Africa’s biggest country, barely touched by tourism
Roman cities. Cliff-top towns. The real Sahara.
Algeria is legit travel. Not Morocco with fewer tourists, not Tunisia with a longer drive. It’s its own thing entirely, and almost nobody you know has been.
We go from the Mediterranean coast in Algiers, south into the Sahara to thousand-year-old Ghardaïa, then north to cliff-top Constantine and some of the best Roman ruins anywhere outside Italy. Seven days, two domestic flights, three UNESCO Roman sites.
I first came in 2015, during Ramadan, and it’s been in my top 10 countries ever since. Come now, while it still feels like an adventure. It won’t stay that way forever.
Tour highlights
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Ghardaïa
Fly south into the Sahara
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Constantine
A city on the edge of a gorge
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Timgad & Djemila
Roman cities, no crowds
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Tipaza
Roman ruins by the Mediterranean
Trip facts
- Dates
- Trip length
- Rooms
- Twin share
- Visa
- Visa on arrival, we help with the paperwork
- Flights
- 2 domestic flights included
- Guides
- Johnny and/or Josh, start to finish
Day by day
The Itinerary
Day 1: Meet in Algiers
· Hotel, Algiers
Arrive whenever suits you. There are cheap, easy flights from Paris, Tunis, Istanbul, Frankfurt and Dubai. You’ll be surprised: Algiers looks more southern Europe than North Africa, all French boulevards, Ottoman lanes and old cafés above the sea.
Once everyone’s checked in we head out for dinner and a relaxed stroll. Nothing too organised, nothing too serious. Just getting the gang together and eating too much.
Day 2: Down and Dirty in the Real Algiers
Hotel, Algiers
Today we explore Algiers properly, starting in the Casbah, the UNESCO-listed old city climbing steeply above the harbour. Tiny streets, hidden courtyards, old mosques, Ottoman houses and plenty of wrong turns. I still remember it fondly from my first visit.
Then the giant Martyrs’ Memorial overlooking the city and the grand French colonial buildings downtown. Dinner, then crash.
Day 3: Into the Sahara
Guest house, Ghardaïa
Sahara time! This morning we fly south to Ghardaïa, one of Algeria’s greatest hidden gems. Built almost a thousand years ago by the Mozabites, the UNESCO-listed M’Zab Valley is unlike anywhere else on earth.
Desert architecture, maze-like alleys, ancient mosques and busy markets: a city frozen in time. Almost nobody has heard of it. Nobody forgets it.
Day 4: Ghardaïa to Constantine
Hotel, Constantine
One last day in Ghardaïa for more viewpoints, markets and hidden corners. Then we catch the only weekly flight to Constantine. Miss it and you’re looking at a seriously long drive, so let’s not.
Tomorrow we wake up in one of Africa’s wildest cities, balanced on giant cliffs with suspension bridges hanging over enormous gorges. Seriously, it’s ridiculous.
Day 5: Timgad Roman Ruins
Hotel, Constantine
Timgad absolutely delivers. A Roman city almost 2,000 years old, so well preserved you can still picture everyday life: temples, theatres, baths, arches and straight streets that just keep going.
Best part? Hardly anyone is here. No crowds, no queues, no selfie sticks. Then back to Constantine for dinner, drinks and a proper night’s sleep (two nights in the same bed, wow!).
Day 6: Constantine, Djemila & the Road to Algiers
Hotel, Algiers
Constantine honestly shouldn’t exist: bridges fly across enormous gorges and the old city clings to sheer cliffs. Then Djemila, another ridiculous Roman city, tucked into the mountains and often listed among the best-preserved Roman towns in the Mediterranean.
Then it’s road trip time, about three and a half hours back to Algiers. Cliff-top city to mountain ruins to the Mediterranean coast, all in one day.
Day 7: Tipaza and Home
· Evening flight from Algiers
One final UNESCO site, because three Roman cities in a week is completely normal. Tipaza sits right on the Mediterranean, an hour west of Algiers: basilicas, villas, baths and an amphitheatre among pine trees and sea views.
We stop at the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania (“the Tomb”), then it’s airport time for an evening flight out. Probably to Tunisia, where the next adventure starts.
Your host
Johnny Ward
Irish guy, been to every country in the world. I first visited Algeria way back in 2015, during Ramadan, stayed with the most amazing host family, and it’s been one of my top 10 countries ever since.
Josh or I (or both of us) will lead the trip from start to finish. With the right contacts the visa is easier than ever, so let’s goooo.
Algeria is criminally underrated, and everyone else is missing out.
For proper travellers
Why Algeria?
-
Africa’s biggest country
Nearly four times the size of France, mostly Sahara, with the Mediterranean along the whole north coast. And barely touched by tourism.
-
Roman cities, no crowds
Some of the finest Roman sites outside Italy, almost to ourselves. No tour buses, no influencers fighting over the same sunset.
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Real travel
Everyone goes to Morocco. A few make it to Tunisia. Algeria? Almost nobody. It still feels like an adventure.
Before you book
Good to Know
How about the visa?
It’s all about who you know, and we know the right people. Visa on arrival for pretty much every nationality. We sort some paperwork with you over email and WhatsApp, then you just show up and pay the fee ($100–200, depending on nationality).
Is Algeria safe?
Tourism dried up because of safety concerns a few decades ago, but it’s safe now. That’s exactly why it still feels like an adventure.
How do I get there?
Easy. There are cheap flights to Algiers from Paris, Tunis, Istanbul, Frankfurt and Dubai. Arrive any time on Day 1. The arrival airport transfer isn’t included, but we can organise one for $50.
When should I book my flights?
Quite late, even after you’ve signed up. Domestic flight schedules here can change, and we may have to move the dates a day forward or back.
Can I add Djanet, Tunisia or Libya?
Yes. Arrive on January 14 for the Djanet prequel, a flight deep into the Sahara towards the Libya and Niger borders ($1,399 with this trip, $1,999 on its own). After Algeria there’s a Tunisia extension (January 23–28), then my Libya tour.
Is it a luxury trip?
No. Long drives, domestic flights and a lot of ground covered. It’s not designed for people who complain because the hotel breakfast doesn’t have almond milk. It’s built for adventure.
Price and what’s included
What’s included
- All hotels and accommodation
- Twin-share rooms
- Sahara desert camping
- 2 domestic flights within Algeria
- All land transport
- Airport transfers during the tour
- 4×4 transport in the Sahara
- Algiers city tour
- Constantine city tour
- Timgad, Djemila and Tipaza Roman ruins
- Entry fees
- All breakfasts
- Josh or me, or both of us, leading the trip from start to finish
What’s not included
- International flights
- Algeria visa (we help you get a visa on arrival)
- Travel insurance
- Arrival airport transfer (we can organise it for $50)
- Most lunches and dinners
- Alcohol
- Tips for local guides and drivers
- Anything not listed above
Tour price
$3,299
Per person sharing · 7 days
- $300 non-refundable deposit secures your spot
- Djanet prequel (Jan 14–17): $1,399 when you join this trip
- Places are limited. Once the group is full, it’s full
- Book and pay through WeTravel
Places are limited
See you in Algiers.
Once the group is full, it’s full. Book online in a couple of minutes, or message me with any questions.
Rather pay by bank transfer? Email johnny@onestep4ward.com
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