KABYLE BABORS — In the Footsteps of the Berbers — From the Sea to Untouched Peaks

Flight from France to Algiers.

Transfer by vehicle from Algiers to Béjaïa. The road runs along the foothills of the Kabylie massifs before reaching the magnificent Gulf of Béjaïa and its Mediterranean bay.

Arrival at the end of the day. Hotel check-in. Dinner and first discovery of the city of Béjaïa, pearl of the gulf.

In early afternoon, drive to Ziama Mansouriah along the Mediterranean coast — a succession of cliffs, coves and spectacular landscapes between sea and mountains. Arrival in the evening. Dinner.

Departure after breakfast. Transfer by vehicle to the Ighzer Ouftis Dam (~40 km from Ziama Mansouriya), a beautiful natural site with turquoise waters nestled between the first foothills of the Babors massif. Lunch on site.

Start of the hike in early afternoon on a medium difficulty trail.

The trail climbs gradually while crossing the traditional Kabyle village of Aith Akik, before running alongside a large waterfall whose roar accompanies the first steps into the mountains. The path then rises towards the Tizi n'Tgourt pass, passing through Roman ruins bearing witness to Rome's former presence in these mountains.

Beyond the pass, the landscape opens onto clear ridges and high altitude meadows. It is while descending towards the talweg that the vegetation suddenly becomes denser — the first oak forests appear in the hollow of the valley, announcing arrival at the Aguemoun Ecolodge.

Warm welcome at the Aguemoun Ecolodge (1125 m), a former traditional dwelling restored in the heart of the Babor-Tababort National Park.

Traditional Kabyle dinner: barley or wheat couscous, Chakhchoukha or Rfis, accompanied by authentic mountain flavors.

Full day hiking through pristine nature. Departure from the eco-lodge through the exceptional forests of the National Park. Along the way, your mountain guide shares his knowledge of traditional medicinal plants: oregano (Ourmi), horsetail (El Khiyata), Tchi n'Tgara, rosemary (Iklil), thyme (Za'atar) and mountain thyme (Za'atar n'Tghalin). He also tells the rich history of the region.

The trail climbs via Thounirth towards the Adrar Amellal summit (1766 m). This summit is a place of memory: it was here that during the 1954 Algerian Revolution, Kabyle fighters shot down an enemy plane — a legendary feat that inspired the popular song Tira Safra (the yellow bird), still sung today. The guide also knows the locations of martyrs' graves nestled in the mountain, silent witnesses to this epic.

At the summit, an absolutely exceptional view unfolds over the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the high plateaus to the south — a panorama that words struggle to describe. Lunch at the summit. Descent and return to the eco-lodge at the end of the afternoon. In the evening, private concert by a traditional Kabyle folk group, in traditional costumes, to the rhythm of ancestral Kabylie songs and instruments from the Babors region.

Prestige dinner: acorn couscous (Seksu taa el Ballout), an extremely rare specialty from Kabylie's oak forests.

Traditional Kabyle breakfast in the cool morning air of the forest. Departure from the ecolodge for the great crossing of the massif in pristine nature.

The trail descends into landscapes alternating dense forests, rocky ridges and high-altitude pastures where Kabyle herds graze. On this section we discover Numidian firs (Abies numidica), a species endemic to the world found only on Babor and Tababort — nowhere else on earth. The Barbary macaques and the extremely rare Kabyle Nuthatch (Sitta ledanti) inhabit these exceptional forests.

Option for very experienced hikers: Tababort peak (1969 m) - an additional 1h30 of hiking, a unique junction point between three wilayas — Sétif, Jijel and Béjaïa — with breathtaking views over the Erraguen dam and the Mediterranean Sea.

Descent towards Tamerjajoute along a river over 8 km of hiking in the valley bottom, dotted with natural pools of crystal-clear waters — an invitation to swim in natural pools carved out by time. Arrival at Tamerjajoute camp.

Dinner at the bivouac: Aftates or Msfuf prepared over the fire. Night under the stars in a setting of absolute beauty.

Breakfast at the bivouac at sunrise. Final descent stage from Tamerjajoute towards the famous waterfalls of Oued El Bared, whose waters cascade in discontinuous flows down the abrupt and steep rock faces of the mountain — a wild and striking spectacle that leaves visitors speechless.

Arrival at the village of Oued El Bared, end of the hike. Free afternoon: swimming and relaxation at the accommodation with pool — well-deserved recovery after three days of intense trekking. Dinner in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere.

Early departure from Oued El Bared. Road to the Roman ruins of Djemila (former Cuicul), listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site — one of the best-preserved Roman archaeological sites in North Africa, perched at 900 m altitude between two valleys. Guided tour of the forum, temples, thermal baths and the archaeological museum, which houses mosaics of exceptional beauty.

Lunch on site or nearby.

Continuation of the road towards Sétif, capital of the Algerian Highlands. Discovery of the city center, dinner and rest.

Breakfast in Sétif. Transfer by vehicle to Algiers airport (approximately 300 km, ~3h30 drive). Depending on flight times, possibility to briefly visit Algiers — the Casbah or the waterfront.

Return flight to France. End of an unforgettable journey in the heart of the Kabylie des Babors.