Algeria Sahara Express: 7 Days — Algiers, Tipaza Roman Coast & Djanet Tassili Desert

Tour Overview

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1: Arrive Algiers

Airport meet and greet, transfer to hotel in central Algiers. Afternoon at leisure for a first exploration of the “White City” — the French colonial boulevards, the seafront promenade, and the first glimpse of the Casbah cascading down the hillside. Overnight in Algiers.

Day 2: Algiers UNESCO Casbah & Ottoman Heritage

Full day exploring Algiers. Morning: the Casbah (UNESCO World Heritage) — a labyrinth of 1,200 buildings, 50 dead-end streets, Ottoman palaces with hidden courtyards, and the Dar Hassan Pacha (1791) with its remarkable stucco and tile work. This was the setting for the Battle of Algiers, and its atmosphere is thick with history. Visit the Ketchaoua Mosque (1794, converted to a cathedral by the French, reconverted to a mosque in 1962) — symbol of Algeria’s layered identity. Afternoon: the National Museum of Antiquities, the Martyrs’ Memorial, and the Notre Dame d’Afrique Basilica with its panoramic bay views. Evening: dinner in a traditional restaurant in the Bab El Oued district. Overnight in Algiers.

Day 3: Tipaza & Cherchell — Roman Mediterranean

Day trip west along the coast. First stop: the Mausoleum of Mauretania (the “Tomb of the Christian”), a 40m-high circular monument built in 3 BC for the Berber king Juba II and his queen Cleopatra Selene (daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony). The monument blends Berber, Hellenistic, and Roman influences. Continue to Cherchell (Roman Caesarea) — the archaeological museum houses extraordinary Roman mosaics and statuary. Afternoon: Tipaza (UNESCO World Heritage), where Roman temples, forum, and amphitheater stand among wildflowers on the Mediterranean shore. The setting is sublime — ancient columns against turquoise sea, with no crowds. Return to Algiers for overnight.

Day 4: Fly to Djanet — Gateway to Prehistoric Sahara

Morning flight to Djanet, the oasis town in southeastern Algeria near the Libyan border. The flight itself is spectacular — crossing the entire Saharan Atlas and descending into a landscape of sand and rock. Afternoon: orientation walk through Djanet’s palm groves. Visit the local market where Tuareg artisans sell silver jewelry, leather goods, and the distinctive Tuareg cross (the “Cross of Agadez”). Sunset view from the town’s edge as the desert turns gold. Prepare for the next day’s expedition into Tassili. Overnight in Djanet.

Day 5: Tassili n’Ajjer — The Great Prehistoric Gallery

Full-day 4×4 expedition into Tassili n’Ajjer National Park (UNESCO World Heritage). This 72,000 sq km plateau is one of humanity’s most important cultural sites — the world’s largest collection of prehistoric rock art, with 15,000 paintings and engravings spanning 10,000 years. Visit the Tigharghart site, including the famous “Crying Cow” engraving — a poignant depiction from the period when the Sahara was becoming arid and the cattle-herding culture was collapsing. Walk through the “Forest of Rocks,” a landscape of wind-carved sandstone that looks like a Dali painting rendered in stone. The prehistoric artists depicted their world — elephants, giraffes, hippos, and humans engaged in ritual, hunting, and pastoral life — recording the greening and drying of the Sahara. Sunset over the dunes of Tin Merzouga. Overnight in desert camp under the stars.

Day 6: Desert Morning & Return to Algiers

Sunrise in the Sahara — the desert at dawn is a religious experience. After breakfast in camp, drive back to Djanet. Visit the Djanet Museum for context on the rock art you witnessed and the Tuareg culture. Afternoon flight to Algiers. Evening at leisure: farewell dinner at a seafood restaurant on the Algiers waterfront. Overnight in Algiers.

Day 7: Departure

Morning transfer to Algiers Airport. Depart with the rare experience of having stood where prehistoric artists recorded humanity’s first chapters, and where Roman emperors built cities at the edge of their world.

Included

• 6 nights accommodation (hotels + desert camp)
• Daily breakfast + 3 dinners
• Return domestic flights Algiers-Djanet
• 4×4 expedition in Tassili n’Ajjer
• English-speaking guide throughout
• All entrance fees (Casbah, Tipaza, Cherchell, Tassili)
• Desert camping equipment
• Airport transfers

What’s Not Included

• Entrance fees to attractions
• Tour Guide
• Meal (lunch and dinner)
• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses