Sahara Ahaggar Plateau Trek

Tamanrasset · Algeria

Challenging10 daysAfrica~£3,500 est.

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Overview

The Ahaggar (Hoggar) massif rises out of the central Sahara above Tamanrasset: a shattered volcanic landscape of basalt plugs, organ-pipe pinnacles and black plateaux, with Mount Tahat (2,908 m), Algeria's highest point, at its heart. The essential pilgrimage is Assekrem, the 2,780 m plateau where Charles de Foucauld built his hermitage in 1911 — sunrise from its rim, with hundreds of volcanic towers igniting one by one across the Atakor, is among the great desert spectacles anywhere. Trekking here is done Tuareg-style: on foot with camel support, guides from Tamanrasset, nights under astonishing skies. The logistics are the gatekeeper. Independent travel is not permitted — foreigners must travel with a licensed Algerian agency and registered guide, and the visa process itself takes planning (Algeria has been trialling visa-on-arrival for Saharan tourism; check current rules early). Winter, November to March, is the season: warm days, near-freezing nights. Water discipline is absolute — plan for many litres per person per day between wells. Ten days with agency support, 4WD transfers and full board runs around £3,500 excluding flights to Tamanrasset via Algiers.