Ancient Algeria and the Sahara Desert

Our tour starts in the Algerian capital, Algiers. The country's largest city, Algiers today is a bustling Mediterranean port that can trace its origins back to Carthaginian traders of the 4th century BC. Dominated by the imposing walls of it's great Citadel, the Kasbah quarter of the old town is a wonderful collection of meandering alleyways, palaces and mosques, that now fall under the protection of UNESCO. Away from the old town, the city's French colonial heritage embraces a collection of grand buildings and wide boulevards that sweep around the coastline. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Algiers at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Algiers International Airport, also known as Houari Boumediene International Airport (ALG), which is around a 30-minute drive from the hotel depending on traffic. For those arriving before 7pm, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception where the welcome meeting will take place. We'll head off for dinner afterwards. For those arriving later, your tour leader will catch up with you the following morning.

Driving west out of Algiers along the coast, today we'll visit the site of Tipaza, founded by the Carthaginians as a port and trading centre. The site contains a forum, four thermal baths and the outline of a large Christian basilica. The setting is stunning, situated between the mountains and the Mediterranean. After lunch, we'll continue along the coast to Cherchell, the former capital of ancient Mauritania, which today is blessed with a collection of magnificent temples and monuments that span the Punic, Numidian and Roman periods. On our way back to Algiers, we'll make a stop at the Mausoleum of Mauritania, the final resting place of the last king and queen of Numidia. Arriving back in Algiers in the late afternoon, we'll have an early dinner before driving to Algiers airport for a flight to Ghardaia on the edge of the Sahara, the capital of the famous M'Zab Valley. Upon arrival, it's a short 20-minute drive to our hotel.

Our gateway into the M'Zab Valley on the edge of the Sahara, Ghardaia is one of five ksours (hilltop towns) that were founded by members of the Muslim Ibadi sect nearly 1,000 years ago in 1053 AD. Centred around its historic mosque, the town's collection of distinctive white, pink and red houses was once described by the French philosopher, Simone de Beauvoir as a Cubist painting, beautifully constructed. We'll spend the day exploring the town and the neighbouring villages in the beautiful M'Zab Valley. Our day starts on foot with a visit to the town's mosque, which we'll see from the outside, and a walk around the lively local markets and side streets. We'll then head to our bus to explore the outer lying sights including the cave of Daia, Beni Yezguen, a sacred Berber Islamic town which prohibits all foreigners from spending the night within its walls, Malika and the scenic settlement of El Ateuf. We'll also see the date palm groves. Ghardaia lies in the heart of the traditional homeland of the Mozabite people, a Berber tribe, most of whom are Ibadi Muslims, known for their warm hospitality. We'll enjoy a home-cooked lunch at a local family home or small restaurant today. The afternoon is free to rest or explore more of the town.

We have a long travel day ahead of us today as we head to M'sila - our total driving time will be around eight hours, though we'll make stops along the way. Heading south, we'll pass through the town of Laghouat, the main settlement of the province sharing the same name. The town is centred around an oasis and is surrounded by the Amour Range. Further north, we'll pass Djelfa, aiming to arrive in M'sila around 6pm. Tonight we stay in the best available hotel in the town, we have graded it as simple on account of its more basic facilities, the rooms have air conditioning and en suite bathrooms and there is wifi in the lobby.

Our first stop this morning is the Al Qal'a (fortress) of Beni Hammad, which comprises a striking minaret of what used to be a very large mosque, built of roughhewn sandstone blocks. Set amongst the arid rolling hills, the area was once inhabited by the first capital of the Hammadid empire in the 11th century. Its design later influenced Arab architecture, which can be seen throughout the Maghreb, Andalucia, and as far away as Sicily. There is a small museum at the site which we'll also visit if it's open. We'll continue to the town of Batna, the largest settlement in the district, where we'll have lunch. This afternoon, we'll visit the famous 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. It was a retirement city for his Roman troops and is considered one of the best historical sites in modern Algeria. The site is located on flat ground and is one of the best-preserved grid towns, including two main paved streets which run through the site and have the old forum and a theatre. There are also the ruins of several baths and the Trajan's Arch, a 12-meter-high triumphal arch. We'll have time to wander around the maze of streets with our guide before we head back to Batna, where we'll spend the night.

Our first stop today is the tomb of Madghacen, a royal mausoleum dating back to the era of the Berber Numidian Kings, which stands just outside Batna. This large cylindrical mausoleum dates to the 3rd century BC and is believed to be the tomb of a Numidian King. After our visit, we'll drive to Constantine, a spectacular city perched above the Oued Rhumel River Valley. Also known as the city of bridges on account of the seven bridges that span the deep ravine connecting the old city. We aim to arrive before lunch, giving us time to have a relaxing free afternoon. There is the option of taking a trip to see the Roman ruins at Tiddis, occupied since the Neolithic period and containing several circular bazina burial monuments from the pre-Roman Numidian times. See the budgeting and planning section for more details. This evening we can head out for dinner, Constantine has some excellent restaurants to choose from.

Today, we have a full day to explore the old city, partly on foot and partly by bus, in the company of our guide. Founded over 2,000 years ago, Cirta as it was formally known, is built on a plateau surrounded by deep ravines, the site was chosen because the city could be easily defended. In subsequent centuries the city has outgrown the plateau and spilled over into the adjoining areas. We'll start our visit of Constantine by the museum and the finest Ottoman structure, the Palace of Ahmed Bey where we'll explore the courtyards, the beautiful gardens with palms and orange trees and witness the array of vibrant tiles filled with creative motifs and mosaics. We'll then walk through the alleyways of the Casbah and along the Boulevard of the Abyss with views of the cityscape and deep gorges, reaching the city's most iconic symbol, a 175 metre/575 feet high suspension bridge of Sidi M'Cid, which spans 168 metres/552 feet and connects the city to the hill. We'll cross the suspension bridge and walk to the Monument to the Dead, a memorial arch topped by a statue of the winged victory, commemorating the Algerian victims of World War I. Continuing our tour, we'll cross the footbridge of Mellah Slimane, also known as the Passerelle Perregaux, a 125-meter/410-foot-long suspension footbridge over the deep ravine with fantastic views over the old Bab El Kantara Bridge and the Sidi Rached Viaduct from the footbridge's vantage point. After crossing, we'll climb the staircase to the busy rue of Larbi Ben M'Hidi where we'll see the historic 11th-century Great Mosque from the outside, the oldest mosque in the city. We'll then enter the cobbled alleyways of Souika in the heart of the medina, a world of bustling souks and artisan alleys, where quaint doorways and narrow paths reveal artisans who've been practicing their trade for generations. Lunch will be in the old town. This afternoon, we'll visit the National Museum of Cirta, a treasure trove of antiquities and relics found in the Constantine and surrounding areas including the beautifully cast bronze sculpture of winged 'Victory of Constantine.'

Lying 150 kilometres/93 miles to the east of Constantine, Djemila is one of the most important and picturesque Roman remains in Algeria, considered to be one of the finest sites in North Africa. Occupying a hilltop 900 metres/2,952 feet above sea level, it's a fascinating example of how traditional Roman planning was adapted to a mountain setting. Founded by the Emperor Nerva to house his subjects, the streets of ancient Cuicul are lined with the remains of houses, a forum, temples, the basilica and several triumphal arches. Equally impressive is Djemila's stunning museum, where every square inch of the immense walls is plastered with mosaics. Following our visits, we'll drive to Setif where we stay overnight. On arrival in the town we'll visit the museum, which includes some exceptional Roman mosaics including the 'triumph of Dionysus', after which we head into the new town for a short tour of the citadel and medina.

Today we'll head back to the capital - around a four-hour drive. Once we've checked into our hotel and had lunch, we'll head out for an afternoon tour of the capital. We'll visit the beautiful Church of Notre Dame d'Afrique that dominates the long bay above Bab El Oued, before driving to the old 10th century city known as the Kasbah, or "The Citadelle". One of the most impressive old cities in North Africa, we'll walk on the cobbled narrow streets and explore the complex houses, palaces and mosques that date back the Ottoman period. Next, we'll visit one of the most important historical monuments of Algiers; Bastion 23 Palace, located on the seafront. Actually a set of three palaces (17, 18 and 23), we'll get to roam through secret rooms inside. Our next stop is the imposing 92-meter/300-foot-tall Monument to the Martyrs, situated on a hill and overlooking the whole city. We bid farewell to those not continuing to the far south, for the second week in Algeria at this point; we will also say goodbye to our tour leader, as we'll have a different tour leader in the south. This evening, we drive back to Algiers airport for a flight to Djanet in the heart of the Sahara. Upon arrival it's a short twenty minute drive to our hotel.

After breakfast, we'll leave behind the relative civilization of Djanet and head out into the Sahara. We'll be traveling in a convoy of 4WD off-road vehicles, perfect for tackling the desert terrain. With a maximum of three people, plus a driver in each car, everyone gets a window seat. The first 120 kilometres (about 75 miles) are on paved roads, then we turn off toward El Biredj Oued Canyon and go another 80 kilometres (50 miles) off-road, winding through low rocky hills as we enter Oued El Biredj. It doesn't take long to fall into the rhythm of desert travel, far from packed schedules and pressures of modern-day life, time matters less out here and with no distraction from mobile phones, we can focus on enjoying the natural beauty of one of the greatest wildernesses on earth. We'll set up camp at the entrance to Tadrart. Once the crew has pitched the tents, we'll get our first taste of Tuareg tea, also known as Maghrebi mint tea, relaxing around a campfire. There's time to head out for a short walk and find a good spot to catch the sunset-desert sunsets are spectacular. After that, it's back to camp for dinner, freshly cooked by our crew. One of the magical parts of this trip is how remote our desert camps are completely off the grid, in spectacular settings with no one else around. We'll be staying in dome tents, set up for either double, twin, or single use. Mattresses are provided and set up for us each night - remember to bring a sleeping bag (see the equipment section for more details). There's also a communal dining area with rugs and tables, plus a toilet tent set up away from the main camp.

Our day starts around sunrise with a cup of tea or coffee followed by breakfast consisting of bread, butter, jams and cheese. After breakfast, we'll head out for a walk to explore our surroundings whilst the campsite is broken down. Oued El Biredj is a wide canyon-like valley, opening out to the vast landscape of the Tardart with its 'rock forests' of eroded sandstone pillars. There is less driving today, as we explore partly by 4WD and partly on foot. The highlight is encountering wonderfully preserved rock art paintings and engravings - we'll see paintings of hunting scenes, cattle and wild animals. To date there, have been over 15,000 paintings identified, there are so many works of art the area has been likened to a vast open air museum. This evening, we'll set our camp in the high sand dunes of Markawandi. Our camping crew will prepare all our meals in the desert. Our evening meal is three courses, consisting of soup to start with followed by a main course of couscous or pasta or rice accompanied by vegetables and a meat-based dish (usually lamb stew or chicken) and bread cooked in the traditional Tuareg way, on hot coals under the sand. Dessert is seasonal fruit, followed by mint tea or coffee, dates and a cookie.

Continuing our journey deeper into the Sahara, we reach the end of the El Biredj where the high orange-coloured sand dunes of Moul El Naga begin to appear. The sharpness and shades of the dunes make this a classic desert landscape - a photographer's dream. After driving through spectacular wind-sculptured arches (where we'll have our lunch), we head into the Tin Koukak region. This afternoon, we'll see more ancient rock art and, if we\ re lucky, even spot wild camels and gazelles. Our camp tonight is at Tin Koukak, the sunsets here, against the backdrop of the vast sand dunes, are spectacular and we'll witness some of the clearest night skies imaginable.

There is an optional walk to visit rock art around Tin Koukak lasting a couple of hours, we'll set off early to avoid the heat of the day (4WD vehicles will be available for those who don't wish to walk). Driving back towards Djanet, we'll make stops along the way to take in the picturesque scenery. Lunch will be at Oued Tlafzo. As we enter Djaren canyon, we'll step into one of the highest concentrations of rock art paintings in this part of Algeria, with over 70 locations exhibiting paintings and engravings found to date; we'll visit the best selection. We set up camp and spend the night in the atmospheric Djaren canyon.

After breakfast our camp crew will pack up camp, drive directly back to the Tenere Village Hotel in Djanet where we'll get reacquainted with modern life. Day use rooms will be provided to have a shower, the hotel also has WiFi at reception to catch up with messages from home. Lunch (not included on this day) will be at the hotel. This afternoon, we head into the desert once more for our final night. Driving one hour north of Djanet this time, we'll explore Timrass, a dramatic area of rocks protruding from the desert sand. Here we'll discover more rock art. We'll then continue to the landscapes of Tekoubaouine where we camp in a great spot for sunset amongst the dunes, hills and rock formations, our last night in the desert. Our cook will have stocked up on fresh supplies in Djanet and will prepare a delicious last camping dinner for us.

After a morning walk we will explore more ancient rock art. This region is known for its vast towering sand dunes, we'll visit Erg Admer, set amongst a sea of sand dunes. Continuing back towards Djanet, lunch is at the crying cows engravings, an elaborate ancient engraving depicting cattle. It's a short drive back to Djanet and the Tenere Village Hotel. Once again, day use rooms will be provided to freshen up and have a shower. The rest of the afternoon is free, you may wish to head into Djanet itself or rest at the hotel. This evening, there is the opportunity to join the group for dinner at a local restaurant or at the hotel to celebrate our last night together. We'll drive to Djanet airport, departing around 11pm for our night flight back to Algiers.

Our flight back to Algiers departs in the early hours of the morning, arriving around 6am, whilst the flight timing is subject to change, at the time of publication this flight has a short scheduled stop at Tamanrasset. The trip ends here at Algiers International airport, also known as Houari Boumediene International Airport (ALG). We recommend booking onward flights from 10am onwards in case of delays. Should you wish to book a extra night's accommodation in Algiers, please get in touch.