About this trip
This tour takes you through southern Algeria's Saharan oases and the historic Mzab valley, starting with a flight into Ghardaia. From there you move between desert towns, UNESCO-listed sites and Algiers itself, covering a lot of varied ground over ten days.
Expect a mix of desert landscapes, mud-brick citadels and old town streets where you can talk to locals and pick up on the different cultures, cuisines and music found across the region. The pace allows time to walk through towns and villages rather than just pass through them.
It ends in Algiers, with stops at the Jardin d'Essai, Notre Dame d'Afrique and the Casbah, rounding out the desert journey with a dose of city and coastal culture.
What you'll do
- Explore the UNESCO-listed Mzab valley around Ghardaia
- Visit the Saharan oases of El-Meniaa, Timimoun, Beni Abbes, Taghit and Bechar
- See Charles de Foucauld's hermitage and tomb in the desert
- Wander the palm groves, desert lakes and dunes of the Grand Erg Occidental
- Walk through the Casbah of Algiers and visit Notre Dame d'Afrique
- Stroll the Jardin d'Essai botanical gardens
- Fully guided throughout, with a fair amount of ground covered between oases and towns
- Suited to travellers wanting a mix of desert scenery and cultural stops rather than a fast-paced trek
- Good fit for families and groups given the relaxed, guided structure
Worth it if you embrace remote desert exploration and can handle logistical friction. Think twice if you need independence, reliable guide punctuality, or substantial free time.
- Desert landscapes are genuinely spectacular; Sahara scenery between cities keeps you engaged throughout long drives.
- Meals provided throughout, mostly home-cooked and delicious; standout guides like Omar and Mohammed elevate the experience considerably.
- Afternoons confined to basic hotel rooms with no facilities; solo exploration forbidden, enforced by agency and visa restrictions.
- Guide quality wildly inconsistent—some excellent, but Timimoun guide repeatedly late, silent during visits, arrived at sites after dark.
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Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Algiers · 20 Aug – 21 Aug
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