Algeria | GlobalSalsa: travel writer Belinda Jackson

What’s new in Egypt with 2GB, The World Awaits podcast, Luxury Escapes

It’s always been a storyteller of epics, so it’s no surprise Egypt is back in the limelight with new riverboats up and down the Nile, and new hotel openings and remakes of the grand dames.

I’ve recently returned from my second home, Cairo, and have been running updates in the Australian media us on the incredible changes to the Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum and the restoration of some of Egypt’s historic hotels.

Talking Egypt with Sydney radio station 2GB

2GB afternoons host Michael McLaren is another a fan of Egypt. Having visited it years ago, I think after our chat, he’s keen for a re-run. I’ve spoken to him about Central Asia and other Middle Eastern destinations in the past, and this time, we focused on Egypt.

Michael reckons you shouldn’t get on a camel… clearly, he’s had a dodgy experience. The key is to negotiate the price before you jump up. And certainly don’t pay in advance. Because the question is not “How much does it cost to get on a camel,” but it them becomes “How much to get off!”

We also talked about the new airline links to Egypt, his favourite ship on the Nile and the biggest event for 2027, the solar eclipse, which takes place next August.

Take a listen to our chat:

And also on The World Awaits podcast

The great thing about being a co-host on a podcast is that it lets you indulge your passions, and clearly my travel passion is for this part
of the world.

Packed with more tips on places to visit in Egypt, we’re also talking about the three grand dames that Hong Kong hoteliers Mandarin Oriental have snapped up, and are thankfully refreshing in Egypt. They are the Old Cataract down in Aswan, formerly a Sofitel, as well as the Winter Palace in Luxor, which last time I visited was in serious disrepair, and finally Shepheard’s Hotel in Cairo, which was the place to hang out in the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries.

There’s also a pile of new builds, as Egypt replenishes its hotel stock ahead of a bumper year for tourism.

We’ve been waiting for this comeback for nearly a decade. So finally, after dodging COVID, instability within the country and wars not of its making on its borders, it’s Egypt’s time to return into the sun.

Cairo at Night, Dream by Luxury Escapes magazine

The best description I’ve ever heard about Cairo’s sleeping habits is that it’s not so much a city that never sleeps, but a city that sleeps in shifts.

So it won’t shock anyone that this story I wrote on spending a night out in Cairo starts early and finishes… well, it finishes as late as you’d like, with plenty of snacking to get you through. Remember, this is a country that doesn’t judge you on how late you sleep in the mornings.

For my suggestions, I’ve started you out on the Nile at sunset, because the Nile is always the beginning or the end of any Egyptian journey. I’ve then sent you into modern Cairo’s club scene, into medieval Cairo for dinner, and to a gloriously old school cafe that’s open 24 hours a day. There are rooftop cocktails, because everyone loves a good rooftop, and a walk between floodlit 13th-century palaces, just to tie it all up with a neat bow.

The trick is to not underestimate your travel time. This sprawling megalopolis is home to 26 million people, and traffic jams at 1am are just how we roll in Cairo.

Need more North Africa? Come with me to Algeria!

If too much North Africa is never enough, why not join me on a journey through Algeria next March?
I’ve teamed up with British adventure specialists Untamed Borders to run this 12-day tour from the Mediterranean down into the Sahara.
Along the way, I’ll run a series of travel writing workshops. So if you’ve ever wanted to become a writer, pen that memoir or simply write a snappy postcard, come join me!
See more here on my website, Read More

Join me on a travel writer’s journey through Algeria

Algeria is calling – did you hear it? Between the powerhouses of Morocco and Egypt, North Africa’s largest country remains off the beaten path. Let’s explore it together, with a writer’s eye.

Join me on a unique, small-group tour to Algeria, with off-beat travel specialists Untamed Borders. Throughout the trip, I’ll conduct travel-writing workshops on location – alongside UNESCO-listed Roman ruins, above Algiers’ labyrinthine Kasbah and amidst the stillness of the deep Sahara.

Trip highlights

Get lost in the maze of Algiers’ Kasbah
Explore UNESCO-listed Roman ruins at Djemilla and Tipaza
Experience the vastness of the Sahara and the ancient cave paintings of the Tassil N’Ajjer

Join travel-writing workshops held in incredible locations

About the travel writing workshops

As we explore Algeria together, we’ll discuss the machinations of travel writing, about observing more deeply and how to bring others along on your journey with your words. I’ll encourage you to see the country from a writer’s perspective; to collect and memorise, to catch a scent or the wisp of song on an unfamiliar instrument.

Throughout the tour, I’ll conduct a series of workshops, and the settings promise to bring the drama – overlooking a kasbah, in the Sahara, at the feet of antiquity. On this journey, Algeria’s not the backdrop, it’s the main character, the hero and the keeper of stories. And if you’re here for Algeria alone, and the workshops aren’t your cup of (Tuareg) tea, that’s ok. There’s no school bell, no homework, and no reading aloud in front of the class (unless you really want to, and that’s fine, too).

The essentials

Starts & Ends: Algiers – Algiers

Small-group tour: max 10 guests

12 days: 14-25 March, 2027

Cost: From US$3450 (flights excluded)

BOOK HERE

Algeria Itinerary

Day 1 Sunday, 14 March Arrive Algiers

Arrive in Algiers. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Algiers at hotel.

Day 2 Monday, 15 March Algiers
A full-day walking tour of Algiers including the labyrinthine Kasbah and the colonial buildings of Algiers. Overnight in Algiers at hotel.

Day 3 Tuesday, 16 March Algiers – Tipaza – Cherchell – Oran
A full day’s drive west to the city of Oran via Algeria’s Roman past, at the ruins of Tipaza and Cherchell. Overnight in Oran at hotel.

Day 4 Wednesday, 17 March Oran – Tlemcen – Oran
Day trip from Oran to the city of Tlemcen, known for its Moorish architecture, including the Grand Mosque. Overnight in Oran at hotel.

Day 5 Thursday, 18 March Oran – Djanet
Full day walking tour of Oran. In the evening, fly to the oasis town of Djanet. Overnight in Djanet at hotel.

Day 6 Friday, 19 March Tassili N’Ajjer National Park
Depart for Tassili N’Ajjer NP and Tikoubaouine, a stone forest set out in sand with an incredible natural arch. Dinner and camp in the desert.

Day 7-8 Saturday, 20-21 March Tassili N’Ajjer National Park
Visit the serene Guelta of Essendilene, a desert pond once used by nomads, famous rock paintings of the region including the 7000-year-old carving “la vache qui pleure” (the crying cow), and a Tuareg tea ceremony. Dinner and camp in the desert.

Day 9 Monday, 22 March Djanet – Algiers
Fly from Djanet to Algiers. Free time in Algiers (no guiding). Overnight in Algiers at hotel.

Day 10 Tuesday, 23 March Algiers – Djemila Ruins – Constantine
Depart Algiers and drive to Djémila, one of the most spectacular sets of Roman remains in North Africa, then on to Constantine. A full day with over 400km of driving. Overnight in Constantine at hotel.

Day 11 Wednesday, 24 March Constantine – Algiers
A day tour of Constantine, a city set on a high plateau split by a dramatic ravine serviced by seven bridges. Return to Algiers by road. Overnight in Algiers at hotel.

Day 12 Thursday, 25 March Algiers Transfer to airport. End of trip.

Inclusions & Exclusions

The trip includes:

All accommodation (3-4-star hotels)
Breakfast
All transport (4×4 when in the desert)
All food in Tassili N’Ajjer National Park
Local, English-speaking guide
Local security team (where necessary) & all of their fees/expenses
Drinking water
Entrance fees
Permits
2 x domestic flights (Oran – Djanet / Djanet – Algiers)
Visa support

The trip does not include:

International flights
Visas
Lunch and dinner (unless specified)
Travel insurance
Tips

Special Remarks

Please note, the itinerary is subject to change due to the internal flight schedule.

FAQs: travel writing in Algeria

How do I get to Algeria from Australia? Surprise! There are no direct flights to Algeria from Australia. However, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines offer a one-stop route via their hubs in Doha and Istanbul, respectively, flying into Algiers Houari Boumediene International Airport.
Is Algeria safe for tourists? According to the Australian government’s smarttraveller website Algeria is rated yellow (the same as France), with a high degree of caution. There are some regions on the borders with neighbouring countries that they advise “do not travel”, but we’re not going to those areas. Our tour company, Untamed Borders, is highly experienced at ensuring travellers’ safety, even in some of the most volatile countries in the world. We’re in good hands.
Do I need a visa? Yes, Australians (and most nationals) need a visa to enter Algeria. (Good news if you’re Malaysian or Moroccan!) Untamed Borders will help obtain visas for this tour.
Is this suitable for solo travellers? Yes, absolutely! This tour to Algeria is great for solos, including solo women – host Belinda Jackson will be travelling solo.
What’s the accommodation like? Where possible, we’ve chosen conveniently located, locally owned hotels around the 3 and 4 star mark for good value and proximity to the sights we’re visiting. In the Tassili N’Ajjer National Par, we’re camping; each traveller will have their own tent.
How much does the tour cost? This tour to Algeria costs from US$3450 per person, excluding international flights. The internal flights are included in the price.
What is actually included? All accommodation, breakfast daily, all transport including domestic flights, guides, drinking water, entrance fees and visa support. All meals are supplied in Tassili N’Ajjer National Park.

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