Today we arrive in Algiers and transfer to our hotel.

Algiers, originally called Al-Jaza'ir, is built into the Sahel hills and runs for ten miles along the Bay of Algiers, located on the Mediterranean coast. This coastal location made it perfect for the Barbary pirate stronghold it would become in 1529, when the pirate "Redbeard" expelled the Spanish from the island of Penon, gaining control of the city for the Ottoman Empire.

Overnight in Algiers. Meal plan: Dinner, if required.

Algiers is quite an attractive city. The old town, known as the Kasbah, is a maze of pretty small alleys and whitewashed houses. There are quite a few nice boulevards dating back from the days of the French who come in Algiers in 1830 and stayed for 130 years.

This morning we embark on a city tour, including the famous Kasbah built in the early 16th century as an Ottoman Fort and palace of the local ruler. We also visit the Bardo Museum, containing ancient sculptures and mosaics; and the Museum of Islamic Art, followed by the Museum of Folk Art, all located within close proximity. Later we visit the Riad al Feth monument and parts of the Ville Nouvelle (new town).

Overnight in Algiers. Hotel El Djazair or similar. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.

Today we travel to the city of Setif, ancient Sitifis, the commercial centre of a region where native textiles and phosphates are manufactured and cereals are grown. Setif was built by the French on the ruins of the Roman town of Sitifis, founded in the 1st century AD. In 1945, more than 100 Europeans were killed in a revolt against French rule; it resulted in a bloody reprisal in which more than 6,000 Muslims died .

From Setif we make a diversion north through attractive hilly farming countryside to Djemila, Arabic for 'pretty town' (a World Heritage Site), considered to be the most outstanding Roman site in Algeria. Situated 900m / 2,950 ft above sea level, Djemila, or Cuicul, with its forum, temples, basilicas, triumphal arches and houses, is an interesting example of Roman town planning adapted to a mountain location. While the site itself is not one of the largest in North Africa, Djemila stands out as one of the best-preserved Roman ruins of North.

Africa and the adjoining museum is virtually packed with the most amazing Roman mosaics.

After spending time in Djemila, we drive onwards to Constantine and the Cirta Hotel. This hotel oozes faded French grandeur but is a bit past its prime. Please be patient with the possibly erratic water supply.

Overnight in Constantine. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.

Constantine is named after Constantine I of the Roman Empire who caused the city to be rebuilt; previously its name had been Cirta. Constantine is believed to be the former capital city of the Numidia, a Berber empire that emerged in the 3rd century BC.

Constantine is set astride a spectacular gorge that splits the city in two. Today we will have a city tour of the old town, the Great Mosque (exterior only), the Kantara Bridge, Constantine Museum and the bridge suspended over the spectacular gorge of Sidi Mcid. We will see the palace of the local Ottoman governor, the Bey from the outside as it is under restoration at this time. We will drive to the highest section of town to the memorial built during French colonial rule for outstanding views of the gorge and the surrounding countryside.

Overnight in Constantine. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.

We start the day with a 2-hour drive to Timgad, Roman Thamugadi (a World Heritage Site), located on the northern slopes of the Aures Atlas Mountains. It was founded as a military colony by the Emperor Trajan in AD 100. Located at the intersection of six roads, the city was walled but not fortified. Originally designed for a population of around 15,000, the city quickly outgrew its original specifications and spilled beyond the grid in a more loosely-organized fashion. With its square enclosure and orthogonal design based on the cardo and decumanus, the two perpendicular routes running through the city, it is an excellent example of Roman town planning. Although only partly excavated, Timgad is spectacular in both its scale and its setting. The setting is nice and with an altitude of 1038m / 3,400 ft, the climate is great, even in summer.

We continue to Batna, constructed by the French in 1844 as a military camp in order to protect the roads running into the Sahara. We fly back from Batna's modern airport to Algiers. The evening is free to explore Algiers city centre (the center-ville).

Overnight in Algiers. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.

A morning flight takes us deep into the Algerian Sahara and the Touareg town of Djanet. Djanet is the main settlement in the southeastern part of Algeria, but is really not what you would call a town - there are several villages clustered around the same oasis and palmeraie. The setting here is agreeable and the town acts as the jumping off place for our excursions into the Sahara to view the rock paintings of Tassili N'Ajjer.

Upon arrival we are transferred to our simple hotel just outside of town surrounded by the desert. After checking in to the hotel, we will continue onwards to Djanet town to spend time in the village, the palmeraie, the old ruins, small local market and the artisanal.

Overnight in Djanet. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.

We will take two full-day 4X4 excursions into Tassili National Park.

The prehistoric rock paintings of the Tassili N'Ajjer suggest that the Sahara of 6000 BC was a much more hospitable environment, much like the savanna of East Africa. The paintings are spread out along a vast plateau and are said to have been painted over thousands of years.

Today we head in the direction of the labyrinth of Tikoubaouine via the cave paintings of Tilehene with many stops along the way. We picnic in the oasis of Essendilene and visit the oasis in the afternoon. Later we return to the hotel via the dunes of the Admer erg.

Overnight in Djanet. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Tassili n'Ajjer has been called "the world's largest prehistoric art gallery," though it's not just a spectacular lesson in rock art history and human development. Wandering through the strange lunar landscape of plateaux and ‘stone forests' you might also glimpse wildlife, such as the caracal, or even a golden eagle resting on its southerly migration.

Vegetation in the Tassili National Park is mostly woodland made up of endemic, endangered plant species, namely Saharan Myrtle and Saharan cypress. Due to the growth of endangered species along with the great archeological significance of the area, the National Park has been declared a World Heritage Site.

Today's excursion in the Admer Erg also takes us to the engraving of the "Cow that Cries" (8000 BC). Later we have an evening meal on the desert dunes.

Overnight in Djanet. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Depending upon our flight schedule, there may be time for a relaxed morning in the grounds of our hotel surrounded by awesome Saharan landscape on all sides. Later we drive a short distance to the airport for our flight back to Algiers. Evening free in Algiers.

Overnight in Algiers. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.

Today we drive west of Algiers to the Roman ruins at Tipasa, set on the shores of the Mediterranean, Cherchell, the former Roman port of Caesarea. On the way, we will visit the ancient 'Christian' tomb set on a hill with wonderful views over the surrounding countryside. The tomb predates the Christian era and probably belongs to the pre-Roman era of the Numidian rulers.

We continue to Tipasa, originally a Phoenician trading post but a Roman colony in the 2nd century AD onwards. Later it became one of the most important Christian settlements in Northern Africa. With the coming of the Vandals and their Arian Christianity in 430, most of the inhabitants fled to Spain. According to legend, the inhabitants had their tongues cut out, but by a miracle they could still speak. With the coming of the Arabs in the 7th century, there was so little left that they called the place Tefassad, meaning "badly damaged". One the most interesting sites at Tipasa is the mausoleum built in the 5th century where there are 14 places for sarcophagi. The forum is well preserved and is the oldest part of the ruin area. The museum is small but full of valuable mosaics taken from the Basilica dating back to 1st century AD.

We continue to Cherchell, the former Roman port of Caesarea, where we will visit the museum with some excellent statues carved in the Greek style. We return to Algiers later in the afternoon.

Overnight in Algiers. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.

Departure from Algiers.

This tour can connect with our tour of MOROCCO or TUNISIA.

BON VOYAGE ! Meal plan: Breakfast.