Chréa, Algeria: snow, cedars and skiing above Blida

Look for skiing in Algeria and two names come up: Tikjda, in the Djurdjura, and Chréa, above Blida. Closer to Algiers, Chréa is one of the most popular snow trips in central Algeria, and a walk under the cedars that works in every season. Here is what to know before you go: the national park, snow and skiing, how to get there and where to stay.

Chréa, in the heart of a national park

Chréa lies in the Blidean Atlas, in Blida province (see our guide to the Atlas Mountains in Algeria). It sits at the heart of Chréa National Park, also a biosphere reserve, known for its Atlas cedar forests and for the Barbary macaque, an endangered species that lives in the park. The monkeys usually keep their distance: please do not feed them, it harms their health.

Chréa is in the mountains, at more than 1,400 metres. Even when Blida is mild, it can be much colder up there, especially late in the day: bring warm clothes, gloves and spare clothes for the children.

Snow and skiing in Chréa

In winter, when the snow falls, Chréa draws hundreds of visitors a day, especially at weekends and on public holidays. People come for sledging, playing in the snow and walks under the snowy cedars; on good days there is skiing too, on natural snow.

To be clear: snowfall is irregular, and skiing is only possible a few days a year, some years even less. The lifts do not always run. Before you drive up with your skis, check the snow and the state of the facilities. Our guide to the best time to visit Algeria helps you pick the season.

How to get to Chréa

• By road. Chréa is reached from Blida along a winding mountain road. On snowy days it can be very busy: leave early, check the road conditions, equip your car for snow and do not drive up at night in bad weather.
• By gondola. A gondola lift more than 7 km long links Blida to Chréa. It has had long interruptions in service: check that it is running before planning your day around it.

What to do in Chréa without snow

Out of season, Chréa is still a lovely outing: walks under the cedars, picnics and cool mountain air when the plain is hot. Respect the park: take your rubbish home, do not light fires and do not leave the paths without a guide.

In the same area, you can combine the trip with the baths of Hammam Melouane or the Chiffa gorges. More two-day ideas are in our article on weekend getaways in Algeria.

Where to stay for Chréa

We do not offer a hotel in Chréa itself. The simplest option is to stay in Blida, below, and go up for the day:

• Clean Hôtel, in the city centre, with a restaurant and parking;
• KT Hotel and BN Hotel, in Ouled Yaïch.

All our options are on the hotels in Blida page. A day trip from Algiers is also possible; on snowy days, leave early to avoid the jams.

Chréa or Tikjda?

Chréa is the closer of the two to Algiers and suits a day trip, with a night in Blida if you want to take your time. Tikjda, in the Djurdjura on the Bouira side, is a longer drive but has a hotel in the resort itself: our guide to Tikjda, the Djurdjura resort tells you everything.

Book your hotel

On snowy weekends, hotels in Blida fill up fast: book your night before you go up. On Nreservi you book your hotel online. In Algeria you pay in dinars without a bank card: BaridiMob, bank transfer or cash at our Telemly office. Living abroad? You can also pay online by bank card, and your voucher is sent to you after payment. Couples should read our article on the family record book at hotels before travelling.

Before you go

Visa. Most foreign travellers in principle need a visa to enter Algeria, and the rules depend on your passport. Check the current requirements with the Algerian consulate that covers your area, and see our Algeria visa page.

Safety. Before you go, read your own government's travel advice. Our article Is Algeria safe for travellers? explains where to find it.

See hotels in Blida

Sources: Wikipedia; TSA (12 January 2021); remontees-mecaniques.net; skiresort.info; Nreservi hotel pages (accessed 13 November 2026).

Nreservi, online travel agency — 1st floor, 116 boulevard Colonel Krim Belkacem (Telemly), Algiers Centre — +213 540 28 40 40.