Algeria, the largest country on the African continent boasts incredible geographical diversity, stretching from the Mediterranean Coast to the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara desert, and an incredibly rich cultural heritage that would be the envy of many of its better-known Maghreb neighbours.
Once colonised by the Romans, the Turks and the French, the country has emerged from the troubles of the 1990’s to reveal itself as a destination of unrivalled scope and grandeur. Amongst the vast sands of the Sahara it is home to some of the most beguiling oasis towns in the region; dominated by ancient Ksars or fortified strongholds, the mud brick villages still hold on to traditions that have endured among the desert sands for centuries. It can also boast a number of world heritage sites such as the spectacular ancient UNESCO sites of Djemila and Timgad as well as the medieval desert pentapolis of Ghardaia, while its bustling capital, Algiers, offers the traditional Casbah experience counterbalanced by a wonderfully engaging mix of Ottoman grandeur, colonial chic and modern vibrancy.
This remarkable journey takes us into the heart of this unique country as we journey from the shores of the Mediterranean to the Grand Erg Occidental.
| Explore Destinations | Algiers, Constantine, Timgad, Touggourt, Ghardaia, Timimoun | ||||||
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The tour starts early this evening in the Algerian capital. Overlooking the waters of the Mediterranean, Algiers began life as a Phoenician trading post, but it was the 10th century Berbers under Bologhine ibn Ziri who began the city’s rise to prosperity. Over time it fell to the Almohades, the Ottomans and the French, before a bloody struggle for independence finally saw the Algerians wrestle control from their colonial overlords in the early 1960s. Much of the historic heart of the city dates back to Ottoman times and includes the impressive facade of the Ketchaoua Mosque.
By way of an introduction to this fascinating country, we’ll start with a tour of the oldest part of the capital, focussing upon the historic Casbah, one of the most impressive in all of North Africa. This UNESCO World Heritage site was described by Le Corbusier as “a masterpiece of architecture and town planning” as we’ll discover after wandering around its labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways, made up of tiny shops, museums and market traders. Later we’ll visit the imposing Maqam Echahid (Martyrs’ Monument) and the National Museum of El Mujahid to learn about the Algerian War of Independence.
Today we drive east out of the hustle and bustle of the capital to the impressive ancient Roman city of Djemila, a UNESCO World Heritage site considered one of the finest in North Africa. The wheel-rutted streets of ancient Cuicul, founded by the Emperor Nerva to house his subjects, are lined with elaborate houses, a forum, basilica, triumphal arches and temples. It is a fascinating example of Roman town planning adapted to suit its mountain location. Equally impressive is Djemila’s stunning museum, where every square inch of the immense walls are plastered with mosaics. After wandering around this charming site we’ll continue our journey east to Constantine or ‘Cirta’ with its dramatic setting amongst precipitous cliffs and deep gorges. The French writer Alexandre Dumas called it ‘a fantastic city, something like Gulliver’s flying island’. Founded over 2,000 years ago, a plateau surrounded by deep ravines was a great place to build because the city could be easily defended. Since then Constantine has outgrown the plateau and spilled over into the adjoining areas, connected to the old city by seven high bridges, hence the title ‘City of Bridges’.
Approx 5hrs driving
This morning we’ll drive a short distance north to the small Roman ruins at Tiddis. Also known as Castellum Tidditanorum, it’s perhaps Algeria’s most impressively located Roman site. Originally believed to be a Berber/Amazigh settlement, Tiddis is an oddity in that it’s made up of winding pathways that climb the hillside to which it clings, as well as paved streets, a temple of Mithras, an impressive arch, cisterns and a small forum. From here we’ll drive back to Constantine for lunch before heading out on a tour of the city. Constantine boasts an excellent museum noted in particular for its Roman mosaics, as well as the delightful Palace of Ahmed Bey, a handful of impressive mosques (including the impressive Abdul Khader mosque, the second largest in the country), a traditional casbah with its local market and of course, the architectural triumph of the city’s bridges for which it’s so well known.
After breakfast we’ll drive south and pay a quick visit to the enigmatic mausoleum of Medracen, the royal temple of the Berber Numidian Kings, before heading for the UNESCO Roman ruins at Timgad. Sometimes referred to as the ‘Pompeii of Africa’, this vast site was constructed under Emperor Trajan as a military base to defend against the Berbers. After the Vandal invasion in 430AD, Timgad was destroyed at the end of the 5th century. Centuries later, Timgad still represents the embodiment of Roman urban planning and is considered, along with Djemila, to be one of the Maghreb’s undisputed treasures of antiquity.
Approx 3hrs driving
Continuing our journey southwards we’ll cross the Saharan Atlas, an extension of the mountain range more typically associated with neighbouring Morocco, and soon find ourselves in a completely different desert world. En route we’ll stop to explore the impressive Ghoufi Canyon with its welcome oasis and troglodyte dwellings before continuing onwards to our overnight stop in the simple oasis town of Touggourt, the starting point back in 1922 of the first motorised crossing of the Sahara.
Approx 6hrs driving
A morning’s drive of approximately 4hrs takes us to yet another of Algeria’s UNESCO sites, the M’Zab Valley and its capital Ghardaia. Ghardaia lies in the heart of the traditional homeland of the Ibadi Muslim sect, and is today part of a preserved piece of medieval splendour, made up of five fortified settlements that occupy the highest hills in the valley, each one crowned by a lone towering minaret. A distinctive blend of white and red buildings, these snapshots in time still retain the customs and traditions of a culture that has endured since the Mozabite Berbers of the 11th century, providing us with a unique insight into a way of life that can trace its ancestry back a thousand years. During our time here we will have the chance to explore some of this remarkable valley, paying visits to a number of villages including Beni Isguen and Al Ateuf (the oldest of the fortified settlements), as well as stopping off to wonder through the markets and palm groves of the M’zab Valley.
Please note that depending on availability we may overnight in Ghardaia town or in a more remote guesthouse within the Beni Isguen palm groves.
With a full day for exploring the pentapolis of the M’Zab Valley, we’ll learn more about the Mozabites and their houses that lie scattered around the hilltops and which seem to almost fuse with the surrounding landscape, with their courtyards and terraces picked out in white against the brilliant blue of the desert sky. Each of the villages follows the same principle, with the houses being built in concentric circles around a central mosque and minaret, which are then in turn protected by high walls and ramparts. Originally, these villages were fed by a unique water distribution system that was devised by the Mozabites themselves to capture rainwater and divert it to the oasis by way of underground tunnels. Despite living very traditional and conservative lives, the Mozabites remain highly innovative and control much of Algeria’s commerce today, making them a fascinating ethnic group to meet and learn more about.
To the south west of Ghardaia lies the red oasis town of Timimoun, a long day’s journey across the desert. Starting out early our journey today is truly spectacular and lies along the route taken by WF’s founder, Jonny Bealby, when he rode his motorbike around Africa as told in his first book ‘Running With The Moon’. Part of the Grand Erg Occidental, Timimoun is set amongst the sands of the Gourra region and noted for the red orchre colour of its buildings.
Today we will be covering a distance of approx 620kms, so please be prepared for a long drive day
Today we’ll visit some of the immediate area around Timimoun. Depending upon local conditions (ie weather and the authorities) we plan to visit various sites such as the deep red caves and the abandoned village of Tindjillet, before stoppoing for a picnic lunch in Ouled Aissa. We’ll visit the palmeraie where we’ll learn about the ancient irrigation system used there known as ‘fouggara’ and explore the remains of Berber settlements. We’ll also discover the haunting sand dune landscapes of the Grand Erg Occidental, which provide a stunning backdrop for our time here, and have some free time to relax, perhaps taking a walk through the old town with its ancient ksars (fortified dwellings), admiring Sudanese influenced architecture as well as visiting the town’s market and handicraft shops.
As Timimun lies over 1000kms south of Algiers, we’ll take a flight back to the Algerian capital today. Depending on flight times this will either allow us some further free time this morning in Timimoun or this afternoon in Algiers. Tonight we’ll head out into the city for our final dinner of the trip.
Depending on flight times there may be opportunities for some last minute exploration in & around Algiers before we bid a final farewell to this most intriguing of North African countries.
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