Friday 13^th January – Algiers

• Arrival at your convenience into into Algiers – a dazzling cultural mecca which is also the largest and the capital city of Algeria.
• Pre-tour meeting and get-together with YPT guide and other travellers at the lobby of Hotel Samir at 6:00pm to go over the tour itinerary and plans for the coming days.
• Dinner at Restaurant Arabescue- one of the top Syrian/Palestinian restaurants in Algeria famous for its falafel, meat kebab and other Middle Eastern delicacies.
• Visit some of the famous bars, discotheques and dance halls around while exploring the nightlife of Algiers.
• Overnight stay at Hotel Samir- a hotel smack right in the middle of the city and a short walk away from metro stations, restaurants, museums and other tourist attractions.

Saturday 14th January – Algiers

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel before heading out for a full day tour of the city. This is mostly a walking tour. Don’t forget to wear light clothing and comfortable walking shoes or sandals. The narrow streets of Algiers make travelling by car difficult at times.
• Visit the Casbah of Algiers- a UNESCO World Heritage Site and repository of Algerian culture and history. The remains of the citadel, old mosques and Ottoman-era palaces will bring you back to the ‘glory days’ of ancient Algeria.
• Stop by the Martyr’s Square- this historical landmark was built in honour of the more than 1.5 million people who died during Algeria’s War of Independence.
• Explore the Notre Dame d’Afrique (Our Lady of Africa)- opened in 1872, this iconic house of worship sits atop a hill overlooking the Bay of Algiers and welcomes more than 100,000 Christian and Muslim pilgrims every year.
• Visit the Palais des Rais- a shining symbol of Moorish architecture otherwise known as Bastion 23. One of the last remnants of the Ottoman rule.
• Stop by the Dar Khedaoudj el Amia – built in 1570, this ancient Ottoman palace houses the National Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions. Algerian rugs, pottery, jewellery and traditional items of great cultural and historical significance are displayed at the museum.
• Lunch at the Lalla Mina – a restaurant best-known for preparing dishes in the most traditional Algerian way. Famous for its couscous, harira soup, lamb brochettes, among other dishes.

Afternoon

• Stroll around downtown Algiers, walk along the baywalk facing the Bay of Algiers, with a stop at a famous and beloved relic of French rule in Algeria- Grand Poste or Central Post Office.
• Walk around and along La Rue Didouche Mourad, where some of the finest shops and cafes in Algeria can be found.
• Take and enjoy a ride in the Algiers Subway (Metro) – the second metro system to open in Africa. Operations started in 2011 after long delays due to financial difficulties and security issues.
• Visit the National Museum of Antiquities and ancient Islamic art- the oldest museum in Algeria and Africa. Holds a large collection of objects related to Algeria and Rome.
• Ride a cable car to the Museum of Fine Arts- a huge collection of the finest Algerian artworks and European paintings that date back to the 14th to 20th centuries is waiting for you there.
• Dinner at Caracoyo restaurant- an upscale dining spot serving some of the finest Algerian dishes and wines.
• Overnight stay at the Hotel Samir.

Sunday 15th January – Algiers – Djémila – Constantine

Morning

• Breakfast and check-out from the hotel. The adventure starts with a three-hour ride to the picturesque mountain village of Djemilla, located northeast of Algiers. Be sure to bring your camera as there are many photo opportunities along the way.
• Visit to the Djemila Roman ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the best-preserved Roman temples, basilicas, arches and streets in North Africa can be found. For starters, Algeria was part of the Roman Empire in the 160 BC to 430.
• Visit the Djemila Museum to have a further look at history from that era and to see some of the archaeological wonders/relics dug out from the site and nearby areas.

Afternoon

• Lunch at a local restaurant nearby.
• Another drive down Algeria’s iconic highways, this time to the city of Constantine, Algeria’s 3^rd largest city and commercial capital of the country’s eastern region.
• Dinner at Igherssan Restaurant- a dining spot famous for its seafood and cocktails. Visitors to the restaurant are also treated to stunning night views of Mellah Slimane Bridge and Constantine’s famous cliffs.
• Explore and enjoy Constantine’s low-key, yet amazing nightlife
• Overnight stay at a hotel in Constantine.

Monday 16th January – Constantine – Bechar

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel before a full day tour of Constantine, a place also known as the City of Bridges.
• Visit the Ahmed Bey Palace- one of the finest Ottoman-era buildings in Algeria. A majestic palace filled with courtyards, gardens and orchards. Expensive tiles from Algeria and France decorate the building.
• Tour the iconic Pont de Sidi M’Cid- a 164 m suspension bridge across the Rhummel River. Built by the French and highest bridge in the world from 1912 to 1929.
• Stop by the Monument aux Morts, – a memorial which honours the city’s dead from World War I. More than 173,000 Algerians fought in World War I under the banner of France, with many of them taking part in the Battle of Verdun and other well-known battles of the war. More than 36,000 of these Algerian soldiers perished during the war.
• Visit and walk across the Pont Sidi Rached- this 447 m road viaduct with 27 arches runs across the Rhummel gorges and connects the Coudiat district (city centre). It was the highest masonry bridge in the world when it was completed in 1912.
• Tour the Casbah of Constantine- a medieval fortress which played an important role in Constantine’s history. Several Ottoman-era palaces are located within the fortress.

Afternoon

• Lunch at El Khaimah- one of the top restaurants in Algeria, known for its excellent service and food. The restaurant offers a wide selection of local wines and dishes. Its Méchoui or spit-roasted lamb is among the best you will ever find in Algeria.
• Visit the Museum of Cirta- a repository of stunning archaeological finds from Cirta and the ancient Roman city of Tiddis. These include a terracotta figure from an ancient tomb and a beautifully-carved marble bust of a woman often referred to as the ‘Beauty of Djemila’.
• Fly to the city of Bechar in northwestern Algeria. The city is famous for previously hosting a French Foreign Legion post.
• Arrival at a hotel in Bechar.
• Dinner at a restaurant that offers a large serving of Algerian flatbreads and other local culinary delights.
• Explore the nightlife and entertainment spots around the city.
• Overnight stay at the hotel.

Tuesday 17^th January – Bechar – Taghit

Morning

• Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a two-hour drive to the town of Taghit – this was the site of the 1903 Battle of Taghit where a small band of French soldiers held against an attacking force of more than 4,000 Zayanes Berbers.
• Visit the Taghit Rock Engravings – the prehistoric (Neolithic) rock engravings of humans and animals that date back to more than 5,000 years.
• Stop by the Old Citadel – a medieval fortress with old traditional houses inside.
• Walk through the ancient world of white-washed buildings, palm groves, minarets and local markets.

Afternoon

• Lunch of Algerian favourites inside the oasis town.
• Climb up into the tallest and largest sand dunes in Algeria, some of them as high as 200 meters. Atop these sand mountains, you will experience one of the most incredible sunsets in the world.
• Another adventure trip to the magical desert town of Timimoun. The 465-mile ride takes for hours or more. Take the time to stop and take pictures of the breathtaking sceneries along the way.
• Dinner at a local restaurant and transfer to a hotel for an overnight stay in the town.

Wednesday 18th January – Taghit – Timimoun

Morning

• Breakfast and check out of hotel for a full day tour of the town. Timimoun is often described as one of the most enchanting sides of Algeria.
• Explore the many red mud buildings around the town area

Afternoon

• Further visit ancient and historic villages spread across the Algerian Sahara with lunch on the way.
• Dinner at the Restaurant E Rahma, a dining spot famous for its local cuisine.
• Return and overnight stay at the hotel.

Thursday 19th January – Timimoun

Morning

• Breakfast and begin a full tour of Timimoun.

Afternoon

• Lunch and continue tour
• Dinner and overnight in Timimoun

Friday 20th January – Timimoun – Oran

• Breakfast, check out and board our morning flight to Oran – the second most important and largest city in Algeria. This coastal city is also famous for being one of the landing points for Anglo-British forces during Operation Torch, which eventually led to the defeat of Nazi forces in North Africa commanded by General Erwin Rommel, often considered to be one of the best military leaders in World War II.

Afternoon

• Climb up the 429 meter high Djebel Murdjajo to catch some of the most breathtaking sights over Oran.
• Visit to Fort of Santa Cruz- erected by the Spaniards between 1577 and 1604, the fort was the site of famous battles between Ottomans and Moorish forces allied with Spain.
• Drop by the Chapel of Santa Cruz- built in 1850 after a cholera epidemic hit the city. The church is famous for hosting a huge statue of the Virgin Mary and has attracted a large number of Catholic pilgrims and other visitors through the years.
• Dinner at the Ambiance La Villa, which ranks among the top ten restaurants in Oran. Be ready for large and extra delicious servings of seafood and other Algerian culinary delights.
• Return and overnight stay at hotel.

Saturday 21st January – Oran

Morning

• Stop by the Place d’Armes- an old French military arsenal.
• Visit the Regional Theater of Oran- opened in 1907 as the Oran Opera. Many of the most important national theatrical works were shown from this French colonial building.
• Drop by the Church of Sacre Coeur- known in English as the Sacred Heart of Oran. A historic Catholic church well-known for its colorful mosaics.
• Visit the Grande Poste – a landmark that is always present in countries and cities formerly ruled by the French such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam, and Phnom Penh in Cambodia to name a few.
• Walk along the Front De Mer Oran (Oran Seafront).
• Visit the historic palace built by Muhammad Bey the Great that dates back to the 18th century. A courtyard, barracks, guard towers and other facilities are located within the 5.6-hectare property, which has been categorised as a national heritage.

Afternoon

• Farewell lunch at the Restaurant Latifa, an upscale, top-rated and family-style restaurant well-known for serving some of the best local and international cuisine in that part of Algeria.
• Tour concludes with airport drop-off arranged according to your flight details – YPT is also able to arrange post-tour accommodation or advice for flights.
• Group members apart of our Mauritania Iron Ore Train Tour board a flight to Nouakchott – flight not included in tour price

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