Algeria travel guide

The scenery in the Aures Mountains are just breathtaking and there are no better place to take it all in than the Ghoufi Gorge. The tourist route detours from the main road and follows the gorge and at times is very close to the edge. There are several splendid viewpoints along the way both with parking lot and very chilled souvenir venders. From here you have 180 degree breathtaking views down the gorge. There are trails (at one viewpoints even stairs) leading off to the sides and even to the bottom of the gorge and the village ruins on the hillsides.

The small town of M'Chouneche is spectacular set right next to a palm grove of dates and with panoramic views over the barren mountains. There are several ruins on the hilltops across the palm grove. The small market and mosque are also worth a look. M'Chouneche is a good spot to sleep, when exploring the canyon of Ghoufi and the gorges of Tighanimine on your way to Timgad or Batna (or viceversa).

The 92-meters tall concrete monument was opened in 1982 on the 20th anniversary of Algeria's hard-won independence. It's shaped like three standing palm leaves with an "eternal" flame in the center. Guards armed with whistles are constantly preventing people to get too close to the flame. Since the monument overlooks the city, the best way to get up here is by cable car. The square at the front is a popular gathering spot for both teenagers and families, also at night when the monument gets lit in different colours. Below the monument is the Martyr museum, which gives an insight into Algeria's brutal and bloody war for independence, including a gruesome exhibition with mannequins about torture.

The desert of Sahara isn't all sand and rocks. Like green islands in a sea of sand lies the oases. They are fuelled by underground springs, which then give life to people, animals and plants. The oasis of Tala lies in the middle of the sand dunes of Grand Erg Occidental (Western Sand Sea). It's a small village with palm groves and fertile gardens with vegetables. The irrigation system has been developed for centuries to perfection, so every patch of garden gets exactly the amount of water it needs. Tala still has its ancient village of mud houses, which can be explored by walking through the maze of narrow and partly covered lanes.

Algeria's second largest city doesn't overflow with tourist attractions, but what it lacks in terms of proper sights, it makes up in charm and edge. It's a lively port with buildings that are either falling apart or being built. The French colonial-era buildings are as elegant as those in Algiers with ironcasted balconies and ornamentations. Any sightseeing could include Grande Poste, Place du 1er Novembre, Palace of the Bey and Fort Santa Cruz. If you get tired of aimlessly wandering the streets, do as the locals, crab a coffee and watch life go by.

15 km outside Taghit, where the road ends, is a collection of petroglyphs. They are carved on boulders and exposed, so they are easy to find. The figures are animals of many kinds. Unfortunately the site has been damaged over the years with graffiti.

This UNESCO World Heritage site is the leftovers from a 11th century capital city of a Muslim dynasty called Hammadid. They had chosen this stunning location in the mountains at a height of 1000 m above sea level for their first capital. It was a fortified Muslim city, which only existed for 145 years before it was demolished. Not much has survived besides the minaret and some walls, but the journey through the extraordinary beautiful mountain scenery makes it worth your while - particularly by taking the twisted road from Ouled Addi Guebala.

The Mansourah was a settlement founded as a fortified military camp for a siege of Tlemcen in 1306 AD. It was complete with houses, palace and mosque. The massive mosque got rebuilt around 1335 and had a 38 meters tall minaret added. Today only sections of the 12 meters high walls stand along with the still impressive minaret, which is missing one of the sides entirely.

The three most famous Roman ruins in Algeria are Tipaza, Timgad and Djemila. Like the other two, Djemila is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Stunning set in a green valley with views to mountains. The ruins are well preserved with elaborate houses, temples, baths, public latrine, and marketplace with columns of marble. The grand 3000-seat theatre is nearly complete, apparently without any reconstruction. As you stroll down the elegant cardo maximus between the rows of columns, it's easy to let your imagination wander. Visit also the small museum on site, as it has all the exquisite mosaic floors from the baths and houses.

There are many Roman ruins in Algeria, some are UNESCO World Heritage sites, others are not. Tiddis are not, but that doesn't make it any less interesting. Tiddis sits dramatically on the barren mountain slope. The pathways are steep and winding, which are unusual for Roman cities, but those probably predate the Roman Empire back to when Tiddis was a Berber settlement. There are a few fine Roman arches, but otherwise the weather beaten ruins aren't as impressive as some of the other (UNESCO enlisted) Roman ruins. However, the remarkable location with the extensive views over the valley makes Tiddis stand out.