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Exploring the Jewish Legacy: A 14-Day Heritage Journey through Morocco

Get on a captivating 14-day journey through Morocco, tracing the footsteps of the vibrant Jewish community that has thrived in this culturally diverse land for centuries. “Exploring the Jewish Legacy: A 14-Day Heritage Journey through Morocco” offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich history, culture, and traditions of Morocco’s Jewish heritage.

Highlights:

Casablanca: Begin your adventure in the bustling city of Casablanca, home to the magnificent Hassan II Mosque and the enlightening Jewish Museum.

Marrakech: Discover the enchanting “Red City” and explore its historic Jewish quarter, the Mellah, alongside iconic landmarks like the Koutoubia Mosque and Jardin Majorelle.

Essaouira: Uncover the coastal charm of Essaouira, with its ancient medina, Jewish cemetery, and the Essaouira Synagogue.Fes: Immerse yourself in Morocco’s spiritual heart,

Fes: where you’ll explore the historic Jewish quarter, ancient mosques, and vibrant souks.

Chefchaouen: Stroll through the dreamlike “Blue City” of Chefchaouen, set against the Rif Mountains, and visit the Spanish Mosque for breathtaking views.

Tangier: Experience the cosmopolitan flair of Tangier while delving into its Jewish heritage, from the old Jewish cemetery to the American Legation Museum.

Rabat: Visit Morocco’s capital, Rabat, with its historic landmarks, including the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, as well as the Jewish cemetery and synagogues.

Itinerary Overview:

This meticulously crafted itinerary guides you through the most significant Jewish heritage sites while also providing opportunities to savor Morocco’s culinary delights, shop in vibrant markets, and relax in its coastal towns and scenic landscapes. Each day is filled with cultural immersion and historical exploration, making this journey a memorable and educational experience.

Join us on this remarkable 2-week journey as we celebrate the enduring legacy of Morocco’s Jewish community and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural tapestry that defines this captivating nation. “Exploring the Jewish Legacy” promises to be a transformative adventure that connects the past with the present, forging lasting memories and meaningful connections along the way.

Kilimanjaro Marathon, Tanzania – Kosher and Shomer Shabbos

Run the Kili Marathon around the foothills of the highest free standing mountain in the world.

42km – Full Marathon

21km – Half Marathon

5km Fun Run

The Marathon is run between 830m and 1150m altitude and on good, tarred roads.

This AIMS registered race has been set up to promote the sport in Tanzania, and has the official backing of the Tanzania Tourist Board, the Tanzania Amateur Athletics Association and World Athletics.

The atmosphere over ‘race weekend’ is electric. Moshi is jam-packed with people who have trained up for their favourite race distance – motivated to come and ‘strut their stuff’. There is so much energy throughout the town of Moshi – with people coming from around the world to enjoy this unique event.

The route passes through many smallholding farms, villages, banana and coffee plantations and patches of forest, providing great excitement to the residents who give ample vocal support.

The marathon finishes inside the local stadium. The atmosphere in the stadium is electric with local bands playing, entertainment, crowds of local enthusiasts to cheer the runners and lots of food and drink for sale.

Minimum age for the Kilimanjaro Marathon is 20 years and 18 years for the Half Marathon, 5 km fun run is for all ages.

Accommodation in a luxury lodge, with full Kosher facilities. Our race package includes a local cultural tour, registration day, Shabbat rest day and Sunday Race Day.

Trip extensions can be arranged for Safari, biking and climbing.

Annapurna Base Camp Hike, Nepal – Kosher and Shomer Shabbos

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is one of the best treks to discover the mountain range, with the foremost spectacular mountain scenery, providing a desirable insight into the hill life of Nepal.

This is a unique trek on local trails, through forests, villages and terraced farmland treating you to unique mountain scenery, surrounded by huge glaciers providing you with an experience into the Nepalese life and culture.

Annapurna Base Camp follows the Modi-river and passes through the dense undergrowth of rhododendron and bamboo. By the time you reach the massive rock overhanging, called Hinku Cave, you will notice that the vegetation has receded and the gorge narrowed to be only a couple of hundred meters wide.

Steep snow-covered ridges falling from Hiunchuli on the left and Machhapuchhre on the right from the doorway to the Sanctuary. As we go through the “gate” and enter to the Sanctuary, you will discover yourself in a very large amphitheatre encircled by a solid wall of natural covering peaks.

On the trail, you will see numerous chortens (Buddhist stone monuments), prayer flags, yaks grazing, bamboo and rhododendron forests, and the unique Tibetan style architecture of this region.

One of the main features of this trek is being exposed to the unique cultures of various villages and their enduring lifestyles high in the mountains, such as the Gurung, Tamang, Sherpa, Magar, and Thakali people. Many of these villages have age-old Buddhist and Hindu temples.

Mt Longonot to Mt Suswa Hike, Kenya – Kosher and Shomer Shabbos

We start our hike at Mt Longonot, walking along a beautiful and windy gorge. The gorge is a tributary to an ancient lake that once existed. We will explore the curving walls of the gorge and experience the aptly-named sections – the devil’s sitting room, Hell’s clinic, and the devil’s mouth. There are several small waterfalls, both cold and hot, as well as stunning, multi-coloured rock strata and formations. You might even recognise some of the locations – they’ve been included in productions such as Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life, and inspired others such as The Lion King.

We will pass though Hell’s Gate, one of only two Kenyan national parks in which you are explore the park on foot. Apart from the spectacular geology, Hell’s Gate is also home to a wide range of wildlife. Despite its relatively small size, the area’s wildlife includes giraffes, lions, leopards, buffalo, thomson gazelles, and eland antelopes.

Soon we head towards the Mt Suswa mountain. In the evening we will visit the caves for Baboon Parliament, one of the wonders of the natural world.

After our Mt Suswa expirience we reward ourselves with a visit to Olkaria Geothermal Spa. A well earned morning at the spa, then after enjoying lunch we head to Nairobi

Ben Nevis, Scotland – Kosher and Shomer Shabbos

Summiting the mighty Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the UK, during winter conditions makes this a very different experience from climbing in the summer. In the winter Ben Nevis can be cold, windy and has a substantial snow covering!

It is an almost unrecognisable mountain from the summer months, making this a challenge to remember.

You will receive winter climbing skills training prior to your climb and will be led by some of the best Professional Guides on the mountain.

Completing the full day ascent of Ben Nevis will be an amazing achievement. Therefore we often reward you the following day with tours around a couple of the best Whiskey Distilleries in Scotland.

About the Challenge:

Highest peak in the UK at 4,408ft
8-10hrs of ascent/decent over 11 miles
Winter skills training provided
Qualified winter mountain guides with years of experience on Ben Nevis
3 day challenge
Includes transfers, accommodation and technical equipment
Fully Kosher

3 Peak Challenge, United Kingdom – Kosher and Shomer Shabbos

The Three Peaks Challenge is an attempt to climb the highest peaks in the United Kingdom – Scotland, England and Wales in ‘one go’.  These peaks are Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England, and Snowdon in Wales. 

We travel to Fort William on the Wednesday, starting with Ben Nevis on the Thursday morning, climb Scafell Pike that night and finish Snowdon on Friday in Wales.  This is a tough event and people participating should have the necessary fitness and be prepared to do without sleep!  If your aim is to complete the event in 24 hours then we will need to complete Ben Nevis in 5½ hours, Scafell Pike in 4½ hours and Snowdon in 4 hours.  The standard for measuring your official total time on the event is mountain time plus a fixed 10 hour drive time.  The challenge is supported by qualified mountain leaders and a driver will be with you all of the way.  We’ll do everything we can to get you through the challenge as quickly as possible.

Over the course of 24 hours, you will trek around 26 miles and ascend to a total height of almost 3,000m. This is a serious and tough challenge which requires a good level of fitness, as well as plenty of grit and determination. Ultimately, however, your hard work will be rewarded with spectacular views and a huge sense of achievement.

Atlas Mountain Trek, Morocco – Kosher and Shomer Shabbos

The Atlas are a mountain range in the Maghreb. It separates the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert. It stretches around 2,500 km (1,600 mi) through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The range’s highest peak is Toubkal, which is in central Morocco, with an elevation of 4,167 meters (13,671 ft).

The Atlas Mountains are primarily inhabited by Berber populations. The terms for ‘mountain’ are adrar and adras in some Berber languages. These terms are believed to be cognates of the toponym Atlas. The mountains are also home to a number of animals and plants which are mostly found within Africa but some of which can be found in Europe. Many of these species are endangered and a few are already extinct.

The most impressive range within the Atlas system is the High Atlas, which extends for some 560 kilometers (350 miles) through the center of Morocco and has an average elevation of around 3,050 meters (10,000 feet). Many High Atlas peaks are snow-clad for much of the year.

Most of the populations around the Atlas are small villages, rather than cities. The most famous and numerous of the Atlas populations is the Berber People, a North African culture which traces its roots back thousands of years.

Mt Toubkal Summit, Morocco – Kosher and Shomer Shabbos

At 4,167m high, Mount Toubkal, also known as Jebel Toubkal, is North Africa’s highest peak. Set in the High Atlas Mountain range in Morocco, this iconic mountain presents a challenging yet rewarding trek that is perfect for regular walkers with a reasonable level of fitness. With roughly 40% less oxygen than at sea level, the altitude of Mount Toubkal will undoubtedly make this hike harder. But your experienced local guide will ensure that you have plenty of food and set the pace of the walk at a sustainable rate to help you acclimatise, giving you the best chance of the reaching the summit.

The Mount Toubkal ascent only takes two days, with most of the walking done on the first. Leg one of the trek takes around 5 hours during which we’ll follow 11 kilometres of mule paths zigzagging up into the rocky valley towards towering snow-dusted peaks on the horizon. Our destination is the Neltner Refuge at 3,207m at the base of Toubkal where we’ll enjoy a well-earned rest, gather around a wood-burning stove to share stories with other climbers from around the world and acclimatise to the altitude before setting off early the next morning towards the summit.

Mount Toubkal requires no technical climbing and most people in good physical condition should be able to make the summit, if they are well prepared and respect the altitude of the peak. However, it is not an easy hike and there is always the risk of injuries and even fatalities on the climb.

Sahara Desert Trek, Morocco – Kosher and Shomer Shabbos

Trekking the Sahara Desert is like nowhere else, and the desert truly makes for a slow travel experience. Desert trekking offers a real sense of space and remoteness, especially when witnessed from the tops of the vast dune fields. You are unlikely to encounter many other people, except perhaps nomadic families or the occasional shepherd. Sleeping under the stars and being entertained with music at the campfire. Nothing is rushed in the desert.

The terrain of the Sahara Desert is shaped by wind, sometimes rain, and includes not only sand dunes, but also hamada, dry valleys & lakes and salt flats. You may also be surprised at seeing so much vegetation in the desert, including Tamarisk and Acacia trees and palms. Winter is a green time of year here after seasonal rains, and January/February see the arrival of newborn camels – their mothers out to pasture.

You’ll be walking in a true wonder of the world, and the environment is so different to anything else you’ll have ever encountered – it can truly be a transformative experience.

With no light-pollution in sight, you get an AMAZING view at night. If you’ve ever gone camping somewhere remote, you’ll have a sense of how incredible the sky is, but this is on a different level.

However challenging the trek is, your Berber crew will look after you by preparing your meals, looking after your luggage and keeping your morale up. Honestly, they are truly incredible people, and you’ll have an incredible time on your trek with them.

Mt Kenya Summit, Kenya – Kosher and Shomer Shabbos

Climbing to 5,199 meters, Mount Kenya is the second tallest mountain in Africa attracting over 16,000 visitors each year. The scenery surrounding this designated World Heritage Site is breath-taking. It is pristine wilderness with lakes, tarns, glaciers, dense forest, mineral springs and a selection of rare and endangered species of animals, high altitude adapted plains game and unique montane and alpine vegetation.

Traditionally Mount Kenya is the less climbed, smaller brother of Mount Kilimanjaro. However it should not be underestimated and many people who have climbed it prefer the wilderness, abundant wildlife and stunning mountain lakes that you find on Mount Kenya. Point Lenana is a feasible trekking peak and also currently the worlds highest via ferrata summit route, which adds to the challenge and enjoyment. The panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, valleys and savannah makes a trek on this mountain a thoroughly enjoyable African experience.

If you are used to regular multi day hill walking you will have the right level of fitness to fully enjoy your time on this trek. Previous walking experience is not essential but will help you get the most out of this trip. Non hill walkers must come with a reasonable degree of fitness. Most days involve 5 – 7 hours walking plus plenty of rest stops. A head for heights is advantageous on summit day. Our itinerary will provide clients with maximum acclimatisation and time to enjoy the stunning scenery of this beautiful mountain. Two nights accommodation in a luxury hotel at the start and end of the climb. We will ascend via the Sirimon Route and descend down the other side of the mountain via the Chogoria Route.

Post Tour Tag: Walking