48 hours in Djanet

Capital of Tassili n’Ajjar, Djanet is an oasis and the main city in the south-east of the Algerian Sahara. Located not far from the border with Libya, it offers both an open door to magnificent excursions to discover the beauties of the desert, and the opportunity to discover archaeological sites with many secrets.

If the city of Djanet is pleasant, welcoming and lively, it is above all during trekking that the magic works. That is why we recommend that you leave immediately to discover the Tassili desert.

Hiking, on camelback, or even riding a jeep, you will discover varied landscapes, amazed by the contrast between the volcanic black rocks and the red-ochre color of the Saharan sand. As we move forward, the shapes of the mountains become more and more curious. Between “the crying cow” here, and “the ark of Tadrart” there, let yourself be submerged by the beauty of a lunar landscape, almost Martian.

Between nature and archaeology

Your guides will also take you as close as possible to the culture of the Tuareg, the people who have inhabited the region for centuries. Many rock paintings adorn the walls, caves and even the floors of your stopover points. Drawings that are still intact and perfectly preserved throughout the ages… With engravings that go back more than 12,000 years, making the site a real open-air museum.

“The most beautiful sunset in the world”

It is at the end of the day that even the most recalcitrant will have to admit to being won over by the landscape. The World Tourism Organization itself has called the sunset in the region “the most beautiful sunset in the world”. In the desert, the shapes of the mountains are cut out on the horizon, creating a gradient from warm to cold using the full range of colors made available by Mother Nature. Unforgettable.

After such a show, the best thing to do is to indulge in the joys of bivouac and spend the night under the stars. After that and before you fly away again, take the time to explore the oasis of Djanet itself, which is essentially populated by extremely welcoming and friendly Tuaregs. Very green, the city is filled with palm groves, which contrasts with the surrounding desert. It also offers all the “charming assets” of a North African city: succulent local dishes, and varied shops offering a myriad of handicrafts, from crockery to pottery, carpets, jewelry… Be careful though, if you hang around too long, you may not want to leave again!