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Algeria is one of the most fascinating countries in North Africa with a rich past and history. This large territory, which is 5 times the size of France, combines a cultural heritage that dates back millennia and enjoys some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. Throughout the ages, Algeria was successively occupied by the Romans, the Turks and the French, whose footprints are still visible today. Today, this country of unparalleled splendor is revealed and can boast of a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the grandiose ancient sites of Djemila and Timgad or the ancient Roman port of Tipaza. Algiers "la blanche", its lively capital, offers an architecture where the Ottoman style and the chic of colonial buildings blend with its emblematic casbah overlooking its port and its palaces. Constantine, "the city of suspension bridges", is for its part an architectural challenge where we seize the opportunity of our passage to stroll through its old town and experience the atmosphere of its casbah, its market as well as the Ahmed palace. Bey. We continue our exploration in the Ghoufi gorges in the heart of the Aurès massif before reaching Biskra, the city of the Zibans known for its delicious dates. The adventure ends aboard old jeeps from the colonial era for a safari in the Ouled Djellal desert. A rich and varied program in an Algeria just waiting to be discovered!

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Itineraries

Day 01

EUROPE - ALGIERS

Arrival in Algiers, reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Meals not included. in the hotel.

Day 02

ALGIERS WHITE CITY

First steps in Algiers
Today, we will discover the essentials of Algiers, the white. Direction the Memorial of the Martyr, or Maqam Echahid, starting point of our Algiers immersion. We board the cable car to enjoy the panoramic view of the bay of Algiers and descend to the Hamma trial garden. Then, we continue our stroll through the alleys of the National Museum of Fine Arts of Algiers. Nestled on the boar hill and overlooking the lush trial garden, it houses more than 8,000 works made of paintings and other treasures. Its sumptuous collection, made up of paintings by French and Dutch masters as well as sculptures by Rodin and Bourdelle, is considered the most important in Algeria, the Arab world and the entire African continent. Leaving the museum, we only have to cross the road to reach the Hamma garden, considered one of the most important acclimatization gardens in the world, quoted in the writings of Karl Marx, André Gide, Albert Camus or Jacques Derrida. Lunch.

In the afternoon, we go to meet Notre-Dame d'Afrique, one of the few Christian basilicas in Muslim land. Perched at an altitude of 124 m and overlooking the city of Bologhine, it is the work of the French architect Jean-Eugène Fromageau who completed it in 1872 after 14 years of work. We can admire this superb Byzantine-style building on the outside and its Hispano-Moorish architecture on the inside. Free time in the center of Algiers.
Typical dinner and night at the hotel.

Day 03

WHITE ALGIERS

Discovery of white Algiers on foot
Transfer to the Bardo Museum. Descent of one of the most famous streets of Algiers, the lively street of Didouche Mourad, to the mythical Grande Poste passing by the historical faculty of Algiers. Before lunch at the fishery, we will stop at Emir Abdelkader Square to admire the statue of this hero of the Algerian resistance.

In the afternoon, head for Bastion 23 and its palaces before heading into the legendary Kasbah district. Along the way, we can admire the Jedid Mosque, the Martyrs' Square and the Ketchaoua Mosque. A tour of the Dar Aziza palace is a must when permitted because it is sometimes closed to the public. It is the model par excellence of the typical architecture of the Algiers house of the 16th century. This palace was a wedding gift from Hussein Dey to his daughter Aziza, on the occasion of her union with the Bey of Constantine in 1719.

The Kasbah of Algiers is a Mediterranean labyrinth with centuries-old treasures made up of old residences, palaces, narrow streets and fortresses which have long been true jewels of traditional architecture. This medieval medina is still standing witness to the rich prestigious past of the city of Algiers.

We will visit Dar Khedaoudj El Aâmia, palace of the princess of the same name and adored daughter of the dey of Algiers. The palace became a national museum on September 29, 1987.

Dinner at a table d'hôtes in the heart of the casbah to the sound of chaabi music. Hotel

Day 04

ALGIERS - TIPAZA

From Tipaza, the Phoenician to the tomb of the Christian
This morning, we will take the road towards Tipaza. Founded by the Phoenicians, this city was a trading post on the shores of the Mediterranean. Today, it is home to one of the most important archaeological sites in Algeria. Facing the Mediterranean Sea, we will stroll through the alleys of this unmissable place to discover its Greco-Roman remains. Classified as a World Heritage Site by Unesco, Tipaza is above all a wonderful testimony to the architectural traditions of the ancient Maghreb and the Punic and Roman civilizations of the time. Seaside fish lunch.

To complete this trip back in time, we will resume our journey towards Sidi Rached to admire the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania, more often called here the "tomb of the Christian". This impressive circular funerary building is the result of an architectural mix, on the one hand local in the “basina” spirit and on the other in Pharaonic style. Then, we take the coastal road towards Dellys. Installation at our hotel then, stroll in the alleys of this beautiful village of the great Kabylie. Dinner at the locals and overnight at the hotel.

Day 05

ALGIERS - TIPAZA- DELLYS

From Dellys to the plains of the interior
Today, we will continue our discovery and take the road to Sétif. This city was, in turn, during Antiquity the Berber kingdom of Numidia, then under the Roman Empire the capital of Mauretania Sétifienne, before becoming in the colonial era the "martyr city". Upon our arrival, we begin a tour of the city to immerse ourselves in its soul and its culture, which is very much linked to commerce. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Distance traveled: 280 km / approx. 4h.

Day 06

SETIF - DJEMILA, Cuicul

Roman ruins and superb panoramas in Djemila
This morning, departure for Djemila. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this city is home to the Roman remains of ancient Cuicul. Perched at an altitude of 900 m, this strategic site was not chosen at random since it was at the crossroads of north-south roads. Nestled on a mountainous promontory surrounded by ravines, Djemila was difficult to access but above all today offers a spectacular panorama of the surrounding peaks. We will wander through the remains of this Roman city made up of columns, arches, forums, theaters, etc. Lunch before resuming our journey to Constantine, a major city in Mediterranean history. Capital of Numidia from 300 to 46 BC. J.-C., the old Cirta ends up coming under Roman domination. Its current name was the work of Emperor Constantine I since 313. Today it is better known as the city of suspension bridges. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Distance traveled: 180 km / approx. 3:30. in the hotel

Day 07

DJEMILA - CONSTANTINE - TIDDIS

Constantine, the city of suspension bridges
Before starting the visit of Constantine, we will leave the city just about thirty kilometers to the northwest in the commune of Beni H'midane. We will discover the ancient city of Tiddis, a real architectural gem. This Roman military city was updated by the French archaeologist André Berthier in the 1940s. Nestled on a hill at the entrance to the Khreneg gorges at an altitude of 650 m and erected in stairs, this fortress had the main objective of ensure the protection of ancient Cirta. We will return to Constantine to continue our exploration. Lunch.

We will start the afternoon with a visit to the Ahmed Bey Palace. Of Ottoman inspiration, this residence is structured around 2 gardens and 3 smaller courtyards adorned with marble fountains. Above all, we can admire more than 2,000 m² of paintings that decorate the walls of this superb palace. They represent the various journeys undertaken by Ahmed Bey in Cairo, Alexandria, Tripoli and Istanbul between 1818 and 1819. Next stop of the day, the Ethnological Museum of Cirta. With a collection of more than 17,000 works, the museum preserves rare antiquities that range from prehistory to the Islamic period, including the Roman, Byzantine and colonial eras. Last step of the day, the Souk El Ghezal mosque, testimony to the Ottoman history of Constantine. Before dinner, we will go for a walk on the suspension bridges of the city, the very DNA of this unique city. Dinner to the sound of Constantine music of Arab-Andalusian influence and overnight at the hotel.

Distance traveled: 30 km / approx. 40 mins.

Day 08

CONSTANTINE - TEBESSA

In the footsteps of the Romans in Tébessa…
This morning, we leave Constantine for Tébessa. Along the way, we will stop at Khemissa, known to house one of the best preserved Roman theaters in the country. Further on, we will also stop at Ksar Tifech, protected by a rampart with 10 square towers and at M'Daourouch known for its Byzantine fort and its Roman theatre. In the background, the rolling and green hills of the region. We will eventually reach Tébessa. This former outpost, territory of the Carthaginians in the 7th century BC. AD, became a large Roman military garrison in 146 BC. Today, it retains an important ancient historical and archaeological heritage, the most emblematic of which remains its Byzantine wall in the heart of the medina. We will explore major sites such as its Roman theatre, its amphitheater built in the 4th century AD. BC, the temple of Minerva and its walls decorated with mosaics, the arch of Caracalla, the remains of the Basilica of Saint Crispina and the wall of King Solomon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Distance traveled: 240 km / approx. 4h.

Day 09

TIMGAD - BATNA

Timgad, the "Pompeii" of North Africa
This morning, we have an appointment with one of the major UNESCO sites in Algeria. Welcome to Timgad, an ancient city nicknamed the "Pompeii" of North Africa. We will stroll through the alleys of this Roman jewel to contemplate its temples, its thermal baths, its forum and its theater in a superb state of conservation. We will also stop at its museum to admire the large mosaics discovered in the region. Lunch before resuming our journey towards Batna. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Distance traveled: 225 km / approx. 4h.

Day 10

BATNA - BISKRA

Balconies of Ghoufi or the Algerian Grand Canyon
Today, we will go deep into the famous Aurès region to explore one of the most beautiful natural curiosities in the country. We will stop at the impressive Balconies of Ghoufi, more often called “Rhoufi”. We will be enchanted by the beauty of this long canyon at the foot of which soar as far as the eye can see, countless fruit trees and other centuries-old palm trees. Carved by the Abiod river, this canyon of about 3 or 4 km long is dominated by 200 m high cliffs with, carved in cascades in its rock, troglodyte dwellings which are uninhabited today. These now offer passing visitors a unique view of the geological layers of the slopes of the canyon. Lunch.

We will continue our journey towards Biskra, the first Saharan urban center and capital of the Zibans. We will stop to contemplate the oasis of Sidi-Okba whose gardens are irrigated by water from the Foum El-Gherza dam. Visit of the Oqba Ibn Nafaâ mosque, part of which dates from the 8th century, like the cedar door. The mosque is considered one of the oldest in the country. Upon our arrival in Biskra, we will settle in the thermal complex Sidi Yahia. Dinner and night in the complex.

Distance traveled: 245 km / approx. 4.3 hours.

Day 11

BISKRA - Kahngt sid Nadji

Biskra, the capital of the Zibans
We will start our day with a visit to Biskra and the thermal springs of Hammam Essalihine, treasures from Roman times. The therapeutic properties of their waters is not a legend and relieve many dermatological and respiratory diseases. We will continue towards the gorges and the Roman bridge of El Kantara, an oasis in the heart of the Aurès massif. Kantara, literally "bridge" in Arabic, is a Roman building located in the gorge. The only crossing point that spanned the Oued el Arab, it was used by the caravans of nomads who fled the heat and aridity of their lands in search of greenery more present in the north. After lunch, we will descend due south-west towards the town of Kahngt Sid Nadj We will settle in our ecolodge for the night. Traditional dinner in the heart of its palm grove. Night in eco-lodge.

Distance traveled: 187 km / approx. 3h.

Day 12

KAHNGT SID NADJI - Oued SOUF

Visit Oued Arabi for a safari in the heart of a unique nature. We discover the beauty of the region of large date palms before sitting down around a delicious barbecue prepared by our local team. At the end of the day, transfer to El Oued. Night at the hotel.

Distance traveled: 235 km / approx. 3h.

Day 13

OUED SOUF - EUROPE

Return to Europe
All good things come to an end ! Direct flight to Europe from the city of El Oued or via Algiers depending on availability and rotation days.

DEPARTURE DATES :

Daily departures according to your wishes.

OFFER SUMMARY :

  • Price from: €1400 per person.
  • From Europe (departure from province, contact us).
  • 13 days/12 nights.
  • Full board.
  • Accompanied tour.
  • Level of difficulty : easy.
  • Mode of transport: minibus depending on the size of the group, and 4x4 in the desert.
  • Type of accommodation: traditional hotel in Biskra, 4* in Algiers and Batna and etc. (local standards).
  • 4 participants minimum.
  • 14 participants maximum.
  • Best season to experience this trip: From September to the end of May.

 

THE ADVANTAGES OF THE OFFER :

  • Discovery of Tipaza, a Roman archaeological site overlooking the Mediterranean.
  • Visit of Bastion 23 (Raïs Palace) in Algiers.
  • Visit of the Casbah and traditional lunch in one of its houses.
  • Guided bus tour of the main towns of Timgad and Dejmela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its surrounding oases.
  • Discovery of a desert tamed by amazing irrigation techniques.
  • Accommodation in a traditional house in BISKRA.
  • Discovery of the oases of, a region of the Sahara still preserved, offering a sumptuous and contrasting decor.
  • A traditional thermal bath at Kahngt sid Nadji.
  • Program designed and exclusively at Tafassasset art Voyages.
  • Guaranteed departure from 4 participants.

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