Algeria: Ancient Sahara

$ 3,699.00

About this trip

Algeria: The Real Sahara, Roman Cities & Africa’s Biggest Country

Almost nobody travels to Algeria. That’s exactly why we’re going. Africa’s largest country, nearly four times the size of France, with Roman cities to rival Italy and the wildest Sahara scenery on the planet. Seven days. Two domestic flights. Three UNESCO Roman sites. Two nights deep in the real desert with Tuareg guides. This is your invitation to be part of it.

Highlights

🏜 The Real Sahara – Fly deep south to Djanet and camp among dunes, rock arches and prehistoric art in the Tassili n’Ajjer region

🏛 Three UNESCO Roman Cities – Timgad in the desert, Djemila in the mountains, Tipaza by the sea. Some of the best-preserved ruins outside Italy, with barely a tourist in sight

🌉 Constantine – The cliff-top city suspended above the Rhumel Gorge, connected by dizzying bridges

🕌 Algiers & the Casbah – French boulevards, Ottoman lanes and the UNESCO-listed old city climbing above the Mediterranean

⛺ Desert Camping with Tuareg Guides – Campfire dinners, strong tea and a night sky with zero light pollution

✈️ Midnight Flights Across Africa’s Biggest Country – Red-eye missions that get us further than any tour bus ever could

Trip Facts

Tour Date: January 17 – 23, 2027
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
Arrival City: Algiers, Algeria
Departure City: Algiers, Algeria
Price: $3,699

7 days

Adventure Level

Rated 4 out of 5 based on 5 customer ratings

Tour Date

January 17 - 23, 2027
Arrival City

Algiers, Algeria
Departure City

Algiers, Algeria
Included

All National Park Entrance Fees

All Breakfasts

Project Donation

All Accommodation

All Ground Transportation

Regional Flights
Not Included

Lunch and Dinners

International Airfare

Travel Insurance

Visas

🏜️ The Timeless Sahara of Djanet

Towering sandstone arches, endless golden dunes, and ancient rock art make Djanet one of the Sahara’s greatest treasures. We’ll wander through landscapes that feel more like another planet than Earth—where every sunrise and sunset somehow tops the last.
🌉 The Bridges of Constantine

We’ll cross soaring bridges, wander through historic streets, and take in breathtaking views around every corner in a place unlike anywhere else in the country.
🌊 Discover the Charm of Algiers

With its whitewashed buildings, bustling cafés, and sweeping Mediterranean views, Algiers is where North African, Ottoman, and French influences come together. We’ll wander through historic streets, soak up the atmosphere, and experience the vibrant heart of modern Algeria.
🏛️ The Mountain Ruins of Djemila

Hidden in the hills of northern Algeria, Djemila is a stunning Roman city where crumbling temples, grand arches, and intricate mosaics tell stories from nearly 2,000 years ago. It’s one of those places that quietly leaves a lasting impression.

Day 1 – Arrival in Algiers

Welcome to North Africa's Best-Kept Secret

Arrive at your leisure. Cheap, easy connections from Paris, Istanbul, Dubai, Frankfurt and Tunis make this simple.

Your first surprise: Algiers feels more southern Europe than the North Africa you're picturing. Grand boulevards, Ottoman lanes, old cafes and the Mediterranean right below the city. Once everyone's checked in, we head out for a welcome dinner and an easy evening stroll. Nothing serious. Just the crew coming together.

🏨 Sleep: Algiers

Day 2 – Algiers & the Night Flight South

Palaces & Mosques

The Casbah, Then Deep Into the Sahara

Today we explore Algiers properly. We wander the Casbah, the UNESCO-listed old city stacked steeply above the harbour. It's a maze of tiny streets, hidden courtyards and old mosques, and getting a little lost is half the fun. We also take in the Martyrs' Memorial towering over the city and the grand colonial architecture of the centre.

Then it gets interesting. Dinner, bags, airport. Just after 11pm we fly from the Mediterranean coast all the way to Djanet in the far southeastern Sahara. We land in the early hours and crash at our hotel.

🏨 Sleep: Djanet

Day 3 – Into the Real Sahara

Exploring Ancient Sahara

This morning we fly south into the Sahara to Ghardaïa, one of Algeria’s greatest hidden gems. Built almost a thousand years ago by the Mozabites, the UNESCO-listed M’Zab Valley is unlike anywhere else on Earth. The striking desert architecture, maze-like alleyways, ancient mosques and bustling markets create a city that feels frozen in time. We’ll spend the day exploring its unique culture, learning about local traditions and soaking up an atmosphere that has inspired architects from around the world. This is one of those places that almost nobody has heard of, yet nobody forgets.

🏨 Sleep: Ghardaïa

Day 4 – Sahara Day Two & the Midnight Flight

Ghardaia

One last day in Ghardaïa before catching the only weekly flight to Constantine. Miss this flight and you’re looking at a seriously long drive… so let’s not. We’ll squeeze in more viewpoints, markets and hidden corners before heading north. Tomorrow we wake up in one of Africa’s wildest cities, balanced on giant cliffs with suspension bridges hanging over enormous gorges. Seriously… it’s ridiculous.

🏨 Sleep: Constantine

Day 5 – Timgad Roman Ruins

A 2,000-Year-Old City Swallowed by Sand

Late start today, we've earned it. Mid-morning we head south to Timgad, one of the best-preserved Roman cities anywhere in the world.

Founded as a military colony nearly 2,000 years ago, it grew into a full city of paved streets, temples, baths, a library and a huge theatre before the desert slowly buried and preserved it. Today you walk the original Roman streets and pass under the Arch of Trajan with almost nobody else around. No Pompeii crowds. Just you and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Back to Constantine for dinner and a proper night's sleep.

🏨 Sleep: Constantine

Day 6 – Constantine & Djemila

Cliff Cities, Mountain Ruins & the Road Back to the Coast

Constantine might be the most dramatic city in Africa. Built across sheer cliffs above the Rhumel Gorge, its districts are stitched together by bridges old and new, some of them genuinely knee-wobbling. We explore the centre and walk the bridges before hitting the road.

Next stop: Djemila. Yes, more Roman ruins, but nothing like Timgad. This one sits in green mountain hills, with temples, arches and mosaics spread across the slopes. Another UNESCO site and one of the finest Roman towns in the Mediterranean world.

Then it's road trip time: three and a half hours back to Algiers, from cliff-top city to mountain ruins to the Mediterranean coast in one day.

🏨 Sleep: Algiers

Day 7 – Tipaza & Onward

Roman Ruins by the Sea, Then Home

One final UNESCO site to complete the set. Tipaza sits right on the Mediterranean an hour west of Algiers, its basilicas, baths and amphitheatre scattered among pine trees beside the sea. Timgad was the desert city, Djemila the mountain city. Tipaza is Rome on the beach.

We also stop at the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania before heading back to the airport for evening flights out.

Seven days ago most of the group couldn't name three places in Algeria. Now you've slept in the Sahara, crossed the country twice by night flight and walked three Roman cities almost alone. Not a bad week.

Algeria: Ancient Sahara