Oasis & Sahara Tour
Taghit-Beni-Abbes-Timimoun -El-Goléa-Ghardaia-Algiers
WT-CODE 978- Overview
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After landing on Bechar airport, we head towards the oasis of Taghit in a journey where we enjoy visits to the Saharan oases of Taghit, Beni Abbes, Timimoun, El-Meniaa and M'Zab valley besides to Casbah of Algiers. Lots of different races are to be recognised and variety of cultures including cuisine and music folks are to be uncovered too. Visits to these best destinations in Southern Algeria mentioned above enrich the know-how and entertain the visitor .Strolling in towns and villages included in the trip is beneficial for visitors to get direct contact with locals to learn much about traditions and cultures . The Saharan oases to be visited are a home for many splendid monuments as the hermitage and tomb the Catholic priest Charles De Foucauld, mud brick and stones 'citadels or the traditional urbans. Palm groves, desert lakes and high sand mountains of the Grand Erg Occidental are magnificent landscapes to be stored in the visitor's memory for ever.
The White Oasis ,the Red Oasis ,the Pearl of Oases in Southern Algeria : a click needed to start the discovery . Are you ready ?
Itineraries
Day 1
Date : 18 December 2023
Time : 18:00
Algiers-Taghit
Reception and assistance at Houari Boumediene International Airport (Algiers ),then we transit on foot to the domestic airport (3-5 minutes' walk ) to fly to Bechar . After arriving at Bechar airport, Boudghene Ben Ali Lotfi, we take the transport to the hotel in Taghit(85 Kms) where the first overnight is to be spent.
Day 2
Date : 19 December 2023
Time : 08:00
Taghit
After breakfast, the discovery of the famous small oasis situated on the Grand Erg Occidental (a chain of sand dunes that can be up to 120 m high , known as the Western Sand Sea also ,covers an area of about 78000 Km² ) begins with visits to the town including Old Ksar, Ksour valley and Berrebi Oasis .It is remarkable the beginning of common use of red mud or brick in the architecture of houses' building as in the other oases of the region .The day ends with sun set seeing while having dinner. Sand skiing can be practised. Return to our traditional residence or similar.
Day 3
Date : 20 December 2023
Time : 08:00
Taghit-Beni Abbes
Leaving Taghit to Beni-Abbes (150 Kms) after breakfast. Beni Abbes (or the White Oasis) is to be reached in about half-hour drive. We direct to the residence then we head to the town then to Beni Abbes's Charles De Foucauld 's Chapel , the place where the priest De Foucauld resided and established his first hermitage during his stay( 1901-1903) before moving to Tamanrasset , far away in the Algerian Southern Sahara. After having lunch in the chapel's garden or elsewhere. The programme continues with visiting the Old Castle situated in palm grove and the Beni Abbes Museum which houses different displays as the desert fauna, fossils and some Algerian arts and crafts. At the end of the day, we return to the residence for an overnight.
Day 4
Date : 21 December 2023
Time : 08:00
Beni Abbes-Timimoun
Early In the morning after breakfast, we will drive to the Red Oasis, Timimoun, transiting oases as: El-Ouata, Kerzaz, Timoudi, Ouled Khdir and Charouine. The journey to Timimoun (342 kms) is to be crossed in 4 hours. Arriving at our destination, we move to a guest house or a hotel where we have our lunch. After a rest, early in the afternoon, we stroll in the town and its covered market full of Bio local produce. We enjoy seeing the sun set in/on the outskirt of the oasis. Then, the day is finished by having the dinner with enjoying listening to traditional Gnawa music (using musical instrument Qraqeb and hand-made drum ).Return to the guest house or similar.
Day 5
Date : 22 December 2023
Time : 08:00
Timimoun
Shortly after breakfast ,a visit is organised to Timimoun's old castle , Ouled Haroun castle and the Fougaras( hydraulic heritage) of Ouled Said & Hadj Guelmane (two less populated towns near Timimoun covered by desert sand dunes and palm groves where we have a traditional lunch.After that in the afternoon visit ,we continue exploring the amazing open museums as the cave and the cliffs of Ighzer , dunes of the Oasis . Overnight at the residence or the hotel.
Day 6
Date : 23 December 2023
Time : 08:00
Timimoun-El-Golea
In the early hours of the morning, we have our breakfast ,we drive towards the pearl of the Oases , El-Meniaa (ex- El-Goléa ) .The distance of 362 Kms can be crossed by road in 4 hours. The oasis is situated at the centre of Algeria at the eastern of the Grand Erg Occidental as a gateway to Southern Algeria. It is famous for the mineral water and agricultural products including its palm grove of about 180 000 palm trees. In the way to El-Goléa, we rest in M'Guiden's Café for a while. At the hotel or the guest house we have our lunch. Following the short rest, we head towards the church of Bel-Bachir (close to the church, there is tomb of the Catholic priest Charles De Foucault , then we enjoy the sunset on the dunes while having our dinner .Return to the hotel.
Day 7
Date : 24 December 2023
Time : 08:00
El-Golea
Today we leave the residence to visit some places starting by the 9th century Citadel known as 'Vieux ksar ', built on a 75 m high hill. In this old castle which was the refuge for the ancestors who dwelt for centuries. Still there are ruins of the houses and the well used by settlers as a water. Next we visit the unique Sahara museum (town centre) where there are a lots collections gathered for decades by René Le Clerc (b1925-d 2010), then we go in an excursion to the dunes of the Grand Erg Occidental where we spend the afternoon ,dine and return to residence.
Day 8
Date : 25 December 2023
Time : 08:00
El-Golea -Ghardaia
Early in the morning, the group leaves to Ghardaia (known as M'Zab Valley) .We cross the distance of the 270 kms in 3 hours . Arrival to Ghardaia is estimated to be around 11 a.m. then after lunch in the hotel, we move to one of the five villages that make up the 7th site classified as a UNESCO World Heritage in Algeria, Beni Izghen. Then we continue to Boulila Tower. Our day programme is ended by a visit to the town centre and its magnificent ancient rectangular market. Overnight at the residence.
Day 9
Date : 26 December 2023
Time : 08:00
Ghardaia-Algiers
Breakfast then we head to visit Mélika and Bounoura. After lunch transfer of the group to the 15 Kms distant domestic airport, Moufdi Zakaria (or Noumérat) to fly to the capital, Algiers. Transfer to the hotel for an overnight night.
Day 10
Date : 27 December 2023
Time : 08:00
Algiers
In the last day of the visit, we visit another UNESCO World Heritage site, Casbah of Algiers for 2 hours ,then we drive to the Church of Notre-Dame d'Afrique (4 kms distant from the Casbah) and we finish the whole service by a visit to Jardin d'Essai in Hamma (the unique garden in Africa dated to 1900's).The visitors transferred to Houari Boumediene International Airport for departure. Assistance is given until the boarding.
- Airport transfers and assistance - Accommodation in hotels (3-4 stars),traditional guest houses or similar during the tour (Twin share accommodation). -Full board bases: breakfast, lunch and dinner (water & soft drinks only). -Comfort bus or cars+ driver.
- Experienced tour guides. -Domestic Flights: Algiers - Timimoun & El-Golea -Algiers tickets. -Entrance fees to museums or sites included in the itinerary. -Letter of invitation for visa application.
- International flights.
- Travel insurance.
- Visa fees -Extras and personal expenses -Single Supplement : € 245
The agency representative will be waiting you at the exit of the arrivals at the relevant airport holding a sign with your name on it.
We arrange our travel packages by combining people depending on the language required and the destination.
To get an entrance visa to Algeria, insurance is required so it is advised to do it by yourself but also, we make insurance for tools used during the tour.
After your booking of a tour we proceed with confirming all services accordingly.
We kindly request a booking deposit (30 %) to be paid to one of our accounts in an EU bank (France at the moment) to secure your reservations then the remaining balance (70 %) to be received no later than 50 days before the start date of the tour.
See below in the FAQ under 'Booking, Cancellation and Refund Policy '
Visa requirements is a must to enter Algeria for most internationals. We cannot on your behalf, but we guide and provide you with the necessary information. Please note that we cannot apply to the various embassies on your behalf for the visas if you need to obtain these before arrival. However, we provide you with official documentation as the invitation letter after the reception of the deposit required by the agency.
Most ATMs are for local money and local credit and debit cards and it is rarely where ATMs for other currencies or cards are to be found .
Except in few places ,foreign credit cards and debit cards are not accepted in purchases. It is advisable to carry some cash with you.
No, most of the international GSM operators do not provide coverage in Algeria but you can receive SMS and MMS and you get the signal .Arrange with your GSM operator to activate the international roaming function of your mobile phone before coming to Algeria and we can supply you with a new SIM card from local operators (conditions) .
Tipping is not common in Algeria and many refuse to accept it.However it is a guesture of satisfaction by the client.
Yes,18 years old when the traveller is alone .
1- As a team of EL-GOLEA Tourism & Travel, we are very pleased to be chosen by travellers to serve them during their visit to Algeria and we consider them as our guests during the whole duration of the trip.
2-When you select the tour, sign the booking document sent by the agency and receive the confirmation by email, you pay the deposit of 30 % of the tour or the whole cost. contacts are made by email.
3-After reception of the deposit or the entire of the trip’s cost, supplying of the requested identity documents, we sent the letter of invitation to the Algerian consulate in your country of residence for the visa. The agency helps you to get the necessary information on the issue, but it is the traveller’s responsibility to apply earlier and be fully aware of all requirements for visiting Algeria. However, the agency is ready to provide the necessary information on the tour.
4-The rest of the tour cost must be received 45 to 50 days prior to the start date. For any case of non-majeure force, if you do not pay the rest, it is considered as wish of cancellation to cancel your booking.
5-We hope that the visitor can come but in case of contrary, the cancellation must be made by writing in advance. Be aware there are cancellation and charges requested by the service providers. consequently, the charges are cut off the deposit and can go higher when it is made few days or weeks before the start date.
6-Cancellation charges are calculated as follow:
45 days before the start date of the tour - loss of deposit
30 days before the start date of the tour - 50% of tour cost
15 days before the start date of the tour - 75% of tour cost
7 days before the start date of the tour- No refund.
7-Although the above-mentioned measures are to be applied as explained before. But as our main goal is to serve and satisfy our clients, we often take their circumstances in consideration, and we try to find a better solution for them.
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