# Bou Saada — 2-Day Oasis Escape

> Two days at Bou Saada, the 'City of Happiness' — its waterfall and the historic Ferrero Mill, craft markets, a Bedouin dinner and the El Hamel shrine.

- Price: from €288 per person (private trip or small group)
- Duration: 2 days · 1 night
- Starts: Algiers
- Best season: October–April
- Guides speak: English, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, German, Russian
- Visa on arrival at Algiers airport possible: no — consulate visa with our invitation letter
- Web page: https://algeriacompass.com/tours/bousaada-desert-tour/
- Book (request, no payment to enquire): https://algeriacompass.com/contact/?tour=bousaada-desert-tour

## Overview

Bou Saada, long known as the 'City of Happiness', is the classic gateway between the High Plateaus and the Sahara. Over two days you visit its natural waterfall and the historic Ferrero Mill, wander lively craft markets, share a Bedouin-style dinner with live music, and see the Sufi zawiya of El Hamel. It's an easy, atmospheric taste of southern Algeria, a few hours from Algiers.

## Highlights

- Bou Saada, the 'City of Happiness'
- The natural waterfall and the historic Ferrero Mill
- Traditional craft markets
- A Bedouin-style dinner with live music
- The Sufi zawiya of El Hamel

## Day by day

### Day 1 — Algiers to Bou Saada

Morning departure from Algiers by tourist vehicle, hotel check-in, then an afternoon at the natural waterfall, the historic Ferrero Mill and the traditional markets, with a Bedouin-style dinner and local music in the evening.
- **The Bou Saada waterfall**: A natural cascade in the oasis — the cool green corner of the 'City of Happiness'.
- **The Ferrero Mill**: A historic riverside mill, a landmark of old Bou Saada.
- **The traditional markets**: Souks for silver jewellery, wool and dates, with a Bedouin dinner and music in the evening.

### Day 2 — El Hamel Zawiya & return

After breakfast, visit the mountain Sufi shrine of El Hamel with time for photos and the landscape, a local lunch in Bou Saada, then the afternoon return to Algiers.
- **The Ouled Naïl foothills**: The drive out to El Hamel through bare ochre hills — the landscape that made Bou Saada a painters’ town.
- **The El Hamel zawiya**: A hilltop Rahmaniyya Sufi shrine and Quranic school above Bou Saada — calm, austere and panoramic.
- **Lunch in Bou Saada**: A local table back in the oasis before the road north — couscous or a tagine in the shade of the palms.

## Included

- Accommodation at the Kerdada Hotel or similar
- Visit to the natural waterfall
- Guided visit of the Ferrero Mill
- Traditional markets
- Bedouin-style dinner with music
- Visit to El Hamel Zawiya
- Lunch on day 2
- Round-trip transport from Algiers
- Multilingual guide

## Not included

- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Tips

## Questions

**How far is Bou Saada from Algiers?**
A few hours by road; round-trip transport is included.

**Is accommodation included?**
Yes — one night at the Kerdada Hotel or similar, with a day-2 lunch.

**What is El Hamel?**
A historic Sufi zawiya — a shrine and religious school — near Bou Saada.

**Is it a good short desert taster?**
Yes — it's the easiest southern escape from the capital.

## Booking & policies

- Request to book: dates are held free for 72 hours with no payment while availability, permits and flights are confirmed; a 20% deposit paid before arrival then secures the trip, and the balance is paid on arrival in Algeria. Payment by bank transfer, card or PayPal.
- 5% off when booked at least 60 days before departure.
- Free cancellation up to 5 days before departure, full refund. Within 5 days, committed costs may not be recoverable; the rest is refunded.
- If the visa is refused, everything paid to Algeria Compass is refunded.
- Visa: Consulate route: invitation letter 25 USD for a programme of at least 3 days with airport pickup and drop-off. Visa on arrival at Algiers airport for organised programmes that include the Sahara: authorisation 45 USD, plus the arrival stamp paid at the airport (by length of stay).