HIGHLIGHTS OF ALGERIA
A cultural tour of Algeria

Algeria - a country that is often missed out by North Americans whilst a more well known for the Europeans. This 11 days which starts at the beautiful and historical capital city of Algeria has been tailored to bring the historical eras of this historically rich country in the forefront - all in one unforgettable journey. Besides Algiers, the tour also covers the important historical treasures of this North African country like  Annaba, Madauros, Tebessa,  Timgad, Batna, Constantine, Tiddis and Setif. Available on a daily basis allows you to combine this tour with many other tours we offer this region.

DAY 01: ARRIVE ALGIERS
This evening we are scheduled to arrive Algiers International Airport, where we will be met and transferred to the hotel.
Overnight: Safir Hotel (3 nights)

DAY 02: ALGIERS
Discover “Alger la Blanche” (the white Algiers) - a modern city with animated streets – to include Grande Poste (post office building) and the bay where strollers, unwary of time, admire the sea. Built on a hill, Algiers takes on different levels in a mixture of tradition and modern.  This city of thousand faces, set with monuments from various periods, such as the cathedral of Notre Dame d'Afrique and the different mosques.  A walking tour along the promenade in the Kasbah, classified as world heritage for humanity, composed of the top-end dominated by the citadel and the bottom-end that organise its self around the bandstand, where affairs of the city, politics, economics, cultural and religious were discussed in the Ottoman empire. Visit the place des Martyrs, arriving at the Grand Mosque, a monument of a particular style with successive additions from various origin, where we end today’s tour. (B, D)

DAY 03: ALGIERS
A day excursion to visit Tipaza to visit le tombeau royal Mauritanian” (the royal Mauritanian tomb), previously called le tombeau de la chretienne (the Christian tomb), a 63 m in diameter and 40 m high structure, most probably a resting place of a royal Maures family, an anastigmatic monument, the identity of its occupant and the treasures hidden within is the prospect of many legends. (B, D)

DAY 04: ALGIERS / ANNABA (FLIGHT)
This morning we are transferred to the airport for a flight to Annaba, which was called Hippo Regius during Roman times. It was a centre of early Western Christianity and was the site of many Christian synods. The city has buildings from its Roman, Christian, and Muslim eras. During French rule, the city was known as Bône. It was one of the main European settlements, having a sizeable pied-noir minority.
Overnight: Sabri Hotel (1 night) (B, D)

DAY 05: ANNABA / TEBESSA (DRIVE)
This morning we head for Madauros, an old Numidian town, which once belonged to the Kingdom of Syphax, was annexed to that of Massinissa at the close of the second Punic War. It became a Roman colony about the end of the first century and was famous for its schools. It was the native town of Apuleius, author of The Golden Ass, and of the grammarians Nonius Marcellus and Maximus. St. Augustine studied there; through a letter, which he addressed later to the inhabitants we learn that many were still pagans.   Continue on to Tebessa,  an outpost of Carthage in the 7th century BCE. In 146 CE it became part of the Roman Empire and was known as Theveste (Hekatompyle in Greek). Under the Ottoman Empire, Theveste had a garrison of Janissaries'. Tebessa is very rich in ancient monuments, among them being a triumphal arch of Caracalla, a temple, a Christian basilica of the 4th century.
Overnight: Beni Osmane Hotel (1 night) (B, D)

DAY 06: TEBESSA / BATNA (DRIVE)
Continue our sojourn to Timgad, which was a Roman colonial town in North Africa founded by the Emperor Trajan around 100 A.D. The full name of the town was Colonia Marciana Ulpia Traiana Thamugadi where the original Roman grid plan is magnificently visible in the orthogonal design, highlighted by the decumanus maximus and the cardo lined by a partially restored Corinthian colonnade. The cardo does not proceed completely through the town but instead terminates in a forum at the intersection with the decumanus. The city enjoyed a peaceful existence for the first several hundred years and became a center of Christian activity starting in the 3rd Century, and a Donatist center in the 4th Century. A brief stop will also be made at Lambaesis before arriving in Batna.
Overnight: Salim Hotel (2 nights) (B, D)

DAY 07: BATNA
Day excursion to visit Biskra.  During Roman times the town was called Vescera, though this may have been simply a Latin transliteration of the native name. Around 200 AD under Septimius Severus reign, it was seized by the Romans and became part of the province of Numidia. Its name was later changed by the Romans to Ad Pisc?nam ("at the pisc?na”), implying the presence of important waterworks. (B, D)

DAY 08: BATNA / CONSTANTINE (DRIVE)
This morning we head for Constantine, which is an impressive site. Perched on a rocky plateaux limited by steep slopes.  The city impresses its visitors and has earned the name ”l'ecrasante” (crush). Constantine “colonia circa” was the capital of the confederation Cirteenne, which was part of Djemila (Cuicul).  It was once the richest city in Africa but after its destruction by the emperor Maxence in 311, Cirta was redressed by the emperor Constantine who named it Constantine. Many points of interest allow us to admire its surroundings. Discover the old town, the beautiful houses, other monuments such as the Grand Mosque and the Palais du Bey, which demonstrate the architectural richness and the amazing suspended bridges.
Overnight: Cirta Hotel (1 night) (B, D)

DAY 09: CONSTANTINE / SETIF (DRIVE)
Today we head out to visit the fascinating ruins of Tiddis, which are situated  on the side of a hill near the city of Constantine. Archaeological discoveries have led experts to believe that Tiddis was an ancient Berber settlement before it was occupied and developed by the Romans early in the first century and used primarily as a military outpost. This would explain why, unlike most Roman ruins, which are located on flat ground with rectangular shapes and straight streets, Tiddis has winding roads climbing up a hillside. Our next stop is Djemila, classified world heritage for humanity, is probably one of the most interesting Antique sites in Algeria. The antique Curricula founded by the emperor Nevra, was at first a community for veterans, the residents names were registered in Rome: the tribe of Papiria, as its neighbour the Sitifis colonies also founded by Nerva, the city had a privileged status. Situated on a rocky belt, surrounded by mountains where at its foot run many rivers: the oued Gergour and oued Betam. The archaeological traces reveal two ages that almost divide the city in two, the ancient and the most recent, dates from the II century in which we discover amongst other things, the Grand Temple, l’Arch de Caracalla under which passes through the road connecting Curricula and Sitifis (Setif).
Overnight: El Rif Hotel (1 night) (B, D)

DAY 10: SETIF / ALGIERS (DRIVE)
Sétif was  at first Numidian: it was a part of the kingdom of Massaesyles and in the year 225 BC, it was the capital of the kingdom, a title which it lost when Juba switched it to Cherchell. Sitifis was founded by the Romans, during the reign of Nerva as a colony for veterans. The ruins of this are still visible. A Roman mausoleum may be found in the
outskirts of the city as well as Byzantine ruins. As the town grew, around 297 AD, the province of Mauretania Sitifensis was established, with Sitifis as the central city.   Return drive to Algiers.
Overnight : Safir Hotel (1 night) (B, D)

DAY 11: DEPART ALGIERS
This morning we are transferred to the airport for our flight out. (B)

Departure Dates
2012 English Speaking Departures Daily
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Accommodation as mentioned or similar, including hotel taxes Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast, D=Dinner) All sightseeing and transfers Services of local English speaking guide Domestic air ticket Algiers/Annaba Entrance fees International airfares Departure/airport taxes Insurance / Visas Beverages/Tips
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2012 US $ 4885 US $ 795
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast US $ 1800 USA - West Coast US $ 1600 Canada - East Coast US $ 1700 USA - East Coast US $ 1500
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 08 participants.
Notes
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.