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Kosher Surfing Camp
Kosher Summer Vacation
Sirmione, Italy
Starting
July 10 through October 31, 2011
Sukkot in Crete
October 11-23, 2011
Sukkot in Fort Myers, FL
October 11-23, 2011
Japan & Korea
October 23, 2011
Singapore, Vietnam & Thailand
October 23, 2011
China: In the Footsteps of the Jews
October 25, 2011
Australia, New Zealand & Fiji
October 25, 2011
Ecuador, Galapagos & Peru
October 27, 2011
Japan: Tradition & Modernity
October 30, 2011
Iberian Fiesta
October 30, 2011
Moroccan Encounter
October 30, 2011
Panoramic Portugal
October 30, 2011
India & the Pushkar Camel Festival
October 30, 2011
Guatamala & Belize
October 31, 2011
Kosher Cuisine of Provence
October 31, 2011
China & Hong Kong
November 2, 2011
Ecuador, Galapagos & Peru
November 8, 2011
Andalucia, Spain
November 10, 2011
Peru
November 10, 2011
Exotic India
The Golden Triangle
November 13, 2011
Tunisia & Rome
November 13, 2011
Australia & New Zealand
November 14, 2011
Morocco Magic of the Orient
November 14, 2011
Panama Thanksgiving Retreat
November 21, 2011
California Wine Tour
December 4, 2011
Ethiopia
December 11, 2011
Mystical Morocco
December 22, 2011
India & Nepal
December 22, 2011
Morocco
January 6, 2012
Vietnam & Cambodia
January 16, 2012
Portugal
January 22, 2012
Costa Rica Volcano & Rainforest Adventure
January 22, 2012
Thailand, Vietnam & Angor Wat
February 5, 2012
Australia & New Zealand
February 6, 2012
Columbia
February 12, 2012
Peru
February 19, 2012
Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam
March 11, 2012
India
March 18, 2012
Japan & Korea
April 29, 2012
California Wine Tour
June 3, 2012
Spain
July 9, 2012
Slavic States
August 5, 2012
New Zealand Ski Tour
August 19, 2012
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Morocco: Magic of the Orient
Glatt Kosher Tour
September 12 - 21, 2011
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Enter a world of mystery. Morocco is an initiation into the magic of the Islamic, Arabic, African world of medinas, minarets, desert and mountain, and yet retains a European patina. Imbibe the spirit of Morocco; wander the streets of the great cities. Fez is a stunning array of medieval buildings; the world-famous souk of Marrakech sells a bewildering array of goods; Casablanca, is a thriving commercial center, and Rabat reflects its modern French origins. The snow-capped Atlas Mountains lie inland. Beyond them are the fringes of the parched Sahara. Whether scaling distant ridges, haggling for exotic artifacts, gazing at ancient wonders or marveling at the pink of a desert dawn, in Morocco, you will be mesmerized.
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Day 1, Monday: Casablanca – Marrakesh
Arrival to Casablanca, meeting and orientation. We'll take the scenic route from Casablanca to Marrakesh, Pearl of the South. If there‘s time after dinner we‘ll visit one of the first jewels of our tour, the lively, bustling Jemaa el-Fna Square. Here food stalls are jammed together, water sellers, snake charmers, story tellers and “healers” of every type and kind. Alternately, we recommend taking a carriage ride through the city. |
Day 2, Tuesday: Marrakesh
“The Red City” or the “Pearl of the South” are but two of the names given to Marrakesh – the most beautiful city in Morocco that lies at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. The city is divided in two: the new and the ancient. We’ll visit the Almanara Gardens and the city center with its lively markets. We’ll pass through the Melah, and stop by the Koutoubia Mosque, visit a Berber pharmacy and the Bahia Palace. We’ll visit a Melah where Jews no longer live, but where there is an ancient synagogue that is more than 500 years old. We’ll tour the “medina” – the market quarter of the city. The market is a mass of colors, voices and smells, a polyglot of all the treasures that exist in this country. The “medina” is divided according to type of product: an area for silver houses silversmiths and silver dealers, while gold is dealt in a different area, and rows upon rows of stalls sell leather, copper and jewelry. We‘ll end the day with a visit to the Ourika valley also known as ‘Valley of the Jews’ and enjoy the view of the red wild scenery and the picturesque villages among the mountains.
Then we‘ll return to the Marrakech.
In the evening, we recommend seeing “Fantasia” – a Berber folklore show. |
Day 3, Wednesday: Marrakesh – Aït Benhaddou – Ouarzazate
After breakfast we‘ll head to the French built regional city Ouarzazate. Along the way we‘ll stop at Aït Benhaddou, a Kasbah built in the 16th century and considered one of the most beautiful in Morocco. Upon arrival to Ouarzazate, we‘ll start with a panoramic tour of the city. We’ll then continue through beautiful scenery, traditional villages and picturesque Kasbahs which are often used as backgrounds in the production of Hollywood movies. |
Day 4, Thursday: Ouarzazate – Tenerir – Todra Gorge - Erfoud
After breakfast we’ll start making our way toward the desert. We‘ll pass the city of Tenerir as we travel to the Todra Gorge at the southern edge of the High Atlas Mountains. We’ll see some magnificent scenery, dotted with orchards and Berber villages. We‘ll examine how the locals store water for the long dry season. Toward evening we‘ll arrive at Erfoud, the place from where the famous Abu Hatzeira rabbinic dynasty originates. |
Day 5, Friday: Erfoud – Midelt - Ifran - Fes
We‘ll get up very early this morning and head out by Jeep to the Merzouga dunes, the largest dunes in the world, part of the western Sahara, from where we‘ll view a fantastic desert sunrise (weather permitting), and then return to Erfoud for breakfast. After breakfast we’ll cross two important rivers, the Ziz and the Riche which lie along the Middle and High Atlas Mountains, an area of magnificent scenic vistas. We’ll stop at a cedar nature reserve where we’ll see towering cedar trees. From the mountain tops we’ll see the oasis of Tafilalt palm groves in the Sahara Desert; this amazing oasis runs for 50 kilometers, all along dotted with millions of date palm. We‘ll stop for lunch at the town of Midelt. We’ll travel along the oasis until we reach Ifran, a Swiss-type Moroccan town, located at 1600 meters above sea level. The entire area is surrounded by magnificent monkey-inhabited cedar forests. The town also hosts the Peace University, where members of the three monotheistic religions were supposed to have studied together. After the tour continue to Fes, transfer to hotel to prepare for Shabbat. Shabbat prayers and meals in Fes. |
Day 6, Shabbat: Fes
After Shabbat services and lunch we‘ll taking a walking tour to the new city areas of Fes. After Shabbat we‘ll enjoy a typical Moroccan folklore evening and possibly a Moroccan wedding. |
Day 7, Sunday: Fes
Today will be mostly devoted to this, the religious and cultural capital of Morocco, which combines old and new. There will be a guided tour with a local English-speaking guide. The area of Fes is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its narrow lanes with their workshops remain as they have been for hundreds of years. We’ll visit the square of the Royal Palace, which is alongside the Jewish quarter – the oldest Melah in Morocco, as well as the Jewish cemetery and the Abu Danan Synagogue in the Melah. We’ll view the Dynastic Tombs and city as a whole from the green roofs and walls of Fez. From the rooftops we’ll see the tannery quarter where hides are treated, and we’ll visit a ceramics factory where we’ll learn about this unique local craft. The city’s ramparts surround a maze of winding alleys and a bustling market divided according the guilds of its artisans. |
Day 8, Monday: Fes – Meknes – Ouezzane - Chefchaouen
After breakfast we‘ll head to the city Meknes, built by Sultan Mulai Ismail in the 17th century. Meknes was a lively Jewish center until its Jewish inhabitants made aliyah with the founding of the State of Israel. We’ll tour the many sites that adorned the city in the times of Sultan Ismail, including the famous Mansur Gate. We’ll visit the Melah, the former Jewish quarter, and see the old Talmud Torah (if it’s open we’ll be able to enter the building as well). We’ll continue to the town of Ouezzane in the Rif Mountains where we‘ll visit the tomb of the sacred Tzaddik of Morocco, Rabbi Amram ben Diwan. From here it‘s on to the town of Chefchaouen, where we‘ll spend the night.
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Day 9, Tuesday: Chefchaouen – Rabat – Casablanca
Today, we’ll start with a tour of the town which was considered so special that until the 18th century, non-Muslims were not permitted entry to its precincts. We‘ll visit the unique springs here that by power of gravity supply power to the local mills and laundries. We‘ll stroll through the medina and through the colorful local market. Then we‘ll head west to the capital city of Rabat, where we‘ll visit the royal palace, built in the 18th century; the mausoleum of Muhammad V, and the tombs of the kings of Morocco. From there we head to Casablanca, the financial capital of Morocco. The city is modern and developed, but maintains its historical features, including an old city with its various quarters. We’ll tour the “Habous” district, see the Royal Palace with its beautiful reception forecourt and magnificent gates, and continue to the upscale “Anafa” neighborhood and the boardwalk along the Atlantic Ocean. The “Habous” district was built long after the original old city near the Royal Palace of Muhammad V. The area is home to numerous striking sites in Neo Moorish style, such as Law Courts, the post office etc. It has a bazaar filled with small colorful businesses alongside picturesque white houses. Our tour next takes us to the United Nations Square, renowned for the Neo Moorish buildings that surround it, and for the fountain, which sprays water all around. From there we’ll head to the Jewish Historical Museum of Morocco. |
Day 10, Wednesday: Casablanca – Home Gateway
Today we‘ll visit the Great Mosque. The mosque is built half on land and half above the sea. Many of Morocco’s finest artists and artisans worked for many years to create this magnificent edifice. In fact, every Moroccan citizen donated funds for the project in one way or another to ensure that the project’s costs, which soared to over $800 million, would be covered. The mosque’s minaret rises to a height of 200 meters, and its central prayer hall can contain thousands of worshippers. This is a true architectural wonder. We‘ll then bid a sad farewell to Morocco. Our tour is now over and we take our memories with us as we head to the airport from where we take our flights home. |
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Air & Land |
$3,760* |
Land Only No Transfers |
$3,090 |
Single Supplement |
$680 |
Pre/Post Hotel Night |
$65 per person
$110 per single |
*Prices Are per person, based on double occupancy and are subject to change. Taxes and fuel surcharges are not included.
Airfare is based on Tel Aviv as the tour's gateway. Please call for airfare from other gateways. |
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A $500 USD Deposit per person must be received at the time of booking in order to confirm your reservation.
Payment in full is due 90 days before departure.
A minimum number of participants are required to operate tour dates. If a minimum number has not been reached prior to tour departure and the tour is cancelled you will receive a FULL refund. |
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Price Includes:
- 5-Star Hotels
- Comfortable air-conditioned touring coach for travelling
- Breakfast and dinner daily and supplies for making sandwiches for lunch
- Professional experienced Israeli guide
- Local Guide as required
- Entrance to all sites mentioned in the tour plan
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Price Does Not Include:
- International Flights
- International Airport and security taxes
- Travel and baggage Insurance
- Evening entertainment that are not included in the tour plan
- Personal expenses
- Moroccan Visa
- Tips for local service providers: $100
- Changes in air fares due to increases in fuel airport tax and security tax surcharges
- Tip for our tour guide (Recommended: $3 per person per day)
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Important to Know:
There may be changes to the order of places visited. We will make every effort to visit every place mentioned in the itinerary.
The tour organizers have no control over airline services such as seating, special meal requests, changes in departure times or delays. These remain the sole responsibility of the airline company.
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Kashrut on Tours
Kosher food is provided to our travelers on all our tours. We work with the local Rabbinate to provide Hashgacha for all local ingredients and fresh meat and poultry. In some cases, we fly in kosher food from Israel and other sources, depending on the destination of the tour. We do not guarantee Pat Israel and Chalav Israel for all destinations.
In many destinations we have our own crockery and cutlery. Where we don't, we provide disposables at the meals. When we cook in Hotel kitchens, we ensure proper Kashering and we use our own kitchenware on kashered and covered surfaces. All this is done under the strict supervision of our trained staff/guides who function as our Mashgichim. Our travelers enjoy gourmet meals prepared by our team including fresh local fish, fruit, and vegetables. This is an integral part of Jewish travel. We make great efforts to assure that our travelers will experience local foods first-hand, while maintaining stringent observance of Kashrut laws on all occasions.
Rabbi Menahem Fogel
A native of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Menahem Fogel served as a pulpit rabbi in South Africa and Canada before returning to Israel in 1984 to take up the position of spokesman of Yad Vashem, in Jerusalem, a position he held for six years. Since that time he has held senior positions in both the public and private sectors developing interactive computer systems for museums around the world. He also lived and worked in the USA, Netherlands, Austria, UK and India. A lifelong yearning for travel led to his becoming a Tour Manager in 2000 and developed expertise in tourism to Japan & China, Alaska, Canadian Rockies and Africa. Recently he took on the added role of Rav Hamachshir for The Kosher Travel Club to ensure the highest standards of Kashrut are implemented on all our Kosher Tours.
For any questions about Kashrut please feel free to email menahemf@netvision.net.il |
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