ALGERIA & TUNISIA

Day 1 | Monday 4 October
Arrive Algiers
Passengers arrive in the historic city of Algiers throughout the day. Academy Travel will arrange individual or group transfers from the airport to the hotel. The afternoon is at leisure before meeting at the hotel bar for a pre-dinner drink and introductions, followed by a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Algiers (D)

Day 2 | TTuesday 5 October
Atmospheric Algiers
Algiers’ rich history spans more than a millennium. Founded by the Phoenicians and later developed by the Romans as Icosium, the city gained prominence in the 10th century under the Berber Zirid dynasty. Colonised by the French until 1962, it now offers a captivating blend of old-world charm and modern vitality. This morning, we take a walking tour of Algiers, beginning in the centuries-old Casbah. Now a UNESCO World-Heritage site, its labyrinthine lanes reveal Ottoman mosques, palaces and gardens. We then continue into downtown Algiers, where grand boulevards and 19th-century facades reflect Haussmannian planning infused with Moorish Revival style. After exploring the port and seaside promenade, the remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight Algiers (B)

Day 3 | Wednesday 6 October
Kabylia
East of Algiers lies Kabylia, where green mountains meet the sea. Known for its hospitable Berber communities and proud cultural traditions, we spend the day exploring its picturesque towns and villages. Our visit begins in Tizi Ouzou, nestled in the valley of the Assif N Sébaou River and surrounded by the Djurdjura Mountains. Here we also explore the lively markets, offering Berber jewellery, painted ceramics and Kabyle textiles. After a lunch of traditional Kabyle dishes, our return journey to Algiers passes terraced mountain villages – enduring examples of Berber architecture. Overnight Algiers (B, L)

Day 4 | Thursday 7 October
Art, Gardens & Antiquities of Algiers
Algiers holds some of North Africa’s most significant museum collections, from prehistoric cultures to modern artistic traditions. Today is devoted to exploring a series of these institutions, beginning with the Archaeological Museum. Here, artefacts reveal the extent of Roman North Africa, with material drawn from sites such as Tipasa and Timgad. We then continue to the Bardo Museum of Prehistory & Ethnography, set within an 18th-century Moorish villa, whose displays trace the region’s earliest societies. A short walk to the Jardin d’Essai follows, where avenues of palms and exotic plantings provide a tranquil setting for lunch. Later we conclude at the Musée des Beaux-Arts, whose collection includes work by Degas, Monet and Renoir, alongside key figures of modern Algerian art such as Mohammed Khadda. Overnight Algiers (B, L)

Day 5 | Friday 8 October
Tipasa & Cherchell
Northern Algeria was a vital region of the Roman Empire and the legacy is still visible in its spectacular archaeological sites that reveal the Empire’s urban planning and cultural life. Today we travel west along the Mediterranean coast to explore this remarkable Roman heritage, starting with Cherchell – once ancient Caesarea. A flourishing port under King Juba II, its archaeological remains reveal a city enriched by Roman patronage. We then continue to Tipasa, pausing for lunch in a nearby restaurant before our visit to this UNESCO World-Heritage site. Here, Roman and early Christian remains, including basilicas, cemeteries and an amphitheatre, unfold across a coastal setting of remarkable beauty. After time to explore the site, we return to our hotel via the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania – a monumental tomb traditionally associated with Juba II and Cleopatra Selene II. Its imposing circular form stands as a powerful statement of royal identity at the edge of the Roman world. Overnight Algiers (B, L)

Day 6 | Saturday 9 October
Djémila
Leaving the Mediterranean coast behind today, we travel inland through the rugged highlands of northeastern Algeria – landscapes that formed the agricultural heartland of Roman Numidia. Following lunch enroute, we make our way to Djémila, one of North Africa’s most beautifully preserved Roman cities and today a UNESCO World-Heritage site. Founded in the 1st century CE as Cuicul, the settlement prospered as a provincial centre whose elegant forums and temples were ingeniously adapted to the mountainous terrain. Our exploration takes in the old Forum, the capitol and the theatre, set amid sweeping views of the surrounding hills. In the afternoon we continue by coach to Constantine, arriving in time for dinner together at our hotel. Overnight Constantine (B, L, D)

Day 7 | Sunday 10 October
Constantine
Few cities in North Africa possess a setting as dramatic as Constantine. Known as the ‘City of Bridges’, it occupies a rocky plateau cut through by the deep gorge of the Oued Rhumel. Rebuilt by the Roman emperor Constantine in the 4th century CE, the city has long served as an important regional centre shaped by successive Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman influences. Our morning begins at the Archaeological Museum, whose rich collections illuminate the ancient history of eastern Algeria through mosaics, sculpture and artefacts from nearby Roman sites. We then explore the city on foot, including the Monument aux Morts and the elegant Palais du Bey, once the residence of Constantine’s Ottoman governors. The remainder of the day is then at leisure to enjoy the city’s spectacular viewpoints or wander through its historic streets. Overnight Constantine (B)

Day 8 | Monday 11 October
Tiddis
Originally a Numidian settlement and perched high on a steep hillside overlooking the surrounding valleys, Tiddis developed under Roman rule into a small but prosperous provincial town. Unlike the orderly grid plans typical of many Roman foundations, Tiddis adapted to its rugged terrain, with terraces and streets climbing the rocky slopes. A short drive from Constantine brings us to this remarkable site today, where we explore the remains of sanctuaries, cisterns and domestic quarters built directly into the hillside. Among the most notable features are the circular foundations of ancient houses. From the upper terraces there are sweeping views across the surrounding mountains and valleys. After lunch together in a nearby restaurant we return to Constantine, where the afternoon is at leisure. Overnight Constantine (B, L)

Day 9 | Tuesday 12 October
Timgad & Sétif
Founded by Emperor Trajan as a colony for veterans of the Third Legion Augusta, Timgad represents one of the most complete Roman cities to survive anywhere in the former Empire. Departing Constantine, we travel south into the Aurès Mountains towards Timgad. En route we pause at the Medghacen Tomb, a vast circular mausoleum dating from the Numidian kingdom and among the oldest royal monuments in Algeria. We then continue onward to Timgad, where our exploration follows the streets, monuments and public spaces that adhere to the town’s carefully laid-out Roman grid plan. After a picnic lunch on site, we continue west to Sétif, where dinner awaits at our hotel. Overnight Sétif (B, L, D)

Day 10 | Wednesday 13 October
Sétif & Return to Algiers
Once a key settlement in the Roman province of Mauretania Sitifensis, the modern city of Sétif sits atop layers of history that have yielded some of Algeria’s finest archaeological treasures. This morning we visit the Archaeological Museum, whose superb mosaics rank among the finest in North Africa. Highlights include the Triumph of Dionysus, depicting the god’s festive procession with satyrs and panthers, and the Triumph of Venus, showing the goddess borne in a shell chariot surrounded by cherubs and sea creatures. After viewing nearby vestiges of Roman ruins, we enjoy lunch together before returning to Algiers. The journey passes through shifting landscapes of high plains and coastal hills, with the evening at leisure on arrival. Overnight Algiers (B, L)

Day 11 | Thursday 14 October
Depart for Tunisia
Bidding farewell to Algeria this morning, we transfer by coach to Algiers Airport for our short flight to Tunis. On arrival in the Tunisian capital, we travel to our hotel overlooking the Gulf of Tunis, an elegant seaside retreat offering beautiful views and landscaped gardens. The afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the hotel’s amenities before regrouping this evening for dinner in a local restaurant, as we begin the next chapter of our North African journey. Overnight Tunis (B, D)

Day 12 | Friday 15 October
Carthage & The Bardo Museum
Founded in 814 BCE by the Phoenician Princess Alyssa (Dido), Carthage rose from a modest port to become one of the Mediterranean’s greatest empires. Dido’s legendary love for Aeneas, later immortalised in Virgil’s Aeneid, links the city’s mythic origins to the future founders of Rome – the very power that would destroy Carthage in 146 BCE before rebuilding it a century later in its own image. We begin at Byrsa Hill, site of the ancient Punic quarter and later Roman forum, then visit the sacred Tophet, dedicated to the deities Tanit and Baal Hammon, and the remains of the Cothon, Carthage’s ingenious inner harbour. In nearby Tunis, we then tour the National Bardo Museum, housed in a 19th-century Beylic palace and home to an extensive collection of Romanmosaics, including the celebrated image of Virgil. After lunch together, we conclude at the monumental Baths of Antoninus, among the most impressive in the Roman world, before returning to our hotel for an evening at leisure. Overnight Tunis (B, L)

Day 13 | Saturday 16 October
Tunis Medina & Sidi Bou Said
For centuries Tunis stood at the crossroads of Mediterranean trade, its historic medina developing into one of the most important urban centres of the Islamic world. Founded in the early medieval period and expanded under successive dynasties, the medina preserves a remarkable network of narrow streets, markets and religious foundations that reflect the city’s long commercial and cultural life. This morning we explore this UNESCO World-Heritage listed site, wandering through its labyrinth of souks, mosques and historic courtyard houses. Lunch today is at leisure, allowing time to explore the markets or relax in one of the medina’s cafés. In the afternoon we travel north to the striking hilltop village of Sidi Bou Said, renowned for its distinctive blue-and-white architecture and beautiful views across the Gulf of Tunis. We return to our hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight Tunis (B)

Day 14 | Sunday 17 October
Thuburbo Majus
The fertile plains south of Tunis were among the most productive agricultural regions of Roman North Africa, supplying grain and olive oil across the Mediterranean. Today we travel into this landscape to visit the impressive ruins of Thuburbo Majus, a prosperous Roman town that flourished during the 2nd century CE when it was granted the status of a veteran colony. Our exploration reveals an extensive complex of public buildings, alongside the remains of private houses that once displayed fine mosaics. After our visit we continue to nearby Zaghouan for lunch together. Here we also examine a section of the great aqueduct that once carried water from the springs of Mount Zaghouan to ancient Carthage. Constructed in the 1st century CE and extending for more than 130 kilometres, it remains one of the most impressive engineering achievements of Roman Africa. We return to Tunis in the late afternoon. Overnight Tunis (B, L)

Day 15 | Monday 18 October
Bulla Regia
Bulla Regia was one of the most distinctive cities of Roman North Africa. Its inhabitants developed an unusual architectural response to the region’s intense summer heat, constructing elegant houses with subterranean living quarters below ground level. These cool underground spaces, often richly decorated with mosaics, formed the principal living areas and today remain among the best-preserved examples of domestic architecture anywhere in the Roman world. Departing Tunis this morning, we travel west towards Bulla Regia. Our first stop en route is Medjez el Bab, where we visit the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery. Continuing inland, we arrive at Bulla Regia where we explore its remarkable underground houses. After lunch in a cafe on site, we continue to our destination for the evening, Teboursouk, arriving in time to freshen up before dinner. Overnight Teboursouk (B, L, D)

Day 16 | Tuesday 19 October
Dougga
Perched high on the hill above fertile olive groves just outside Teboursouk, Dougga is one of the oldest towns in Tunisia and began life as a Numidian walled citadel, which was later built over by the Romans. Its hillside location resulted in a winding street plan rather than the typical Roman grid, providing Dougga with a unique character. Today Dougga is considered the best preserved example of an Africo-Roman town in North Africa, offering an exceptional illustration of what daily life was like in antiquity. Our day begins exploring this magnificent UNSECO site, including the restored theatre, whose 19 tiers could accommodate an audience of 3,500. Leaving Dougga and Teboursouk behind, we then continue to the coastal city of Sousse, our base for our final four nights on tour. We break the journey with lunch in the charming town of Testour and have an afternoon at leisure on arrival to our hotel. Dinner tonight is in a local restaurant. Overnight Sousse (B, L, D)

Day 17 | Wednesday 20 October
Sousse
Once an early Phoenician trading-post en route from Tyre to the West, the port at Sousee was used by Hannibal in his campaign against Scipio at the end of the Second Punic War, and also by Caesar in 47 BCE. The city later became an important commercial and military port during the 9th century, with a vibrant Medina at its heart. Surrounded by well-preserved ramparts, it houses an exceptional collection of monuments such as the Ribat, the Great Mosque and the Kasbah – where our morning begins. Here we visit the Sousse Archaeological Museum, before a guided tour takes us through the narrow streets and souks of the Medina. We then break for lunch, with the remainder of the day at leisure to rest, swim or explore as desired. Overnight Sousse (B)

Day 18 | Thursday 21 October
Kairouan
Founded in 670 CE during the early Islamic expansion across North Africa, Kairouan quickly developed into one of the most important centres of the Islamic world. As the capital of the Aghlabid dynasty in the 9th century, it became renowned for scholarship and religious devotion, and it remains one of the most revered cities in Islam. Today we venture inland to Kairouan, where we first visit the Aghlabid Pools – vast reservoirs constructed in the 9th century to secure the city’s water supply and long admired by medieval Arab geographers for their scale and ingenuity. We also explore the Great Mosque of Kairouan, whose forest of columns incorporate Roman and Byzantine spolia, many taken from nearby Carthage. The afternoon is set aside to explore the Kairouan souk, a lively network of winding streets, before returning to Sousse for an evening at leisure. Overnight Sousse (B)

Day 19 | Friday 22 October
The Amphitheatre of El Jem
The city of El Jem, once the ancient village of Thysdrus, is home to one of Africa’s most remarkable Roman monuments – the El Jem Amphitheatre. Often compared to Rome’s Colosseum, this grand structure, built in 238 CE, seated up to 35,000 spectators and rises an impressive 36 metres high. This morning we explore its vast arena, climbing to the upper seating levels for sweeping views before venturing into the long underground passageways where gladiators, animals and prisoners once awaited their fate. After lunch in a nearby restaurant, we visit the El Jem Archaeological Museum, whose superb collection includes intricate Roman mosaics depicting scenes of the very spectacles once performed in the amphitheatre. Behind the museum lies the House of Africa, a Roman villa from the heart of ancient Thysdrus, excavated in the 1990s and reconstructed here in its entirety. We return to Sousse in the late afternoon for our farewell dinner in one of the city’s fine restaurants. Overnight Sousse (B, L, D)

Day 20 | Saturday 23 October
Depart to Tunis
Our final morning sees us depart Sousse for Tunis-Carthage International Airport, arriving in time to meet individual flights in the afternoon. (B)