WARNING: Due to the ongoing Tuareg Rebellion in the region, Agadez is currently unsafe for travel. The potential for violence has increased after Tuaregs, who supported Gaddafi, have returned from fighting in the Libyan civil war with a significant amount of arms and other new weapons. A permit is required to travel in northern Niger and unlikely to be granted for tourism. Persons trying to travel to the region HAVE BEEN ARRESTED trying to enter independently without a permit. Police have the authority to detain persons for more than 48 hours without cause. If traveling by bus, you will be forced to deboard the bus and will have to wait at a police checkpoint in the middle of the desert for hours until the bus in the opposite direction picks you up. See the US State Dept.'s Niger travel page for info on obtaining a travel permit. (Updated July 2012)

Grand mosque of Agadez.

Agadez is a historic city in Aïr region of Northern Niger. Founded in the 11th century, Agadez was an important stop for caravans crossing the Saharan Desert for centuries. Agadez was held by the Mali empire during part of the 14th century, captured by the Songhai empire in 1515, and controlled by Bornu in the 17th century. It remained a trade center until the late 19th century. During much of this time it was a center of Islamic learning and the seat of several sultanates before its capture by the French in 1900.

It is a center of Tuareg culture and likewise two Tuareg rebellions in recent years: 1990-1995 & 2007-present. The Tuareg are renowned for their metal and leather workings.The region around Agadez is known for its spectacular desert/mountain scenery. It is also the center of one of the largest uranium mining regions on Earth.

The historic centre of Agadez was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013.

Get in

By road

Agadez lies on the Trans-Sahara Highway, also known as the Algiers-Lagos Highway. The highway provides access north across the Sahara to Algiers and south to Nigeria with a terminus in Lagos. The Trans-Sahelian (or Dakar-N'Djamena) Highway, bisects the Trans-Saharan Highway about 600km south of Agadez.

There is bus service to Niamey.

By air

Agadez is served by 1 Mano Dayak International Airport, while an international airport in theory and name, currently there's only domestic flights from Niamey and Zinder. Flights between Europe and Agadez ceased with the start of the second Tuareg Rebellion in 2007. Thus, the most feasible way of arriving in Agadez by air is via the international airport in Niamey.

See

• 1 Mosque of Agadez. Built in the 16th century. 

• 2 Palace of Sultan. 

Leather and silver handicrafts are made.

Do

• Annual Salt Festival

Buy

Agadez Tuareg Cross - The markings and geometrical design of Tuareg crosses and Tuareg jewelry in general translates into protective symbolism. "God is the center of the universe, we are one with God" and "no matter where you go God and I shall always be with you and protect you" are common Saharan interpretations. Those of the Muslim faith believe that the arms of the cross will disperse all evil from the individual, thus keeping him out of harms way. Tuareg parents are known to give these exquisite silver crosses to their children when they are about to depart from home but they are worn by all as a form of good luck and protection. The silver crosses are uniquely shaped and are named after the town of Agadez from where they originate. The cross bears the jewelers mark on its back. The beaded necklace contains four cylindrical decoratively embossed silver segments.

The Touareg crosses sold come in a number of designs. The Agadez cross is the most common, but many others are available. Each design is associated with a particular Touareg market town. Other examples include the Timia cross, the Iferouane cross and the unusual Ingal cross

Eat

• Le Piliers tel: +227 94254419 - Italian restaurant run by the owner of the restaurants by the same name in Niamey and Iferoune.

Sleep

• Etoile du Tenere, +227 20 440 458.
• La Tendé, +227 20 440 075, in French.
• Pension Tellit, +227 20 440 231.

• 1 Hotel de la Paix, ☏ +227 20 440 234. 

Go next

There is not much around Agadez to visit.

• Air and Ténéré Natural Reserve
• Aïr mountains
• Tuareg festival in Iferouane