For many, the end of summer heralds the beginning of adventure in the great Algerian Sahara. The country has a vast desert covering more than two-thirds of its surface area and is home to an immense cultural and natural heritage.
The vast expanse of the Sahara and the countless things to discover there sometimes leave those eager to visit it undecided about their choice of destination. The following article provides an overview of the regions and destinations in this sandy paradise
The Gates of the Desert
You can start your visit to the Sahara through its northeastern gate with the discovery of the countless oases in the region, which seem to emerge from the earth as if by enchantment. This region is particularly popular for the town of Bou Saada, the closest oasis to the capital and the last stop before the great desert.
One of the most famous cities in this region is Biskra, a lush and green destination in the heart of the desert. Famous for its dates, grown mainly in Tolga, this is where the delicious variety “Deglet Nour” originates, exported and recognized all over the world.
The Algerian Sahara, at the Heart of Traditions
Heading further south, you will find El Oued, the capital of the Souf. Situated between the Great Eastern Erg and the sand roses, the city stands out for its extraordinary sea of white sand. Its inhabitants, the Sufis, are said to have arrived from Yemen 500 years ago, and they are credited with developing the culture of date palms.
Further west, on the northern edge of the Grand Erg Oriental, Touggourt is the most important town in the Wadi Righ. Once the capital of the Ouled Djellal dynasty, the city is now widely known for its dates and its ksar, with palm-covered streets. You can also see the tombs of the kings in the city’s cemetery, and if you venture a little further south, the lakes Mégarine and Timassine will reveal particularly grand landscapes.
Heading west, you will find the mythical M’Zab Valley, Ghardaïa. This city offers a wonderful lesson in adapting to the Sahara. It is an exceptional representation of the perfect urban model, erected more than 1,000 years ago according to strict rules by a close-knit community, guided by their sole faith to create a haven of peace in the desert.
The Saoura Region
The Saoura region is located in the northwest of the Sahara, with Béchar as its capital. The Saoura is known for its “ksour,” which form traditional villages scattered throughout the region. Often interspersed with a string of lush oases along the banks of a wadi and not far from the Grand Erg Occidental, this sea of sand gives the impression of stretching to infinity. The ksour are also a major asset for the country’s historical, architectural, and cultural heritage, with UNESCO taking a keen interest in rehabilitating some of them.
Among the treasures of the Saoura, we must mention the famous Taghit. It is the most beautiful oasis in the Great Western Erg and perhaps even in the entire Sahara. Not far from Taghit, you should not miss El Kenadsa, the ancient city of coal, and above all Beni Abbes, a lovely oasis whose origins date back to the 11th century.
Tamanrasset and the Great Hoggar
You cannot mention the Algerian Sahara without mentioning Tamanrasset, affectionately called “Tam” by the locals, which is the capital of Hoggar. The city is known for its Ahaggar National Park, which covers 450,000 km² and boasts a rich cultural heritage. A veritable open-air museum, it contains a multitude of rock art engravings of great historical value and archaeological sites dating back a million years.
Once in El Hoggar, take the time to visit the water points and the gueltas, such as the one in Afilal, with the help of local tourist guides. End your day sleeping under the stars. The Assekrem is one of the joys of the region, this mountain of Hoggar rises to more than 2,800 m above sea level.
South of Tamanrasset, on the border with Niger, along the road to In-Guezzam, the Tassili du Hoggar is a large collapsed plateau where erosion has sculpted phantasmagorical shapes in the sandstone and basalt over time, highlighted by the gentle dunes.
Djanet and Tassili N’Ajjer
Sandwiched between the cliffs that protect the Wadi Idjeriou and the Tassili, Djanet is an oasis of gentle and relaxing charm, squeezed for almost its entire length between two black mountain ranges dominated by Mount Timbeur.
In the region, Tassili N’Ajjer Park, located more than 2,000 km southeast of the capital, Algiers, is the largest open-air museum of rock art on the planet. It is a protected and very fragile area, classified as a national park since 1972 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, extending over about 140,000 km². The park is home to many rare plant and animal species.
Tassili is also the land of the Tuaregs, those famous nomads dressed in blue, who defy the world and still roam the great Sahara today, relying solely on the stars and the benevolence of their ancestors to guide them between the dunes and the mirages of the vast desert.
Article updated on 18 October 2024
