Nefta Travel Guide

 maykal Says:  Splitting Nefta in two, La Corbeille is a tiny stream in a deep and wide valley filled with palm trees. From certain places, it lcan seem as if Nefta's domes float above the palms, with the shimmering Chott el-Jerid salt pans beyond. It looks peaceful, and the stream... 

 maykal Says:  "The White Quarter" is probably the most visually stunning part of Nefta, situated on the opposite bank of La Corbeille (see tip below). Here you'll find Nefta's busy market, narrow alleyways, and lots of architectural gems...in particular I liked the white-washed mosques... 

 maykal Says:  On the other side of the main road, the Ez-Zaouia quarter was probably once a very nice place to visit with lots of old buildings and mosques perched on rocks overlooking the palm-filled Corbeille. Unortunately, the floods a few years ago hit Ez-Zaouia hard, and you can see... 

 maykal Says:  Oueled ech-Cherif's main mosque is an impressive building on the edge of the quarter overlooking the oasis. You can't enter unless you are muslim, but the tall minaret is worth a look...and is a useful building to know if you get lost, as it is visible from many places in... 

 maykal Says:  Nefta has four old quarters, and the easiest to find, if not the most spectacular, is Oueled ech-Cherif. From the main road where buses and louages drop you off, take any road off to the left...the nicest ones are entered through archways, and recent tourist maps have been... 

 maykal Says:  The heart of the old quarter of Oueled ech-Cherif is this shady palm-filled square, surrounded by old brick houses. On one side is the Hotel Habib (where I stayed...see Hotel tip), and on the other, a large cafe with many tables outside, a great place for a wake-up espresso... 

 euzkadi Says:  A viewpiont to enjoy the view of La Corbeille, a huge ravine that cuts the city in two, great views of the palm groove with a bathing pool in the middle. 

 euzkadi Says:  Nefta has a big palmery, a good way way to visit the palm groove is using the horse carts, we have a hot weather during our visit, but once you are inside the Oasis the temperature is surprisingly Cool. A nice experience. 

 euzkadi Says:  This is a good place to enjoy a tea, smoke a Shisha and watch the town´s life, it´s a pleasant plaza with tea houses, shops and some hotels. 

 euzkadi Says:  Is an attractive desert animal, their most outstanding features are enormous ears, wich are up to six inches long. Now is an endangered species specially in the western Sahara, where they have been hunted for the pet trade. 

 euzkadi Says:  We saw this lovely donkey at the La Corbeille viewpoint, this donkey is a unique and entirely separate breed of donkey. Their height averages between 30" and 34", there´s even an association of breeders of this cute animal. 

 euzkadi Says:  We visit this interesting place located in the Nefta´s Palm Groove. We saw local crops like the dates palms, figs, etc. Then we taste some pipes with local tobacco and tried the famous high quality Deglet Ennour dates, a good souvenir to bring back home. 

 euzkadi Says:  Nefta is a good place to see the beautiful Tunisian doors. Some streets have big arches forming tunnels wich offer protection from the sun, a very nice town to wander. 

 euzkadi Says:  Nefta has a big Palmery, it´s inhabitants earns their living from Oasis agriculture. The big Palm groove has more than 400,000 date palms. 

 maykal Says:  One of the most enjoyable things to do in Nefta is just to wander the backstreets, blundering around getting lost. However, for those who like a purpose to their sightseeing might want to seek out Dar Houidi, a typical old Neftawi house that has been opened as a museum.... 

 kbl Says:  Nefta is created around a valley that has the look of a basket. It's called La Corbeille de Nefta (The basket of Nefta)Have a look at my pictures of Nefta's basket at sunrise 

 kbl Says:  As Nefta is located in the desert, a jeep might come in handy to get there and to travel further into the desert. Please however take care not just to drive arround: the algerian border is very close and crossing it is not at all appreciated.