There's a very limited selection of items to buy in Algeria. Shop for Ali Baba-type pants, copperware, baskets, ceramic tiles, flat woven rugs (Hanbals) with tribal patterns, leather goods, brassware (new and old), silver jewelry (with coral and enamel inlay) and pottery. The carpets are generally not as good as those from Asia; similar (and less expensive) ones are sold in Morocco and Tunisia.
Shopping Hours: Saturday-Wednesday 8 am-6 pm.
Local Tours
Most Algerian tour operators focus on desert excursions. Cheche Tours (http://www.chechetours.com) offers trips through several countries in North and West Africa. In Algeria, they lead groups through the Hoggar Mountains and Tassili N'Ajjar plateau, traveling by four-wheel-drive vehicles. Agence Tanezrouft Voyage (http://www.tanezrouft.com) offers several guided itineraries, ranging from eight to 15 days. Small local tour companies can be found in most areas of interest, and you can usually arrange excursions by camel or four-wheel-drive vehicles or hire a guide on the spot.
Day By Day
We highly recommend a guided tour that combines several cities of the north with desert landscapes farther south. It's possible (and rather safe) to see Algiers and other cities independently, but remote desert areas are best seen with a guide. You should definitely fly between as many cities as possible—overland travel by car or public transportation is still not recommended because of security concerns. Fortunately, the domestic carrier, Air Algerie (http://www.airalgerie.dz), offers connections to many cities.
You'll no doubt begin in Algiers. Two days are enough to see the city; add a few more if you want to make day trips to nearby beaches or ruins. From Algiers, fly to Tamanrasset or Djanet and hire a local guide before venturing into the Sahara. Distances are very long in the Sahara, so if you want to take a camel excursion, plan on a minimum of four days. If you have more time available, fly to either Ghardaia or Biskra for more desert scenery or, if you'd rather see other cities, visit Oran or Constantine. Fly back to Algiers for departure.
