ANTIQUE ALGERIA 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 Sahara desert into the palm-fringed oases. Some of the highlights include the Roman ruins of Timgad, the former Roman port of Caesarea, the oases towns of Ghardaia and Bou Saada, the gorge of Sisi Meid and the Casbah of Algiers. This fascinating tour offers the adventurous traveler an alluring blend of art, history, culture and scenery, including the marvelous Moorish city of Tlemcen, 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 Mawlid 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 - Oran 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 byzantine architecture. 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 mosque. 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 (citadel) 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 pilgrimage, 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 Pasha 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 Basilica, 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 Tiddis, a rarely visited Roman town, clinging in ter- is of neo-Moorish architecture, 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 Rome. 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 forum. 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 Cherchell and Tipasa. 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 4th century 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 Trajan, which is located in the ruins of Timgad. It is sur- Mauretania. 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 mosaics. The Constantine” currently visible in the Cirta 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.