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Home , Archaeology in Algeria, Casbah of Algiers, Cherchell, Emir Abdelkader, Emir Abdelkader Mosque, Mechouar

ANTIQUE October 17 to November 01, 2021

Led by Mohamed Halouani, Lecturer and Roman Historian Photo Credit Gary Krosin Algeria is a vast country of breathtaking scenery, well-preserved Roman ruins, pre-historic cave paintings and a strong Berber culture. Your journey will take you from the sweeping shoreline to the majestic mountains, through the huge wilderness of the desert into the palm-fringed oases. Some of the highlights include the Roman ruins of , the former Roman port of Caesarea, the oases towns of Ghardaia and Bou Saada, the gorge of Sisi Meid and the Casbah of . This fascinating tour offers the adventurous traveler an alluring blend of art, history, culture and scenery, including the marvelous Moorish city of , voted recently as one of the best 41 places one should see in a lifetime... Ihab Zaki Managing Director, Spiekermann Travel

Sun, Oct 17 Grand Erg Occidental, an “ocean” of uninhabited sand, largely un- Arrive Algiers explored, and difficult to access. After the afternoon prayer, which is at about 4:30PM, we’ll walk to the main square to attend the Upon arrival in Algiers, you’ll be met and transferred to Hotel Lalla festivities, and then return to your hotel in Béni Abbès for Douja (or similar) for check-in, the rest of the day is free to relax dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) and enjoy the city. Algiers, situated along the Bay of Algiers, is the capital of Algeria, as well as, the country’s political, economic, and Thu, Oct 21 cultural center. The city was founded by the Phoenicians around Béni Abbès - Adrar - 1200 BC. (No meals included today). In the early morning, transfer to Adrar, capital of the Touat region, Mon, Oct 18 characterized as Timimoun by neo Sudanese architecture in red Algiers - Timimoun earth. There will be time for a short visit to the National Archives After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your 10:00AM flight to Center, then transfer to the airport for your 11:45AM flight to Oran Timimoun, also known as “the Red Oasis”. Upon arrival at 12:50PM, arriving at 2:10PM (lunch will be on the flight). Oran is the second transfer to the city for an orientation tour and check-in at Djenane largest city in Algeria, west of Algiers, founded in the 10th century Malek Lodge (or similar). Head to visit the palm system of “fogga- by the Andalusians, and is marked by the Arab-Berber dynasties. ra” (underground galleries) found in Timimoun. They are different Traces of Spanish and French occupation are still present. The than those at Ghardaia but the distribution of irrigation (water, land, half-day city tour will include the Place of Arms (the emblematic palm groves) is the same. In the afternoon, depart for a 4x4 vehicle place of Oran), the Zabana Museum, and the old Cathedral with excursion to explore the oasis and “ksours” (towns or communes) neo . Check in at the Best Western Hotel (or around the Sebkha of Timimoun (Ighzer and Ouled Said). Return similar) for dinner and overnight. (B,D) to the dunes at the end of the day to pick the “sand roses” (clusters Fri, Oct 22 of gypsum and sand that form a rose-like pattern) and watch the Oran - Tlemcen sunset. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) In the morning, we’ll continue the tour with visits to the station, Tue, Oct 19 the Palace of Bey, the Fort, the Chapel of Santa Cruz (Spanish Timimoun - Béni Abbès inheritance of the 16th and 19th centuries), and the outside of We’ll depart to Béni Abbès, the local capital of the Saoura region. It Ibn Badis . Lunch suggestion: Paella Oranaise at a local was founded in the 11th century. Date palm farming is the commu- restaurant, then depart to Tlemcen (two-hour drive). Check in nity’s main source of income. As much as Timimoun is “the red oasis”, to Stambouli Hotel (or similar) for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) Beni Abbes is the white one. In the background, the “Grande Dune” Sat, Oct 23 of 460 feet of white sand dominates the valley. The city is home to a Tlemcen - Algiers museum and a research center on “arid zones”, where Algerian and foreign researchers come to work. Visit the Hermitage of Father de Tlemcen was considered the “capital of Arab culture” in 2011. Foucault. The celebration of Mawlid Ennabaoui, the anniversary of We’ll begin the day with a visit to the Mansurah and the His- the birth of the prophet Mohamed in Béni Abbes is one of the great pani Moorish Arts, then Lella Setti for a panoramic view of the Muslim religious and cultural festivals, celebrated in the main square city, the Mosque of Sidi Boumedienne, the exterior of the Great with folk stories and religious songs and more after the afternoon Mosque (12th century), the museum, the synagogue, the prayer from 4:00 to 6:00PM. Transfer to Rym Hotel (or similar) for in Weavers’ Quarter to visit a workshop, the tombs of kings, the Béni Abbès check in, dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) Mechouar () built in 1145AD, and the Palace. We’ll then drive for 4.5 miles from the city to El Ourit waterfalls, a wonder Wed, Oct 20 of nature; also we’ll visit the railway viaduct, built in the 19th Béni Abbès - Kerzaz - Béni Abbès century by the Gustave Eiffel Company. Lunch will be “en route”, then transfer to the airport to take your 6:00PM flight to Algiers. In the morning, we’ll depart to Kerzaz, and to the village of Upon arrival at 7:05PM, meet and transfer to Lalla Doudja Hotel “Zaouia”, founded in the 15th century. It is a holy city and a place (or similar) for check in and overnight. You will be free to choose of , and then we’ll return to Béni Abbès along the a restaurant in Algiers for your self-arranged dinner. (B,L) Sun, Oct 24 Wed, Oct 27 Algiers Ghardaia - Constantine

Today we’ll enjoy a city tour of Algiers. The tour will include the You’ll have a chance to explore more of the market and the city. Casbah (World Heritage by UNESCO), the Museum of Arts and Ghardaia is a major producer of dates and the wood is used to Popular Traditions, the Palace and its collection of illumi- make roofs for the homes. Other local products include camel nations, plus the exterior of the Ketchaoua Mosque, which has hair items, pottery, baskets, and rugs. After lunch, transfer to the been restored by the Turkish State. After lunch at a traditional airport for your 4:45PM flight toConstantine , arriving at 6:15PM. house in the Casbah (if possible), we’ll visit the Roman Catholic Upon arrival, meet and transfer to Proeta Hotel (or similar) for , known as the “Notre Dame d’Afrique”, which is a splen- check in, dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) did building of neo-byzantine architecture and is ornately dec- Thu, Oct 28 orated with Spanish-Moorish décor. Continue your tour of the Constantine modern district with a visit to the Museum of Antiquities, the Bardo National Museum, and the monument dedicated to the Today’s excursion will take you about 20 miles outside of Con- martyrs. End your day with a visit to the villa “Abdeltif”, which stantine to , a rarely visited Roman town, clinging in ter- is of neo-, dedicated to artists, painters and races on the side of an ochre mountain. It is one of Algeria’s most writers, in the image of the city of the Medicis in . Dinner beautiful ancient sites, in spite of its miniature size, boasting all will be on own then return to your hotel for overnight. (B,L) the trappings of a Roman town: paved streets, a temple of Mi- thras, a wonderful arch, cisterns, and a minute . This ancient Mon, Oct 25 Numidian and Roman city was built to protect Cirra and contains Algiers traces of an old Berber civilization. We’ll visit the Roman ruins, and

After breakfast, we’ll depart for and . Cherchell, then return to Constantine to visit the Sidi M’Cid (a monument also known as “IOL”, is 62 miles west of Algiers and was built in dedicated to the 800 Constantinois who died - Muslim, Jewish the BC. During Roman times, the city became known and Christian - during World War I). This triumphal arch is inspired as “Ceasaree” and became the capital of the ancient kingdom of by that of , which is located in the ruins of Timgad. It is sur- . We’ll visit some of the ruins in the center of the city mounted by a Roman bronze statuette, named “The Victory of and the museum, which contains some beautiful . The Constantine” currently visible in the Museum. Constantine, current small fishing port was built on the site of the ancient port. the third-largest city in Algeria, was named after the great Ro- Continue to Tipasa (19 miles), an ancient city built near the sea, man emperor and is considered the commercial center of this between the 6th and 5th centuries BC. Formerly known as “Phoe- region. Situated on a plateau about 2,100 feet and framed by a nician”, Tipasa became a Roman colony in the 2nd century AD. deep gorge, it is often referred to as the “City of Bridges” due to We’ll visit the Museum and Archaeological Park (World Heritage its many picturesque bridges around the city. We’ll also visit the Site by UNESCO). Tipasa enchanted the French philosopher, Al- bert Camus, who was born in Algeria and won a Nobel Prize and suspension bridge, the Cirta Museum, the Palace of the Bey, is the author of “Noces” and “L’Etranger”, in particular. Return to the Roman bridge, the Mosque of Abdelkader and we’ll Algiers to enjoy dinner on own then overnight at your hotel. (B,L) walk in the old city with its shops and cafes before returning to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) Tue, Oct 26 Algiers - Ghardaia Fri, Oct 29 Constantine - Timgad Transfer in the early morning to the airport for your flight toGhar - daia (7:45AM arriving at 9:15AM), one of the five Mozabite towns After breakfast, we’ll depart to visit the of “Medra- that occupy the M’Zab valley. The Mozabites are an Islamic sect that cen”, the largest pre-Roman conic monument in the has retained its traditional dress and customs similar to the Druze in and believed to be the burial site of a highly ranked Numidian the Levant. We’ll see the system of water-sharing controlled by rep- chief. Then continue to the city of Timgad (ancient “Thamuga- resentatives of the community. We’ll also visit the Great Mosque di”). Timgad is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is known as the from the outside, and the market of the main square in Ghardaia “Pompei of North-”. It was built in the 1st century AD during with carpets and crafts. We’ll visit the interior of a traditional house the reign of “Trajan”. We’ll visit the main monuments, such as the in El Atteuf. Then, we’ll visit the holy city of Béni Isguen: the alleys, forum, the theater, the baths, and the capitol. The ruins are in an the mosque and the “auction market” (unique in the region) and excellent state of preservation and indicate the power, organi- watch the sunset in the palm grove before checking in to a tradi- zation and economic and social life of the . We’ll tional lodge for dinner and overnight in Béni Isguen. (B,L,D) visit the museum, which has just re-opened after being closed Note: Visitors are not allowed in the town during the midday for nearly 20 years. It is considered the largest museum of mosa- prayers, which can last up to four hours, nor are visitors al- ics in all the Mediterranean countries. After lunch at a traditional lowed in after sunset or to stay for the night. You will be re- house or restaurant, we’ll visit a part of the Lambaseas ruins and quired to stay with the group and will not be allowed to wan- der off on your own. Taking photographs of the local people the museum. Transfer to Trajan Hotel (or similar) in Timgad for is also forbidden. Please be respectful of these local customs. dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) Sat, Oct 30 Timgad -

After breakfast, we’ll depart for Arris in the , along one of the most beautiful routes in all of Algeria: the canyon along the Oued Labiod. Arris is in the heart of the region of “Aurès”. A village called within this region is known for the first shot of the outbreak of the “War of Liberation of Algeria” on No- vember 1st, 1954. There is a inscription engraved in the rock in the gorge that indicates the detachment of the Legio VI Ferrata ( from Syria). A road was established through the gorge in the year 145 AD, under the reign of Antoninus the Pius. We’ll continue to Rhouffiand Mchounèche, typical villages of “Chaouia”, the real inhabitants of Aurès and the little oasis of Sidi Obka, located 12.5 miles from , to visit the mosque. The mosque was built in 686 AD and is one of the oldest in Maghreb. It was inspired by the first mosque built in Medi- na (Saudi Arabia) and was enlarged in 1025 AD. The architec- tural jewel of the mosque is the mausoleum containing Okba Ibn Nefâa’s tomb (Okba was the lead chief of the Arab troops to conquer North-Africa). In the afternoon, we’ll drive to Sétif via El Kantara Gorge, which separates two regions with oppo- site aspects. The Romans occupied the site, making this natural breach a strategic point of surveillance. They liked to believe that this gap was due to a heel strike of Hercules (“Calceus Her- culis”). The Romans erected a stone bridge in the 4th century with a single arch 33 feet in diameter. At the time, it was the only passage between north and south. This bridge was restored in 1862 by Napoleon III. We’ll also visit El Kantara, the old Berber village, called the “Red Village”, and the museum. Lunch will be “en route”, and then we’ll continue on to Sétif and transfer to your hotel (TBD) for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

Sun, Oct 31 Setif-Djemila-Algiers After an early breakfast, we’ll head at 8:00AM to visit Djémila (a UNESCO World Heritage site), located 31 miles northeast of Setif. Known by its ancient name, “Cuicul”, the site of Djemila is a former Roman colony founded under the reign of (96 - 98 AD). Cuicul is one of the jewels of Roman architecture in . The site also features several Christian buildings of worship, such as a basilica and a church with its baptistery considered among the greatest of the Early-Christian period. We’ll visit the remarkable collection of mosaics in the museum. We will have lunch in Djemi- la, and then in the afternoon, we’ll drive back to Algiers for a fare- well dinner and overnight at Lalla Doudja Hotel (or similar). (B,L,D)

Mon, Nov 01 Algiers - USA After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to the USA. (B)

We reserve the right to change hotels, restaurants or the order of activities if/as needed” Your lecturer and guide, Mr. Mohamed Halouani is a Tunisian native who transformed his profound Tour cost (Land Only): passion for travel and history into a creative and per person sharing in double occupancy diversified educational career, designing and car- 4-5 participants: $7,395 rying out multiple archaeological and cultural 6+ participants: $5,975 trips for institutions such as The Detroit Institute of Art, the Textile Museum, the American Museum Single supplement: $1,200 of Natural History, Cross Cultural Adventurers and Trip cost is based on minimum of 4 participants and many more organizations. After having received his degrees in En- maximum of 12 participants glish and Spanish, Mr. Halouani completed his European Master’s in If the trip participant’s number drops below 4, the tour linguistics and Hispanic studies at the Sorbonne University in Paris. He will run with local guides (no lecturer) has extensive knowledge on and Eastern deco- Trip Grade: II Lodging Level: ***-**** rative elements, as well as Roman archaeology and history. A skilled multilingual interpreter, Mohamed has served as the head tour guide in . He now resides in Paris and leads only certain select small groups to the countries in North Africa that boast the highest concentration of Roman Ruins (notably Tunisia and Algeria).

Tour includes: Tour does not include:

• Round-trip airport/hotel/airport transfers. • International Flights USA-Algiers-USA. • Hotel accommodation in 3-5 star properties. • Cost of visa (currently US$160.00) – Obtainable from the • Meals as mentioned by day (B: Breakfast, L: Lunch and D: Dinner) Algerian consulate in Washington DC. including bottled water on the vehicle during touring. • Gratuity to Lecturer: Mr. Mohamed Halouani. • Experienced English speaking local guides. • Alcoholic beverages with or without meals. • Transport during the trip in A/C vehicle. • Items of a personal nature (laundry, phone calls, emails, • All entrance fees to sites, museums and ruins. excess luggage, etc.) • Domestic flights inside Algeria. • Tips to driver and guides • Tips to drivers & guides (as long as minimum requirement is met). (if group size is less than 6 participants). • Travel insurance (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED).

Trip Grade: II Active – Some hikes, slightly more de- manding walks at or to sites, few elevations, comfortable but busy schedule and some very long rides. A few times you may be delayed by the security personnel at some check points and this necessitates a tolerant and patient attitude.

Lodging Level: *** - **** Superior - Lodges and hotels with additional amenities, refined service and comfort level acceptable to western standards. (4-3 stars). In Ghardaia it is a local authentic guesthouse with suit- able comforts and private bathrooms but simple service levels. 5 star properties in Algiers.

Trip Remarks: The itinerary is subject to change depending on the schedule of internal flights within Algeria (it can only be firmed up around 1 month before departure). Also the se- quence of the program could change based on - tic flight schedule. The visa for Algeria takes about one week after we have provided approval letters/invitations for each client. Your passport must not include any Israeli stamps.

Spiekermann Travel Service, Inc. 18421 East Nine Mile Road, Eastpointe, MI 48021 Phone: 1-800-645-3233 Fax: 586-775-9556 www.mideasttrvl.com [email protected]