Algeria · UNESCO Heritage Sites

7-Day Saoura Tour in Algeria with M'Zab Valley and Taghit

7 Days Round trip from Algiers Province Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Visit Notre Dame d'Afrique, the Palais des Rais, and French colonial landmarks in Algiers
02 Explore the UNESCO World Heritage region of the M'Zab Valley in Ghardaia
03 Wander traditional marketplaces, mosques, and historic streets rich in local culture
04 Discover fossils, ancient palaces, and oasis towns including Menia and Beni Abbas
05 Experience camel riding, prehistoric rock drawings, and the dunes of Taghit

Embark on a 7-day journey through the Saoura region, from the historic landmarks of Algiers to the oasis towns and desert landscapes of southern Algeria. Explore the UNESCO-listed M'Zab Valley in Ghardaia, discover ancient palaces, museums, fossils, and traditional architecture in Menia, Timimoune, and Beni Abbas, and experience Taghit, known as the "pearl of the Sahara." Along the way, enjoy local culture, religious monuments, marketplaces, camel riding, prehistoric drawings, and beautiful oasis scenery.

Visitors will experience camel riding, and you will also visit prehistoric drawings and the lake, which lies in the middle of a wonderful oasis.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 7 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Algiers, Bechar, Ghardaia, Taghit

Languages Arabic, English, French, Italian, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Algiers and City Discovery

Arrive in Algiers and transfer to your hotel for a two-night stay. Depending on your arrival time, take a city tour to visit sites such as Notre Dame d'Afrique, the French colonial architecture, and the Palais des Rais. If you arrive early, you will visit the Kasbah in the afternoon.

Day 02

Journey to Ghardaia and the M'Zab Valley

Depending on your departure flight to Ghardaia, you will either take a domestic flight back to Algiers or drive via the autoroute. In Algiers, you will transfer to the evening flight to Ghardaia. Ghardaia is in the culturally diverse UNESCO World Heritage region of the M'Zab Valley. You will transfer to your hotel and, if time is available, explore the markets and architecture that are unique to this region.
Step back in time as you enjoy the local customs and culture. Visit the historic cities and sites in the M'Zab Valley. Your guide will take you through traditional marketplaces rich in culture and unique architecture. Spend the day wandering the narrow streets, visiting important religious monuments and mosques, and enjoying the natural beauty found in this oasis region.

Day 03

Menia's Palace, Museum, and Fossils

Depart in the morning for Menia. Once there, visitors can enjoy the old palace, the municipal museum, the Church of San José, the mausoleum of "Pure Foucault," and the lake of migratory birds. You will also see real dinosaur bones that were found in the area.

Day 04

Scenic Drive to Timimoune

In the morning, depart for Timimoune, taking in the beautiful and varied landscape along the way. Visitors will see multiple excellent ksour, most of which are over ten centuries old. You will also see the wonderful old water-sharing technique called "El cougar," alongside the artisanal market and the excellent city gate, "Bab el Soudan."

Day 05

Beni Abbas Oasis to Taghit

In the morning, visitors will see the city of Beni Abbas. On the way, the group will stop by fossils of sea creatures and visit the old ksar of Beni Abbas in the middle of a beautiful oasis. The visit continues with "la Chappelle de pere Foucault," followed by the journey to Taghit, "the pearl of the Sahara," at the end of the day.

Day 06

Taghit Dunes, Oasis, and Prehistoric Art

In Taghit, visit the old ksar and the wonderful big dune. Visitors will experience camel riding, and you will also visit prehistoric drawings and the lake, which lies in the middle of a wonderful oasis.

Day 07