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What’s new?
be inspired
why gil travel
Middle East
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Latin America
Asia/ South Pacific/ Africa
North America
Oceana
From $8,950
OVERVIEW
In collaboration with Jewish Heritage Travel we are excited to offer this tour of Morocco.
Morocco’s Jewish community holds a remarkable place in history as one of the longest-standing Jewish presences in the Muslim world. Flourishing for millennia through peaceful coexistence and rich cultural exchange, Moroccan Jewry was deeply woven into the fabric of the country’s diverse cities, towns, and landscapes.
While it is unknown exactly when Jews first arrived, Jewish populations were well established among Berber/Amazigh peoples by the time of the Arab-Islamic conquests of the 7th and 8th centuries. Following the 1492 expulsion from Spain, Sephardic Jews sought refuge in Morocco, some blending with existing communities in cities and in the mountains and desert. By the 1950s, more than 250,000 Jews lived in Morocco — one of the largest Jewish communities in the Arab world — before a significant exodus to Israel and France profoundly reshaped Morocco’s social and cultural landscape. Today, the Kingdom of Morocco honors this heritage through active preservation efforts.
This immersive 12-night journey invites you to explore this legacy of Jewish communities from Casablanca, to Fez, Rabat, Essaouira, and Marrakech. Begin in Casablanca with visits to the Museum of Moroccan Judaism — the only Jewish museum of its kind — and intimate meetings with community members. Explore Fez’s ancient medina, its Jewish quarter, and historic synagogues. Journey to the Middle Atlas Mountains to visit Sefrou, which hosted the largest and most important Jewish community of the Middle Atlas Mountains, and the modern academic hub of Ifrane, where we meet leaders of Mimouna, an organization dedicated to preserving Jewish heritage. Discover the Roman ruins of Volubilis, the mellahs of Meknes and Rabat, and the coastal city of Essaouira, where maritime culture and Jewish heritage intertwine.
The tour culminates in Marrakech, where you explore its mellah (traditional Jewish neighborhood), grand palaces, and iconic sights, and take a day trip to the scenic Ourika Valley, visiting the tomb of a revered Jewish rabbi.
Alongside expert lectures on history, art, music, and religion, enjoy deluxe accommodations, curated meals, and unforgettable sites, landscapes, and experiences. This carefully designed itinerary offers an unparalleled journey into the rich Jewish presence woven into Morocco’s cultural tapestry.
Departures
Duration
Highlights
Notes
Activity Level
Tailor Made
Itinerary
Program Cost: $8,950* includes:
12 nights’ accommodations at deluxe hotels
Full breakfast daily; 6 lunches; 6 dinners
All group transportation via deluxe air-conditioned coach
All lectures, guided tours, museums and site entrance fees
*Per person, double occupancy; single supplement: $1,950. Fees not included: gratuities: $300.
To reserve your place, a nonrefundable deposit of $1,000 is required.
Travel note: Plan to arrive in Casablanca on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, and depart from Marrakech on Monday, May 18, 2026.
Please note that transfers to and from the airport are not included.
Each of our scholars are outstanding experts in their fields and play an active role in helping us design our journeys as well as accompanying us as we travel.
Brian Calvert, trip leader, is a Chicago native and holds a degree in political science from the University of Iowa. He is a veteran traveler who has lived and worked in China, New Zealand and Ireland. A former employee of Stanford University’s renowned Travel/Study program, Brian has personally managed group tours across Europe, Cuba, Africa (including Morocco multiple times), and through a vast part of Asia — Japan, Mongolia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, China, as well as a hike to Mount Everest Base Camp. He lives with his wife and child in Chicago and Thailand.
Sarah Frances Levin, PhD, is a lecturer in Jewish Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research interests focus on Jewish communities of North Africa and the Middle East and Jewish-Muslim relations, particularly in cultural encounters and exchanges. Sarah holds a doctorate in Jewish Studies from UC Berkeley and has been traveling and researching in Morocco since 1995, twice receiving a Fulbright fellowship (1996-1997 and 2011-2012) to carry out research. She is working on a book project entitled, “Poetic Dueling, Storytelling, and Joking: Moroccan Atlas Mountain Jews and Muslims Remember Each Other.”
Arrival day in Casablanca and a chance to settle in after your journey. The tour scholar and the tour leader will be available at a welcome desk in the hotel lobby to greet travelers and answer any questions.
Enjoy meals on your own at the hotel restaurant or nearby.
Meals Included: N/A
Accommodations: Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche
Morning: We begin our day with an orientation and opening remarks by our scholar. Our first destination is then a visit to the Hassan II Mosque on the Atlantic coast, the largest mosque in Africa and one of the few open to non-Muslim visitors. Afterwards, we explore the Habous Quarter (the New Medina), a charming modern district built in the 1930s that blends French and Moroccan design influences.
Afternoon: Enjoy free time to rest or explore the city independently.
Evening: We gather for a welcome dinner together at Rick’s Café, a romantic, noir-style restaurant and a tribute to the iconic film “Casablanca” (which was filmed in Hollywood!). Opened by a U.S. diplomat in 2004, the café offers an atmospheric introduction to an earlier era of the city of Casablanca.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche
Morning: We visit the Museum of Moroccan Judaism, the only Jewish museum in the Arab world, where we hear a talk by a museum curator. Opened in 1997 by the Judeo-Moroccan Cultural Heritage Foundation, the museum was once a former orphanage for Jewish children and now explores the histories of the Jewish communities of Morocco and their many contributions to Moroccan culture.
For lunch, we have the very special opportunity to be welcomed at the home of a local Jewish community member.
Afterwards, we travel to Fez, a drive of approximately 3.5 hours, through a landscape that includes a blend of coast, plains, and towns. Fez, Morocco’s spiritual heart, holds centuries of Jewish history in its mellah (Jewish quarter), synagogues, and ancient cemetery, reflecting a vibrant community that once thrived within the city’s cultural tapestry.
Evening: We have dinner together at our hotel in Fez.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Fez Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace
Morning: You have the option to attend Shabbat services at the Simon Levy Synagogue, located a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Lunch is on your own.
Afternoon: Our afternoon features a guided walking tour of the Fez medina, the ancient walled center of the city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — a maze of narrow streets, souks (markets), and traditional homes, often dating back centuries. We visit the historic Jewish quarter, including the 17th-century Ibn Danan Synagogue and the Jewish cemetery, which served generations of the city’s Jewish community and includes the graves of revered rabbis, scholars, and Jewish women venerated as saints. We also visit the recently restored Slat Al Fassiyine Synagogue, which features traditional Moroccan craftsmanship — zellij tiles, carved wood, and an intimate prayer space.
Additional stops on our tour include significant cultural and architectural landmarks such as the Blue Gate, which marks the bustling threshold between the modern city and the labyrinthine old medina, the Dar Batha Palace, and the Bou Inania Madrasa, a stunning 14th-century religious school.
Dinner is on your own.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Fez Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace
Today, we take a day trip into the Middle Atlas Mountains, with lunch together at a restaurant en route.
After passing through rolling hills, olive groves, and small villages, our first stop will be in Sefrou, known as the “Jerusalem of Morocco.” Sefrou hosted the largest and most important Jewish community of the Middle Atlas Mountains. The legacy of its once-vibrant Jewish community lives on through its historic mellah, revered rabbis, and the annual Jewish Festival celebrating centuries of coexistence.
We continue into the mountains, with the landscape shifting to denser cedar forests, and arrive at the cooler mountain town of Ifrane, known for its Swiss-style architecture and clean streets. In Ifrane, we visit Al Akhawayn University, a modern campus with stunning views and one of Africa’s most prestigious institutions. Here we have the special opportunity to meet with leaders of Mimouna, an organization dedicated to preserving Jewish heritage.
Evening: Dinner together is at a restaurant within a short walk of our hotel in Fez.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Fez Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace
Morning: Today we depart Fez and make our way to Rabat, with a number of stops of interest along the way.
First, we head to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site that once had a small Jewish population. Dating from the 3rd century BCE, Volubilis served as a provincial capital of Mauretania Tingitana.
We continue to Meknes, a city that was home to a significant Jewish population since the 17th century, many of whom were merchants, craftsmen, and scholars. Highlights of our time discovering Meknes include the Old Mellah and the Slat Rabbi Abraham Ben Dahan Synagogue (also known as Synagogue D’El Krief), which served as the religious and social center for Meknes’s Jews.
Afternoon: We have a delightful late lunch and wine tasting at Villa Volubilia, a winery near Meknes, before continuing on to Rabat. Here, we settle in to our hotel and enjoy an evening of independent exploration (or rest!). Dinner is on your own.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: La Tour Hassan
Morning: We begin our day in the capital city of Rabat with a guided visit to the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, both important symbols of Moroccan national identity. We then visit the Rabbi Shalom Zaoui Synagogue (also known as Talmud Torah Synagogue), Rabat’s most famous and historically significant synagogue, located in the old medina.
Following a short walking tour of the surrounding medina, we enjoy lunch together and a lecture by a faculty member at the Center for Cross Cultural Learning. Founded and directed by Moroccan academics, the center offers a variety of programs aimed at fostering intercultural understanding and education.
The rest of the day is free, with dinner on your own.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: La Tour Hassan
Morning: We travel to Essaouira, a coastal city and UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its vibrant art scene and maritime history. En route, we have lunch together in the port town of Safi, where we also explore Safi’s Jewish quarter, once a vital hub for the Jewish community engaged in trade and craftsmanship.
Afternoon: We arrive in Essaouira in the late afternoon. After checking in to our hotel and settling in, we have dinner together.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: La Medina Essaouira Thalassa
Morning: We start our day with a lecture by our scholar. We are then treated to a guided walking tour of the city of Essaouira, which had Morocco’s largest Jewish community from the late 17th through the 19th century. As we explore, we visit the restored synagogue of Rabbi Chaïm Pinto, the city’s revered 19th-century Jewish spiritual leader, known for his wisdom, piety, and reputed miracles.
We also visit the Skala de la Ville, Essaouira’s historic sea bastion, featuring cannons and locations recognizable from Game of Thrones.
The afternoon and evening are free for you to relax and enjoy this seaside town and bustling fishing village, where colorful boats, fresh catches, and traditional craftsmanship paint a vivid picture of coastal Moroccan life, with dinner on your own.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodations: La Medina Essaouira Thalassa
Morning: This morning we drive across plains and rolling hills to the storied city of Marrakech, where Jews settled as early as the 12th century, flourishing under the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties despite periods of persecution.
When we arrive, we enjoy lunch together in a stylish restaurant.
Afternoon: After lunch, we see the 12th-century Koutoubia Minaret, a masterpiece of 12th-century Islamic architecture.
Dinner together is at our hotel’s top-notch Moroccan-French fusion restaurant.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Sofitel Palais Impérial & Spa
Morning: You are welcome to attend optional Shabbat services. In the late morning, we tour the mellah of Marrackech, including the historic Salat al Azama Synagogue, featuring traditional Moroccan Jewish design elements, including intricate woodwork and decorative motifs, and the Jewish cemetery, one of the largest and oldest Jewish cemeteries in Morocco.
Afternoon: In the afternoon, we take a guided tour of the city’s bustling bazaars and major sites, including the Bahia Palace, a 19th-century residence of the grand vizier Ba Ahmed, known for its fusion of Moorish-Andalusian style created by Jewish and Muslim artisans. We also visit the Saadian Tombs, a beautifully preserved 16th-century royal necropolis.
Afternoon: You have time on your own for shopping, exploring, and/or resting, as well as dinner on your own.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Sofitel Palais Impérial & Spa
Morning: We begin today with a lecture by our scholar. Afterwards, we depart for a day trip into the scenic Ourika Valley in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. The landscape features lush, green terraces, flowing rivers, and dramatic mountain vistas, creating a refreshing contrast to the surrounding semi-arid plains. Here, we visit Anima Garden, an immersive botanical art project by Viennese artist André Heller.
Lunch is at Les Jardins De Zyriab, surrounded by tranquil greenery. Later, we visit the tomb of Rabbi Shlomo Bel-Hench, a revered Jewish saint whose tomb is a pilgrimage site for Jews and Muslims alike.
Evening: We return to Marrakech for a few hours of rest before a festive farewell dinner at a stylish restaurant just a short walk from the hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Sofitel Palais Impérial & Spa
Morning: Individual departures to the Marrakech airport for return flights home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Payment Reserve your space with a nonrefundable deposit of $1,000 per person. Final balance is due 120 days prior to departure.
Membership Participation on these tours is a benefit for active members of JHT museum partners. During the registration process, you will be asked about your membership status with your affiliated museum. If you are not a current member, you will have a chance to activate your membership.
Participation Tour sizes are limited to 28 participants unless otherwise noted. Trips entail considerable walking including over uneven terrain. Participants need to be in good health, be able to keep up with the group, be able to experience group and cultural differences with grace. Please let us know if you have any physical conditions that may require special attention while on tour.
Cancellations All cancellations must be received by Gil Travel in writing. Cancellations received 120 days or more prior to departure: full refund less nonrefundable deposits, per person; 119–90 days prior to departure: 50% refund per person after nonrefundable deposits. 89–0 days before departure: no refund.
Trip Cancellation Insurance Gil Travel Travel strongly urges all participants to purchase travel insurance for coverage of losses necessitated by having to cancel due to illness or accident. For your convenience, we are providing a link to RoamRight, which many past participants have used. When purchasing insurance, please consider the plans carefully to familiarize yourself with what is covered. In this context, do take note that most insurance companies generally will waive exclusion for preexisting conditions only if your application is received by them within 14 days from the date of your program registration. If you have a preexisting medical condition and are interested in taking trip insurance, you should do so either with Roamright or through your own insurance agent within 14 days of registration.
Changes All rights are reserved by Gil Travel and Jewish Heritage Travel to make scholar substitutions and/or to modify the itinerary (including hotels) as needed. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate the program as planned; however, should unforeseen world events and conditions require the itinerary to be altered, Jewish Heritage Travel reserves the right to do so for the safety and best interest of the group. Any extra expenses incurred in this situation are the responsibility of the participant.
Disclaimer of Responsibility By registering for this program, participant specifically waives any and all claims of action against Gil Travel or the Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Jewish Heritage Travel office and their respective staffs for damages, loss, injury, accident, or death incurred by any person in connection with this tour. Gil Travel, The Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Jewish Heritage Travel office and their respective staffs assume no responsibility or liability in connection with the service of any train, vessel, carriage, aircraft, or other conveyance that may be used wholly or in part in the performance of their duty to the passengers. Neither will Gil Travel, the Museum of Jewish Heritage or the Jewish Heritage Travel office or their staffs be responsible for any injury, death, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity through neglect or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out the purposes for which tickets, vouchers, or coupons are issued. No responsibility is accepted for losses or expenses due to sickness, viruses, weather, strikes, wars, and other causes. In the event it becomes necessary or advisable for any reason whatsoever to alter the itinerary or arrangements, including hotels or scholars, such alterations may be made without penalty. All rights reserved to require any participant to withdraw from the tour at his/her own expense when such an action is determined by the tour staff to be in the best interest of the participant’s health and safety and that of the group in general. Prices subject to change. Cost in effect at time of registration will be honored.
Are Kosher meals available?
While we do not offer Kosher food, we offer fish and/or vegetarian options at every meal included in the trip.
How many people will be on the trip?
On average about 24 people.
What is the age group?
55+
What is the makeup of the participants?
A good mix of singles and couples.
How fit do I need to be? How much walking is there?
You should be able to walk about two miles in a day, though not all at once. Please see the itinerary of the trip(s) you are interested in to get a sense of the schedule for each day. When there is free time, some choose to stay active, others to rest.
If you prefer more activity, many of the hotels we stay in have pools and fitness facilities, and some of our trips do offer the opportunity for more physical activity.
Are the trips accessible for people with canes, walkers, or wheelchairs?
People who use a cane to aid their walking have found our trips accessible. You still need to be able to walk about two miles in a day, though not all at once. Unfortunately, accessibility can be limited in the places we travel, making it too difficult for people in wheelchairs or walkers to participate in our trips.
Is the trip Shabbat Observant?
We normally have a Shabbat dinner together be it at a hotel or restaurant and sometimes at a synagogue. We do not have programming on Saturday other than perhaps a meeting with the scholar. In some destinations we offer walking tours on Saturday. You can refer to the itinerary of your chosen trip for specifics.
When does the program actually begin?
The Itinerary and Program Details section of the trip you are interested in will indicate when to plan to arrive and depart, as well as when the program begins and ends. Every trip includes a welcome session to get oriented and meet each other, the guides, and scholars and a farewell event to celebrate, reflect, and say good-bye to our fellow travelers.
Are airport transfers included?
Airport transfers are not included. Taxis, and often other transportation options, are available from all airports.
Are meals included?
The Itinerary of the trip you are interested in will indicate which meals are included on each day. For meals on your own, suggestions are available from the concierge at the hotels we are staying in. We encourage you to explore the diversity of local and international cuisines in the places we visit.
Are the trips only for Jewish people?
While the majority of our travelers are Jewish, our trips are for anyone interested in exploring the Jewish heritage of the destinations we take you to.
I’d like to explore my genealogy at one of the places you are going to. Is that possible?
Our trips are not designed for genealogical research. If you want to undertake genealogical work, it is necessary to do this on your own and would be best to plan for an extra few days before or after one of our trips.
How much free time will I have?
Please see the itinerary of the trip(s) you are interested in for information on when free time is scheduled for exploring on your own, resting in your room, engaging in conversation with new friends, etc.
Is there Wi-Fi everywhere?
While WiFi is available in most of the world, there are regions or locations where it is not as accessible. Most of the hotels we stay at offer free WiFi.
What Museum Memberships Qualify?
Museum of Jewish Heritage New York: $54
Holocaust Museum LA: $100
Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center – Nassau County: $54
Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History: $54
*Membership # will need to be provided upon registration
Accommodation
The 5-star Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche blends French chic with Moroccan soul in a prime location near the Old Medina. Guests can enjoy exquisite gastronomy, a relaxing spa, and stylishly designed spacious rooms featuring exceptional views.
Set in the heart of the residential area of the city’s New Town, just minutes from the Old Medina, this stylish resort with four restaurants is elegantly designed with authentic Moorish architecture. It offers a range of luxurious amenities, including a sparkling outdoor pool and a cutting-edge fitness center.
Built in 1912, the Tour Hassan Palace Hotel is a tribute to the splendor of traditional Moorish architecture with its geometric tile work, arched doorways, fountains, and luscious garden spaces, and fountains. The centrally located hotel features charming rooms with stylish furniture and touches of rich color, as well as several restaurants, Andalusian gardens, a pool, spa, and fitness center.
Medina Essaouira Thalassa Sea & Spa is a boutique oceanfront hotel blending Moroccan charm and serenity. Featuring modern, comfortable rooms with stylish touches, a spa, pool, and fitness center, it offers relaxation and easy access to the beach, the medina, and local attractions.
The ultra-chic Sofitel Marrakech hotel invites guests into a world of comfort and luxury, combining upscale Moroccan charm with French elegance. Sumptuous rooms feature elegant decor, panoramic windows, a private shaded terrace, and an array of modern amenities. From the outdoor swimming pool and lush gardens to the spa and gym, the Sofitel Marrakech provides a sanctuary of serenity and ease to fulfill every traveler’s dreams.
*Star rating standards vary from country to country.
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