Algeria27th Oct 2024
From:£4,920
Summary
For those whose idea of heaven is ruinous Classical cities in superlative empty landscapes, Algeria is the perfect holiday destination. It is s till one of the least-visited countries in the world, but access is now easier than it has been for some years and a journey here is unlike any other. The sites are a palimpsest of Numidian, Roman and Byzantine remains and include probably the best-preserved colonia anywhere in the Empire. These were the homelands of Numidian chiefs who played a major role in conflicts between the ancient superpowers and huge tombs have been identified as those of the Massinissa, Micipsa and others – names familiar to those who have travelled elsewhere in North Africa. The many Roman sites that can be found scattered across the landscape pay testament to a wealthy province with cities equipped with running water, palatial bath houses, hypocaust heating, opulent latrines and monumental architecture, triumphal arches. And the museums, which have been little publicised, contain some astounding artefacts, displayed with great simplicity. This really is a journey of discovery.
What to Expect
- Wander perfectly preserved streets at the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Roman Djémila and Timgad with its immaculate gridded plan
- In Sétif admire one of the most exquisite mosaics in all of the Roman world – the ‘Triumph of Dionysus’
- Explore the extraordinary ‘City of Bridges’, Constantine, and the evocative ruins of Hippo
- Regius
- Travel through some fabulous landscapes from the Mediterranean coast and the foothills of the Atlas mountains to the oases settlements at the edge of the Sahara
Day by Day Itinerary
London - Algiers
We fly from London to Algiers and transfer to our hotel stopping en route to admire the Makam Echahid, one of the most striking landmarks in the city and memorial to those who lost their lives during Algeria’s hard-won war for independence. After lunch we will explore the Kasbah, built on the ruins of old Icosium, a Phoenician commercial outpost later overtaken by the Romans. Little remains of its ancient past but having survived bombardment and civil war, the Casbah of Algiers remains the largest old walled city or ‘citadel’ in North Africa and was put on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites in 1992.
Meals includedLunch and Dinner
