Circuit of the Oases of Algeria

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Algiers

  

  Welcome and assistance at Houari Boumediene airport by your driver and guide. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 2

  Algiers - Béchar - Taghit

  

  FLIGHT ALGIERS 1:00 p.m. ✈ 3:15 p.m. BECHAR – 90 km - TAGHIT Breakfast and transfer to the airport for the flight to Béchar. Assistance at Boudghene Ben Ali Lotfi airport. Heading to the Oasis of Taghit "the enchanting one", one of the most beautiful oases of the Grand Erg Occidental. Local lunch. Taghit is a group of six ksour (ksar in plural): Arab-Muslim architecture. Complete visit of the oasis. Visit of the old ksar (architectural jewel dating from the 11th century). Visit of the valley of the ksour. Visit of rock engravings. End of the day at the top of a dune for a sunset. Traditional dinner and overnight in a 4* hotel.

• day 3

  Taghit - Beni Abbes

  

  Breakfast and transfer to Béni-Abbes (TAGHIT – 150 km – BENI ABBES) "The white oasis" of Béni-Abbes is located in the heart of the Saoura valley (dating from the 11th century). Visit to the chapel of Father de Foucault, ordained priest in 1901. Picnic lunch in the chapel's garden. The day continues with the discovery of the white palm grove in the shape of a scorpion, whose tail is dominated by a large red dune and whose heart is represented by the old Ksar. Check-in at the hotel, dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 4

  Béni Abbès - Timimoun

  

  Breakfast and early departure towards Timimoun, "the red oasis" (BENI ABBES – 380 km – TIMIMOUN). Crossing the Grand Erg Occidental, 80,000 km² of sand sea and several oases: The oasis of El Ouata, Gherzim, Kerzaa, Timougj, Ouled Khodeir, and Gharouine. Picnic lunch on the dunes or in an oasis. Upon arrival, check-in at a guesthouse in the middle of a palm grove. End of day at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay on site.

• day 5

  Oasis of Timimoun

  

  Morning: visit of the old town and its traditional market, with its craft shops, before continuing with the Foggara, a hydraulic heritage dating from around the 11th century, then the cultural center. Picnic lunch in the Ouled Said oasis. Road to the cave and cliffs of Igzher. Dinner and overnight at the residence.

• day 6

  Timimoun - El Goléa

  

  Breakfast and departure for El Goléa (TIMIMOUN - 300 km – EL GOLEA). Known for its oases and mineral waters. Continue with a visit of the city and the tomb of Father de Foucault. Then, visit the Father Leclerc museum and, if time permits, visit the lake. Traditional lunch before taking the road to Ghardaïa (EL GOLEA - 260 km – GHARDAIA). Upon arrival, accommodation in a traditional house within a palm grove. Dinner and overnight stay.

• day 7

  Ghardaïa - Beni-Izguen

  

  Breakfast and morning: visit to the market square, which has a rectangular shape with an area of about 3,400 m² and is surrounded by an arcade gallery of various shapes and sizes, with many shops. This is followed by a visit to the old Ksar, surrounded by several cemeteries. Traditional lunch. Afternoon: continuation with the underground irrigation system of the palm grove, "sharing of the waters of the M'zab valley". This is a system that used to store water, thus allowing it to be redistributed to irrigate family gardens. Finally, visit to the old town of Béni-Izguen, the Boulila tower, and the auction market. Dinner and overnight stay in a guest house.

• day 8

  Ghardaïa - Algiers - Cherchell - Tipaza

  

  Breakfast and transfer to the airport for the flight to Algiers. Welcome and assistance at Houari Boumediene airport. Departure towards Cherchell, the former Roman Caesarea, with its museum of exceptional sculptures. Continuation to Tipaza: a city famous for its Roman archaeological remains, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Fish lunch by the sea. In the afternoon, stroll around the ancient port before visiting the old city located on the western hill, with many Roman ruins. Albert Camus wrote "Noces" there in 1939. At the end of the day, a short detour to visit the Tomb of the Christian Woman (Queen Selene, wife of Juba II). Traditional dinner in Algiers and overnight at the hotel.

• day 9

  Algiers - The Casbah

  

  Breakfast and morning: visit of the Casbah starting with the Palace of the Dey, also called "Dar Essoltane", before continuing with the visit of the Centenary House. Then, continue with the Ketchaoua Mosque and the Mustapha Pacha Palace. Lunch in the Pêcherie district. Afternoon: visit of Bâb El Oued up to the Grande Poste, before going up to Notre-Dame d’Afrique which overlooks the Bâb El Oued district. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 10

  Jardin d'Essai and return flight

  

  Breakfast and morning, visit to the fine arts museum. One of the largest art museums in Africa, open since 1930, the building houses masterpieces by painters such as Brugghen, Renoir, and Gauguin. Lunch at the Jardin d'Essai. Then, visit to the Jardin d’Essai, the largest botanical garden in Africa with its 3,000 species. It is considered one of the most important trial gardens in Africa. Featuring a French garden and an English garden, this site allows visitors to observe a clear contrast between the different gardens present. Transfer to the airport with assistance up to boarding.