Algeria is still a very unknown country – even though it is very close to Europe! Being the largest country in Africa, Algeria has a lot to offer, from its incredibly hospitable people, to the big cities in the north, from Roman ruins to the Sahara - and its dunes and oases dotted with tens of thousands of palm trees. Head to Algeria before others discover this gigantic country in our backyard!

Algeria is now more accessible thanks to easier visa formalities, which means you can get a visa through us on arrival if you decide to include a visit to the Sahara in your trip – like Timimoun! Other destinations on this trip include the country's white capital, Algiers, on the shores of the Mediterranean, and its second city, Oran, known for its vibrant cultural life. You'll probably get to experience it all without the other tourists.

It is possible to tailor a trip to the length of your holiday, i.e. you can add more destinations or reduce the number of destinations. Flight schedules will give you a more precise frame for your trip.

Day 1

Welcome to Algiers, the white city on the Mediterranean! The city was founded by the Phoenicians and is now home to over 3 million Algerians.

We will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to a hotel in the centre of Algiers. A good hotel, around three stars, is for example the Hotel Suisse.

Spend the rest of the day exploring Algeria on your own.

Day 2

After breakfast, you will be picked up by car from the hotel and transferred to the labyrinthine and picturesque old town of Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. English-speaking guided walking tour of the Kasbah. Due to its hilly location, the district has many stairs and the streets and alleys are mostly inaccessible by car. The views down to the 'new' part of the city are spectacular from the top of Kasbah. After the Kasbah walking tour, we will take you to the Basilica of Notre Dame d'Afrique, a neo-Byzantine Catholic church built in 1872.

If you wish, we can continue exploring Algiers with a guided city tour, including:

The Martyrs' Memorial, a massive monument to those who died in Algeria's War of Independence, which offers spectacular views of Algiers; the Jardin d'Essai du Hamma, the botanical garden where the film Tarzan was shot; and the French-built 'new city' of Algiers, with highlights such as the Grand Poste, the country's main post office, and the 'front de mer', a waterfront boulevard.

Otherwise, spend the rest of the day exploring Algiers on your own.

For example, overnight at the Hotel Suisse in Algiers.

Day 3

After breakfast, you will be picked up by car from the hotel at around 10am, followed by a day trip to the Roman ruins of Tipasa and Cherchell. Tipasa is about an hour's drive (depending on traffic) from Algiers, Cherchell about half an hour from Tipasa.

Tipasa was once founded as a Phoenician trading centre, but was later conquered by Rome under the Emperor Claudius, who turned it into an army colony and used it as a base from which to launch attacks against the Kingdom of Mauretania. In Tipasa, there are traces of Phoenician, Roman, pre-Christian and Byzantine activity in the area. A short distance from Tipasa is also the site of the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania, dating from 3 BC. Tipasa, on the shores of the Mediterranean, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cherchell (once also known as Caesarea) is another city on the Mediterranean originally founded by the Phoenicians. Since then it has belonged to Carthage, Rome and Byzantium. In addition to the ruins, we will visit the Cherchell Museum.

Day 4

Today, your journey continues on an Air Algérie domestic flight (1-1.5 hours) 1100 kilometres southwest of Algiers, deep into the Sahara desert to the oasis town of Timimoun. The desert is anything but desolate here, as Timimoun exists thanks to its abundance of flowing waters. The oasis is a thriving agricultural area, with a palm grove of thousands of date palms!

Accommodation in a small guesthouse called Le Paradis du Sahara in Timimoun. The location is very quiet, with air conditioning and a swimming pool. The inn also prepares meals and both lunch and dinner are excellent, based on the experience of Kameli Travel.

If you arrive in Timimoun in the morning or early afternoon, you can visit the sandstone formations and dunes of Petit Tassili in the evening. Here you'll find an ancient fortified cliff, where it's quite easy to climb up to enjoy the scenery. The area is at its most beautiful at sunset. As well as your own four-wheel drive SUV and a driver who took part in the Dakar Rally in the 1980s, you'll be accompanied by someone who speaks English. The name Petit Tassili means 'little Tassili' and refers to the Tassili n'Ajjer National Park.

Day 5

After breakfast a day trip to the surrounding oases and medieval "desert forts" founded by the Zanata Berbers, known as ksar, some of which are still inhabited. Places to visit include at least the Ighzer ksar (where you can climb if you wish, as the ksar was built on a hill and the highest parts have since fallen into ruins) and the ksar and oasis of Tala. The route also gives a good view of the Sahara, its dunes and the broader landscape. There is a picnic lunch in the afternoon if you wish.

Spend the rest of the day either exploring Timimoun or swimming in the pool.

Day 6

If you don't want to continue your stay in Timimoun, even if it's just relaxing by the pool or exploring the surrounding area, there's a transfer today to Timimoun airport, from where you'll catch a domestic flight of just over an hour to Oran, Algeria's second city, again on the shores of the Mediterranean. After check-in, a city tour of Oran, known worldwide for its rich culture, especially for its rai music and founded in the Middle Ages. Places to visit include the Santa Cruz Fortress, which overlooks the whole city, the Cathédrale du Sacré-Coeur d'Oran, a Catholic church built in the early 20th century, although it is now a library, the Hassan Pasha Mosque, built in the late 17th century, and the decaying Sidi El Houari, Oran's old town. Oran also once had the largest synagogue in Africa, but this has since been converted into the Abdellah Ben Salem Mosque and the city's Jewish population has probably completely emigrated to Israel and elsewhere abroad. After the city tour, transfer to the hotel. The best hotel in the city is called the Royal Hotel – a warm recommendation.

Day 7

Free time in Oran.

Day 8

We'll transfer you to Oran airport and your journey home begins.