ALGERIA & TUNISIA

Day 1 | Monday 26 January
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 | Tuesday 27 January
Atmospheric Algiers
Algiers’ rich and complex history spans more than a millennium. Founded by the Phoenicians and later developed by the Romans as Icosium, it gained prominence in the 10th century under the Berber Zirid dynasty. Colonised by the French until 1962, today it offers a captivating blend of old-world charm and modern vitality. We begin in the centuries-old Casbah, built on the ruins of Icosium and overlooking the Mediterranean. Now a UNESCO World-Heritage site, its maze of lanes reveals Ottoman mosques, palaces and gardens. We continue into Downtown Algiers, whose grand boulevards and 19th-century façades reflect Haussmannian planning mixed with Moorish revival style. After exploring the port and promenade, the remainder of the afternoon and evening are at leisure. Overnight Algiers (B)

Day 3 | Wednesday 28 January
Enchanting 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. We explore the lively markets offering Berber jewellery, Kabyle textiles and painted ceramics, and visit the Regional Museum. 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 29 January
Art, Gardens & Antiquities of Algiers
Opened in 1930 to mark a century of French colonisation, the National Museum of Fine Arts houses one of Africa’s most important collections. Our morning tour traces painting, sculpture and decorative arts, featuring works by Degas, Monet, Pissarro and Renoir, alongside Algerian artists such as Mohammed Khadda, a pioneer of modern art. We then stroll through the nearby Jardin d’Essai botanical gardens before enjoying lunch together amid its lush greenery. The afternoon includes visits to the Bardo Museum of Prehistory & Ethnography, set in an elegant 18th-century Moorish villa, and the National Museum of Antiquities, displaying exquisite mosaics from Tipasa and Timgad.
Overnight Algiers (B, L)

Day 5 | Friday 30 January
Tipasa & Cherchell
Northern Algeria was a vital region of the Roman Empire and the legacy of this Roman rule is still visible in its spectacular archaeological sites that reveal the Empire’s urban planning, engineering and cultural life. Today we travel west along the Mediterranean coast to explore this remarkable Roman heritage, starting with a visit to the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania, a striking tomb near Tipasa, believed to house King Juba II and Queen Cleopatra Selene II, daughter of the famous Cleopatra and Mark Antony. We continue to Tipasa, one of the most beautiful sites on the Algerian coast, with impressive Roman and early Christian remains, including an amphitheatre overlooking the sea. After lunch in a nearby restaurant, we continue to Cherchell, once known as Caesarea, a flourishing Roman port whose treasures evoke the grandeur of empire. We return to our hotel in the late afternoon, with an evening at leisure. Overnight Algiers (B, L)

Day 6 | Saturday 31 January
Constantine & Tiddis
This morning we fly east to Constantine, one of Algeria’s most extraordinary cities. Founded by the Numidians and later rebuilt by Emperor Constantine the Great in the 4th century CE, it has served as a crossroads of civilisation for more than two millennia. On arrival we drive to the nearby Roman site of Tiddis, set on a steep hillside overlooking the valley below. A Numidian settlement later developed under Roman rule, Tiddis preserves an evocative collection of ruins – sanctuaries, cisterns and domestic quarters – all framed by striking mountain scenery. Among its most striking are the circular foundations of ancient houses and the remnants of a small triumphal arch, testament to the prosperity this remote community once enjoyed. After lunch together, we return to Constantine to visit the Byzantine Fort and Archaeological Museum, home to fine mosaics and artefacts from the region. We conclude our day with dinner together in a local restaurant. Overnight Constantine (B, L, D)

Day 7 | Sunday 1 February
At leisure in Constantine
Today is free to enjoy Constantine. Known as the ‘City of Bridges’, it spans a labyrinth of deep gorges carved by the Oued Rhumel, with dizzying suspension bridges linking its cliffs and plateaux. You may wish to wander through Constantine’s lively kasbah, its narrow streets lined with Ottoman-era houses, or cross the Sidi M’Cid Bridge, suspended 175 metres above the canyon floor, for magnificent views of the surrounding ravines. Alternatively, relax at the hotel and enjoy the panoramas from its terraces, taking in the city’s unique blend of natural grandeur and urban life. Overnight Constantine (B)

Day 8 | Monday 2 February
Timgad & Sétif
Departing Constantine this morning, we travel south to the extraordinary archaeological site of Timgad, founded by Emperor Trajan around 100 CE as a colony for veterans of the Third Legion Augusta. Designed on the ideal Roman grid, Timgad stands today as one of the Empire’s most complete and evocative surviving cities, earning UNESCO World-Heritage status. Our exploration takes in the grand Arch of Trajan, the heart of the forum, and the theatre, which could seat 4,000 spectators against a backdrop of sweeping highland views. After enjoying lunch together, we drive west to Sétif, arriving in the late afternoon. Dinner this evening is in a local restaurant. Overnight Sétif (B, L, D)

Day 9 | Tuesday 3 February
Djémila
A short drive this morning takes us to Djémila, meaning ‘beautiful’ in Arabic, one of North Africa’s best-preserved Roman cities and a UNESCO World-Heritage site. Founded in the 1st century CE as Cuicul, it flourished as a prosperous provincial town, remarkable for its adaptation of Roman urban planning to rugged, mountainous terrain. On arrival we explore the forum, Capitol, basilicas, and theatre, whose elegant columns still rise amid mosaicked pavements. After lunch in a local restaurant, we return to Sétif for an afternoon at leisure. We reconvene this evening for dinner together in a local restaurant. Overnight Sétif (B, L, D)

Day 10 | Wednesday 4 February
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 5 February
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 6 February
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 Roman mosaics, 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 7 February
Thuburbo Majus - Splendor among wheat fields
Nestled among glittering wheat fields and olive groves – like those that made its fortune – Thuburbo Majus exudes a sense of prosperity even in its ruined state. In the 2nd century CE, this Roman colony for war veterans was home to around 10,000 inhabitants, wealthy enough to boast impressive public buildings and richly decorated private homes adorned with intricate mosaics. En route to Thuburbo Majus this morning, we stop to examine a section of the aqueduct that linked ancient Carthage to the water sources of Mount Zaghouan. Constructed in the 1st century under Emperor Hadrian’s reign, this extraordinary feat of engineering stretched over 130 kilometres and carried 32 million litres of water per day. Lunch is enjoyed nearby before we spend the afternoon exploring the well-preserved ruins of Thuburbo Majus, offering a fascinating glimpse into Roman urban life in North Africa. On return to our hotel, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Tunis (B, L)

Day 14 | Sunday 8 February
Beautiful Kerkouane
Travelling along the beautiful coastline of the Cap Bon peninsula this morning, we arrive at Kerkouane – considered to be the best-preserved Punic town in Africa. Discovered in 1952, extensive excavations have revealed a semi-circular layout, enclosed by a low rampart. Burned and deserted in the 3rd century BCE, the ruins reveal intact evidence relating to the Carthaginians’ way of life. Here we see a very early form of a mosaic known as the opus signinum featuring the ‘Sign of Tanit’, a powerful talisman protecting the early inhabitants of the Punic house. We then continue along the Cap Bon to the coastal town of Kelibia, where we have lunch overlooking its beautiful beaches, considered some of the finest in the Mediterranean. Returning to Tunis in the afternoon, dinner tonight is in a local restaurant. Overnight Tunis (B, L, D)

Day 15 | Monday 9 February
Notorious Bulla Regia
Departing Tunis this morning, our destination is Teboursouk. Our first stop en route is Medjez el Bab, home to a Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery that commemorates almost 3,000 men of the Commonwealth Forces who died during operations in Algeria and Tunisia, including nine Australians. We then continue to Bulla Regia, a rare site that contains complete, superbly preserved, subterranean Roman houses. Most of the mosaics remain in situ, so we can view them in their original context. In antiquity, the city developed a scandalous reputation, and in the 4th century St Augustine preached a famous sermon here, berating the citizens for their loose and immoral ways! After lunch in a local cafe, we continue our journey to Teboursouk, with time to freshen up on arrival before we meet again for dinner in the hotel. Overnight Teboursouk (B, L, D)

Day 16 | Tuesday 10 February
Stunning 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 native ancestry and 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 vibrant 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 11 February
Charming 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 austerely beautiful monuments such as the Ribat, the Great Mosque and the Kasbah – where our morning begins. We first visit the Sousse Archaeological Museum, featuring an extensive collection of Roman mosaics and artifacts, 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 12 February
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, with the evening at leisure. Overnight Sousse (B, L)

Day 19 | Friday 13 February
Kairouan - The Centre of Learning
Today we set forth on a pilgrimage to Kairouan, the fourth holiest city of Islam. Founded in 670, Kairouan became the Aghlabid capital and centre of learning. Over the centuries it has never lost its ancient esteem and it is still a place of holy pilgrimage. This morning we visit the Aghlabid pools, reservoirs built on the outskirts of the city in the 9th century, which at one time were considered to be a great wonder and were often mentioned by Arab geographers for their grandeur. We also stop to admire the Great Mosque, one of the major monuments of Islam and an architectural masterpiece, constructed using hundreds of Roman and Byzantine pillars, including many from Carthage. In the afternoon we explore the Kairouan Souk, with its network of winding streets, shops and courtyard houses, before returning to Sousse for our farewell dinner in one of the city’s fine restaurants. Overnight Sousse (B, D)

Day 20 | Saturday 14 February
Depart to Tunis
Our final morning sees us depart Sousse for Tunis-Carthage International Airport, where we say our goodbyes and depart on individual flights in the afternoon. (B)