Algeria

Africa’s largest country lies just a short hop from Europe. The north, with its snow-flecked mountains and stunning coastline, is home to urbane and charismatic cities such as Algiers and Constantine, as well as some of the most magnificent Roman sites in existence including Timgad and Djemila, both vast, perfectly preserved Roman towns with barely another tourist in sight.

EVACUATION

We were planning to spend more time in Sahara before going to Spain and then to Morocco, but after three excellent days in Taghit, the hotel staff told us, that they got orders from the government to close the hotel and evacuate all customers out of Taghit. So next morning we took our non...

TAGHIT (ﺗﺎﻏﻴﺖ)

Our last and also one of the best destinations during our trip was Taghit. It is one of the most beautiful oasis in the entire Sahara, situated in the far west of the Grand Erg Occidental around 95 km south of Bechar. At the last check-point before the town, we got again Gendarmerie...

BOUSSEMGHOUN (بوسمغون)

Ksar Boussemghoun, better known as “Ksar El Asâad”, remains the best-known historic site in the region. Ksar was built for 17 centuries on rugged terrain in an area surrounded by a mountain range. It has a strategic location and it served for caravans and pilgrims. Ksar had...

AÏN OUARKA (عين ورقة)

We made a short stop in a quiet little village Aïn Ouarka located in the heart of the Ksours Mountains in the Western Saharan Atlas. The wetland area with hot springs is known by geologists under the name of Cirque de Aïn Ouarka (a “cirque” or amphitheater-like bowl), it is a...

TIOUT (تيوت)

We have arrived in the late afternoon at the Tiout Oasis, after registration with the local gendarmerie, we have parked behind the gate of Auberge Tiout (1000 DZD / night). The next day the receptionist arranged a local man (1000 DZD / 3 hours) for us, who guided us through the oasis...

AROUND TLEMCEN

Today we drove through narrow and steep roads to explore sights around Tlemcen. Our friend Fethallah brought us to Cascades d’El-Ourit and Grottes de Ain-Fezza. Waterfalls are located seven kilometers from the city in a mountainous area covered with pine trees. Seven stepped...

TLEMCEN (تلمسان‎)

Nice three lanes highway brought us to the Tlemcen. There were waiting for us helpful friends of friends – Amine and Fethallah, who helped us to find a secure parking location and went with us through long registration at the police station. The next morning, we met again and did great...

ORAN (وَهران‎)

After our arrival in Oran, we met Mohamed – a very helpful local, who showed us a great safe parking place (400 DZD / day). Then we have visited few places in the city center and after that checked few clubs (entrance 1000 – 2500 DZD, beer 250 – 500 DZD), probably most friendly was a...

MEDITERRANEAN COAST

It took us all afternoon to get from Beni Haoua to Oran. Today we had escorts from the local Gendarmerie, we have changed the escorts 13 times, so we have lost some time with that and also with our photo stops. Anyway, the drive around the Mediterranean Sea coast was very nice, it was a...

BENI HAOUA (بني حواء)

We drove through mountainous, forested, and very fertile area (fig, olive, wine, apple, plum, almond) to the little coastal town Beni Haoua, as usually, few kilometers before the settlement, there was local Gendarmerie waiting to lead us to the only one resort there Dar El Ikram. After...