EXPEDITION TO ALGERIA by PAGANEL
12 DAYS
24 PEOPLE
2890 EURO
12 days
27.10 - 07.11.2026
DESCRIPTION
Each of us has dreamed at least once in our life of setting out on a real Expedition. There are not so many places on Earth where life conditions are unbearable for humans, and visiting them often comes with major challenges. The Arctic fields of the North and South, inaccessible mountain peaks rising above 7,000 meters, the impassable thickets and swamps of the jungle… and… the largest and most difficult desert in the world — the SAHARA!
Few people manage to survive among the scorching sands and molten rocks. Not many nomadic tribes of Africa dared to step onto the territory of the Sahara. And only one people — the TUAREGS — have completely subdued the desert, mastered its secrets, and learned to live among the sands in full harmony.
It is very hard to describe the Sahara itself. On the one hand — it is an absolutely empty space, where there are neither animals nor people. Almost a vacuum. But these very territories are the most mysterious and unusual on this Earth.
Tadrart, as a piece of the Sahara, is an ancient plateau, ruined by time and increasingly covered with sand. The sand advances from the very heart of the desert, leaving only a narrow passage, which is exactly where we will go with you. A passage into the great mystery of boundless space and twisted time.
When you first arrive in Tadrart, you feel incredible astonishment. A déjà vu on the level of cells and genetic memory. Perhaps this is what our Earth looked like millions of years ago. And now — it is Mars, Venus, or some other unexplored planet. Black rocky outcrops, like ghost ships, stick out among the yellow-red sands. A vast empty expanse on one side, and the infinity of dunes on the other.
In Tadrart we will spend several days seeking out the most photogenic places. We will travel with real Tuaregs, climb the tallest dunes, cross quicksands, drink bitter tea, bake bread directly in the hot sand, look for ancient rock art, and meet and bid farewell to the Sun. Just a few days, but they will become some of the most remarkable in your life!
OUR FILM ABOUT MYSTERIOUS ALGERIA
ROUTE
Djanet ➙ El-Berj ➙ Mula Naga ➙ Tin Merzouga ➙ Ouan Zzaten ➙ Tigargar ➙ Timgas ➙ Oasis Ihrir ➙ Taoujdid ➙ Essendilen ➙ Tikobawin ➙ Adaik ➙ Djanet
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domestic flights Algiers — Djanet — Algiers;
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all transfers according to the program;
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necessary permits for visiting National Parks and border areas;
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participation in a Tuareg festival;
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accommodation in hotels and tents along the route;
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full three meals a day during the desert expedition;
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transportation by jeep (3 people per vehicle);
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fuel;
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services of local English-speaking guides, drivers, cooks;
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kitchen equipment for cooking and eating;
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sleeping mats (1 per person);
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double occupancy in tents;
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drinking water (mineral water) — 2 bottles of 1.5 liters per person per day;
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1 liter of water for washing hands and face;
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traditional Tuareg dinner on the last evening in Djanet;
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baggage allowance up to 20 kg;
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plastic bags (10 l capacity) provided for burning paper and sanitary waste to avoid leaving unsightly traces in the desert;
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services of English-French-Russian-speaking guides from the Paganel Studio team.
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sleeping bag;
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international flight from your home to Algiers and back;
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extra charge for single accommodation in hotels;
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visa (we will receive the necessary invitation letters from the host side);
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personal travel insurance.
ATTENTION! Since our expeditions do not include international flights to the starting point of the program, we cannot be responsible for changes made by airlines or airports. As our travelers arrive from different countries and cities, we never take part in purchasing air tickets, limiting ourselves only to consultation in choosing flights. The purchase and technical support of tickets are the responsibility of the airline agents or companies from which the tickets were purchased.
Important notes:
International flights must only be purchased in coordination with the expedition coordinator, as they must safely connect with the domestic Algiers–Djanet flight.
ITINERARY
Day 1
27.10.2026
Arrival from your city to the capital of Algeria — Algiers. Please note: you must arrive in Algiers in the evening, no later than 7:00 pm. At night we will fly further by domestic airlines. The most convenient way is to fly to Algiers with French or Turkish airlines. Before purchasing your ticket, please consult with us.
Meeting with the team at Houari Boumediene International Airport (ALG). Introduction to the guides. Departure for Djanet by domestic flight at 10:00 pm.
Night arrival in Djanet. Our Tuaregs will meet us and transfer us to the hotel for rest. Sleep.
(Included: hotel overnight stay)
Day 2
28.10.2026
Wake up, wash up. Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning we will visit the Tuareg Market, making the final purchases for our expedition. Then, a traditional lunch with the family of our local Tuareg guide.
Around 4:00 pm we will depart by jeeps to Tissras to join the Tuareg Festival, where we will enjoy our first desert camp dinner!
We will have a unique opportunity to photograph ancient costumes and weapons: silver sabers, old muskets, and amulets.
Dances, songs, beautiful outfits, camel races and other activities — a rare chance to immerse yourself in the authentic world of the desert’s true masters — the Tuaregs! The festival will end at sunset.
What is “Saharan bivouac”?
It is a tent camp in the dunes, well sheltered from the wind. We will have a common space for resting, eating, drinking Tuareg tea and stargazing. For the night, tents will be set up and each traveler will be given 1 mattress. A sleeping bag (or sheet to cover the mattress) is required.
From early October the weather is very comfortable — not too hot during the day, and not colder than 15°C at night. Each traveler will receive a small container of water (approx. 1 liter) for washing — we remember, we are in the Sahara, and water here is worth its weight in gold!
Dinner and overnight in the desert.
(Included: three meals a day, overnight in tents)
Day 3
29.10.2026
Early in the morning we head towards Tadrart, entering through the El-Berj Canyon. Drive: 160 km (5–6 hours). After lunch we will arrive at one of the most beautiful places of the Sahara — huge yellow dunes covering the remains of the ancient plateau.
Wind and Sand. Silence and Stone.
The El-Berj dunes form a vast Erg. Their special feature is their pleasant peach color, turning bright orange at sunset. The area also has stone arches and flat-topped mountains, with niches where we will search for ancient rock carvings.
Camping at El-Berj.
(Included: three meals a day, overnight in tents)
Day 4
30.10.2026
We continue exploring the El-Berj dunes. Together with the Tuaregs we will try to reach the very heart of Tadrart — the sands of Mula Naga.The dunes are so high, and the sand is so fine and loose, that we may get stuck more than once.
But it will be a part of our little adventure. Of course, we will get out of every sand trap, and enjoy lunch under the shade of an acacia, near a small waterhole where we will replenish our supplies.
The trip itself will be an adventure, ending with a descent down a massive dune with a 45° slope into a small valley. We will try to arrive here at sunset, when the rays paint the sand in soft pink-orange tones.
In October, small patches of bright green desert plants appear here, and if we are lucky, we may see camels.
Just before sunset, the Tuaregs will show us how they bake their bread directly in the sand. Do you think it is just a show? Not at all! You will be able to break off a piece of hot bread and share a meal with the desert’s ancient people.
The process takes time (in the Sahara, there is no rush), so you will have a chance to photograph it and talk with the Tuaregs about their desert life.
We will watch the sunset on a giant dune, where we will be able to see the whole space - stone castles on one side, endless sands on the other.
Total drive for the day: about 4 hours.
Overnight in Mula Naga.
(Included: three meals a day, overnight in tents)
Day 5
31.10.2026
Early wake-up, a sip of strong coffee, and for the most eager — sunrise over an amphitheater of dunes and rocks.
We pack up and drive on, getting closer to the legendary dune — Tin Merzouga, also called the Singing Dune.
Strong winds compact the sand, and if you run down the dune, you will hear a deep hum from inside the massive barkhan. But first, we must climb it overcoming our reluctance to crawl up the soft sands.
In the evening, we will learn together how to prepare Tuareg tea.
This tea is an ancient tradition. Like everything in the desert, it cannot be made quickly. Finding a place, gathering rare desert wood, pouring thick streams of tea from one pot to another into tiny glasses — all of this is an endless ritual. To saturate the tea with as much oxygen as possible, the Tuaregs add plenty of sugar. Endless pouring back and forth produces a thick, sweet foam. This is considered the most delicious and the most precious part… Carefully, so as not to lose the foam, the Tuaregs pour the tea into glasses and let tourists taste this “drink of strength.” Of course, this tea is an acquired taste! But did you know that in the past, all the caravans crossing the ancient Sahara sustained themselves only with such tea and a handful of dates? A caravan carrying salt from East Africa to Timbuktu could not be stopped for a daytime rest.
And it was only tea that saved the caravan drivers, drawing strength from the sweet drink. This tradition has survived to this day — the Tuaregs themselves eat very little, mostly in the evening, but they are ready to drink tea a hundred times a day!
Overnight stay near the Tin Merzouga dune (40 km from the Libyan border).
(Included: three meals a day, overnight in tents)
Day 6
01.11.2026
At sunrise on Tin Merzouga we move to our final location in Tadrart, known to the Tuaregs as the Circus.
Through a narrow canyon, like a labyrinth, we reach a camping site among red rocks and crimson sand.
This place strikes with its untouched beauty and truly Martian landscapes. Green desert watermelons add a surreal touch. We will have plenty of time to wander in an area where, besides us and the Wind — there is no one.
Overnight in Adjlat.
(Included: three meals a day, overnight in tents)
Day 7
02.11.2026
Wake up and have breakfast. Pack camp and drive 4–5 hours to Djanet via the In Djaren canyon.
Along the way we will see the “Stone Elephant” and visit the famous rock engraving “The Weeping Cow”, dated to 8000 BC.
Arrival in Djanet in the afternoon. Shower at the hotel, a visit to the town and the Tuareg market.
In the evening — traditional dinner in Djanet! Overnight at the hotel.
(Included: three meals a day, hotel overnight stay)
Day 8
03.11.2026
Rested, we set off (3–4 hours) to Ihrir, a small, beautiful oasis northwest of Djanet. Here we will see lakes and traditional nomad houses.
Ihrir lies at 1,070 m above sea level.
Its valley is a true oasis with many date palms. The area is surrounded by dramatic mountain chains rising 300 m around it. Prehistoric art dating back to 9000 BC is found here. The valley is protected as a nature park.
Overnight in a serviced camp at Ihrir.
(Included: three meals a day, overnight in serviced camp)
Day 9
04.11.2026
On the way to Taoujdid we will cross the plateau of Wadi Dider, seeing many rocks and mountains with carvings of cows, lions, and antelopes.
A beautiful sunset and sunrise await us.
Overnight in the desert.
(Included: three meals a day, overnight in tents)
Day 10
05.11.2026
Dunes! 300 km of dunes. Today is a “mineral day”! We will cross vast expanses of black gravel and white sand, a mineral universe, wadis and small passes before reaching Essendilen, a secret corner where oleanders, tamarisks, and palms grow in canyon shade, hiding secret gueltas (pools).
We will meet nomads and set up camp near Tikobawin, where the horizon expands endlessly, the landscape changes, and between sandstone peaks and sandy expanses we will see a great stone arch, Neolithic tombs, and rock carvings.
Overnight near Tikobawin.
(Included: three meals a day, overnight in tents)
Day 11
06.11.2026
We return to Djanet, visiting the beautiful Tilalene mountains, the Adaik stone forest, and the stunning mountains of Timgas.
Upon arrival a long-awaited shower, a visit to the market, and our farewell traditional dinner before the airport transfer.
At 2:00 AM — flight from Djanet to Algiers.
(Included: three meals a day )
Day 12
07.11.2026
Arrival in Algiers at 6:00 AM. Flight from Algiers to your city.
Please book your return flight with sufficient time margin.
We are unique
For many years, we have been traveling the world to our small planet's most remote and unusual places. We do not use the services of domestic travel agencies. The trips we invent and carry out are always unique and have their unique zest, charm, and adventurous spirit.
WHY WITH PAGANEL?
Creation
The first thing that interests us is creativity in everything. During the expeditions, we shoot a lot of videos, take pictures, write stories, draw pictures. If you are interested in a creative approach to life and travel, then WELCOME... we are very happy to meet you!
Interest
By joining our team, you join a kind of club-family, which already consists of several hundred people who are interested in discovering the world with us.
Since most of the expenses for the organization of the trip are air tickets and travel documents for other types of transport, accommodation, excursions, services of local companies and guides, etc. are not refundable in case of your cancellation of the trip. We simply have no way to return it.
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