be inspired
why gil travel
Middle East
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Latin America
Asia/ South Pacific/ Africa
North America
Oceana
be inspired
why gil travel
Middle East
Western Europe
Eastern Europe
Latin America
Asia/ South Pacific/ Africa
North America
Oceana
From $8,750
OVERVIEW
In collaboration with Jewish Heritage Travel we are excited to offer this tour of Morocco.
Experience the enchantments of the Kingdom of Morocco while discovering its rich Jewish history and heritage. More than anywhere else in the Islamic world, Moroccan Jewry was interwoven into the country’s greater culture, sharing traditions, daily life, and longstanding ties with Muslim neighbors over centuries.
Today, Morocco actively preserves and honors its Jewish heritage, offering travelers a rare opportunity to encounter this history firsthand in restored synagogues, historic neighborhoods, and preserved cultural landmarks. In the 1950s, Morocco was home to some 250,000 Jews. Though the vast majority later migrated to Israel and elsewhere, the social, cultural, and economic legacy of Moroccan Jewry can still be found throughout the country.
In search of that legacy, we will visit the unique Museum of Moroccan Judaism in Casablanca; meet with members of the Jewish community; discover the rich Jewish history of the High Atlas Mountains; and explore the historic mellah of Fez. Among the oldest Jewish quarters in the Arab world, the mellah dates to the mid-15th century and still preserves traces of centuries of Jewish life, including the restored 17th-century Ibn Danan Synagogue and the Jewish cemetery, whose centuries-old tombstones bear Hebrew epitaphs.
Traveling among Morocco’s imperial cities, we will visit renowned mosques, mausoleums of ancient dynasties, and archaeological sites dating to pre-Roman times. We will stroll through the lush Majorelle Garden in Marrakech and experience vibrant souks (markets), alive with the scent of fresh mint and spices, colorful fabrics and carpets, intricate metalwork, and countless other treasures.
This remarkable journey offers an unforgettable encounter with Morocco’s layered history, cultural richness, and enduring Jewish heritage.
Departures
Duration
Highlights
Notes
Activity Level
Tailor Made
Itinerary
Program Cost: $8,750* includes:
10 nights’ accommodations at deluxe hotels
Full breakfast daily; two lunches; six dinners
All group transportation via deluxe air-conditioned coach
All lectures, guided tours, museums and site entrance fees
*Per person, double occupancy; single supplement: $2,750. Fees not included: gratuities: $275. Museum membership for nonmembers.
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.
Lisa Hepps holds a master’s degree from Hebrew University and has spent most of her career in the educational travel space. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, she spent 15 years working in trip development, operations and leadership for the alumni travel program of Stanford University. Prior to that, she served for six years as director of development and operations for the educational tour operators, High Country Passage and World Leaders Travel. Before working in the U.S., Lisa lived and worked as a guide and educator in Israel and Europe for eight years.
Fly into Mohammed V International Airport and make your way to the Hyatt Regency Casablanca, a five-star luxury hotel just a few steps from the Old Medina market in the city’s historic center. In the evening, we’ll get acquainted with our fellow travelers, enjoy a welcome dinner, and receive an overview of our program and time together.
Meals Included: Dinner
Accommodations: Hyatt Regency Casablanca
Morning: After a presentation from our scholar and breakfast, the day will start with a tour of Casablanca. We’ll visit Temple Beth-El, the centerpiece of the city’s Jewish community, and the Museum of Moroccan Judaism, the only museum of its kind throughout the Islamic world. Opened in 1997 by the Judeo-Moroccan Cultural Heritage Foundation, the museum was once a former orphanage for Jewish children that now explores the histories of the Jewish communities of Morocco and their many contributions to Moroccan culture.
Together we are hosted for lunch at the home of a Jewish community member.
Afternoon: We’ll continue to explore the city, starting with a visit to United Nations Square, the point of connection between the Old Medina and the new city, between the past and the present. After, we’ll tour the narrow, maze-like streets of the Medina with remnants of the old city walls and forts. The bazaar is lined with tiny shops and artisans selling leather goods, oils, linens, shoes, spices, and antiques. We’ll conclude at the opulent Mosque of Hassan II, one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in the world.
Dinner on own.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Hyatt Regency Casablanca
Morning: We’ll depart Casablanca for Fez, stopping along the way to visit Meknes to see its Old Medina and numerous tall and soaring minarets. One of the country’s four imperial cities, it was touted as the “Versailles of Morocco” after Sultan Moulay Isma’il, second ruler of the Alaouite dynasty, chose Meknes as his capital in the 17th century. We’ll visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Isma’il, a historic Islamic funerary complex with the sultan’s tomb located inside his former kasbah. Later, we’ll explore the narrow lanes and colorful courtyards of the city’s Mellah (Jewish Quarter), view Hebraic epitaphs dating back to the Christian era, and visit the tomb of Rabbi Benmidan, “the patron of Meknes.”
We’ll break for lunch and a wine tasting at Chateau Roslane, North Africa’s first vineyard and the country’s only château. Located between the gorgeous vineyard fields, the chateau’s L’Oliveraie restaurant presents the best organic Moroccan cuisine paired with wines from the surrounding crops.
Afternoon: We’ll continue to Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site. One of Morocco’s largest and most important archaeological sites, Volubilis holds remains dating back to pre-Roman and early Islamic periods. We’ll view the many beautiful mosaics preserved in situ. Then, we’ll continue on to Fez, the most extensive medieval city in the Arab world and the home of Jewish scholars and rabbis for hundreds of years.
Evening: We’ll check in to the Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace. Set in the heart of one of the biggest private gardens in Fes’s Ville Nouvelle (New Town), the hotel opened on the site of the former Jnane Palace. We’ll gather for dinner at one of the hotel’s fine restaurants — either L’Herbier de l’Atlas for regional cuisine or Dolce Vita for Italian fare.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace
Morning: Today, we step back in time to the Middle Ages when we visit one of the most timeless cities in the world, Fez El Bali (Old Fez), the cultural heart of Morocco. Here, we explore some of the 9,000 narrow lanes, alleys, and souks that make up the labyrinth of the city’s old quarter, which was originally founded in the 700s by Moulay Idriss I. This imperial capital was a renowned center of medieval learning and is home to the Karaouine, one of the oldest, still functioning universities in the world.
Afternoon: We will break for lunch independently before continuing together to see the city’s iconic sites.
Evening: Dinner on own.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace
Morning: We embark on a captivating journey through the rich Jewish heritage of Fez, including a tour of the mellah, or Jewish quarter, located near the Royal Palace. We will visit the 17th-century Ibn Danan Synagogue, a jewel of Moroccan-Jewish architecture. Beautifully restored, the synagogue showcases intricate woodwork and tilework and stands as a testament to the once-flourishing Jewish community in Fez. We also visit the Jewish Cemetery, one of the most historically significant Jewish burial grounds in Morocco. Known for its sea of rounded, white tombs, the cemetery contains the graves of several revered rabbis and saints as well as that of Solica, a young Jewish woman considered a martyr, whose grave became an important pilgrimage site for Moroccan Jews.
Lunch and the rest of the afternoon is on your own.
Evening: After a day filled with sights and history, we’ll attend services in the Simon Levy synagogue, then enjoy a Shabbat dinner at the Jewish community center.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace
We are free to enjoy a leisurely Shabbat or explore the neighborhoods of Fez on our own. An optional afternoon walking tour will be offered.
Before dinner, we’ll be treated to a lecture by Dr. Fatima Lamrani, professor of gender studies at Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fez and professor of gender and society at the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) Abroad in Rabat. A prominent international author and playwright, Dr. Lamrani will address the topic of gender and social change in Morocco.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace
Morning: We’ll drive to Rabat, the capital city resting along the Atlantic coast. We’ll enjoy views of the Moroccan countryside and stop for lunch along the way.
Afternoon: We’ll walk through the picturesque Oudaïa Kasbah, a fortified old citadel built in the 1100s, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the Bou Regreg river, notable for its Bab Oudaïa, one of the most beautiful monumental gates in Morocco. We’ll enter and stroll through the peaceful Andalusian Garden and the maze of narrow streets painted white and deep blue, strongly influenced by Andalusian design. Finally, we’ll visit the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, a masterpiece of modern Alouite dynasty architecture that holds the remains of three royal family members — the King Mohammed V and his two sons, King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah.
Evening: We’ll gather for a lecture and discussion, followed by dinner at our hotel. The newly-built and modern Fairmont La Marina Rabat sits on the banks of the Bouregreg River.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Fairmont La Marina Rabat
Morning: We’ll depart Rabat for Marrakech. Upon arrival, we’ll visit the beautifully tiled minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque, the Red City’s largest mosque, which is also known as the “Mosque of the Booksellers.”
Afternoon: Next, we’ll head to the historic mellah of the old city, established in 1558 under the Saadian dynasty, where the Jewish community lived alongside thriving markets, synagogues, and close ties to the royal court. We’ll visit the Slat al-Azama Synagogue, originally built in 1492, a landmark of Marrakesh’s Jewish heritage and one of the oldest continuously used synagogues in Morocco. We continue to the Dar El Bacha Museum, once the private residence of Thami El Glaoui, who ruled Marrakesh from 1912 to 1956, and a lavish setting for receptions that hosted figures such as Winston Churchill and Jacques Majorelle.
In the late afternoon, we will check in at the hotel and have some time to rest. .
Evening: We’ll have dinner together at the hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Naoura Hotel
Morning: We’ll begin our morning with a presentation by our scholar, followed by a day trip to explore some hidden gems of the Ourika Valley in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. The route offers lush green terraces, flowing rivers, and dramatic mountain vistas – a refreshing contrast to the surrounding semi-arid plains.
Our first stop is Anima Garden, an immersive botanical art project created by Viennese artist Andre Heller. We then visit the tomb of Rabbi Shlomo Bel-Hench, a revered Jewish saint whose tomb is a pilgrimage site for Jews and Muslims alike, where we learn about the unique history and cultural sharing between Amazigh (Berber) and Jewish communities in these mountain towns.
In the late afternoon, we return to the hotel for some afternoon free time.
Guests will have dinner and enjoy a leisurely evening of their choosing on their own.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodations: Naoura Hotel
Morning: On our final day together, we’ll visit the lush Majorelle Gardens, a botanical masterpiece created in 1923 by French artist Jacques Majorelle and later lovingly restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé.
Then, we’ll tour the Medersa Ben Youssef, a Moroccan scholarly center for centuries. Students from distant horizons converged on this prestigious institution to deepen their knowledge in religious sciences, philosophy, medicine, and mathematics.
We cap our trip with leisure time in Marrakech’s bustling open-air markets (souks), where each trade — including spices, carpets, jewelry, enamel, copper, brass — traditionally had its own unique quarter. This is sure to be a vibrant, sensory-rich experience, in which we may see villagers bringing their handmade rugs to sell, artisans selling hand-tooled crafts made in the same traditional ways for centuries, donkeys laden with fresh mint, and many other exotic sights.
Lunch is on your own.
In the evening, we’ll have a farewell dinner together at Al Fassia restaurant, one of Marrakesh’s most celebrated Moroccan restaurants, known for serving refined traditional cuisine.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Naoura Hotel
We depart Marrakech on independent flights today.
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
Casablanca’s most prominent hotel offers five-star accommodations next to United Nations Square. Overlooking the Old Medina and the Hassan II Mosque, the stately and ideally located Hyatt Regency has several fine dining options within the hotel and features many amenities, including a business center, an outdoor swimming pool, a spa, a nightclub, and a fitness center.
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.
Located right on the bank of the Bouregreg River, this “ultramodern” hotel is close to all of the city’s attractions. Brand new with tasteful decor and spaces “designed to strengthen the connection to the local environment and power of nature,” the Fairmont Marina Rabat invites serenity and relaxation “set to the rhythm of the waves and the breeze.”
*Star rating standards vary from country to country.
Start your adventure here
Discover more
Search for something…
Contact us by sending a message
We always aim to reply within 1 business day.
