Tamanrasset
Tamanrasset (Arabic: تامنراست) is an oasis city deep in Saharan Algeria. . It is the capital of Tamanrasset Province, and has a population of around 100,000 people.
Tamanrasset is an excellent place to explore the Sahara Desert and its many attractions, from its towering sand dunes to its traditional Berber villages.
Understand
Tamanrasset is the capital of Tamanrasset Province, one of Algeria's 58 provinces. With a population of about 100,000 residents, Tamanrasset is one of the least populated cities in Algeria.
Get in
By plane
- 1 Aguenar-Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport (TMR IATA) (located 7 km northwest of city centre). Domestic airport that serves all the major cities in Algeria.
By road
The Trans-Sahara Highway is the main route from Algiers, the capital city, to Tamanrasset. The road is paved and in good condition, however, you need a durable, sturdy vehicle as the climatic conditions of the desert are harsh. If you have no knowledge of Algerian roads and driving in harsh conditions, it is strongly recommended that you do not enter the city overland.
Get around
See
Do
Buy
Eat
- 1 Restaurant Tassili. Serves up mainly roast chicken and harissa.
Drink
Sleep
There are relatively few hotels around town.
- 1 Gîte Saharien (East of city centre, on the road towards Aderian mountain), ☏ +213 20 813240, info@taghant.com. A desert logde on the outskirts of town, made up of several clay brick bungalows, hot showers and WCs are available. The restaurant serves great food.
- 2 Hotel Tahat, Avenu Emir Abdelkader, ☏ +213 29 344272, info@hotel-tahat.com. Large hotel with 148 rooms. DZD 12,000 (for a single room).
Stay safe
Tamanrasset, by and large, is an incredibly safe city.
As is the case throughout Africa, the biggest danger you will encounter is the extreme weather. Tamanrasset has a hot desert climate and temperatures can rise as high as 50 degrees celsius. Be sure to hydrate often and wear appropriate clothing to deal with the extreme heat.
Go next
Tamanrasset is small enough to be covered in less than two days. If you wish to explore more of Saharan Algeria, you can consider paying a visit Tassili n'Ajjer Cultural Park.