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 south to Ghardaia, a saharan city with narrow streets, colourful markets and centuries old architecture.

🏛 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: $3,299
  
  
  
  Is this trip safe?

  Super safe for our destinations. Algiers, Constantine, Tipaza, Timgad and Djemila are super safe to visit. Violent crime against tourists is uncommon, and many visitors comment that locals are welcoming and helpful. 

  HOW ABOUT VISA for ALGERIA?!

  It's all about who you know. And we know the right people! Visa on arrival, for pretty much every nationality. There's some paperwork on your end that we'll deal with via email and whatsapp, but after that, you just show up (and pay the visa fee - $100-$200, depending on nationalities).
  
  Important Note:

  This is Algeria. Domestic flight times can change. Routes can change. Permits can take time. The Sahara does not care about your or our!) spreadsheet.

  We have built the itinerary around the current direct flight schedules, including the late Algiers-to-Djanet flight and the direct Djanet-to-Constantine flight. But some flexibility is part of travelling here. That’s also what makes it interesting.

  For that reason, even after you've signed up, we suggest booking your flights quite late incase we have to move the dates forward or backward 1 day.

Arrive at your leisure on day one. There are cheap and easy flights from places like Paris, Tunis, Istanbul, Frankfurt, Dubai. Super easy to access these days.

On arrival, you'll be surprised! It looks more southern Europe than the image most people have of North Africa. French boulevards, Ottoman lanes, balconies, old cafés and the sea sitting right there beneath the city. Once everyone is checked in, we’ll head out for dinner, and a relaxed stroll. Nothing too organised. Nothing too serious.This is just about getting everyone together, eating too much and beginning the trip properly.

Overnight: Algiers

Today we explore Algiers properly. We’ll head into the Casbah, the UNESCO-listed old city that climbs steeply above the harbour. This place is a maze. I remember it fondly from my first visit. Tiny streets, hidden courtyards, old mosques, Ottoman houses, people selling absolutely everything and plenty of wrong turns.

We’ll also visit the Martyrs’ Memorial, the giant monument overlooking the city, and see some of the grand French colonial buildings around central Algiers. 

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.

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.

LATE START TODAY FOLKS! Today starts slowly. We’re not pretending that landing at 3 AM and waking up at 7 AM is good for anyone. So breakfast is late, pickup is around 10 or 11 AM, and then we head south towards Timgad. Timgad is one of the best-preserved Roman cities anywhere in the world.

The Romans founded it nearly 2,000 years ago as a military colony. Over time it grew into a full city with paved streets, temples, baths, markets, houses, libraries and a huge theatre. Then the desert slowly swallowed it. Which turned out to be quite useful, because the sand helped preserve the city.

Today you can still walk along the original Roman streets, pass beneath the Arch of Trajan and stand inside a theatre that once held thousands of people. And unlike Rome or Pompeii, there won’t be 40,000 tourists bumping into you. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of those places that makes you wonder why Algeria isn’t already full of visitors.

After exploring Timgad, we return to Constantine. Dinner, drinks and a much-needed proper night’s sleep.

Sleep: Constantine (2 nights in the same place, wow!)

Constantine might be the most dramatic city in Africa. The city is built across huge cliffs above the Rhumel Gorge, with bridges connecting different parts of town. Some are old stone bridges. Some are modern. Some look like they were designed by someone who had absolutely no fear of heights. We’ll explore the centre, walk across the bridges and take in the views across the gorge.

Constantine has existed for thousands of years and was once known as Cirta. It later took its current name from the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. After the city tour, we drive to Djemila.

Yes, more Roman ruins. But trust me, this is not just the same thing again. Timgad is wide, open and built on a flat grid. Djemila is completely different. It sits in the mountains, surrounded by green hills, with Roman temples, arches, markets, houses and mosaics spread across the slopes. Its original Roman name was Cuicul, and it became one of North Africa’s wealthiest Roman settlements.

It’s another UNESCO World Heritage Site and is often listed among the best-preserved Roman towns anywhere in the Mediterranean world. After Djemila, we begin the long drive back towards Algiers.

ROAD TRIP TIME! We were gonna fly, but this is cooler. And it's only three and a half hours. But by the time we reach Algiers, we’ll have gone from cliff-top Constantine to a Roman city in the mountains, then all the way back to the Mediterranean coast.

Sleep: Algiers

One final UNESCO site. Because apparently three Roman cities in one week is completely normal. Tipaza sits directly on the Mediterranean, around an hour west of Algiers. The Romans built a coastal settlement here, and the ruins now stretch beside the sea. There are remains of basilicas, villas, baths, streets and an amphitheatre, all surrounded by pine trees and Mediterranean views. It’s completely different from both Timgad and Djemila.

Timgad is the giant desert city. Djemila is the mountain city.

Tipaza is Roman ruins beside the sea.

We’ll also visit the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania, usually just called “the Tomb”, before heading back towards Algiers.

Then it’s airport time. The trip finishes with an evening flight out of Algeria. Probably to Tunisia (cheap and easy). Then you can join us on our Tunisia extension.

Seven days earlier, most of the group probably couldn’t name three places in the country. Now you’ve crossed the Sahara, slept in a desert camp, visited three UNESCO Roman cities and explored two of Africa’s most underrated cities. Not a bad week!