Tassili N'Ajjer,
Algeria, March, 2026


Participants: - confirmed
  2 tentative
Trip Status: TENTATIVE

The classic sites of the Tassili n'Ajjer plateau have been accesible again since 2022. In October 2022 and October 2024we made two long treks to the most important localities of the Tassili du Tamrit. On this shorter trip we plan to return with a focus to the central part, spending ample time at the key localities of Tin Tazarift and Sefar for photography, sometimes with the possibility to return in different light conditions. We will both ascend and return via the Akba Tafilalet, making a 11 day donkey or camel supported trek (depending on water availability). We will also spend a few days exploring some seldom visited areas.

NOTE: the group size is limited to a maximum of 12 participants to avoid overcrowding the sometimes small shelters, and also to allow everyone a reasonable time for photography while not having to wait forever for the whole group to finish. Participants will be confirmed on a first come, first served basis. If you are contemplating this expedition pease CONTACT ME so I can put you on the mailing list, I expect to have firm costs and dates by early August (2025).

 

Day 0. – Algiers - Djanet

Air Algerie departs at 23:00 to Djanet (sometimes direct, sometimes via Tamanrasset), arriving early next morning. This permits international arrivals up to late afternoon on this day, spending the afternoon and evening at the fine cafeteria of the Domestic terminal. If any of you elect to arrive a day or two earlier (to see Algiers or to get rid of the jetlag) I will help arrange a hotel in town or near the airport as preferred.

Day 1. - Djanet

We will need time to stock up on supplies and get our National Park passes, and in any case a lazy morning will be welcome after the night flight. I’ll do the necessary shopping in the morning, in the afternoon we will have time to visit some rock art sites and preislamic monuments in the Djanet vicinity, then drive to the foot of the Akba Tafilalet in the evening to camp, in order to make an early start in the cool of the morning.

Day 2. - Akba Tafilalet - Tamrit

At dawn our bags and supplies will be loaded on to the donkeys, and we will ascend the Tafilalet pass (about 4-5 hours from bottom to plateau top at a slow easy pace). Our first camp will be at Tamrit, in the afternoon we will have time to visit the valley of cypresses and the principal Tamrit sites.

Day 3 - Timenzouzine

Using Tamrit as a base, we'll make a day trip to Timenzouzine, with a number of fine sites and unique panels. There are also a number of Lhote copies still to be found, we will spend some time searching for them.

Day 4 - Titeras n'Elias - In Etouami - Tin Tazarift

Leaving Tamrit, we'll spend the day visiting the sites of Teteras n'Elias and In Etouami, reaching Tin Tazarift by the evening, where we'll spend two nights.

Day 5 - Adaba

A day-trip to the sites of Adaba, about 4-5 kilometres to the north of Tin Tazarift. These sites remain unpublished, very few people had the privilege to see them. The area is largely unexplored, we may well find unreported sites.

Day 6 - Tin Tazarift - Tin Teferiest - Sefar

In the morning we'll make the round of the Tin Tazarift sites, then return to camp for lunch before moving on. Tin Teferiest is a short kilometre and a half, we shold comfortably be there in half an hour, we will spend the rest of the afternoon progressing along the series of sites towards northern Sefar (really the same conjoined area).

  

Day 7 - Sefar

We will spend a full day (and two nights, saving having to break camp) at Sefar, the most important rock art locality on the Tassili. We will have the opportunity to re-visit sites to suit the best light conditions for photography.

  

Day 8-9 - Sefar South (Tin Raïcha)

We will continue for about 5km south along the edge of the Sefar “rock city” for about 5km, where a large contcentration of sites (Tin Raïcha ) were reported by Bernard Fouilleux (not recorded by the Lhote missions). We’ll spend two days visiting the numerous sites, camping in the area.

Day 10 - Tin Raïcha - Tin Rassoutine - Issidjčloula

We will start making our return towards the Akba Tafilalet, passing the stes of Tin Rassoutine, camping at Issidjčloula about half-way to the pass.

Day 11 - Issidjčloula - Tafilalet

About 8km to the top of the pass, with time in the afternoon to visit the cluster of sites around camp.

Day 12 - Akba Tafilalet

Descent via the Akba Tafilalet. As we will be camping right at the start of the descent, we should comfortably reach the bottom of the pass by midday. All things going well, we can have lunch at the Essendilene premises in Djanet. In the afternoon we will make a drive to the famed crying cows (Terarart) engravings.

Day 13. Return to Algiers

Air Algerie flights to Algiers depart in the small hours, arriving early in the morning, connecting to onward international flights later in the morning & afternoon.

 

 

For information on expected costs, planned dates and any further questions, please send me an email.

 

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