From
NZ $7,860 per person

Ancient Algeria and the Sahara Desert

16 days
Start and end in Algiers
4.5
8,607 traveler reviews
From
NZ $7,860 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

Price based on Shared Room

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2025

Jan
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2026

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Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

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Plan your adventure:
Explorer
Curated to ignite your sense of adventure
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 7 - 16
Ages 16+
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Algiers

    You can arrive in Algiers anytime today. If you're flying into Houari Boumediene International Airport, the hotel can arrange a transfer (takes about 30 minutes). When you get there, if it's before 7pm, you'll meet your tour leader at the hotel reception for a welcome meeting and dinner together. If you arrive later, you'll connect with the group the next morning instead.

    Landmarks/POIs
    Kasbah
    Citadel of Algiers
  2. Day 2

    Cherchell - Algiers to Ghardaia

    Head west along the coast to Tipaza, an old Carthaginian port with Roman thermal baths and a Christian basilica sitting between mountains and the Mediterranean. From there, you'll drive to Cherchell to walk through temples and monuments from Punic, Numidian and Roman times. You'll also see the Mausoleum of Mauritania before heading back to Algiers for an early dinner. That evening, you fly to Ghardaia on the Sahara's edge, then take a 20-minute drive to your hotel.

    Meals
    Lunch, Dinner (Early dinner in Algiers)

    Included Activities

    • Visit Tipaza archaeological site
    • Explore Cherchell temples and monuments
    • Visit Mausoleum of Mauritania
    Landmarks/POIs
    Tipaza
    Cherchell
    Mausoleum of Mauritania
  3. Day 3

    Ghardaia

    Spend the day exploring Ghardaia, a 1,000-year-old hilltop town known for its distinctive white, pink and red Cubist-style architecture in the M'Zab Valley. A local guide leads you to the historic mosque (viewed from outside) and through the lively markets. You'll then check out neighbouring villages like Beni Yezguen, Malika and El Ateuf, plus walk through date palm groves. Lunch is a home-cooked meal with a local Mozabite family. The afternoon is yours to rest or explore on your own.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch (Home-cooked lunch at local family home or small restaurant), Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Visit historic mosque (exterior)
    • Walk through local markets and side streets
    • Explore Daia cave
    • Visit Beni Yezguen
    • Visit Malika
    • Visit El Ateuf settlement
    • See date palm groves
    • Home-cooked lunch with local family
    Landmarks/POIs
    Ghardaia
    Beni Yezguen
    Malika
    El Ateuf
    Daia cave
  4. Day 4

    Ghardaia to M'sila

    Today is a long driving day heading south to M'sila, taking around eight hours total with stops along the way. You'll pass through Laghouat, an oasis town ringed by the Amour Range, and Djelfa before arriving in M'sila around 6pm. The hotel here is simple but has air conditioning and en suite bathrooms in all rooms, with WiFi available in the lobby.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Landmarks/POIs
    Laghouat
    Djelfa
  5. Day 5

    Timgad - Batna

    Start by visiting the striking Al Qal'a fortress of Beni Hammad with its 11th-century sandstone minaret rising from arid rolling hills. If the site museum is open, you'll stop there. Then you drive to Batna for lunch before heading to Timgad in the afternoon. This UNESCO Roman site is called the 'Pompeii of Africa' and was built as a military base under Emperor Trajan. You'll explore the two main paved streets, forum, theatre, Trajan's Arch and bath ruins, winding through the maze of streets with your guide before returning to Batna for the night.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Visit Al Qal'a (fortress) of Beni Hammad and museum
    • Visit UNESCO Roman ruins at Timgad
    • Explore Timgad site with guide
    Landmarks/POIs
    Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad
    Timgad
    Trajan's Arch
  6. Day 6

    Batna to Constantine

    Begin with the tomb of Madghacen, a large cylindrical royal mausoleum from the 3rd century BC thought to be a Numidian king's burial site. Then drive to Constantine, a spectral city perched high above the Oued Rhumel River Valley with seven bridges crossing the deep ravine. You'll arrive before lunch and have a relaxing free afternoon. There's an optional tour to see Roman ruins at Tiddis if you're interested. For dinner, head out to one of Constantine's excellent restaurants.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Visit tomb of Madghacen

    Optional Activities

    • Afternoon trip to Roman ruins at Tiddis (approximately €50 per person, approximately 4 hours)
    Landmarks/POIs
    Tomb of Madghacen
    Constantine
    Tiddis
  7. Day 7

    Constantine

    Spend a full day exploring Constantine (ancient Cirta) using a mix of walking and bus tours with your guide. You'll start at the Palace of Ahmed Bey, a beautiful Ottoman structure with courtyards, gardens of palms and orange trees, and vibrant tiles. From there, wander through Casbah alleyways and along Boulevard of the Abyss for gorge views. Cross the iconic 175-meter Sidi M'Cid suspension bridge to reach the Monument to the Dead, a World War I memorial. Walk the Mellah Slimane footbridge for fantastic ravine views, then climb to the 11th-century Great Mosque. Explore the medina and artisan alleys before lunch in the old town. Afternoon takes you to the National Museum of Cirta to see antiquities including the famous winged Victory of Constantine bronze sculpture.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in the old town), Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Visit Palace of Ahmed Bey
    • Walk through Casbah alleyways
    • Cross Sidi M'Cid suspension bridge
    • Visit Monument to the Dead
    • Walk Mellah Slimane footbridge
    • View Great Mosque (exterior)
    • Explore Souika medina and artisan alleys
    • Visit National Museum of Cirta
    Landmarks/POIs
    Palace of Ahmed Bey
    Sidi M'Cid Suspension Bridge
    Monument to the Dead
    Mellah Slimane Footbridge (Passerelle Perregaux)
    Great Mosque
    National Museum of Cirta
    Bab El Kantara Bridge
    Sidi Rached Viaduct
  8. Day 8

    Djemila to Setif

    Head to Djemila, one of Algeria's most important Roman sites, perched on a hilltop 900 metres above sea level. The ruins show how Roman planning adapted to mountain terrain, with remains of houses, forum, temples, basilica and triumphal arches visible throughout. The site museum holds intricate mosaics covering the walls. Later you drive to Setif to visit the museum there with exceptional Roman mosaics including the 'triumph of Dionysus', then explore the citadel and medina in the new town.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Visit Djemila Roman site
    • Visit Djemila museum with mosaics
    • Visit Setif museum with Roman mosaics
    • Tour Setif citadel and medina
    Landmarks/POIs
    Djemila
  9. Day 9

    Setif to Algiers to Djanet

    Drive back to Algiers (about 4 hours). After checking in and having lunch, you'll head out for an afternoon tour. Visit the beautiful Church of Notre Dame d'Afrique overlooking Bab El Oued, then explore the Kasbah with its narrow cobbled streets and Ottoman-period houses, palaces and mosques. You'll see Bastion 23 Palace (actually three palaces combined) on the seafront with secret rooms, and the imposing 92-meter Monument to the Martyrs overlooking the city. If you're not continuing to the southern part of the tour, this is where you and your current tour leader part ways. That evening, you fly to Djanet in the heart of the Sahara, then take a 20-minute drive to your hotel.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Visit Church of Notre Dame d'Afrique
    • Explore Kasbah (old city)
    • Visit Bastion 23 Palace
    Landmarks/POIs
    Church of Notre Dame d'Afrique
    Kasbah
    Bastion 23 Palace
    Monument to the Martyrs
  10. Day 10

    Djanet to Tadrart Desert Camp

    After breakfast, head into the Sahara in a convoy of 4WD vehicles (maximum three passengers plus driver per car). The first 120 kilometres are on paved roads, then 80 kilometres off-road through rocky hills toward El Biredj Oued Canyon. You'll travel far from modern pressures with no mobile phone distractions. Set up camp at Tadrart entrance and enjoy Tuareg mint tea around a campfire before taking a short walk to find a sunset spot. Dinner is freshly cooked by the crew back at camp. You'll sleep in dome tents with provided mattresses (bring your own sleeping bag), with a communal dining area and separate toilet tent.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Freshly cooked by camp crew)

    Included Activities

    • 4WD desert drive through El Biredj Oued Canyon
    • Tuareg mint tea experience
    • Short sunset walk
    Landmarks/POIs
    El Biredj Oued Canyon
    Tadrart
  11. Day 11

    Markawandi

    Start around sunrise with tea or coffee and breakfast of bread, butter, jams and cheese. While camp breaks down, head out for a walk exploring Oued El Biredj valley and Tadrart's 'rock forests' of eroded sandstone pillars. Today involves less driving as you explore by 4WD and on foot, focusing on wonderfully preserved rock art paintings and engravings showing hunting scenes, cattle and wild animals. Over 15,000 paintings have been identified in this area. You move camp to the high sand dunes of Markawandi for the evening. Dinner is a three-course meal: soup starter, couscous or pasta with vegetables and meat (usually lamb stew or chicken), bread cooked the traditional Tuareg way on hot coals under sand, then seasonal fruit, mint tea or coffee, dates and a cookie.

    Meals
    Breakfast (Bread, butter, jams and cheese), Lunch, Dinner (Three courses: soup, main of couscous/pasta/rice with vegetables and meat dish (lamb stew or chicken) with traditional Tuareg bread cooked on hot coals under sand, seasonal fruit, mint tea or coffee, dates and cookie)

    Included Activities

    • Walk and explore Oued El Biredj valley and rock formations
    • Explore rock art paintings and engravings
    Landmarks/POIs
    Oued El Biredj
    Markawandi
  12. Day 12

    Markawandi to Tin Koukak

    Continue deeper into the Sahara to the end of El Biredj where high orange-coloured sand dunes of Moul El Naga appear like a photographer's dream with sharp, shaded forms. Drive through spectacular wind-sculptured arches (lunch stop) and head into Tin Koukak region where you might spot ancient rock art, wild camels and gazelles. Set up camp at Tin Koukak with spectacular sunsets against vast sand dunes and some of the clearest night skies imaginable.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch under wind-sculptured arches), Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Drive through wind-sculptured arches
    • View ancient rock art
    • Wildlife spotting (wild camels and gazelles)
    • Sunset viewing at Tin Koukak
    Landmarks/POIs
    Moul El Naga
    Tin Koukak
  13. Day 13

    Tin Koukak to Djaren Canyon

    There's an optional early morning walk around Tin Koukak to view rock art (a couple of hours) to avoid the midday heat, or you can use a 4WD vehicle instead. Afterwards, drive back toward Djanet with scenic stops along the way. Lunch is at Oued Tlafzo. You then enter Djaren canyon, which has one of the highest concentrations of rock art in this part of Algeria with over 70 recorded locations showing paintings and engravings. Visit the best rock art selections before setting up camp for the night in this atmospheric canyon.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Oued Tlafzo), Dinner

    Included Activities

    • Visit rock art locations in Djaren canyon

    Optional Activities

    • Early morning walk to visit rock art around Tin Koukak (couple of hours, 4WD vehicles available for those not wishing to walk)
    Landmarks/POIs
    Djaren Canyon
    Oued Tlafzo
  14. Day 14

    Djaren Canyon to Tekoubaouine

    After breakfast, pack up and drive directly back to Tenere Village Hotel in Djanet. Day use rooms are available to shower and freshen up, with WiFi at reception to check messages. Lunch at the hotel isn't included. In the afternoon, head one hour north of Djanet to explore Timrass, a dramatic area of rocks protruding from desert sand with more rock art. Continue to Tekoubaouine landscapes with a great sunset spot among dunes, hills and rock formations. Camp for your last night in the desert with fresh supplies the cook picked up in Djanet for a delicious final camping dinner.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner (Delicious last camping dinner with fresh supplies from Djanet)

    Included Activities

    • Explore Timrass rock art
    • Sunset viewing at Tekoubaouine
    Landmarks/POIs
    Timrass
    Tekoubaouine
  15. Day 15

    Tekoubaouine to Djanet

    Morning brings a walk to explore more ancient rock art. You'll visit Erg Admer, set amongst a sea of vast towering sand dunes, then head back toward Djanet stopping for lunch at the crying cows engravings, an elaborate ancient engraving depicting cattle. After a short drive back to Tenere Village Hotel, day use rooms are available to freshen up and shower. The afternoon is free to head into Djanet or rest at the hotel. For your last evening, you have the option to join the group for dinner at a local restaurant or at the hotel to celebrate together. Late that night, you drive to Djanet airport, departing around 11pm for your night flight back to Algiers.

    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at crying cows engravings)

    Included Activities

    • Morning walk and rock art exploration
    • Visit Erg Admer sand dunes

    Optional Activities

    • Dinner at local restaurant or hotel to celebrate last night
    Landmarks/POIs
    Erg Admer
    Crying Cows Engravings
  16. Day 16

    Djanet to Algiers

    An early morning flight takes you back to Algiers, arriving around 6am (flight timing subject to change; the current schedule includes a stop at Tamanrasset). You arrive at Houari Boumediene International Airport (ALG) where the tour concludes.

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Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

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16 to 85 years old

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Customer Reviews

  • Barrie
    · September 8th, 2025
    This trip takes you deep into Botswana with Chobe, Saudi and Okavango yielding many up close animal sightings. It does include 5 nights of rough camping and most transportation is in a 12 passenger open sided jeep so be prepared to get windswept and dusty. Our guide, Phenyu, was outstanding in that he was exceptionally knowledgeable about the wildlife and attentive to the needs of his group. The one unresolved issue we had was with Explore and their subcontracted company Wilderness Dawning. We were switched to a different houseboat the day before before we were to arrive there. The new houseboat was promised to be an upgrade but was actually, at best, a 2 star experience with some rooms not having proper bathrooms. The new boat added 2 additional hours to an already 11 hour trip to Victoria Falls in that open sided jeep. Under protest, the company picked up one dinner and provided a hot van for part of the drive and has promised compensation which has yet to materialize.
    Show more
  • Roberto
    · July 20th, 2025
    Great tour great guide Omar and Nurdi the driver. For 20 days we became like family. Omar guide us through the country with interest and always made traveling smooth. Its hard to travel from June to August for the intense heat but we had a great time. Thanks to the guide and driver.
    Show more
  • Joanne
    · June 13th, 2025
    Such a great trip, Mariam was one of the best guides we've had on a tour, so knowledgeable, patient and kind. It's a very full on tour but totally worth it.
    Show more

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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

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What our customers ask about this tour

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All questions
  • K

    Kate

    Asked on May 1st, 2025

    I've got a window of opportunity to be in Algeria for close to a month but unfortunately, the time is not compatible with your scheduled departures of January 31 or March 20. My timeline is between February 20 and March 18. That said, your itinerary looks fantastic. Is there any possibility of making it a private tour for 16 days within that timeline? If so, what would be the approximate cost?

    Price / Availability
    Tour Details
    • Explore!OperatorWritten May 2025

      We appreciate you sharing your travel plans with us and will be happy to answer any questions you may have. I am really sorry we would not be able to offer this trip as a private trip. Of course, if you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us again via this chat.

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From
NZ $7,860 per person

Price based on Cheapest Room

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Select Date

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2025

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
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2026

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Apr
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Jul
Aug
Sep
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Dec

2027

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
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1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Who is travelling?

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Good to Know

Tour ID: 310011

  • Currency
    د.ج
    Algerian Dinar
    Algeria
  • Plugs & Adapters

    As a traveler from New Zealand you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F.

    Type C
    Algeria
    Type E
    Algeria
    Type F
    Algeria
  • Vaccines
    • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
    • Typhoid - Recommended for Algeria. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Hepatitis A - Recommended for Algeria. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Tuberculosis - Recommended for Algeria. Ideally 3 months before travel.
    • Hepatitis B - Recommended for Algeria. Ideally 2 months before travel.
    • Rabies - Recommended for Algeria. Ideally 1 month before travel.
    • Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an infected area for Algeria. Ideally 10 days before travel.
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before January 18th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after January 18th, 2026, a minimum payment of 10% is required to confirm your booking with Explore!. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 75 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Explore! will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Explore!" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.

Who is travelling?

AdultsAges 18 or above

2

ChildrenUnder 18

0

Select departure month

2025

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
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Dec

2026

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Feb
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Apr
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Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

2027

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Feb
Mar
Apr
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