenge, is considered understandably like one of most beautiful of the country. Hundreds of movies are shot in this décor: the diamond of the Nile, Lawrence of Arabia, the mommy, Gladiator, 7 days in Tebet, Babel…
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

Day 4:Ouarzazate – Klâat M’Gouna – Tinghir
After a special Berber breakfast, you’ll depart for Tinghir, traveling the rugged Road of a Thousand Kasbahs that rise up like turreted sand castles along this ancient caravan trading route. This area has long been a popular location for Hollywood films such as The Last Temptation of Christ, Jewel of the Nile, and most recently Hideous Kinky. The central region is one of the most exciting and romantic destinations of Morocco nestled along rich river valleys, palmeries and burnished mud-brick homes ablaze in vibrant colour under the shelter of the blue desert sky.
We will visit the village of Skoura (42 km), with its Jewish cemetery, where the venerated saint rabbi David Arama zatsal is buried, then Kalaat M’Gouna, the kingdom of the roses…
Optional visit of Tiliit (5 miles from El Kelaat M'Gouna), known as the Ancient City of the Jews of the Dades. The fortress of Tiliit has been the center of a Jewish region ruled by the Spanish-Jewish family of Perez from the end of the fifteenth century until the reign of Moulay Ismail in 1672…
Arrival in Tineghir we will visit its Mellah gateway and the ancient and colorful Jewish quarter. Tinghir is believed to have one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Morocco.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 5:Tinghir – Erfoud
After breakfast, only fifteen kilometres from Tinghir, we will find the highest, narrowest gorges in the region: the Todras, thousands of majestic Kasbahs appear, timeless in their beauty… Then we drive to Tinjdad (55 km), there we stop for lunch. Not to be missed a special visit to the ancient Ksar of Asfalou with its Jewish quarter…
Continuation to Erfoud, with its 40 ksours and 700 000 date palm. This town was the major Jewish population center of the Tafilalet, where Jews lived and financed the caravan trade with Sub-Saharan Africa from as early as the eighth century. Jews worked as merchants and artisans as late as the twentieth century. Highlights will include also the Jewish cemetery; it is sandy but otherwise well-preserved…
From there, we will drive to Merzouga to attend to lie down it of the sun in dunes of Erg Chebbi that constitute the big curiosity of the corner. It is real moving sculptures in the shape of draperies whose colours vary according to the intensity of light. They stand as the living defensive walls to doors of the desert, highest reach 150 ms…
Berber dinner and overnight under Nomadic tents or at the hotel.

Day 6:Erfoud - Rissani - Alnif - Tazzarine – Zagora (90 Km/56 mi off-road)
Early morning departure to enjoy Sun rise on Sahara Desert. Breakfast and departure towards the Palm Plantation of Draa passing the road connecting Zagora with Erfoud (about 4-5 hours drive via the oasis towns of Alnif, Tazzarine and Nkob).
Arrival, we continue to the south of Zagora to visit the important Jewish village of Amazraou, one of the oldest Jewish Kasbahs in the valley…Nearby are the jewellers and the blacksmiths, which you can visit.

Blacksmiths, who were trained by the Jews, are still using the models left by them to make fibula (pins to hold garments together) and medallions.
We’ll spend the rest of the day experiencing the unhurried pace of rural life in Zagora’s oasis. Dinner and Over night in the Kasbah

Day 7:Zagora – Ouarzazate
Then, departure to Ouarzazate via the mountains of the anti Atlas, the Draa valley with its numerous palm groves and Kasbahs. Jews were once a major presence in the oases of the Draa Valley, especially in the town of Agdz. There are legends that the Jews controlled a kingdom in this valley before the arrival of the Arabs.
The highlights will include the Kasbah of El Hara which is the Jewish quarter of Tamnougalt, it is the first Kasbah in the dirt road, and then we will explore the Kasbah of Timasla where several dozen Jewish families lived among the black Haratin population…
Dinner and overnight stay at your luxury hotel.

Day 8:Ouarzazate - Marrakesh
After breakfast, return to Marrakesh via Tizi N’Tichka…
Optional visit to a Jewish saint David Oumouchy.
Arrival to Marrakesh, enjoy the balance of the day at leisure...
After ample time exploring the Djemâa’s sights and sounds, we depart to the the remarkable Chez Ali Fantasia: As an excellent finale to any stay in Marrakech, dinner/show Chez Ali is truly a 1001 Nights’ experience.
Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 9:Departure to Marrakech Menara airport.
Assistance for check-in and boarding formalities. End of our services.

These are sample itineraries, customizable for each client,
prices are on request and depend on dates, accommodations level and activities
Optional kosher meals can be arranged in Casablanca and Marrakech.
Possibility to attend a religious service at a Synagogue if coinciding with Fridays

Call 877-466-2934 , local 727-254-4373 or email info@jewishtravelagency.com to book your trip

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