# Western Algeria: Oran, Mostaganem & Tlemcen (5 Days)

> Five days across the Algerian west — the port city of Oran, the beaches of Mostaganem and the Andalusian heritage of Tlemcen: mosque, palace and falls.

- Price: from €768 per person (private trip or small group)
- Duration: 5 days · 4 nights
- Starts: Oran
- Best season: Spring & autumn (mild); summer for the beaches
- 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/oran-mostaganem-tlemcen/
- Book (request, no payment to enquire): https://algeriacompass.com/contact/?tour=oran-mostaganem-tlemcen

## Overview

The west is Algeria's Andalusian heart. From the lively port of Oran — Santa Cruz fort on its mountain, the grand Place du 1er Novembre, the seafront and museums — you follow the Mediterranean to the beaches of Mostaganem, then climb to Tlemcen, the old capital of Andalusian Algeria, with its Great Mosque, the El Mechouar palace, the Lalla Setti plateau and the El Ourit waterfalls. Five days of coast, culture and craft, paced to enjoy each city.

## Highlights

- Santa Cruz Fort and the panorama over Oran
- Place du 1er Novembre and Oran's historic arena
- The Mediterranean coast at Mostaganem
- Tlemcen's Great Mosque and El Mechouar Palace
- The Lalla Setti plateau and city views
- Tlemcen National Park and the El Ourit waterfalls

## Day by day

### Day 1 — Oran

Arrive in Oran and check in. Climb to Santa Cruz Fort for the view over the Mediterranean, then explore Place du 1er Novembre and the city's historic Roman-era arena.
- **Santa Cruz Fort**: A 16th-century Spanish fortress on Murdjadjo mountain, with the finest view over Oran and the sea.
- **Place du 1er Novembre**: Oran's grand central square, ringed by colonial façades and the opera house.
- **Sidi El Houari**: Oran's oldest quarter, with Ottoman and Spanish remains around the old port.

### Day 2 — Oran

Visit the Ahmed Zabana National Museum, the Sacré-Cœur, and walk Oran's seafront.
- **Ahmed Zabana National Museum**: Oran's main museum — natural history, fine art and the region's deep past.
- **The Sacré-Cœur**: A landmark former cathedral, now a public library, anchoring the modern city.
- **The seafront corniche**: Oran's Mediterranean promenade and its evening gathering place.

### Day 3 — Mostaganem

Travel to Mostaganem for its beaches and the historic Bordj Ettork, with a relaxed Mediterranean afternoon.
- **Mostaganem beaches**: Long Mediterranean sands on the Dahra coast — a relaxed seaside change of pace.
- **Bordj el Mehal / the old fort**: An Ottoman-era fort above the town, a reminder of Mostaganem's strategic past.
- **The Tigditt quarter**: The historic district of steep lanes above the river.

### Day 4 — Tlemcen

Discover Tlemcen's Andalusian heritage — the Great Mosque, El Mechouar Palace, and the Lalla Setti plateau.
- **The Great Mosque of Tlemcen**: An Almoravid masterpiece of the 12th century, its carved mihrab among the finest in the Maghreb.
- **El Mechouar Palace**: The restored citadel-palace of the Zianid sultans who made Tlemcen a capital.
- **The Lalla Setti plateau**: A green plateau above the city with panoramas, gardens and a cable-car ride up.

### Day 5 — Tlemcen

Visit Tlemcen National Park and the El Ourit waterfalls before departure.
- **Lalla Setti plateau**: Tlemcen National Park’s high terrace above the city, with the whole medina and its plain laid out below.
- **The El Ourit waterfalls**: Cascades tumbling down wooded cliffs in Tlemcen National Park east of the city.
- **Mansourah**: The great ruined minaret of a 14th-century siege city on the edge of Tlemcen.

## Included

- Private transportation
- Professional guide
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Sightseeing per the itinerary

## Not included

- Flights
- Personal expenses
- Meals and drinks
- Entrance fees (if required)

## Questions

**Where does the tour start and end?**
It starts in Oran; the route runs Oran → Mostaganem → Tlemcen.

**What is Tlemcen known for?**
Its Andalusian heritage — the Great Mosque, the El Mechouar palace, the Lalla Setti plateau and the El Ourit waterfalls.

**Is Oran worth the time?**
Yes — Santa Cruz fort, Place du 1er Novembre, the Zabana museum and the seafront make it a highlight, and it is the home of raï music.

**Are hotels included?**
Yes — the tour includes hotels, private transport and a professional guide per the itinerary.

## 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).