Ghardaia Travel Guide

 
by tafa2009
 
  •   Ghardaia
    by tafa2009
  •   Ghardaia
    by tafa2009
  •   Ghardaia
    by tafa2009
  •   Ghardaia
    by tafa2009
  •   Ghardaia
    by tafa2009
 

Explore Ghardaia

Things to Do  

Melika

Melika, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  Melika is worth a visit, despite not as well known as Ghardaia or Beni Isguen. For the one who visits for the first time, all cities look alike, but after some time, one can see the differences in architecture or people behaviour. 

Beni Isguen

Beni Isguen, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  In Beni Isguen the strange fortifications isolating the city from the desert do not look as a real military construction. Only near the main city doors do the wall look like real walls. In beniIsguen the foreigner are not allowed to stay during the night, except they have... 

La prefecture

La prefecture, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  The Wilaya (the residence of the wali), the prefecture; this is the main administrative building in Ghardaia; it is on the squared market place; on this place, the movie maker M. Lakhdar Amina directed a scene of massacre of Algerian by French troops for his movie “Chronique... 

Sidi Brahim mosque

Sidi Brahim mosque, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  Again this mosquee, with the inclined pillars, the windows, the ceilings made of palm tree trunks. You could stay there for hours, specially when it is so hot outside; may be the architect wanted people to stay inside as much as possible. 

The pillars of the mosquee (pillars of faith?)

The pillars of the mosquee (pillars of faith?), Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  It is not an effect of alcohol on the photographer, the pilars are inclined, as the whole building seems, if you look at small parts one after the other; but as a whole, the Sidi Brahim mosquee is a solid building. And inside, it is cool enough to concentrate on prayer... 

The Sidi Brahim Mosquee

The Sidi Brahim Mosquee, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  It is sais this tiny old mosquee inspired Le Corbusier (French Architect) for building a well known modern church in France (Ronchamp) . Indeed, the shape, the rigorous style, the beautiful design , are stunning here in this environment.This mosquee has been build in the... 

View of El Ateuf and the cemetery.

View of El Ateuf and the cemetery., Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  In the Mzab, the cemeteries are ouside the cities. The old cemeteries are not maintained and only grave plates and some pottery remain ; the cemetery looks like a field where the rocks grow in anarchic pattern. The place is very hot and there are no flowers on the graves... 

The streets of El Ateuf

The streets of El Ateuf, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  The streets here, like in Ghardaia are narrow, but more steep. Children play in the streets and the colors are always so pastel.It looks, like in many North African cities that electricity and telephone were installed without clear plan, but, at least it seems to work and... 

Restaurants  

Bon Appetit: Restaurants

Bon Appetit: Restaurants, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  Despite being a relatively big city there are not a lot of restaurants in Ghardaia, and these are mainly of “popular” class. But the important is the quality of food and the conviviality of guests; shorba and couscous are the popular dishes here, and a green tea after... 

Transportation  

Get there by car

Get there by car, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  The best to get to Ghardaia is by car, hired, or own car.Drive from Algiers across the Atlas and the High Plateau, and after Biskra you begin to drive in the true Desert. When arriving at Ghardaia, you feel the stunning difference between a rock-desert and a green lush... 

Another transport mean

Another transport mean, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  the poor onkeys can carry everything, even tourist, and their weight is not . . . virtual!The donkey is still there. This is an important transportation mean like in most North Africa. I would like to have such an animal not eating up the juicy vegetables I load on his back! 

The Mobylette

The Mobylette, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  It is not a tourist transportation mean, it is a transportation mean in general !The Mobylette, a small motorbike is a very popular transport mean in the M’zab (and rural Algeria in general), for goods and persons. Some have even modified saddles (here, a blue blanket, like... 

Local Customs  

Water

Water, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  Water wells can be found within the cities; their design is the same as the ones from the oasis. During the cooler hours of the day people gather around the well , have a chat and wait their turn to fetch water from the well. 

A rest with the elderly

A rest with the elderly, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  The older people do not go shopping in the hot sun; they have a caht in the shadow of the buidings or the umbrellas; no stress, no hurry, take life as it comes. 

Berbere carpets

Berbere carpets, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  The carpets seen here on the market are typical berberic carpets; there are two types: one colored generally with a red dominant and geometrical patterns; the other type has a white background and brown or black patterns (this last one is from Kabylie, a mountain area of... 

The marquet and the minaret

The marquet and the minaret, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  These views of the market with the city and the minaret as background give a general idea of Mozabite way of life: small compact city, high minaret, busy people, heat and protection with umbrellas and. . . . . . . lots of women everywhere; yes, it’s the men who go shopping! 

The market

The market, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  Market day in Ghardaia; watch it from the terrace of a café located on the place. Quiet market in fact, many people, generally busy, but no noise; you see essentially products from the gardens located in the palm tree orchards ; algerian love the white long onion and cardes... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Desert ?

Desert ?, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  The desert is not that desertic in the Mzab; walking far from the oasis you still find vegetation like these tamaris trees, offering some shadow to the people and their animals . I like to walk even during the hot hours to see things I would not se in other circumstances. 

Surprise!

Surprise!, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  The walks in the oasis lead you to some surprises, like this barley field (I do not think they brew beer in the M’zab; it is barley, not wheat or hard wheat used for couscous). The surprise too is to meet local guys who invite you for a tea. Tea here was made with camel... 

Have a walk in the oasis

Have a walk in the oasis, Ghardaia

 kokoryko Says:  I loved to walk in the oasis near the cities; Very quickly, you hear only the wind in the palm trees, and your eyes are open for everything, like here, this old water well; water is still pumped from this well, to grow the palm trees and other crops ; I love these old... 

The Place

Plan a Ghardaia vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Ghardaia locals

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The People

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Advice from the Locals
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 The pearle of the Sahara ! - Gharadaia , a nice old town in The nice valley of M"zab , southern Algeria , a famous old city , with its specific architecture and traditions , colours and lights are different there, people are... 

4 members live in Ghardaia

 

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Top 3 Ghardaia Writers

1

Door to the desert

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 M' Zab, is a region of Algeria located 600 km South of Algiers. A rocky limestone plateau with an average elevation of 700 m , cut by a net of deep valleys characterises this arid region. The... 

2

M'zab Valley

Krabbendam profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Ghardaia. I'd love to share with you the 0 tips I've written, the 8 photos uploaded, and 1 travelogue I've created. 

3

The pearle of the Sahara !

tafa2009 profile photo

 Gharadaia , a nice old town in The nice valley of M"zab , southern Algeria , a famous old city , with its specific architecture and traditions , colours and lights are different there, people are... 

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