Experience a total solar eclipse above the skies of Northern Algeria on our ten-day tour of Algeria's highlights. We've timed this special departure to coincide with the eclipse taking place on 2nd August 2027, offering over five minutes of totality. Explore the coastal capital of Algiers, uncover the ancient cities of Tipaza, Timgad and Djemila and travel to the coastal city of Annaba where ancient sites sit side by side with modern day boulevards.
Breakfast: 9
Lunch: 2
Explore Tour Leader
Driver(s)
Local Guide(s)
Bus
Flight
9 nights comfortable hotel
Full on
Trip maximum 16 Explore average 11
Itineraries on some departure dates may differ, please select the itinerary that you wish to explore.
Our tour starts in the Algerian capital, Algiers. The country's largest city, Algiers today is a bustling Mediterranean port that can trace its origins back to Carthaginian traders of the 4th century BC. Dominated by the imposing walls of its citadel, the Kasbah quarter of the old town is a collection of meandering alleyways, palaces and mosques, that now fall under the protection of UNESCO. Away from the old town, the city's French colonial heritage embraces a collection of grand buildings and wide boulevards that sweep around the coastline.
There are no activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Algiers at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Algiers International Airport, also known as Houari Boumediene International Airport (ALG), which is around a 30-minute drive from the hotel depending on traffic. Due to the number of flights arriving later in the day, your tour leader will catch up with you the following morning for the welcome meeting.
El Aurassi Hotel (or similar)
Grade: Comfortable Hotel
After this morning's welcome briefing, we'll head west out of Algiers along the coast. Today we'll visit three sites along the Mediterranean coast. Our first stop is the massive, circular stone funerary monument of the Mausoleum of Mauritania, the final resting place of the last king and queen of Numidia. The views from the hilltop monument are impressive, with the fertile Mitidja plains stretching out beyond us. Historically, this area has been the agricultural heartland of the region.
Our next stop is Cherchell on the coast. The former capital of ancient Mauritania, today Cherchell has a busy fishing port. The town's museum houses a rare white marble copy of the Apollo of Phidias and a colossal statue of Augustus, as well as intricate mosaics depicting agricultural life and mythological scenes such as the Triumph of Dionysus. Just outside of the museum is the Place des Martyrs (Martyrs Square), a beautiful esplanade shaded by massive, centuries-old Phytolacca (Elephant) trees. It overlooks the harbour and serves as a lively meeting place for locals. You can spot Roman ruins scattered across the square, including ancient columns and capitals sitting amongst the modern benches.
We'll break for lunch in Tipaza, stopping at a local seafood restaurant (vegetarian options available) after lunch, it's a short ten-minute stroll to the archaeological park. Founded by the Carthaginians as a port and trading centre, the site contains a forum, four thermal baths and the outline of a large Christian Basilica. The setting is stunning, feeling like an open-air museum, situated between the mountains and the Mediterranean.
This morning we have time to explore the nations capital, Algiers. We'll start with a visit to the 92-meter / 300-foot-tall Monument to the Martyrs, situated on a hill and overlooking the city. We'll then head to the Church of Notre Dame d'Afrique, which dominates the bay above Bab El Oued, before driving to the 10th-century city known as the Kasbah, or "The Citadelle". The Kasbah is made up of a maze of narrow cobbled streets, as well as palaces and mosques that date back to the Ottoman period which we explore on foot.
Finally, we'll visit one of Algier's most important historical monuments, Bastion 23 (or Palais des Rais). This Ottoman-era complex houses three palaces, and we'll have the chance to roam through secret rooms inside. Please note, the order of our visits might change depending on traffic conditions.
After our visit, we'll have lunch in Algiers and then drive to Setif, a journey of three to four hours through rolling hills. Our hotel in Setif is centrally located, close to a good selection of restaurants and shops.
Hotel Tadj El Mouada (or similar)
After breakfast we'll take a short walk to visit the town's museum, which houses a number of excellently preserved Roman mosaics. We'll then drive an hour to one of the most extensive and well preserved Roman era sites in Algeria, Djemila. Sitting on a hilltop, 900 metres/2,952 feet above sea level with fine views across the valley, Djemila is a fascinating example of the way Roman urbanism adapted to the sloping alpine terrain. Founded by the Emperor Nerva, the village was built to house his subjects. The streets are lined with the remains of houses, temples and a forum - we can also see the basilica and several triumphal arches. While in Djemila, we'll visit the museum, where every square inch of wall is plastered with intricate mosaics, making it one of the finest collections in the country.
Lunch will be close to the site, after which we'll drive three hours to Batna.
Timgad Hotel Hazem (or similar)
A total eclipse of the sun will take place today, 2nd August 2027. The moon's shadow will landfall across Algeria at 8.51am, reaching totality at 10.01am, at which point the altitude of the sun will be around 38 degrees above the horizon.
The Moon orbits the Earth almost 13 times a year, and an eclipse happens if it lines up exactly with the Earth and the Sun. Solar eclipses occur at New Moon, when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun. Lunar eclipses occur at Full Moon, when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. A total eclipse of the sun occurs when the moon appears the same size as the sun, thus completely obscuring the light.
Eclipses do not take place every month because the orbits of the Moon and Earth are tilted at an angle. Most of the time, the line-up is not precise enough for an eclipse. When an eclipse is total, the solar corona can be seen as a white halo around the black disk of the Moon. Near the beginning and end of total eclipses, the thin, visible slice of the Sun appears broken up into blobs of light. These blobs are called 'Baily's beads' after the British astronomer Francis Baily. They happen because the edge of the Moon is not smooth but jagged with mountain peaks. When just one bead is visible, the effect is often likened to a diamond ring. The duration of the total eclipse on 2nd August 2027 will be 5 minutes 24 seconds making it one of the longest periods of totality this century.
We'll view the eclipse from one of Algeria's archaeological crown jewels, Timgad. This old Roman city, known as the Pompeii of Africa, was built by Emperor Trajan as a reward for his troops.
Because the city was built on flat ground, its grid layout remains one of the best-preserved in the ancient world. We'll wander the main thoroughfares to discover the old forum, the thermal baths, and the imposing Triumphal Arch. After watching the eclipse with our Explore tour leader, we will have a guided tour of the site, you'll have time to get lost in the maze of ancient streets at your own pace. Please note this eclipse departure is not accompanied by an astronomer.
After lunch we'll drive onwards to Constantine, perched above the Oued Rhumel River Valley. Constantine is also known as the 'City of Bridges' thanks to the seven bridges that span the ravine connecting the old city. Upon arrival in the city, we'll head to the Monument to the Dead, a memorial arch topped by a statue of the winged victory, commemorating the Algerian victims of World War I. Our vantage point up here lets us witness what a masterpiece of urban geography the city is. Walking downhill, we'll cross a suspension bridge (which hangs like a ribbon over the deep ravine) connecting the labyrinthine of the old city to the cliffs beyond. It's then a short walk along the busy Rue de Larbi Ben M'Hidi to our hotel in the city centre.
Novotel (or similar)
Today we'll explore Constantine - both on foot and by bus - with our tour leader.
Founded over 2,000 years ago, the city (formerly known as Cirta) is built on a plateau surrounded by deep ravines. This site was chosen so the city could be easily defended but over the centuries, it's outgrown the plateau and spilled over.
Heading out on foot, we'll retrace our steps along the central Rue Larbi Ben M'Hidi, the main shopping street selling everything from clothing and shoes to electronics. Just off the central boulevard is one of the finest Ottoman structures in the city, the Palace of Ahmed Bey. We'll explore the palace's courtyards and gardens filled with palms and orange trees, and see the tiled mosaics. Just outside the palace is the 11th-century Great Mosque, the oldest mosque in the city, which we'll see from the outside.
Next, we'll walk through the alleyways of the casbah, along the Boulevard of the Abyss, overlooking the city's vast gorges, to the Sidi M'Cid suspension bridge - the city's most iconic symbol. The bridge measures 175 metres/575 feet in height and 168 metres/552 feet in length and connects the city to the hill. From the bridge, we'll get views over the old Bab El Kantara Bridge and the Sidi Rached Viaduct.
Our final stop is the National Museum of Cirta. The museum is a treasure trove of antiquities and relics found in Constantine and the surrounding areas, including the bronze sculpture of winged 'Victory of Constantine.'
Our destination today is Algeria's fourth largest city, Annaba, situated on the Mediterranean close to modern day Tunisia. Heading back towards the coast, we'll make a stop an hour outside of Constantine to see the Roman ruins at Tiddis, occupied since the Neolithic period and containing several circular 'bazina' burial monuments from the pre-Roman Numidian times. The site is more compact than the other sites we've seen.
Continuing to Annaba, we'll drive directly to our modern hotel, located close to the sea, with fine views across the ocean from the terrace and a large swimming pool. The rest of the day is left free to explore the city or visit one of the fine beaches.
Seybouse Hotel (or similar)
This morning we'll explore some of the best sites in Annaba accompanied by our tour leader, including the ruins at Hippo Regius (the ancient name of the modern city of Annaba). The settlement served as an important city for many dynasties including the Phoenicians, the Romans, Berbers and the Vandals. The complex today includes residential quarters with rows of columns with paved streets, a large rectangular forum and foundations of numerous public buildings. We'll visit the museum which houses several well preserved examples of mosaics and relics.
Moving on, our next stop is the imposing Basilica of Saint Augustine, which sits on top of a hill overlooking the city and the ruins of Hippo Regius. Construction of the basilica began in 1881 and took almost 20 years to complete. Much of the material used in its construction was imported from France.
We'll then drive to the Cap de Garde, 15 minutes from the city. Offering fine views of the city and the coastline, the Ras Hamra Lighthouse is a historic landmark standing at the edge of the cape, serving as a guiding light for the Bay of Annaba; from here on a clear day it is possible to see far out to sea.
Lunch will be taken back in the city centre after which we'll have time to explore the elegant French colonial-era architecture along the wide boulevards that cross the centre. The rest of the day is free.
At the time of publication we plan to take a morning flight back to Algiers departing at 0830, the exact timing depends on flight schedules. The aim is to have the last afternoon back in the capital to further explore the city.
Our tour ends today at our hotel in Algiers.There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight departs later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to depart from Algiers International airport, also known as Houari Boumediene International Airport (ALG), which is around 30 minutes from the hotel depending on traffic.
Algeria has a semiarid to arid climate with mild, wet winters and hot dry summers. In Algiers the warmest temperatures occur during August, when the thermometer can reach up to 30°C, whilst January, its coldest month sees temperatures dropping as low as 10°C. Algiers has relatively high humidity (around 60%), with much of its rainfall occurring during the winter months.
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2 Pin Round
Sunni Muslim, Christian and Jewish
Arabic, French and Berber dialects.
Summer: Clothing should be lightweight as it will be very hot in July and Augsut when the eclipse takes place, it is worth taking a sun hat as the Roman sites we visit are very exposed to the sun with veryt little shade.
Whilst Algerian cuisine is not as diverse as neighbouring Tunisia or Morocco, you can still expect to find a good variety of dishes including hearty soups, delicious freshly baked bread, tagines and couscous with seasonal vegetables. Vegetarians can be catered for. Vegans and those with a gluten intollerance will struggle and need to be prepared to top up by bringing food from home. People with specific dietary requirements should consider such limitations carefully before booking, please speak to us if you have concernsor questions. Alcohol is not widely available throughout Algeria except in the larger cities in the north. It is permitted to bring alcohol into the county, but you should be discreet about when and where you consume it.
20Kg
Due to domestic airline weight restrictions, please ensure that your main luggage is limited to one piece weighing a maximum of 20kg.
A reusable filter water bottle, sunhat and high factor sunscreen are all essential, many of the sites have limited shade. It may be worth considering taking an umbrella to provide further protection from the sun.
Bus, Flight
It's worth bearing in mind that Algeria is a developing country and standards might not always be equivalent to those at home. Three of the hotels on this trip are rated as four or five star (in Algiers Constantine and Annaba), however these should not be compared to the equivalent ratings in Europe; as such we have rated these hotels as comfortable rather than premium. All three properties offer excellent facilities, the hotel in Algiers and Annaba has a swimming pool. Outside of the main cities hotels will be more basic.
We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination's safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. Relevant government website links for UK, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens are available on our Travel Safety page. If you'd like some inital information on country-specific entry requirements, such as visas or any health declaration forms, please refer to our Entry Requirements page. The services and information on this page are provided by a third party, and so we will still recommend that you cross check this against your government website for the latest advice.
Please note that some countries require proof of parental consent when travelling overseas with under 18s. Please check requirements with the relevant embassy or consular office well in advance of travel if this applies to your party.
Once your booking has been confirmed we guarantee the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. However, please note that if you voluntarily make any changes to your booking including changing your trip or departure date, any additional costs or charges incurred will not be covered. Before booking please ensure you have read our important tour pricing information.Booking Conditions
A visa is required to enter Algeria. Approximately 10 weeks prior to travel, Explore will contact you to request a scanned copy of the front page of your passport (the page with the photograph and personal details) and a scanned or saved copy of a completed Algerian visa application form. Please send these documents to Explore in good time. Explore will then send all documents onto our local partners in Algeria, who will obtain a visa on arrival authorization through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Algiers. Please note it takes up to 15 working days to get authorization. Explore will send you a boarding authorization document to present to your airline check in desk. Present you passport (which must be valid for at least 6 months), the boarding authorization document and 2 recent passport style photographs. Please write the first and last name of the applicant in pencil on the back of each photograph. You will need to pay for your visa in cash. We suggest clean Euros or US dollars. Fees typically range between €135 and €335 depending on the duration of your stay. Upon arrival at the airport you proceed to the passport control booths first and after this you will be directed to visa officer. The processing officer will print and affix the visa stamp into your passport. It should be noted that travellers often report wait times in excess of an hour to obtain a visa on arrival. Finally, it should also be noted that anyone with a passport showing evidence of having visited Israel (including having entered or left Jordan/Egypt from posts which are known to border Israel) are likely to be denied a visa for Algeria.
For customers visiting the EU, or transiting via EU countries, please be aware that the European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) is being rolled out, with full operation from 10 April 2026. This means that when you travel into, or depart from, the Schengen area for short stays, you will need to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo. You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration. On your first entry or exit into a Schengen country, you will be asked to register your details at a special booth before proceeding to the immigration desk. At some ports and international stations allow for extra time as there may be increased wait times while EES registration is completed before passengers leave the UK and transit through a EU country. Once initial registration has been completed future entering or exiting of an EU Schengen country should be simplified as only a single fingerprint scan or facial recognition scan will be required. If you do require assistance in obtaining a visa then you may be able to apply through Explore's recommended visa service in the UK, Travcour. See www.travcour.com to download the relevant visa application for your trip, if applicable (UK citizens only), along with details of how to apply for your visa through Travcour. The Team at Travcour will be happy to answer specific questions relating to visa applications, please call them directly on 0208 5431846. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport, with the correct validity for your chosen destination.
Before booking your Explore trip, please ensure that you read both our Essential Information and Booking Conditions.
Customers who have chosen to book on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements of our tour, please ensure that you have checked your tour specific ‘Joining Instructions’ prior to booking your own travel arrangements. Your joining instructions can be found below in the dates and prices information. You may also be eligible for the Free Explore Transfer.
Customers booked on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements will receive a Free Transfer, provided you arrive and depart on the tour only itinerary start and end dates. The complimentary transfers will be arranged from the Explore designated airport or train station to your trips joining point, and then back from the ending point to the designated airport or train station. Generally the airport or station that Explore have selected will be the one that is closest to the town or city where the trip starts, or the one nearest to the joining point. It will be either an airport or train station but not both. The exception to this rule is customers who are booked on a tour where the joining and ending point is at the designated airport or train station.
Free transfers are not available for Polar customers.
If you are not eligible for the Free Transfer then you will need to make your own way through to the joining and ending point. On a majority of our tours Explore will be able to provide a private transfer at an additional cost. Please ask for a quote at the time of booking. For more information regarding the Explore Free Transfer click here
It is a condition of booking with Explore that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter evacuation in the event of illness or injury and covers the entire duration of your holiday. If you are trekking at altitude please ensure that there is no upper altitude limit which may limit or exclude cover for your trip. The cost of many of our Polar Voyages will exceed the capped amount covered by standard insurance premiums and you will be required to pay an additional premium to cover the full value of your trip. Please ensure that you are covered for the full amount of your holiday cost, as insufficient cover could invalidate a claim under the policy. Medical and repatriation insurance cover is not mandatory for UK residents who are travelling on trips within the United Kingdom. Read more information about what travel insurance is required.
Explore can arrange your flights for you, to make joining and leaving our trips easy. Read more about them here.
You are able to book this tour on a 'land only' basis or as a ‘flight inclusive’ package. Your flight inclusive package will be fully protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ATOL protection scheme.
We have a good selection of flights not only from London but from many regional airports around the UK allowing us to compare fares between scheduled carriers as well as low cost and charter airlines. Our dedicated flights team will match the best flight options to your arrival and departure airport.
On our website we display the price of the tour only. Please call us or select the flight option during the online checkout to receive a quote for a flight inclusive package. To avoid paying supplements or to secure your preferred flight option, we recommend booking as early as possible, especially for peak travel dates.
We recommend protection against diphtheria; tetanus; poliomyelitis; hepatitis A; typhoid. The risk of malaria is limited to Ihrir and antimalarial tablets are not normally recommended. Yellow fever certificate required if over 1 year old and entering from an infected area. Special Note: Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by on the NaTHNaC website and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.