Casablanca — Museum of Moroccan Judaism & Temple Beth El
The only Jewish museum in the Arab world, and the active heart of Casablanca's community — Temple Beth El, with its stunning stained glass and Italian-Moroccan architecture.
Signature Private Tour · 10 Days · 9 Nights
Jewish Heritage Morocco —
two thousand years, ten days.
Trace Morocco's remarkable Jewish legacy — ancient mellahs, beautifully restored synagogues, and the Museum of Moroccan Judaism — woven through the country's greatest treasures: Volubilis, the Erg Chebbi Sahara, and the imperial medinas of Fes and Marrakech.
10
Days
9
Nights
5
Synagogues
& Mellahs
& Mellahs
2,000
Years of
history
history
✦ Free 48-hour proposal. No deposit until your itinerary is exactly right.
Duration10 days · 9 nights
PaceHeritage-rich · 1 free day
GroupPrivate · 1–8 guests
SeasonYear-round · any month
FromUSD $2,650 / pp
The journey
Morocco's Jewish story, told on the ground where it happened.
For over two thousand years, Jewish communities flourished across Morocco — from the ancient port cities of the Atlantic to the High Atlas Berber villages, from the great rabbinical academies of Fes to the saint-pilgrimage shrines of the south. At its peak, Morocco was home to a quarter of a million Jews, and to some of the most important centres of Sephardic learning outside the Iberian Peninsula.
This 10-day tour traces that legacy through Morocco's most evocative places — the Museum of Moroccan Judaism in Casablanca (the only one of its kind in the Arab world), the Mellah and Aben Danan Synagogue in Fes, the Slat Al Azama (Lazama) Synagogue and Miaara cemetery in Marrakech — woven through the country's greatest treasures: the Roman ruins of Volubilis, the golden dunes of the Erg Chebbi Sahara, and the UNESCO kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou.
Start and finish anywhere. The route below is the most popular Casablanca-to-Marrakech routing — but every itinerary is built around your flights. Tell us your dates and arrival/departure cities, and we'll resequence the days to match. Shabbat observance and kosher catering can be fully accommodated.
Casablanca · Temple Beth El synagogueSix unmissable moments
Tour Highlights
Morocco's Jewish legacy and its greatest treasures — beautifully sequenced across 10 days.
Volubilis — Rome in Africa
A UNESCO Roman city covering 40 hectares with extraordinarily preserved 3rd-century mosaic floors, triumphal arches, and the fertile plains where Morocco's Jewish presence first took root.
Fes Mellah & Aben Danan Synagogue
Walk Morocco's first and most storied mellah, then enter the beautifully restored 17th-century Aben Danan Synagogue — its painted ceiling, mikveh, and bimah preserved exactly as they were.
Erg Chebbi Sahara
Camel trek into 50 km of golden dunes at sunset, dine under the stars in a luxury Berber camp, and wake to the most extraordinary sunrise of your life — a Gnawa music performance in Khamlia along the way.
Aït Ben Haddou — UNESCO Kasbah
The iconic mud-brick fortress that appeared in Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and Lawrence of Arabia — walked through with a guide who knows every story.
Marrakech Mellah & Slat Al Azama Synagogue
The blue-and-white riad-courtyard synagogue founded by Spanish exiles in 1492 — still active today — and the Miaara Jewish cemetery, the oldest in southern Morocco.
Suggested route · fully flexible
The Route
Casablanca → Rabat → Volubilis → Fes → the Sahara → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech. The Casablanca-to-Marrakech routing below is the popular default — every itinerary can be reordered to start and end in Marrakech, Casablanca, Fes or any other Moroccan airport.
Casablanca → Rabat → Volubilis → Fes → Sahara → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech · approximately 1,950 km · all transfers in private SUV
✦ Itinerary fully flexible — start/end city is your choice
Ten days, two thousand years of heritage
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Below is the suggested 10-day sequence — from Casablanca to Marrakech. Every day can be reordered, shortened, or extended around your flights, your level of observance, and your interests.
01Day
Casablanca arrival
Welcome to Morocco's Atlantic Capital
Your private driver meets you at Mohammed V International Airport and takes you to your hotel in Casablanca. Take the afternoon to rest or stroll the elegant Maarif neighbourhood — once home to a thriving Jewish community, today still dotted with kosher bakeries and the city's main synagogues. An evening walk along the Ain Diab corniche as the Atlantic turns gold. Tonight, you're in Morocco.
- Private airport transfer
- Maarif quarter
- Ain Diab Corniche
- Casablanca overnight
02Day
Casablanca · Jewish heritage
Hassan II Mosque, Museum of Moroccan Judaism & Temple Beth El
Begin with a guided interior tour of Hassan II Mosque — built by 30,000 artisans on a platform above the Atlantic. Then to the heart of today's itinerary: the Museum of Moroccan Judaism, the only Jewish museum in the Arab world, housing centuries of textiles, Torah scrolls, ketubahs, and synagogue silver. Continue to Temple Beth El — the spiritual heart of the active community, with its renowned stained glass and Italian-Moroccan design. End the day at the Old Medina's Slat Al Fassiyine and Hadida synagogues, and at the El Hank lighthouse for sunset.
- Hassan II Mosque (interior)
- Museum of Moroccan Judaism
- Temple Beth El
- Old Medina synagogues
- El Hank lighthouse sunset
03Day
Casablanca → Rabat → Volubilis → Fes
Imperial Capitals & Roman Splendour
Drive north along the Atlantic to Rabat — Morocco's royal capital — for the Mohammed V Mausoleum (white marble and carved cedar, with Royal Guards on horseback) and the blue-and-white Udayas Kasbah. Continue inland to Volubilis, the UNESCO Roman city covering 40 hectares: 2,000-year-old mosaic floors depicting Orpheus and Bacchus still lie exactly where Roman families once walked, and inscriptions from Volubilis include some of the earliest physical evidence of a Jewish presence in North Africa. Arrive in Fes — Morocco's medieval heart — at sunset.
- Mohammed V Mausoleum
- Udayas Kasbah, Rabat
- Volubilis Roman ruins (UNESCO)
- Moulay Idriss holy town
- Fes arrival
04Day
Full day in Fes
The First Mellah, Aben Danan Synagogue & the Medieval Medina
Fes was the first Moroccan city to designate a separate Jewish quarter — the original Mellah, founded in the 14th century around the Royal Palace for community protection. With your licensed local guide, walk the mellah's distinctive balconied houses (a feature borrowed by the rest of the city centuries later), visit the beautifully restored Aben Danan Synagogue (17th century, with its painted ceiling, mikveh and bimah preserved exactly as they were), and the haunting Jewish cemetery on the hill overlooking the city. After lunch, the rest of Fes el-Bali — the Attarine Medersa, Al-Qarawiyyin University (the world's oldest), and the Chouara Tanneries.
- Fes Mellah walking tour
- Aben Danan Synagogue
- Jewish cemetery
- Royal Palace gates
- Attarine Medersa & Al-Qarawiyyin
- Chouara Tanneries
05Day
Fes → Ifrane → Ziz Valley → Erfoud
Through "Little Switzerland" to the Saharan Gateway
Drive south through Ifrane — the alpine Swiss-style town built by the French Protectorate, with stone chalets and a famous snow-covered lion sculpture. Continue through cedar forests where Barbary macaques roam free, then descend through the Ziz Valley — a river gorge with thousands of date palms creating a green canopy above the arid landscape. Arrive in Erfoud, gateway to the Sahara, at sunset.
- Ifrane & cedar forests
- Barbary macaques
- Ziz Valley date palms
- Erfoud arrival
06Day
Erfoud → Rissani → Khamlia → Erg Chebbi
Into the Golden Sahara
Explore Rissani — birthplace of the Alaouite dynasty and once a great terminus of the trans-Saharan trade route, where Jewish caravan-traders connected the Mediterranean to sub-Saharan Africa for centuries. Detour to Khamlia village for a deeply moving Gnawa music performance under a goatskin tent. Then arrive at the edge of Erg Chebbi: 50 kilometres of the most spectacular sand dunes in the world. Mount your camel as the sun begins its descent — the slow rhythm, the dunes turning gold and amber and red. Luxury desert camp awaits: dinner, drumming, ten million stars.
- Rissani ancient market
- Gnawa music – Khamlia
- Sunset camel trek
- Luxury Sahara camp
- Desert stargazing
07Day
Erg Chebbi → Todra → Dades Gorge
Sahara Sunrise & the Canyon Roads
Rise at 5:30am. Climb the dune. Watch the world turn gold. Then travel west through the Berber heartland — past Tinghir's vast date palm oasis (long home to a Jewish community whose synagogue ruins still stand) to Todra Gorge, where sheer 300-metre limestone cliffs create a slot canyon dramatic enough to stop your breath. Continue to the Dades Gorge, a wider valley of sculpted red rock formations. Spend the night in a lodge perched above the valley floor.
- Sahara sunrise dune climb
- Tinghir oasis
- Todra Gorge 300m walls
- Road of a Thousand Kasbahs
- Dades Gorge overnight
08Day
Dades → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech
Hollywood Kasbahs & the Atlas Crossing
Travel the legendary caravan route through Skoura's palm oasis and Ouarzazate's film studios to Aït Ben Haddou — the UNESCO mud-brick fortress filmed by Ridley Scott, Iñárritu, and dozens of others. Walk its thousand-year-old alleys with your guide, past the granaries still in use and the small Jewish quarter at its heart (Aït Ben Haddou had a small but important Jewish trading community well into the 20th century). Cross the Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2,260 m) and descend to Marrakech as the evening lights begin to sparkle below.
- Skoura palm oasis
- Aït Ben Haddou (UNESCO)
- Old Jewish quarter
- Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2,260m)
- Marrakech arrival
09Day
Marrakech · Jewish Heritage & the Red City
Marrakech Mellah, Slat Al Azama & Djemaa el-Fna
Begin with the largest mellah in Morocco — Marrakech's Mellah, founded in 1558 to house the city's Jewish community, who became the sultan's most trusted craftsmen, doctors, and ambassadors. Visit the active Slat Al Azama (Lazama) Synagogue — founded by Spanish exiles in 1492, with its iconic blue-and-white riad courtyard — and the Miaara Jewish Cemetery, the oldest in southern Morocco with whitewashed tombs of celebrated 16th- and 17th-century rabbis. Afternoon: the Saadian Tombs, the opulent Bahia Palace, the medina souks. As dusk falls: Djemaa el-Fna — storytellers, Gnawa musicians, acrobats, and the rising smoke of a hundred food stalls.
- Marrakech Mellah walking tour
- Slat Al Azama Synagogue
- Miaara Jewish Cemetery
- Bahia Palace & Saadian Tombs
- Djemaa el-Fna at night
10Day
Marrakech departure
Two Thousand Years, Carried Home
A final Moroccan breakfast on the riad terrace, then your private driver takes you to Marrakech Menara Airport. Over ten days you've walked through two thousand years of Jewish heritage — from the Roman foundations of Volubilis, through the medieval mellahs of Fes and Marrakech, to the active synagogues of Casablanca — and seen the country's greatest treasures along the way. Carry it with you.
- Riad terrace breakfast
- Private departure transfer
- Menara Airport
Where you'll stay
Hand-picked riads, hotels & camps
Every property selected for character, comfort, and location. Choose your tier — we'll match you to the right rooms in every city, and accommodate Shabbat or kosher requirements where requested.
Comfortable · 3–4★
Comfortable riads & tented camps
Authentic 3–4★ medina riads and brand-name properties with rooftop terraces, traditional tilework, and warm hospitality. Comfortable Berber tented camps in the Sahara with private bathrooms.
Examples: Riad Mazar (Fes), Marriott Jnan Palace (Fes), Xaluca (Sahara), Movenpick (Casablanca)
Boutique · 5★
Boutique heritage riads
Storied riads with plunge pools, restored 18th-century courtyards, and award-winning restaurants. Luxury glamping in the Sahara — private bath, Persian rugs, four-poster beds.
Examples: La Maison Arabe (Marrakech), Riad Kniza (Marrakech), Palais Faraj (Fes), Riad Fès Relais & Châteaux
Elevated · ultra-luxury
Elevated palaces & private villas
Iconic palace hotels — La Mamounia, Royal Mansour, Dar Ahlam — with full butler service, private hammams, and the most refined Sahara glamping in Morocco.
Examples: La Mamounia (Marrakech), Villa des Orangers (Marrakech), Dar Ahlam (Skoura), Royal Mansour (Marrakech), La Sultana (Marrakech)
Transparent · No surprises
What's Included & Excluded
Included
- 9 nights premium hotels, riads & luxury desert camp (daily breakfast)
- Private luxury SUV with English-speaking driver
- Licensed Jewish-heritage-knowledgeable guides in Casablanca, Fes & Marrakech
- Mellah, synagogue & cemetery entrance fees
- All entrance fees for included monuments & sites
- Camel trekking at Erg Chebbi
- 2 specialty dinners (Sahara & Dades)
- Private airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- 24/7 concierge support during your trip
Not included
- International flights to/from Morocco
- Most lunches and dinners
- Beverages
- Driver & guide gratuities
- Optional kosher catering (available on request)
- Optional experiences (balloon, cooking, hammam)
- Personal travel insurance
USD / per person
Tour Investment
Per-person pricing based on two travelers sharing. Solo and group rates available — request a custom quote for your exact dates and party size.
★★★ – ★★★★
Budget
$265
per person / day
From $2,650 total
Entry-level — comfortable 3–4★ hotels & tented Sahara camps. Excellent value for a heritage-rich 10-day journey.
★★★★
Premium
$300
per person / day
From $3,000 total
Curated 4★ riads & boutique stays — heritage charm with refined modern comforts.
★★★★★
Luxury
$350–$450
per person / day
From $3,500 total
5★ properties with a dedicated private guide & driver. Luxury Sahara glamping & signature riads.
★★★★★ ✦
Ultra Luxury
$650+
per person / day
From $6,500 total
Exclusive estates — fully bespoke VIP service. La Mamounia, Royal Mansour, palatial private villas.
Add to your itinerary
Optional Experiences
Quick answers
Frequently Asked
Morocco has the longest continuous Jewish presence of any Muslim country — more than two thousand years. At its peak in the mid-20th century the community numbered over 250,000, and Morocco's mellahs (Jewish quarters) housed some of the most important Sephardic centres of learning outside the Iberian Peninsula. Today the country is home to the Arab world's only fully restored Museum of Moroccan Judaism, dozens of preserved synagogues, and ancient cemeteries — and King Mohammed VI has made the active preservation of Jewish heritage a stated national priority.
It varies. Temple Beth El in Casablanca is the heart of the active Jewish community — Shabbat services every week. Slat Al Azama (Lazama) Synagogue in the Marrakech mellah holds occasional services and is open daily. The Aben Danan (Ibn Danan) Synagogue in Fes was beautifully restored in 1999 and now functions primarily as a heritage site. Your itinerary can be timed around Shabbat services if you wish to attend — let us know when you request a quote.
This tour is built around Morocco's Jewish heritage as the lead thread, with the country's broader treasures — Sahara, Atlas, imperial medinas, Roman ruins — woven around it. You'll have a Jewish-heritage-knowledgeable guide in each city, visit synagogues and mellahs that aren't on standard itineraries, and have time to engage with the heritage at depth. The Sahara, Aït Ben Haddou and Atlas portions are still included — because no Morocco trip is complete without them.
Yes. Casablanca and Marrakech both have functioning kosher restaurants, and the Casablanca Jewish community can arrange Shabbat hospitality with advance notice. We can build the itinerary around Shabbat — staying put in Casablanca, Fes or Marrakech for the holiday. For full kosher catering throughout (including the Sahara), we work with a Casablanca-based kosher caterer. Just tell us your level of observance when you request a quote.
Anywhere you want. The route shown is the most popular — start in Casablanca, end in Marrakech — but every Gateway2Morocco itinerary is fully flexible. Start and finish in Casablanca, Marrakech, Fes or any other major Moroccan airport. Just tell us your arrival/departure cities and we'll resequence the days.
No. Your driver and licensed local guides speak fluent English and handle all interactions on your behalf — hotel check-ins, restaurant orders, medina navigation, and synagogue introductions. Many guides also speak French or Hebrew if you prefer.
Ten days. Two thousand years of heritage.
Send us your dates and group size. We'll send a personalised itinerary and quote within 48 hours — no obligation, no pressure.
100% private toursBPCPA Lic. #804604.9★ on TripAdvisor25+ years experience