THE GOOD ROAD has partnered with award winning journalist Autumn Phillips and UNTAMED BORDERS to create a once in a lifetime trip to Algeria.
Adventure travelers on this 10-day trip will visit the mountains, the sea and the desert. By the end, you will have a deep understanding of the geographic, historical, cultural and political dynamics that have shaped the largest country in Africa.
This is a hidden gem.
The majority of the population live on the Mediterranean coast. Wander there among Roman ruins, Ottoman souks and colonial architecture.
For true explorers, the highlight of any trip to Algeria is to dive deep into the Sahara Desert.
Author Paul Bowles described it this way:
“You leave the gate of the fort or the town behind, pass the camels lying outside, go up into the dunes, or out onto the hard, stony plain and stand awhile alone … Here, in this wholly mineral landscape lighted by stars like flares, even memory disappears; nothing is left but your own breathing and the sound of your heart beating. A strange, and by no means pleasant, process of reintegration begins inside you, and you have the choice of fighting against it, and insisting on remaining the person you have always been, or letting it take its course. For no one who has stayed in the Sahara for a while is quite the same as when he came.”
The sheer variety of desert landscapes in the Tadrat Rouge and Tassili N’Ajjer National Park show that there is more to the Sahara than a sea of dunes. Combine this with visits to the desert towns of Djanet, Ghardaïa or Timimoun and you will step into the traditional life of the Tuareg and Berber people.
What makes this trip different
This trip is for people looking for a new way to travel. Autumn Phillips will teach travelers how to use writing to have a deeper experience – to see details that might have gone unnoticed, to tap into all the senses by trying to describe the way something smells or sounds and to find meaning.
Good traveling and good writing are the same. Writing is a way of seeing.
It’s also a great way to connect with other travelers. No one will be made to read their writing, but all will be welcome. Hear someone else describe something you saw from a different point of view.
Autumn Phillips will begin each morning with a creative talk to set the theme for the day. And each day will come with a writing prompt and some time to write.
This is not a class. There are no expectations or requirements. Participate as much as you like to absorb this new approach to travel.
Autumn Phillips bio
Autumn Phillips is an adventure traveler, newspaper editor and writing coach. She recently was named Journalist of the Year for her travel writing by the North American Travel Journalist Association for her stories on Sudan, Lebanon and Finnish Lapland.
She enjoys asking big questions and creating transformative social experiences.
Phillips found that writing adds depth during the journey. It lets her relive it when she gets home and examines the details and ideas one sentence at a time. And it allows her to connect to new people when the story publishes.
She is a beekeeper, kayaker and native of Wyoming. She has an MFA in creative writing from Goddard College. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina.
Autumn Phillips bio
Autumn Phillips is an adventure traveler, newspaper editor and writing coach. She recently was named Journalist of the Year for her travel writing by the North American Travel Journalist Association for her stories on Sudan, Lebanon and Finnish Lapland.
She enjoys asking big questions and creating transformative social experiences.
Phillips found that writing adds depth during the journey. It lets her relive it when she gets home and examines the details and ideas one sentence at a time. And it allows her to connect to new people when the story publishes.
She is a beekeeper, kayaker and native of Wyoming. She has an MFA in creative writing from Goddard College. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina.
25 October – 3 November 2024
Start point – Algiers, Algeria | End point – Algiers, Algeria
Number of people: 6-16
Djemila Ruins
Visit the spectacular roman ruins of Djemila, a city well adapted to its mountainous setting. This is one of the greatest sets of Roman remains in North Africa.
Constantine
A day tour of Constantine, a city set on a high plateau split by a dramatic ravine serviced by 7 bridges.
Tikoubaouine
Visit Tikoubaouine, a stone forest set out in sand with an incredible natural arch as the highlight. Camp in the desert.
Tassili N’Ajjer National Park
Visit the Guelta of Essendilene. There are a few serene desert ponds in the region, known as gueltas, which were once used by nomads as watering holes. Camp in the desert.
The Crying Cow
Lunch in the desert near the rock with one of the most famous Algerian ancient rock engraving – “la vache qui pleure” (the crying cow), 7,000 years old.
Inclusions & Exclusions
The trip includes:
- All accommodation (top end hotels)
- Breakfast
- All food in Tassili N’Ajjer NP (days 6-8)
- All transport (4×4 when in the desert)
- Permits
- Letter of invitation for visa application
- Local guide
- Local security team (where necessary) & all of their fees/expenses
- Drinking water
- Entrance fees
- Domestic flights (Algiers – Djanet / Djanet – Algiers)
The trip does not include:
- International flights
- Visa
- Lunch and Dinner (unless specified)
- Tips
- Insurance
Cost:
- Package: $2,950 Per Person
- Single Supplement: $450 Per Single Supplement
General Information
Flights:
We do not directly arrange international flights to Algeria. We can suggest routes and operators.
Visas:
We will issue visa authorization documents to guests ahead of travel so that they will be able to obtain visas from their local consulate/embassy.
Please contact us about which embassy you will apply at as processing times vary greatly.
Food:
All meals in the desert are included. In the cities of the North we include breakfast only.
Accommodation:
This trip is based on staying in local hotels and tents when you’re in the desert areas. The trip is based on two people sharing.
Guides:
You will be accompanied by Algerian English-speaking guides throughout the trip. The local guides may vary in between regions.
Security:
Security escorts are required in some areas of southern Algeria. We must state that the local team have the final word with regards to changes in the itinerary for safety reasons.
* Photo Credits: Marcus Westberg
