This day is all about DISTRACTIONS from the long road ahead. We will travel about 260 miles to our next destination, Ghardaïa. Our route, while on paved road, meanders through the Sahara. And there is not a whole lot to distract as we motor along on N46 and N1.
Leaving Bou Saâda, the scenery is classic red Saharan desert—flat stony plains, cactus and palms, occasional low hills, and long horizons under an enormous sky. Temperatures have warmed and I finally can wear a short sleeved shirt. The land feels empty, broken only by scattered village, palm clusters, and the faint geometry of foggaras.
We continue our Sahara journey to Bou Saâda. The national road N3 heads northerly to the small oasis of El Kantara before turning in a northwesterly direction onto N70/N78. Not much changes during our 145-mile drive.
Lots of flat desert, rocks, occasional hills and some green where humans and animals might survive. I’m thinking Arizona and New Mexico deserts on steroids.
We depart Constantine for our 170-mile drive into the northern Sahara Desert. The route looks curvy as it winds itself southwesterly on state routes. We drive among the cliffs and low mountain ranges of the Batna Province. These represent a natural geographical break through the Atlas Mountains.
By the time we reached Biskra, the Sahara had fully committed itself to its monochrome phase. The northern Sahara doesn’t believe in variety. The scenery remains stubbornly the same—brown on brown on brown.
2 April 2026 Constantine does not gradually reveal itself. It startles. After miles of green fields, days of deserts and dunes, I look around and wonder if nature simply decided to show off a little. Mother Nature clearly woke up one morning, looked at this part of Algeria, and thought, “Let’s Read more
We depart Algeria and travel to Constantine – a long, long 275-mile drive. The guide describes it as embarking on “a captivating journey.” Skies loom gray, rain falls and wind gusts.
Weather not expected
Flags flap perpendicular. The gardens and trees take the wind in stride. For me, a good day sitting in a bus.
Will this be a captivating journey or a stretch of the imagination? We travel the multi-lane A2. For the first 30 minutes, we technically remain In Algers. Opposite, solid lanes of traffic inch past entering the city while we zoom along destined for the countryside. Toll booths sit empty, no tolls collected.
Scenery consists of arid hills, lots of orchards with mountains toward the north. The blue Mediterranean lies far beyond, never in sight. About 200 miles southeast, we will stop to explore more Roman ruins.
After a breakfast of yogurt, nuts and a bit of baghrir (semolina pancake soaked in honey), we depart Algiers to visit the nearby city of Tipaza.
The day seems warmer as there is less wind, but rain threatens to pour on our parade. Driving west along the bay for about 150 miles, we discover some of the best Roman archeological sites in the Algeria.
New country, new breakfast. While still centered around strong coffee, breakfast appears heavily influenced by the French, traditions left behind when the they left Algeria in 1962.
Morning meal is a tasty mix of sweet and savory – think coffee, breads, and pastries. Lots of breads line the tables, including traditional semolina-based bread, eaten with butter, honey, jam, olive oil, or cheese. I do taste the sfenj, a light but chewy fried doughnut dusted with sugar and dipped in honey. Something I must try later is baghrir, a semolina pancake soaked in honey and butter. However, this morning I enjoy my usual: yogurt and nuts.
The weather is definitely not what I expected. The morning temperature reaches a cool 56°F under cloudy skies and with very brisk winds of 23mph. Only bearable with 3 layers of long-sleeve shirts, a windbreaker and scarf. Thankfully, no rain.
