Tassili N'Ajjer,
Algeria, March, 2027


Participants: 2 confirmed
  1 tentative
Trip Status: CONFIRMED

Following the unexpected success of our March 2026 expedition, this trip will be a continuation of the search for missing missing Lhote relevés and exploring seldom or never visited parts of the plateau. Drawing on the experience of fequently finding a semi-circle of large stones in front of shelters with paintings, a number of potential localities have been identified on Google Earth, we will attempt to reach and search these.

We will make a 18 day camel supported trek ascending the Akba Assakao, starting at the king expedition to the Tissoukaï / Idoo area, with the second half of the trip allotted to searching remote unvisited areas to the north of Ouan Bender, with return via the Akba Isselihouhene. This trip will involve walks of 12-15km per day on rocky terrain, a reasonable degree of physical fitness is required. While we will visit some known sites the focus will be on exploring unsurveyed areas, so this trip is more suited for repeat visitors rather that Tassili first timers.

NOTE: the group size is limited to a maximum of 6 participants, confirmed on a first come, first served basis. If you are contemplating this expedition please CONTACT ME as soon as possible.

 

Day 0. – Algiers - Djanet

Air Algerie departs around 22:00 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 drive to the starting point for the Akba Assakaoto camp, in order to make an early start in the cool of the morning.

Day 2-3. - Ascent of Akba Assakao

It takes two days to reach the top of the Akba Assakao, along a long but gradual way, with he only steep climbing part attainable in two hours on the afternoon of the second day. We will make the interim camp near the fine rock art site of Tajouiset.

Day 4 - Assakao - Tissoukaï

We will go to our base camp at Tissoukaï by way of Ta Mellet and Ouan Amazak, two lesser sites reported by earlier travelers

Day 5-7 - Tissoukaï / Ouan Selalamine / Rhardes

We will spend four nights at the Tissoikaï base, making day-trips out of there to find a number of important and still missing Lhote sites, and re-visit the principal sites of these areas.

Day 8 - Tissoukaï - Tehent Marouelin

There are a number of scattered important sites reported by other travelers among the maze of rocks along the upper course of the Oued Idoo. We will have a leisurely day to see them all, and also to search the area for potential unrecorded sites.

Day 9 - Tehent Marouelin - Takedidoumatine

We will continue to Takedidoumatine, which we did visit in October 2025, but failed to find a number of the Lhote relevés, hopefully we will be able to do so this time.

Day 10-15 - Area north of Ouen Bender

Numerous shelters with stone structures in front of them have been identified in the area north of Ouan Bender. As this area is not regularly visited, and is criscrossed by steep-walled valleys, our exact plans and itinerary will greatly be influenced by the routes the camels can take. Possibly we will make a base and make day trips from there.

Day 16-17 - Ouan Bender - Ouan Agouba - Akba Isselihouhene

Over two days we will make our way back to the top of the Akba Isselihouhene, with time to stop at Ouan Bender and Ouan Agouba, both of which have plenty of unfinished business as well as some spectacular known sites.

Day 18-19 - Descent on Akba Isselihouhene

Coming down the main pass will probably take a three-four hours, but then there is a roughly 20km trek in the valleys below until one reaches the point accessible with cars, we should reach Djanet on the afternoon of the second day.

Day 20. 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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