Cultural Crossroads of Morocco: Islamic and Jewish ... · Apr 8/Oct 8 Day 1: Arrive Marrakech /...

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Cultural Crossroads of Morocco: Islamic and Jewish Heritage

April 8-24 and October 8-24, 2020

OctobertourfollowsourTunisiatour

Apr8/Oct8Day1:ArriveMarrakech/RiadLesSourcesBerbèresYouwillbemetattheairportandtransferredtothehotel.Therestofday/eveningisfreetorest.Apr9/Oct9Day2:MarrakechFullDayTour/RiadLesSourcesBerbères(B,L)TodaywesetoffonaguidedwalkingtourtoexploreacitythathasforcenturiesbeenameetingplaceforthemountainBerbersandthedesertpeoplesofthesouth.Ourriadislocatedintheoldmedinafromwhichallthemonumentsandhistoricsitesareaccessiblebyfoot.LikemanyNorthAfricantowns,Marrakech(aka“theRedCity”)isdividedintotwodistinctparts,theGueliz(themodernFrench-builtcity)andtheMedina(theOldCity).

Foundedin1070-1072bytheAlmoravids(1056-1147),capitaloftheAlmohads(1147-1269),MarrakeshMedinawas,foralongtime,amajorpolitical,economicandculturalcenterofthewesternMuslimworld,reigninginNorthAfricaandAndalusia.We’llseevastmonumentsdatingbacktothatperiodincludingtheKoutoubiaMosque,famedforits’minaretof77metres,anessentialmonumentofMuslimarchitecture,oneoftheimportantlandmarksoftheurbanlandscapeandthesymbolofthecityandtheKasbah,its’ramparts,monumentalgatesandgardens.KoutoubiaMosque,thelargestmosqueinMarrakechhasinspiredotherbuildingssuchastheHassanTowerofRabat(entranceforMuslimsonly).Later,thetownwelcomedothermarvels,suchaslesSaâdiansTombs,theBadiâ(Bahia)Palace,theBenYoussefMerdersa,andlargeresidences.ThefascinatingSaâdiansTombsdatebacktothetimeofSultanAhmedal-Mansurwhoreignedfrom1578to1603.Theseremarkabletombsarerenownedfortheirbeauty,inparticulartheirstelesandstucco-work.TheBahiaPalacewasbuilttobethemostimpressivepalaceofitstime,capturingtheessenceofbothIslamicandMoroccanstyle.Wethenvisitoneofthesynagoguesofthemellah(JewishQuarter),theSalatelAlzama,builtattheturnofthecentury.Strikingly,itisoneofaseriesofbuildingsconstructedaroundalarge,well-tendedcentralcourtyard.Theeasternsidewasembellishedbyagallery(ezratnashim)forwomenin2011,aninnovationinMorocco,wherewomentraditionallyremainedattheentrancetothesynagogueorinaseparateroom.Theoriginalwoodenmovablelecternhasbeenreplacedbyoneofmarblealongtheeasternwall.Sketchesmadeinthe1950sbythearchitectYa'acovPinkerfeldmadeitclearthatthewomen'sgallerydidnotexistatthattimeandthatfourpillarsdividedtheinteriorintotwonaves.Thewallsarepaintedinblueandwhite.OnthefloorabovetheAlzamasynagogueisaTalmudTorahSchool,asoupkitchenandthecommunitycenter.ThereisalocallegendthatthesynagoguewasbuiltduringtheSecondTempleperiodbyJewswhohadneverlivedinEretz-IsraelandhadnotwitnessedthedestructionoftheTemple.HencetheywerenotboundbythesameritualsandprohibitionsasotherJewsandatemeatduringtheperiodofmourningfromthe17thofTammuztothe9thofAv(thedayonwhichboththefirstandsecondTemplesweresaidtohavebeendestroyed).We’llenjoylunchatrestaurantAlbarakaMedinaMarrakech.Thisafternoon,we’llexploreJamaâElFnaSquare,wherethetownbecomesamazeofbustlingbazaars,palacesandmosques.TimetobrowsethelabyrinthofthesouksoffDjemaaelFnaandtrysomebarteringtechniquesorsimplyenjoyafreshlysqueezedorangejuiceinoneofthemanycoffeebarsoverlookingthesquare.JamaâElFnaSquare,inscribedontherepresentativelistofIntangibleCulturalHeritage,isatrueopen-airtheatrethatalwaysamazesvisitors.Duetoitsstillprotected,originalandwellpreservedconception,itsconstructionmaterialsanddecorationcontinuetobeinconstantuse,anditsnaturalenvironment(notablytheGardensofAguedal,MénaraandthePalmGrove(akaPalmeraie)-theplantationattributedtotheAlmoravids),illustrateitsOutstandingUniversalValue.Therearemanynarrowwindingstreetsthatleadfromthesquaretothesouqs.Itissuggestedtostayclosetogetherwithourguidesoyoucanaskforassistanceifneeded.Youcanreturntothehotelasyouwishorremaintohavedinneratoneoftheopen-airfoodstalls.

Intheeveningmusicians,acrobatsandvariousentertainersperforminthestreets.Whenstandingamongthecrowdwatchingaperformance,bewarethatpickpocketsandscamartistsoperateinthisarea.Donotacceptany“presents.”Donotwearwatchesorexpensivejewelryorcarryalargesumofcash.Trytostandtogetherasagroup;especiallythewomeninourgroupshouldnotstandalone.Apr10/Oct10Day3:Marrakech-DayexcursiontoTheOurikaValley/RiadLesSourcesBerbères(B,L)ThegreenvalleyoftheOurikaRiverliesjust38kms(45mindrive)fromMarrakesh.FromitssmallbeginningsinBerbercountry,itstreamsdowntheslopesoftheAtlasMountains,betweentheTlemcenpeakandtheTimeskarplateau.Thegreenlandscapeofthisvalleyandthelazymeanderingtorrentoftheriver,combinedwiththesmallredadobeBerbervillageshangingontheslopes,willenchantyou.Wecanvisitalocalcountrymarket,heldeveryMondayandFriday,wherebutchersandbarbers,vegetables,cerealsandoliveoilsellers,blacksmithsandmedicine-mengatherundercanvas&reedshelters,alongwithanumberofsmallrestaurantsscatteredaroundintheopenair.Then,asweroundthebendintheroad,thepotters’villageappears,whereyoucanviewcolorfulplates,salad-bowls,flowervasesandlampsinbothtraditionalandmodernstyles;alsoforsalearecollectionsofpreciousminerals:quartz,amethyst,andmanyotherrocksthatarefoundinthisarea.ThisexcursionincludesasavorylunchatRestaurantChezLarbi.ReturntoMarrakechinlateafternoon.Theroundtripexcursionwillbe120kms/75miles.Thisevening,anoptiontoreturntotheDjamaaelFna,asMarrakechrevolvesaroundtheopen-aircentralsquare.Withthefoodstalls,snakecharmers,water-sellersandacrobats,itisaplaceofnighttimeentertainmentforbothlocalpeopleandtourists.Apr11/Oct11Day4:Marrakech-AtlasMountains-Quarzazate-Skoura/KsarElKebbaba(B,L,D)(240km/4.5hrdrive)Earlymorning,departuretowardsthepassofTizin’Tichka(2260m),thehighestroadpassinMorocco.Throughpanoramicandimposinglandscape:oakandpineforests,severalbeautifulBerbervillagesshiningonthecliffs,asyoureachthesouthsideoftheAtlasthelandscapechangesdramaticallyandbecomingsemi-arid.WevisittheUNESCOSiteofAitBenHaddou,awell-preservedKasbahthathasbeenusedasabackdropformanyHollywoodblockbusters.ItwasoneoftheimportantfortressstrongholdsontheoldSaltRoadCaravanRoutes,wheretradersbroughtslaves,goldand,ivoryandsaltfromsub-SaharanAfricatoMarrakechandbeyond.WealsovisitthecinemastudiosofOuarzazate,theHollywoodoftheAtlas.Lunchatalocalrestaurant.Afterlunch,wetaketheroadofathousandKasbahs,whereeachoftheoasistownscanboasttheirowndistinctivecharacter,themudandstrawstructuresbecomingmoreplentifulandmoreornateasweprogressalongthevalleys.WeovernightattheoasisofSkoura.Apr12/Oct12Day5:Skoura/KsarElKebbaba(B,Lifparticipatingincookinglesson,D)OptionalMorningactivity:gowithourhostMohammedtothelocalmarketandbuytheingredientsforourlunchcookingclass.TodayyouwilllearntocookarealMoroccanmeal(bread,Tajine,salads)inthefinesthomemadetradition.Youwillconstructyourowndishesthatyouenjoyinarelaxingatmosphereatthebeautifulgardenaroundthepool.Notinterestedincooking?Relaxandenjoythehotelamenities!

Intheafternoon,weallenjoyapleasantwalkthroughthegreenfieldsandpalmary,meetingwiththelocalfarmersandkids.YouwillalsohavethechancetovisitalocalNGOaimingforthedevelopmentofthevillageofElkebbabaELkhamsa(goalstobuildavillagenursery,womencooperative,environmentalprotectionprojects).Apr13/Oct13Day6:RoseValley-TodraGordes–Merzougha(324km/approx.5hrdrive)/RiadMadu(B,L,D)ThismorningwedrivethroughthefascinatingRoseValley.KelaatM’Gouna,thecapitalofRoseValley,wheretheflowerisgrown,distilledandespeciallycelebratedeveryspringduringafamousMoussem,animportantfestivalsincerosewaterhasanimportantplaceinMoroccanculture,itisofferedtoguestsbeforemealsasasymbolofhospitality.WecontinueourdrivetothemarvelousValleyofToudgha,alushgreenoasisrunningalongdeepvalleyinhabitedallalongbyaBerberpopulationinKasbahsandnicelydesignedvillages.Wetakeawalkonthepalmgrovesandthespectaculargorge.InTinghir,wejoinalocalfamilyforlunchandlearnabouttheBerbercultureandtraditions.Afterlunch,wecontinuetoZizValleydottedwithpalmtrees,fortifiedvillages,andBerberfarmingcommunities.InthevillageofElkhorbat,wevisittheBerberMuseumopenedin2002.TheOasisMuseumoccupiesagroupofthreerestoredhousesinsidetheKsarElKhorbatOujdidanditexposesAntiquitiesandobjectsoftraditionaluse,49explainingcolorphotographs,33historicphotographs,17mapsandsketches,14scalemodelsandreproduction.Afterthevisit,weenjoyamintteainsidethepalmary.PassingbyErfoudknownforfossilsandthequalityofitsdates,ouradventurecontinuesthroughariddesertplainsthatleadustoMerzouga.WewilltransferbyjeepstoreachourluxurycampofBedouintents,nestledinbetweenthesanddunes.Optionalshort(20-30minutes)camelrideortakeawalkalongtherimofthesanddunesasthesunbeginstoset.LaterthiseveningyouwillbeservedatraditionalmealthenmusicanddancingaroundthecampfireunderthetarryskyofSouthMorocco.Apr14/Oct14Day7:Merzougha-MiddleAtlas-ZizValley–Fes(466km/approx.7hrs)RiadSalam(B,L)ThejourneytoFèstakesusacrosstheMiddleAtlas.We’llpassthebeautifulZizValleyaswellasothersmallvillageswithmagnificentmudhouses.Westopmid-wayforlunchatKasbahAsmaaMidelt.TheroadthenwindsupintothespectacularmountainsbeforewereachFes,thespiritualcapitalofMorocco.AdescendantofHassan,thegrandsonoftheProphet,establishedhisownruleamongtheBerberswithhiscapitalinFez,whichhasremainedeversincetheheartofNorthAfricanIslam.Apr15/Oct15Day8:Fes/RiadSalam(B,L)ThewholedaywillbedevotedtoanindepthvisitofFes,whichdatesbacktothe9thcentury.WevisittheOldMedina,FeselBali,anditssmallwindingandpavedalleys.WeseetheoldKoranicBouInaniaMadrassa,theQuaraouyineMosque(fromtheoutsideonly),theShrineofMoulayIdrissII,founderofthecity,Nejjarine(woodproducts)andSeffarine(copperproducts)squaresandthehugedoorsoftheRoyalPalace.SpecialMoroccanlunchatRestaurantlaMedina,inthemedina.

Apr16/Oct16Day9:Fes/RiadSalam(B,L)MeettheBerbers--theindigenouspeople.TheBerberswereoncedescribedascolorfulpeoplewholikespanglesandbrightcolorsandthewomenhaddifferenttribaltattoomarkingsontheirfaces.Itisraretoseethisanymoretoday.Sometimestheelderlywomenstillhavethetattoos.WewillfirstdrivetothesmallvillageofBhalil,wherenomadicBerberslivedincaveswhilesearchingforherbstofeedtheirlivestock.Thevillagewasfoundedinthe14thcenturybytwoorthreeBerberfamilieswhodecidedtosettleinthecavespermanently.Wewillmeetonefamilyandbeinvitedtoteainsidetheircave.

LunchatElBlidaRestaurant.Nextwe’llvisitthepicturesqueancientJewishcitySefrouonthereturn.SefrouoncecontainedMorocco’slargestJewishcommunity.ThiscitypredatesFesbyathousandyears.Ithasplayedalargeroleinantiquityasthelaststopofsub-SaharancaravanstransportinggoodsfortheEuropeanmarkets.WewillthenvisittheshrineofSidiLahcenAlYussi,awellveneratedSufimasterconsideredtobethecustodianofthisancientoutpost.ThemajorityofJewsonlystartedleavingforIsraelinthe1960sfollowingtheSixDayWar.TheSefroumedinaiscompactandeasytomaneuveraround(comparedtoFes).We’llvisitthemellah(Jewishquarters)insidethemedina.Apr17/Oct17Day10:Fes–Meknes–Volublis-Chefchaquen(200km/approx.4hrs)/HotelRyadLina(B,L)TodaywetraveltoMeknès,originallyknownasMiknasaaftertheBerbertribewhosettledhereinthe10thcentury.WeenjoyaguidedtourofthemajorhighlightsofMeknes,includingtheold

granariesoftheHeriEs-SouniandtheMausoleumofMoulayIsmail;wealsovisittheBabelKhmisGateandwalkthroughthecity’sspectacularcenterpiece,theBabMansourandPlaceelHedim.ThenwecontinuetotheholytownofMoulayIdrissZerhoune,whichholdsaspecialplaceintheheartsoftheMoroccanpeople.ItwasherethatMoulayIdrissIarrivedin789,bringingwithhimthereligionofIslam,andstartinganewdynasty.Inadditiontofoundingthetownnamedafterhim,healsoinitiatedconstructionofFez,continuedlaterbyhisson,MoulayIdrissII,ItissaidinMoroccothatsixpilgrimagestoMoulayIdrissduringtheannualfestivalhonoringthesaintisequivalenttooneHajtoMecca.Alsoofnoteistheroundminaretatanothermosqueintown,theonlyoneinMorocco.LunchinalocalrestaurantatMoulayIdrissNextisavisittoVolubilis,thelargestandbestpreservedRomanarchaeologicalsiteinMoroccowithwell-preservedfloormosaics(UNESCOWorldCulturalHeritage).InthelateafternoonwereachChefchaouen,the"blue"cityinthegreenmountains.StrollthroughthenarrowstreetsoftheoldtownofChefchaouenandenjoythecombinationoftheAndalusianflairandorientaltradition,createdbythemanyMuslimswhoweredrivenoutfromAndalusia.TheTarik-Ben-Ziadmosquewithitsoctagonalminaretisparticularlynoteworthy.We’llenjoyacasualwalkinthemedina.Apr18/Oct18Day11:Chefchaquen–Rabat(335km/4.5hrs)/HotelRiadDarZouhour(B,L)Thismorningsomeindependenttimetoagainenjoystrollingaboutthecity.InlatemorningwedeparttoRabat,thecapitalofMorocco.Lunchonarrivalandthentourofthehistoricalmonumentsofthecapital.WestartwiththeKasbahdesOudayas(oldroyalresidence)withitsgardensofMoorishstyle,overlookingthemouthoftheBouRegregRiverandtheAtlanticOcean.ThemainentryistheAlmohadGateofBabOudaia,builtin1195.Insidearewindingnarrowstreetsoffadedcolorsandrichtextures.MostofthehousesherewerebuiltbyMuslimrefugeesfromSpain.TherearegreatviewsovertheestuaryandacrosstoSaléfromtheviewingplatform.NexttotheviewingplatformisoneoftheoldestmosquesinRabat,builtinthe12thcenturyandrestoredinthe18thcentury.NextwevisittothemausoleumofthelateKingMohammedV,ajewelofHispano-Moorisharchitecture,thenHassanIIandtheHassanTower.Apr19/Oct19Day12:Rabat/HotelRiadDarZouhour(B,L)ThismorningwevisittheCenterforCross-CulturalLearning.Possibilitytomeetthedirectorifsheisavailable.

About Center for Cross-Cultural Learning (CCCL)-organizes a variety of cultural and educational activities which include language courses, seminars and lecture series on Moroccan society and Arab and Islamic cultures, artistic shows and performances and educational excursions in different parts of Morocco. The aim of these activities is to provide participants with the opportunity to learn from the richness of cultural diversity in Morocco and to develop approaches to the understanding and the appreciation of cultural differences. CCCL is a private institution run by Moroccan academics with years of experience in cross-cultural education. http://www.cccl-ma.com/CCCL/cccl.asp

Afterwards,visittheNecropolisofChellah,builtbytheMerenidsinthe13thcentury.Thesiteissurroundedbywallsandexudesaserenebeauty.Wewalkdownapathpastolive,fig,orangeandbananatrees,allteamingwithbirdsperchedatop.PathsleadthroughtheruinsofatriplearchedentryandpasttheruinsofJupiterTemple.ThereareaseriesofbathsandthePoolofNympheé,a

systemofwaterdistributionandbeyondthebathsandtheIslamiccomplextoppedbydozensofstorks’nests.LunchatRestaurantel-Bahia,builtinawalloftheMedinaThisafternoon,anexcursiontoSalé-thesistercityacrosstheriverwhichusedtobeastrongholdforseapiratesandisnowfamousforthepotterycenterinthevillageOulja.Thepotterycenterisverymodernandcommercializedalthoughthequalityisquitegood;theOldMedina--hereyouwillseemanysouks(traditionalstreetmarkets).Apr20/Oct20Day13:Rabat-Casablanca–ElJadida(187km/2hrs)/RiadSoleilD’Orient(B,L)ThismorningwedriveonehourtoCasablanca,theeconomiccapitalofthekingdom.WedrivealongthebeautifulAinDiabCornichelinedwithrestaurantsandswimmingpools,thentourtheHassanIIMosque;thelargestmosqueinMoroccoandthethirdlargestmosqueintheworld.ItstandsonapromontorylookingouttotheAtlantic,whichcanbeseenthroughagiganticglassfloor,itsminaretistheworld'stallestat210meters(689ft).WealsovisitthePlacedesNationsUnisandHabousQuarter.LunchatLePetitRocher.Intheafternoon,wedriveonehourtothePortugueseCityofMazagan(ElJadida),aportcityontheAtlanticcoastwhichwasseizedin1502andsubsequentlyruledbythePortugueseuntil1769.IthasbeenacknowledgedforitsinterchangeofinfluencesbetweenEuropeanandMoroccancultures.Apr21/Oct21Day14:ElJadida–Essaouiria/RiadPalaisdesRemparts(B,L)Thismorningwedepartat9amanddriveapprox.4hrstothecharmingartistcolonythatboastslovelywhite-washedandblue-shutteredhouses,colonnades,thuyawoodworkshops,artgalleries,andmouthwateringseafood.We’llstopforlunchinthecityofSafi.ThemedinaofEssaouiraisaUNESCOWorldHeritagelistedcity,asanexampleofalate-18thcenturyfortifiedtown.Takeastrollalongthetown’ssunlitpedestrianmainsquare,PlacePrinceMoulayelHassanandtheSkaladuPort,thefishingharbor,offeringbreathtakingviewsofthePortugueseramparts.Stopbythefishmarket.VisitthejewelrymarketandthecooperativeofThuyawood.ThuyaisawoodthatisindigenoustoEssaouiraandisuniqueforitsearthy,menthol,andwoodysmell.VisitOrsonWellesSquare.We’llvisitJewishEssaouira:theChaimPintoSynagogueandMellah.Apr22/Oct22Day15:EssouiraRiadPalaisdesRemparts(B)Independentdaytosoakuptheambiance,relax,enjoyhotelfacilitiesandstrollthemedina.Apr23/Oct23Day16:DrivetoMarrakech(180km/3hrs)(B,L)We’lldepartinthemorningbacktoMarrakech,onthewaywestopafter22kmtovisitalocalwomen’sarganoilcooperative.Arganoilhasbeenproducedbythelocalsforcenturies,yetremainedawell-keptsecretknownonlytotheindigenousinMorocco(untilrecentyears)andstillisusedfordomesticpurposesinallMoroccofortraditionalandmoderncuisine,cosmeticsandtraditionalmedicine.Thenwe’lldriveabout20minutesfurthertotheVineyardValD’Argan.WinehasalonghistoryinMorocco,butlarge-scalecultivationonlyreallyarrivedwiththeFrenchcolonists100yearsago.This

vineyard,LesDomainesduVald'Argan,isthesmallestinMoroccoandtheonlyoneinthesouth.ItwasfoundedbyaFrenchman17yearsago.We’llhavelunchhereaftertouringthevineyard.Afterwards,a2-hourdrive,reachingMarrakechinthelateafternoonandfreetime.Apr24/Oct24Day17:DepartTransfertotheairport.Price:$4170perperson,basedonmin4people;SingleRoomSupplement:$1088.ExtranightinMarrakech:$57perpersonshare,$114singleroomAirportTransfersoutsidetourdates:$30percar

Includes:

Accommodations(basedonavailability)withdailybreakfastMarrakech:RiadLesSourcesBerbereshttp://riadlessourcesberberes.com/en/Locatedintheoldmedinaonlyfewstepsfromthemainmonuments,souksandrestaurants.Skoura:KsarElKebbaba,standardrooms.http://www.ksar-elkabbaba.com/en/Optionforsuperiorrooms:additionalcost$80perpersonsharing;$123singleroomforbothnights

Merzougha:LuxuryCampBouchedorhttp://www.desertcampbouchedor.com/web/en/home/tentswithbeds,en-suitebathroom,westernfacilitiesandhotwatershowers.Fes:RiadSalamwww.riadsalamfes.comlocatedinaquietcornerofthemedina

Chefchaouen:LinaRyadhttp://www.linaryad.com/

Rabat:RiadDarZouhourhttp://www.darzouhour.com/hotel-en/

ElJadida:RiadSoleilD’Orienthttp://www.riadsoleildorient.com/le-riad.phpEssaouira:RiadPalaisdesRempartshttp://palais-desremparts.comArrivalanddepartureairporttransfersonthetourdatesTransportby18seatminibusAccompanyingtourleader/guidethroughoutAdditionallocalcityguidesinMarrakech,Rabat,Volubilis,Meknes,FesAllentrancefeesMeals:14lunches,3dinnersBottledwaterinthevehicleduringdrives(1litreperpersonperday)DoesNotInclude:Internationalflight,tripcancellation/travelinsurance,beveragesevenwhenmealsareincluded,tipstodriverandguides.