# Timimoun Desert Escape — 5 Days

> Five days in the red oasis country of Timimoun — its ksour and palm groves, the ancient foggara channels, great dunes and a night of desert camp dining.

- Price: from €492 per person (private trip or small group)
- Duration: 5 days · 4 nights
- Starts: Algiers — Airport
- Best season: October–March
- Guides speak: English, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, German, Russian
- Visa on arrival at Algiers airport possible: yes (the programme includes the Sahara)
- Web page: https://algeriacompass.com/tours/timimoun-desert-escape/
- Book (request, no payment to enquire): https://algeriacompass.com/contact/?tour=timimoun-desert-escape

## Overview

Timimoun, the 'Red Oasis', is the heart of the Gourara — a Saharan world of ochre ksour, vast palm groves and the ingenious foggara channels that carry water for miles underground. Over five days you explore Charouine and its ksour, the oases of Aghlad and Ouled Saïd, ride a 4×4 across the great dunes, and share a traditional 'Merdoum' dinner under the stars, with evenings of local music. It's one of Algeria's most atmospheric and least-visited corners.

## Highlights

- The red ksour and palm groves of the Gourara
- The ancestral foggara irrigation system
- A 4x4 safari across the great dunes
- A 'Merdoum' dinner under the stars
- Timimoun's traditional market
- Cultural evenings with traditional music

## Day by day

### Day 1 — Arrival in Timimoun

Welcome at Timimoun and transfer to the Ti Massin guesthouse, with time to settle in before a traditional dinner and overnight stay.
- **Timimoun**: The "red oasis" of the Gourara — an entire town built in red-ochre Sudanese-style earth architecture above a salt lake.
- **The Ti Massin guesthouse**: A traditional red-earth house of courtyards and terraces, and the base for the whole stay.
- **The escarpment at sunset**: The ledge above the sebkha where Timimoun’s walls turn deep orange in the last light, before a traditional dinner.

### Day 2 — Charouine — ksour & palm groves

An excursion to Charouine for Ksar Guentour and its palm grove, an open-air lunch, and the ksar and oasis at Tala, returning for a dune sunset and a festive evening with music.
- **Ksar Guentour & its palm grove**: A red-mud ksar above its palmery — classic Gourara architecture.
- **The ksar & oasis at Tala**: Another oasis of earthen towers among the palms.
- **Dune sunset & music evening**: Sand at dusk and an evening of local Gourara music.

### Day 3 — Aghlad & Ouled Saïd — foggaras

Visit the gardens and ancient foggara channels of Ouled Saïd, a palm-grove picnic with tea at Beni Aïssi and its ksar, and sunset over the large dunes.
- **The Ouled Saïd foggaras**: Ancient underground irrigation galleries threading water to the gardens — Saharan ingenuity at its finest.
- **Beni Aïssi & its ksar**: A palm-grove picnic and tea beside an old ksar.
- **The large dunes**: Sunset over the high sand.

### Day 4 — Desert adventure & star dinner

The Ighzer site in the morning, then an afternoon 4x4 safari across golden dunes to a panoramic sunset, followed by a desert-camp 'Merdoum' dinner under the stars.
- **The Ighzer site**: A desert site explored in the cool of the morning.
- **4×4 dune safari**: Golden dunes to a panoramic sunset.
- **A 'Merdoum' camp dinner**: A traditional sand-pit-roasted Merdoum feast under the stars.

### Day 5 — Market & departure

Visit Timimoun's traditional market for spices and handicrafts, then the return transfer toward Algiers.
- **Timimoun's market**: The red town's market for spices and handicrafts.
- **The old ksar quarter**: A last walk through the red-earth lanes and the arcaded covered passages of the old town.
- **The road north**: The return transfer toward Algiers along the northern edge of the Grand Erg Occidental.

## Included

- Pickup and drop-off in Timimoun
- Air-conditioned vehicle / 4x4 for excursions
- 4 nights at the Ti Massin guesthouse
- Daily breakfast
- Lunches and dinners as per program
- Traditional 'Merdoum' desert dinner
- Professional local guide
- Entrance fees and local taxes

## Not included

- International and domestic flights
- Lunch on day 5
- Personal expenses
- Drinks outside meals
- Travel insurance
- Tips

## Questions

**Where is Timimoun?**
In the Gourara region of the central Algerian Sahara; reached by domestic flight.

**What is a foggara?**
An ancestral underground channel system that brings water to the oases — you'll see how it works.

**Is accommodation included?**
Yes — four nights at the Ti Massin guesthouse with daily breakfast and the listed meals.

**What is the 'Merdoum' dinner?**
A traditional desert meal shared under the stars, part of the trip.

## 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).