Destinations Morocco Festivals-Celebrations Sacred Music Journey and Sufism in Morocco (12 days)Sacred Music Journey and Sufism in Morocco(12 days)
Itinerary
Guided and escorted by a Sufi scholar, this specially designed journey includes 5 days of the Fez Sacred Music Festival, while exploring the depth of the Moroccan culture in the holy city of Fez. After the festival, we will embark on our Sufi retreat exploring notable spiritual and natural sites of Northern Morocco.
Discovering Fez and its Sacred Music Festival :
Monday June 11: New York – Casablanca
You will begin your exotic journey on a direct, overnight flight via Royal Air Maroc carrier. With exceptional service and Moroccan hospitality, you will enjoy beverages, a delicious dinner, and a complimentary movie on your six and a half hour flight.
Tuesday, June 12: Morning at your leisure in Fez
The morning will be spent at your leisure, and after lunch, you will journey to the afternoon concert at Dar Batha. The evening concerts will be at Bab Makina. After the concert, Sarah Tours will offer a night of Issawa healing music. Come and experience the Hadra circle dance to heal the world with the Sufi drummers of Issawa Tariqa. The Aissaoui Order has the most exciting drumming with invocations to Allah praising all prophets and saints. Their slogan states: "Come to visit Moulay Al Hadi Sidi Ben Aissa, warrantor of his visitor's wishes." The adepts of this order use in both their private and public meetings the key phrase: "God is eternal." "Allah Da'em". (Breakfast and dinner included.)
Wednesday, June 13: Fez
Undeniably fascinating, Fez stimulates the senses with its haunting yet beautiful sounds, visual splendor, and evocative smells. The most ancient of the imperial capitals and the most complete medieval city of the Islamic world, Fez is reminiscent of a city suspended in time, unfazed by the constantly evolving world outsides of its walls. Fez owes nothing to the Western world, save electricity.
Time spent in Fez will reveal much about the sophistication of the Moroccan artisan, providing an unparalleled learning experience to those who cross its path. Your morning will be spent visiting the Medina. Our specialized guide will take you on a historic discovery of the city of Fez starting at the King's Palace and its Meshwar with ramparts and majestic gates.
Next, you will explore the Jewish quarter, a 15th century citadel with all its Moorish maze architecture and medieval glory. Visits to Sephardic synagogues and mausoleums of holy Rabbis will be the highlights of this part of town.
Then, we will drive to the Merinides hill to visit their necropolis. Here you will enjoy the best panoramic view on the old walled Medina, brimful with its countless minarets to call for the prayers in a city that has responded to these calls for 12 centuries. Drive down the hills to the gate of Bab Guissa to leave your vehicle and enter an ancient world. Fez has preserved its Medina as it was centuries ago. Not even a bicycle is able to be used as tool of transportation. Only donkeys, mules and horses are able to help moving all what the city produces and needs as supplies.
The first guilds you will immediately encounter are the cobblers, the saddlers and black smiths interlaced by some caravansaries for tribesmen who come from the surrounding areas to trade and supply their needs. Down the hill to Juteya you will encounter all sorts of crafts but noticeably carpenters and leather workers as one of the traditional tanneries is not far. This walk will lead you to El Ashabine square with its variety of activities. From there, you will wind your way to the Sgha square which will lead you to Attarine then Souk el Henna and the Mausoleum of Moulay Idris, the founder of Fez. Next to it, you will visit the Nejjarine square with its famous fountain, its guild of carpentry and the museum of folk arts at the Fondouk.
You will walk to the tannery and on to visit the great Mosque university of Al Quarrawiyyine, passing by Shemma'ine, the market of dried fruits. After that, you will visit the Medersa Attarine and walk to Sbetryyine, a guild of book binders, which will lead you to the Seffarine Square, where the tapping of metalworkers is still deafening passerby as it was the case for centuries. You will break for lunch then continue exploring the marvels of Fez Medina. These will highlight the Dyers souk, Foundouk Tetouani and the shrine of Sidi Ahmed Tijani.
You will end your walk at foundouk Lihoudi where a local Fez family will host you for traditional mint tea in their home. In the evening, you are invited to the Festival event.
(Breakfast and dinner included.)
Thursday, June 14: Day excursion from Fez – Sefrou – B'Halil – back to Fez
In the early morning, you will enjoy a sunrise Sufi ceremony offered over the Merinides dynasty necropolis looking East for a dramatic sunrise over the sleeping giant of the 9th century Medina. Return to the hotel for breakfast and relax. Your day will include an optional day trip to the ancient Jewish city of Sefrou.
Predating Fez by a thousand years, Sefrou once played a vital role as the last stop for the sub-Saharan caravans transporting goods to the European markets. There, you will visit the shrine of Sidi Lahcen Al Yussi, a venerated Sufi master who was considered the guardian of Sefrou. In addition, you will visit the mausoleums of other Rabbis, as well as the city's synagogues. On your return trip to Fez, you will visit the ancient Christian village of B'Halil, which is known for its distinctive troglodyte dwellings. Upon your arrival at Fez, you will attend the Festival's evening events. (Breakfast and dinner included.)
Friday, June 15: Fez
In the morning, you will attend a lecture, followed by the Festival's afternoon events at the Dar Batha museum. Dinner will be at the hotel, followed by the evening Festival events at Bab Makina, the court of the King's palace. (Breakfast and dinner included.)
Saturday, June 16: Fez
You will spend your morning visiting the Andalucian part of the Medina on the eastern side of the river, where you will learn the history of the settler Moors, who arrived from Spain during the 13th century. Learn about their lifestyle that is still intact today. Shop for music instruments and other artifacts of your interest as the Andalusian market known for these artifacts. The Festival's afternoon concerts with take place at Dar Batha, followed by dinner at the hotel and, afterwards, the Festival's closing ceremony. (Breakfast and dinner included.)
Sufi Journey in the Path of Love and Peace :
After our experience with Fez and the Sacred Music Festival, we are about to hit the road on our Sufi retreat. Sufism is the mystical aspect of Islam, a spiritual path of love and peace. Its message of universality has crossed all borders. From Malaysia, India, Persia and Turkey east to Egypt, Morocco and Andalusia west, Sufism is a source of inspiration for mystics, thinkers, poets and a way of amelioration for disciples. This quest of divine love is the keyword of all time Sufi orders who seek to nourish themselves with this divine light by meditation, contemplation and ecstasy. Rooted in all these parts of the world, Sufism, based on its universality is shaped in multiple spiritual, cultural and artistic forms (architecture, music, art and daily life). From the early age of Sufism, we can document artists, craftsmen, thinkers and gifted people striving to put in practice in their daily lives, the teaching they received deep in their hearts.
Morocco is a fertile land of Sufis. It is said: "if the Middle East is the land of prophets, then the Maghreb is the land of Saints." Sufism in Morocco has existed since the dawn of Islam. Its influence has traveled east to Egypt, north to Muslim Spain, south to the Sahara desert, and even deep in the heart of West Africa.
Since the 9th century, many renowned masters considered to be universal in the spiritual teachings have taken their origin from Morocco. We will feature a few in this rewarding journey you are about to unfold.
Sunday, June 17: Fez/Berkane
Leave Fez in the morning for Berkane for a Sufi gathering at the Sheikh Zaouia. You will enjoy a wonderful ride through the valley of Taza exploring the beautiful Atlas and Rif ranges at once. Stop for lunch and a visit/prayer at Sidi Abdellah Sufi shrine.
Your camp will be set ahead of time ready to receive you at the court yard of the Zaouia. Enjoy every moment of the Laila at your discretion. We will meet with the sheikh Sidi Hamza and other eminent muquaddams in the Boutchichi Quadiri Tariqa. Have a samaa in the Quadiri style chants then close with a Duaa for all. Dinner and accommodations are at Camp. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.)
Monday, June 18: Berkane / Ouazzane Retreat
Moulay Abdessalam Ben M'Shish shrine: After the traditional breakfast in the Naima orange grove, we will bet farewell to the zaouia with the blessing of Sidi Hamza Duaa. We will start our journey across the breath taking vistas of the Rif Mountains tracing history in the footsteps of great Sufi masters that have contributed to shape many tariquas for centuries.
Our first visit will be to Moulay Abdessalam Ben M'Shish shrine. He is the master Sheikh of Abul Hassan Shadhuli the founder of the Shadhuli tariqa one of the largest today in the world. This is a beautiful hike from to his shrine that has never accepted a roof. Many kings of Morocco have tried to build a dome over his tomb as he is so venerated in Morocco, but miraculously it crumbles in the same night after completion. Now there is a mythical tree that has grown beside his burial site for over six hundred years. We will pay our homage meet the Sheikh of the Alami Tariqa then proceed to Ouazzane.
Afternoon invocation will be in Dar Dmana (House of Security) in Ouazzane. This is the most respected Sufi institution dating from the 9th century. After a samaa chant in the Harraki style, we will retreat back to our camp for the night. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.)
Tuesday, June 19: Ouazzane / Volubilis
After breakfast with Shorafa, we will start our day towards Volubilis. We will visit the shrine of Moulay Bouchta L'Khammar, the Sheikh master of music. His baraka is coveted by Sufi musicians from many parts of the world.
Lunch will be in the very natural setting of the springs of Bouadel. There will be an afternoon workshop with the Sheikh of Shorafa Alamiyine on the Tariqa Shadhulia then you will proceed to Volubilis for the night. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.)
Wednesday, June 20: Volubilis
We will take a walk through the ancient olive groves to Mount Zerhoun to discover caves that have sheltered many Sufis for centuries. Visit the holy city of Moulay Idris and benefit from his Baraka and other Sufi masters that surround his mausoleum.
Meet the Sheikh of Issawa Tarika, This tour will be hosted by a local Sufi lady from the lineage of Moulay Idris Akbar. Picnic lunch then zikr and Sufi stories for the rest of the afternoon (mules are available for those who prefer to ride). The night will be animated by a group of Hmadcha drummers for a hadra. Dinner and zikr are to follow. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.)
Thursday, June 21: Volubilis/Rabat
We will depart to Rabat to visit the city and its shrines. Visit the Sidi Abdellah Ben Hassoun shrine, Ministry of waqf and Islamic affairs and have tea with notable people in charge of Islamic institutions in the Kingdom of Morocco. The afternoon and evening will be devoted to a farewell Dhikr with the Boutchichia Tarika mureeds of Rabat. Farewell Duaa of blessing for all. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.)
Friday, June 22: Casablanca/New York
Early morning transfer to Casablanca airport for your flight back home.
Fez Sacred Music Journey and Sufi retreat includes:
- Round trip flights between New York and Casablanca/Marrakech
- Accommodation in camp and hotels as indicated*
- Accommodation in hotel in Fez Half board
- Accommodation in camp and hotels as indicated Full board
- Fees to Festival activities, monuments and museums
- Sufi music gatherings in Moroccan homes in the Medina of Fez
- Access to Zaouia (Sufi gathering place) and Mausoleums usually not open to tourists
- Camping equipment for Sufi retreat
- Baggage handling and restaurant taxes
- Assistance from Sarah Tours guides and tour leaders
Cities and Hotels used
- Fez: 5 nights, Hotel Tghat
- Madagh: 1 night camping
- Ouarzagh: 1 night, Camping
- Volubilis: 2 nights, Hotel Volubilis
- Rabat: 1 night, Hotel Chellah ****
Cost per person based on double occupancy: $3,285.00
Single Supplement: $ 695.00