Paysage Sahara algérien

Terres Touareg

Our spirit

Journey to the heart of the Algerian Sahara: immersion in one of the world’s most majestic and vast deserts

I already dreamt of Algeria as a kid ! Images of desert seen in books, caravans, dromedaries, sand dunes for as far as the eye can see… Sensations were missing though. I had to live Algeria and succumb to its charms. I studied in the tourism sector, which would allow me to combine my job and passion for Algeria. I finally could walk this dreamt land. The strongest shock went from (là ça depend de quoi tu parles, si c’est un livre ou un film tu laisses “Terre des Touareg” , si tu parles de la terre des Touaregs en general c’est “Tuareg land”). I was seized by the blue of the sky, the ocher of rocks and orange color of dunes, which became the setting of the emotions I felt for Tuareg people.
I invite you to discover these people, wonderful and open-minded, a matriarchal society full of wisdom. Tuareg people like to unveil their treasures, from cave art to cooking, from their music to their songs.

There, only the essential counts. Their hospitality is sincere for who accepts to share their everyday life, values, respect of nature and what it is giving them, and moreover for those who accepts to come back transformed. While camping, away from mass tourism, accompanied and safe, discover the South Algerian magic, its bright colors, its captivating curves, the philosophy of life and joy of the people living there. Without being a travel agency, I make the link with my partner there in Tassili n’Ajjer in Djanet, and offer you Tuareg land on a silver plate. Let yourself be carried away as I was !

Kelly Blanc, founder of Terres Touareg and rock art speaker in universities

Explore Tassili n’Ajjer and Djanet: natural wonders and listed cultural heritage

Tassili n’Ajjer is a vast plateau located southeast in Algeria. Covering an area of 120 000 km², this high plateau is more than 1000 meters above sea level and peaks at 2158 meters. Also called Tassili of Ajjer, this massif is mainly composed of sandstone coming from mountains erosion which were formerly covering Sahara desert. A true natural and cultural gem, this vast plateau is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is renowned for its breathtaking panoramas.

Dominated by rock massifs with strange shapes and changing colors, Tassili n’Ajjer offers a mind-blowing spectacle. Tremendous natural arches, deep canyons and orange sand dunes are creating a striking scenery, revealing traces of countless years of erosion and geological changes. Tassili n’Ajjer is not only natural beauty. It also shelters a cultural and exceptional heritage, thousands paintings and engravings making this site one of the biggest open-air museums of the world. These neolithic masterpieces, millennia old, are representing daily life, wild fauna and rituals of people who once lived in this land, then fertile.

Djanet, Tassili n’Ajjer capital city, is also a historical and charming place. With about 20 000 inhabitants, mainly Tuareg people. Djanet is an important oasis and the principal town in southeast Algerian Sahara. In the era of French Algeria, it was called Fort Charlet. The ‘Djanet’ term finds its origins and Berber dialect and means ‘companion place’. Nestled at the foot of the mountains, this Saharan oasis offers a striking contrast with the surrounding desert. Narrow streets, traditional houses and lively market reveal an authentic lifestyle where inhabitants’ hospitality is renowned. While discovering the Tassili n’Ajjer and Djanet, visitors are immersed in a majestic and mysterious universe where nature, culture and history are gathered to offer a memorable experience.

Our partner

Our partner located in Djanet is proposing adventure travels in small groups, in family or bespoke since 25 years. Whether you walk, mount dromedaries or driving all-terrain vehicles, our partner is guiding you to captivating destinations awaking imagination and stimulating senses. Accessible to all, trips proposed offer a guaranteed exotic experience, enhanced with thrills that will mark your memory for a long time. Our local partner has a strong knowledge and a sincere love for this desert.

Our partner is engaging in five points

Our partner is constantly trying to find the most spectacular itineraries and most astonishing views to enrich your experience. Trips are conceived to be adapted to different levels and attempts. Your guide and his team are attentive to the smooth running of your travel and will share their deep knowledge of the region. They particularly care about your comfort in camping, meals and logistic, taking in account local possibilities. Moreover, to guarantee a personalized and joyful atmosphere, groups are limited from 4 to 15 people.

Our partner is guaranteeing a professional and experimented team since 25 years in Saharan tourism. Itineraries are carefully elaborated and tested by qualified guides. The Tuareg professional team is composed of people knowing each corner of their home, the desert. With their expertise, you can be sure that your trip will not only be safe, but also enriching and memorable. Our team speaks Arabic, Tamahaq, but also French, English, Italian and Polish.

Our partner is guaranteeing an optimal safety throughout your journey thanks to local guides available 24/7. Moreover, a satellite telephone support service is at your provision for the duration of your trip. In case of unforeseen circumstances, Terres Touareg and its partner are always available to answer your needs and find adapted solutions. The group safety is an absolute priority on the ground : a quality equipment and a first-aid kit are provided.

Working with our partner, you recognize their inestimable expertise in the region. Our partner is doing his best to keep remuneration practices fair and transparent, reflecting the value of the work and know-how. By paying fairly local guides, you not only contribute to their financial well-being, but also to the economic development of local communities.

Our partner is ensuring to keep the visited sites clean and has an efficient way to handle wastes, to minimize the tourism environmental impact. Moreover, it tries to make each traveler aware of the importance of preserving the delicate balance of nature.

Five values of our partner

The meetings while traveling begin the one of ourselves. It is a spiritual quest which can only be satisfied in these enchanting places where silence dominates. Each journey is transforming in a deep and sincere friendship, with other travelers or with our partner. Finally, the encounters with Tuareg offer an authentic immersion in their daily life.

While traveling in Tuareg land, our partner attaches a major importance to the respect of traditions and local customs. Participating to this experience, you will have the opportunity to discover and share ancestral rituals of these nomad people while establishing respectful and authentic links with them. Our partner encourages travelers to open their minds and to be sensible to their culture throughout their stay, to favor enriching and respectful exchanges with hosts. Respecting traditions and customs means contributing to preserve integrity and dignity of Tuareg communities, and guarantees an authentic and memorable trip.

In this simple travel, we aspire to find the essence of life with our local team. It is a back to basics, where simplicity is our guide. In the heart of the desert, away from modern world agitation, let yourself be enveloped by infinite dunes quietness, sleep under the stars, enjoy a good coffee at the top of a dune. With Tuaregs as companions, you will discover a lifestyle made of sobriety and wisdom.

Our partner steps out culture, richness and history of Tassili n’Ajjer region. Tuareg attach a great importance to archeological sites telling fascinating stories of their people. Tuaregs have a deep attachment for paintings and rock cravings adorning landscapes on their land. Exploring these sites, Tuaregs encourage travelers to enjoy and respect these precious testimonies of the past, interact with these masterpieces in a preservation and respect spirit to preserve their integrity and beauty for future generations.

During your journey, our partner is enhancing the preservation of nature, biodiversity and respect of fauna and flora. Tuaregs firmly believe in the importance of preserving unique and fragile ecosystems of this exceptional region. In the heart of the desert and its oasis, you will discover an astonishing biodiversity adapted to extreme climate conditions, where each species plays an essential role in the ecosystem balance. For travelers, each moment spent into nature is an occasion to reconnect to our environment and take care of it.

Do you have a question about your trip?

Contact us!