ORAN, TLEMCEM AND BEYOND On the Trails of the Zianids and Corsairs

The journey begins as soon as the plane starts its descent over Oran Bay. Direct flight from France, arrival at Ahmed Ben Bella international airport. Your English-speaking guide awaits you outside at baggage claim.

Transfer to your hotel in the city center, check-in and first contact with Oran. In the late afternoon, your first free walk along Boulevard Front de Mer and 1st November Square, two thoroughfares that immediately set the tone for this Mediterranean city with a strong character — sunny, lively, proud of its Hispano-Ottoman history.

Free dinner in one of the many restaurants in the center. Oran is generous at the table: fresh fish of the day, chorba, seafood specialties just steps away from the port.

Full day dedicated to discovering Oran, Algeria's second city and undisputed capital of the West. A city that embraces itself, between Ottoman memory, Spanish influence and contemporary Algerian vitality.

The morning begins with the ascent to Fort Santa Cruz, perched on Djebel Murdjadjo at 400 meters altitude. The view over the Bay of Oran, the port and the city spread out below is striking. You visit the adjacent basilica, then descend towards the Bey's Palace, an 18th century Ottoman building with ornate patios, before exploring Place d'Armes and the historic streets: Ekmul, Sainte-Eugène, Raz d'Aïn ravine.

The afternoon takes a different turn: departure towards the western coast. The Aïn El Türck corniche opens onto a succession of coves and beaches. You stop at Les Andalouses, a popular seaside resort, then head back towards the picturesque village of El Ançor, nestled at the foot of the mountains — atmosphere of an Andalusian village suspended between sea and forest.

Return to Oran in the evening.

Road hugging the coast to the east. The day is a succession of maritime scenes: stony coves, ochre cliffs plunging into turquoise sea, small fishing ports where boats sway at dawn.

First stops: Port aux Poules, Arzew, then Kristel and Canastel for their panoramas over the Mediterranean. The road is beautiful, winding, generous with viewpoints.

Morning stop in Mostaganem, a characterful town perched on its cliffs. Visit to the Fort de l'Est, from where the gaze embraces the entire bay, then a stroll through the old town center around Bareil square, under the arcades and past the former church. A stop at the medieval towns of Tigdit and Tobbana — two former medinas with preserved narrow streets — completes the discovery. Lunch at the fishing lodge by the port, facing the boats.

In the afternoon, head west: Béni Saf and its limestone cliffs carved directly from the sea. A stroll along the old port, views of the wild coastline, the atmosphere of a peaceful town far from the hustle and bustle. Continue on to Aïn Témouchent for the night.

Breakfast at the hotel, early departure. The day is dedicated to heading towards Tlemcen, and the chosen itinerary is worth as much as the destination itself.

Rather than taking the direct motorway, we take the scenic Bensekrane road — a ribbon of asphalt that crosses authentic Oran countryside, far from major highways. Sleepy villages, alfa and olive fields, morning rural markets where life flows at its own pace. This is deep Algérie, the one that appears in no guidebook but remains in memories.

With a bit of luck — and the late afternoon light helping — arrival in Tlemcen offers one of the most beautiful sunsets in the region: the golden city, minarets silhouetted against the pink sky, the valley darkening below.

Check-in at the Grand Bassin Hotel, dinner, first immersion in the particular atmosphere of Tlemcen, a city that is conscious of its history and carries it with elegance.

Last big day on the road, heading towards Oran via the inland route. This return through the High Plateaus is a crossing of another Algeria — that of garrison towns, vineyards and vast agricultural plains.

Passing through Sidi Bel Abbès, the former Foreign Legion town, before heading towards Hammam Bouhanifia, a thermal spa nestled in a canyon with red walls, while contemplating the Béni Chougranes Mountains that close the horizon.

Arrival in Mascara for lunch. The city is inseparable from the name of Abdelkader, the emir who led the Algerian resistance there in the 19th century. It is a city of scholars and warriors, as evidenced by its mosques, its former Quranic colleges and its courtyard houses. The nearby village of Ghriss — the former Thiersville — completes the visit.

Return to Oran in late afternoon. Last evening in the city: dinner at a restaurant, a stroll along the seafront, and perhaps a final drink while watching the harbor lights.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time according to your flight schedule. Transfer to Oran's Ahmed Ben Bella Airport, assistance with departure formalities.

Return flight to France. In your luggage: some spices from the market, perhaps a craft item from Tlemcen, and above all the memory of a region that takes time to be discovered.