How to plan a Morocco trip from Israel — and are there direct flights and a visa?

This is the question I get asked with the most caution, and rightly so, so let me be honest and current. After the December 2020 normalisation of relations between Israel and Morocco, direct flights launched between Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion) and Marrakech and Casablanca, operated at various times by Royal Air Maroc, El Al, Israir and others. When running, that direct hop is around five to six hours and transformed Morocco into a very accessible destination for Israeli travellers, and a hugely popular one — many with Moroccan-Jewish heritage have made deeply moving trips to ancestral towns, synagogues and cemeteries.

Here is where I have to be especially straight with you: the regional situation has, at times, affected both flights and the broader picture, and air routes between the two countries have been suspended and resumed before. So I will not promise you that a specific direct flight is operating on your dates. You may find direct service available, or you may need to connect via a European hub such as Athens, Larnaca, Istanbul or a Western European city. Please treat the direct route as 'check at time of booking' rather than guaranteed, and build a little flexibility into your plans.

On the visa: Israeli passport holders have been able to enter Morocco visa-free for tourist stays of up to 90 days following normalisation, needing a passport valid six months beyond travel. That has made the paperwork side simple in normal times. But given how closely entry policy is tied to the diplomatic relationship, this is the single most important place to verify the current rule before you book anything — check with the Moroccan diplomatic mission and official Israeli travel advisories close to your departure, because the position can change with the regional climate.

If the trip is on, my planning advice is the same warmth I'd give anyone, with one specialty: Morocco's Jewish heritage is rich and well worth weaving in. The Marrakech and Fes mellahs (historic Jewish quarters), the restored synagogues, the Jewish museum in Casablanca, and heritage sites in Essaouira and smaller towns make for a profound thread alongside the Sahara, the Atlas and the medinas. Seven to ten days suits most first trips. Because the situation is fluid, I'd lean toward refundable bookings where possible, comprehensive travel insurance, and keeping an eye on official advice right up to departure. Tell me your interests and I'll build something meaningful and flexible.