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Algeria Eclipse over the Sahara
Algeria
From
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Esential info
- Packing list
Grade:
Entry Level
Type:
Cultural
Duration:
10 Nights
4 - 12
Group size
Highlights
- Explore the Roman ruins at Hippo Regius, Tiddis, Djémila, Sétif & Timgad
- Journey into desert oasis at Bou Saada
- View the eclipse over the desert
- Experience Algerian hospitality and culture
Algeria is a country of extraordinary scale and contrast. Mediterranean cities give way to Roman ruins, mountain landscapes and palm-filled oases, before the desert begins to take over. For this journey, the landscape itself becomes part of the story — culminating in one of nature's great spectacles.
We begin in Algiers, exploring the Kasbah and the city's layered history, before heading east towards Annaba, Guelma and Constantine. Along the way, Roman Algeria comes vividly into focus: ancient Hippo Regius, the hilltop ruins of Thibilis, the extraordinary city of Tiddis and the remarkably preserved ruins of Djémila and Timgad.
Further south, the landscape changes. The Aurès Mountains rise above deep valleys and abandoned villages, while the oasis towns of Biskra and Bou Saada mark the edge of the Sahara. Here, palms, old medinas and vast horizons replace the Mediterranean.
And then, on 2 August 2027, the journey reaches its defining moment. From Bou Saada, we watch as the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, turning day into twilight for just over five extraordinary minutes. The eclipse is the reason for the journey — but Algeria is what makes it memorable.
Day 1: Arrival in Algiers
Transfer
Breakfast
Dinner
4 star hotel
Arrive in Algiers and begin the journey with a first glimpse of the capital from the heights of the Martyrs' Memorial. Rising above the city, the monument offers a striking introduction to Algiers, with its white buildings spilling down towards the Mediterranean.
From here, continue to the hotel and settle in. Depending on arrival time, there may be an opportunity for a first walk through the city before dinner, an easy introduction to a place where Mediterranean, Arab, Ottoman and French influences meet.
Accommodation Name: Hotel Ralph or similar
Day 2: Algiers city tour - Annaba
Flights
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Today begins in the heart of the old city. The Kasbah (a UNESCO heritage site) is a maze of narrow streets, traditional houses and unexpected viewpoints, built into the hillside above the Mediterranean. It is one of Algiers' most atmospheric neighbourhoods and the perfect place to begin understanding the city's layered past.
Lunch is served in a historic house within the Kasbah before continuing into central Algiers. Emir Abdelkader Square, the elegant Grande Poste and the former Saint Charles Church each reveal a different chapter of the city's history.
Later in the afternoon, transfer to the airport for the short flight east to Annaba. On arrival, settle in before dinner in the city.
Accommodation Name: Hotel Sabri or similar
Day 3: Annaba - Constantine
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
4 star hotel
The day begins at ancient Hippo Regius, once one of Roman North Africa's important cities and later closely associated with Saint Augustine, who served as its bishop from 396 until his death in 430.
The ruins reveal a remarkably rich picture of life here: residential streets, mosaics, baths, a forum and the remains of the Christian quarter, including the Basilica of Peace and its baptistery. Nearby, the Basilica of Saint Augustine sits dramatically above the modern city, while the museum brings together artefacts from the ancient site.
After lunch beside the sea, travel inland towards Guelma to see its impressive Roman theatre and museum, before continuing to the archaeological site of Thibilis. Spread across the hills, the ruins include houses, a forum, temple, market and Byzantine citadel.
The final journey takes us towards Constantine, with a stop at the tomb of the Numidian king Massinissa.
Accommodation Name: Hotel Protea or similar
Day 4: Constantine
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
4 star hotel
Beyond Constantine lies Tiddis, an ancient Numidian and Roman city perched dramatically in the surrounding landscape. Known as Castellum Tidditanorum in Roman times, the site is remarkably well preserved, with its monumental gateway, baptistery and mausoleum providing a sense of the city's former importance.
Return to Constantine for lunch before exploring the city itself. The National Cirta Museum brings together archaeological, ethnographic and artistic collections spanning the many civilisations that have shaped the region.
Later, visit Bey's Palace and the Great Mosque before walking through the old medina. Known as The Rock for its extraordinary position above the Rhumel Gorge, Constantine is a city of bridges, cliffs and dramatic views. The famous suspension bridges provide some of the most memorable perspectives of the journey so far.
Accommodation Name: Hotel Protea or similar
Day 5: Djémila & Sétif
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
3 star hotel
Leave Constantine for Djémila, ancient Cuicul, one of North Africa's great Roman archaeological sites.
At around 900 metres above sea level, the ruins occupy a spectacular mountain setting. Unlike the Roman cities of the Mediterranean coast, Cuicul was built into a landscape of hills and valleys, creating an unusually atmospheric archaeological site.
Walk among the Arch of Caracalla, the Forum, temples, baths and residential quarters before visiting the museum, where a remarkable collection of mosaics survives in vivid colour.
Continue to Sétif and settle into the hotel before taking an evening walk through the city, passing along its broad avenues to the famous Aïn El Fouara Fountain.
Accommodation Name: Best Western or similar
Day 6: Sétif - Batna
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
Begin the day at the National Public Museum of Sétif, whose collections offer another perspective on the region's long history, from the Numidian period through Roman and later civilisations.
From here, continue towards Timgad, arriving around lunchtime. Founded under Emperor Trajan at the edge of the Sahara, the ancient city was laid out according to a remarkably precise Roman grid.
This afternoon is devoted to exploring its broad streets, forum, temples, markets and houses. The Arch of Trajan stands at the heart of the site, while the Cardo Maximus and Decumanus reveal the extraordinary scale and order of the ancient city. With so much of its original plan still visible, it is easy to understand why Timgad has earned the nickname the Pompeii of Africa.
Accommodation Name: Hotel Trajan or similar
Day 7: Biskra
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Boutique Hotel
Today the landscape begins to change dramatically as we travel south towards the Sahara.
The road passes through the Ghouffi Canyon, carved by the Oued Abiod through the Aurès Mountains. Along the valley, orchards and palm groves contrast with the sheer cliffs above, while abandoned Berber villages cling to the rock face like balconies overlooking the oasis below.
Continue to Biskra, known as the Queen of the Zibans and one of the great gateway towns to the Sahara. After lunch, explore the oasis and traditional market before continuing to the palm groves of Tolga.
Here, tens of thousands of date palms produce the famous Deglet Nour dates. A visit with a local producer provides a more intimate glimpse of life in this fertile corner of the desert.
Accommodation Name: Hotel Vescera or similar
Day 8: Bou Saada
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
4 star hotel
Leave Biskra early and travel towards Bou Saada, an oasis town where the green of the palm groves meets the ochre tones of the surrounding landscape.
After lunch, explore the old town on foot, following narrow streets between earthen and stone houses, small squares and covered passages. The El Atik Mosque and Noureddine Dinet Museum offer different perspectives on the town's cultural history. Dinet, a French Orientalist painter who made Bou Saada his home, became closely associated with its landscapes and people.
Later, follow the Oued Bou Saada to its waterfalls before climbing Djebel Kerdada. From this elevated viewpoint, the town, palm groves and surrounding desert stretch out below — a fitting setting for the eve of the eclipse.
Accommodation Name: Caïd or similar
Day 9: Bou Saada Eclipse - Algiers
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
4 star hotel
Today the journey centres on one extraordinary event.
After an early breakfast, travel to the eclipse observation site and settle in ahead of totality. On 2 August 2027, the Moon will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun, briefly transforming the desert landscape into something altogether different.
Totality will last for approximately five minutes. With an astronomy specialist on hand, there will be time to appreciate both the science and the sheer magnificence of watching daylight disappear in the middle of the morning.
After the eclipse, begin the journey north towards Algiers. On arrival, unwind with a walk through the Jardin d'Essai, whose gardens offer a welcome contrast to the heat and open landscapes of the south.
The day ends with dinner at one of Algiers' historic restaurants — a chance to reflect on what will likely be the defining moment of the journey.
Accommodation Name: Hotel Lamaraz or similar
Day 10: Algiers
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
4 star hotel
The final full day takes us west along the Mediterranean coast to Cherchell and Tipaza, where the ruins of ancient civilisations sit against the backdrop of the sea.
In Cherchell, explore the remains of the ancient city and its museum before continuing to Tipaza. Here, the archaeological museum introduces the site's Roman heritage before we visit the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania, an imposing monument set high above the Mediterranean.
The return journey to Algiers offers a final chance to appreciate the changing landscapes of northern Algeria before an evening back in the capital.
Accommodation Name: Hotel Lamaraz or similar
Day 11: Departure from Algeria
Transfer
Breakfast
There is time for a final breakfast before transferring to Algiers airport for the return flight.
After eleven days, the journey comes full circle, from the Mediterranean coast, through ancient Roman cities and the Aurès Mountains, into the Sahara and beneath one of the great celestial events of our lifetime.
Adventure Optional Extras
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
Compulsory
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Booking Process
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Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
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