Atlas Mountains in Algeria: where to go, where to stay

Algeria is often pictured as desert, yet the north of the country is mountain land. The Atlas Mountains, North Africa's great range, cross it from west to east, with snow-capped peaks in winter, cedar forests and hilltop villages. So yes, there are mountains in Algeria, and plenty of them. Here is how Algeria's Atlas is laid out, what to do there and where to stay.

Where are the Atlas Mountains in Algeria?

The Atlas stretches for more than 2,000 km across Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Its highest peak, Toubkal (about 4,165 m), is in Morocco. In Algeria the summits are lower, but the range is vast and splits into several parts. Think of it as a map read from north to south:

• the Tell Atlas, in the north, running parallel to the Mediterranean coast: the mountains of Kabylie, the Blida Atlas and most of the snow outings close to the big cities;
• the Saharan Atlas, further south, marking the northern edge of the Sahara;
• the Aurès Mountains, in the east, an extension of the Saharan Atlas.

These mountains are home to Atlas cedar forests and the Barbary macaque, a protected species that should never be fed.

The Djurdjura, in Kabylie

The Djurdjura is the most spectacular range of the Tell Atlas. Its highest peak, Lalla Khedidja, rises to 2,308 m. Djurdjura National Park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1997, protects its cedars and gorges.

• Tikjda, on the Bouira side, is the best-known resort, for snow and hiking: see our guide to Tikjda in winter.
• On the Tizi Ouzou side, the hilltop villages, crafts and the Yakouren forest are best explored from Tizi Ouzou: read our Kabylie travel guide.

The Blida Atlas and Chréa, Algiers' mountain

Above Blida, south-west of Algiers, the Blida Atlas is home to Chréa, at over 1,400 m, at the heart of a national park that is also a biosphere reserve, with cedars and Barbary macaques. A cable car more than 7 km long links Blida to the resort. It is the closest snow outing to the capital: see our Chréa guide.

The Aurès, around Batna

In the east, the Aurès form a large range of mountains and valleys. Their highest peak, Djebel Chélia, reaches 2,328 m, slightly higher than Lalla Khedidja. Batna, the capital of the Aurès, is the natural base for Timgad, the great Roman city on the northern slopes of the range: see our article on Timgad and Djémila.

The Saharan Atlas, gateway to the desert

Further south, the Saharan Atlas marks the northern edge of the Sahara. Beyond it lie the desert and its oases: see our guides to the Algerian Sahara in winter and to Ghardaïa and the M'Zab valley.

What about the Hoggar?

Algeria's highest point is not in the Atlas: it is Mount Tahat (2,908 m), in the Ahaggar or Hoggar, a volcanic massif in the heart of the Sahara, around Tamanrasset. See our article on the Ahaggar and Tamanrasset.

Snow, roads and seasons

• In winter, snow falls on the high ground: Chréa and Tikjda get very busy, especially at weekends. Mountain roads can be closed temporarily after heavy snowfall, so check the forecasts of Algeria's national weather office and road conditions before you set off, and do not drive up at night in snowy weather.
• In spring and autumn, it is hiking season, ideally with a local guide for longer routes.
• In summer, the mountains offer cooler air, and Kabylie holds its village festivals.

To choose the right time, also read the best time to visit Algeria.

Where to stay to explore Algeria's mountains

• Blida Atlas: in Blida, Hotel Ville des Roses, on Boulevard Mohamed-Boudiaf, and our hotels in Blida.
• Djurdjura: Hôtel Djurdjura in Tikjda; our hotels in Bouira; in Tizi Ouzou, Hôtel Ittourar and our hotels in Tizi Ouzou.
• Aurès: in Batna, Chelia Hotel or Hotel Chaker, and our hotels in Batna.
• Lesser Kabylie and the sea: our hotels in Béjaïa.

Booking from abroad

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. Read your own government's travel advice. Our article Is Algeria safe for travellers? explains where to find it.

See our hotels in Batna

Sources: Encyclopædia Britannica (Atlas Mountains); Wikipedia (Atlas Mountains, Aurès Mountains, Djurdjura National Park, Kabylie); UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (Djurdjura); Nreservi articles on Chréa, Tikjda, Timgad and the Ahaggar (accessed 13 November 2026).

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