Niger-Chad Trans-Sahara Expedition: From Niamey to N’Djamena – 14 Days
| Duration | 14 Days / 13 Nights |
|---|---|
| Countries | Niger & Chad — Ultimate Trans-Sahara Crossing |
| Price From | $6,995 USD per person |
| Tour Style | Expedition, Desert Adventure, Cultural Discovery |
| Data Source | BTP Adventure + YPT 2026 — combined Niger-Chad trans-Sahara itinerary |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1-2: Niamey to Agadez — The Sahara Gateway
Arrive in Niamey, Niger’s capital on the Niger River. Day 1: city exploration — Grand Mosque, National Museum, artisan markets. Day 2: fly to Agadez, the legendary Sahara trading city. Explore the 16th-century Grand Mosque with its towering mud minaret, the bustling camel market, and the maze-like old town. Meet your Tuareg guides and prepare for the desert crossing.
Day 3-4: Aïr Massif — Mountains of the Sahara
Two days 4WD expedition into the Aïr Massif. Visit the Timia oasis with its guelta and date palm groves. Explore the ruins of Assodé, the 18th-century Tuareg capital. Marvel at the blue marble formations of Kogo Arakao. Discover Neolithic rock engravings of giraffes and elephants — testament to the Sahara’s green past. Camp in the desert, dining under the vast Saharan sky.
Day 5-6: Ténéré Desert — The Great Sand Sea
Cross the legendary Ténéré Desert, one of the most remote regions on Earth. Two days of driving through golden dunes, gravel plains, and infinite horizons. Stop at ancient wells on the trans-Saharan caravan routes — Achegour and the oasis of Dirkou. Encounter camel caravans still transporting salt from Bilma. The solitude and scale of the Ténéré is humbling — some of the darkest night skies on the planet.
Day 7: Bilma — The Salt Oasis
Arrive at Bilma, the most famous of the Sahara’s salt oases. For over a millennium, Bilma’s salt pans have produced the slabs traded across West Africa. Watch traditional salt-cutting, explore the oasis town, and visit the historic ksar (fortified village). Learn about the Kanuri and Tubu cultures that have mastered this harsh environment.
Day 8-9: Bilma to Chad Border — Eastern Sahara
Two days crossing the eastern Sahara from Niger into Chad. This rarely-traveled route passes through landscapes of stark beauty — volcanic remnants, sand seas, and rocky plateaus. Border formalities at a remote crossing. Enter Chad on Day 9, arriving in the Tibesti foothills. First encounters with Tubu nomads, among the Sahara’s most resilient desert dwellers.
Day 10: Tibesti Foothills — Emi Koussi Views
Explore the southern reaches of the Tibesti Mountains, home to Emi Koussi (3,445m), the highest peak in the Sahara and a massive shield volcano. Visit Tubu encampments to learn about their culture — camel herding, silver jewelry, and navigation by stars. The Tibesti is one of the Sahara’s least-visited regions, and its raw volcanic landscapes are breathtaking. Camp in the Tibesti foothills.
Day 11: Ennedi Massif — Sandstone Wonders of Chad
Cross from the Tibesti region to the Ennedi Massif. Enter Chad’s most spectacular landscape: a labyrinth of sandstone towers, arches, and pinnacles sculpted by millions of years of erosion. Visit the Aloba Arch, the world’s largest natural arch at 120m. Descend into the Guelta d’Archeï canyon to see the Sahara’s surviving population of desert crocodiles. Camp in the Ennedi.
Day 12: Ennedi — Rock Art & The Final Wilderness
Full day exploring the Ennedi’s extraordinary rock art — 8,000 years of human history recorded on sandstone walls. Visit the “Niola Doa” panels with their mysterious ornate figures. Explore the “Sandstone Cathedral” formations. Final night camping in the Ennedi, savoring the profound silence and star-filled sky of the Sahara.
Day 13: Ennedi to N’Djamena — Return to Civilization
Drive from the Ennedi to Fada for the flight to N’Djamena. Hot shower, comfortable bed, and a celebratory farewell dinner in Chad’s capital. Reflect on the journey: two countries, four of the Sahara’s most iconic regions, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Day 14: N’Djamena — Departure
Morning exploration of N’Djamena’s markets for Tuareg and Tubu crafts. Transfer to the airport for departure. Take home the ultimate Sahara achievement: a trans-Saharan expedition from the Niger River to Lake Chad, crossing the Ténéré, Tibesti, and Ennedi — three of the world’s most remote and spectacular desert landscapes.
What’s Included
• 13 nights (5 hotels + 8 desert camping)
• All meals throughout
• Expedition leader (English/French)
• Tuareg & Tubu guides
• 4WD vehicles (3 pax per vehicle + driver)
• Domestic flights (Niamey-Agadez, Fada-N’Djamena)
• Niger & Chad visa assistance
• All camping equipment
• Professional armed security
• All park & site entrance fees
• Airport transfers
What’s Excluded
• International flights
• Niger & Chad visa fees
• Travel insurance (mandatory — must cover remote expedition travel including emergency evacuation)
• Sleeping bag
• Alcoholic beverages
• Tips & personal expenses
• Yellow fever & meningitis vaccinations (required)
