Tamanrasset & the Hoggar

Overview

Tamanrasset, the largest town of the Algerian deep south, sits at about 1,400 m at the foot of the Hoggar (Ahaggar) mountains. The massif is a world of black volcanic peaks, basalt columns and high plateaus, with Algeria's highest summit, Mount Tahat, at about 2,900 m. It is the homeland of the Kel Ahaggar Tuareg, and Tamanrasset grew from a small oasis into a crossroads of the trans-Saharan routes.

Top attractions

• Assekrem plateau — at about 2,700 m, with the hermitage built by Charles de Foucauld in 1911 and a panoramic view over the Atakor.
• The Atakor massif — volcanic needles such as Ilamane and spectacular basalt "organ pipes".
• Tamanrasset — its market, the Bordj Moussa (fort) and Charles de Foucauld's house in town.
• Tuareg gardens and camps in the valleys around Hirafok and Ideles.
• Rock art in the surrounding valleys, less famous but no less beautiful than the Tassili.

Culture

The Kel Ahaggar Tuareg are known for the imzad, a one-string violin played by women and inscribed by UNESCO, for their silver jewellery and for the indigo veil worn by men. A day with a Tuareg family — tea ceremony, bread baked in the sand, camel herding — is a highlight of any visit.

Experiences

• Sunrise and sunset from the Assekrem, one of the great views of the Sahara.
• 4x4 journey through the volcanic Atakor with short walks.
• Stargazing in thin, dry mountain air.