Where to go in December from Algeria? Desert, snow, Tunisia or Istanbul
Published on 13 November 2026 · Nreservi teamDecember 2026 brings together several good reasons to travel: the winter school holidays, New Year's Eve and the 1 January public holiday. The question is where to go. Here are our ideas from Algeria, depending on what you enjoy and how many days you have, with a detailed guide for each destination.
The winter 2026-2027 calendar
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Thursday 17 December 2026, evening | winter school holidays begin (primary, middle and secondary) |
| Thursday 31 December 2026 | New Year's Eve |
| Friday 1 January 2027 | New Year's Day, public holiday |
| Sunday 3 January 2027, morning | classes resume |
| Tuesday 12 January 2027 | Yennayer 2977, Amazigh New Year, public holiday |
The winter holidays therefore last a little over two weeks. For 12 January, read our article Yennayer 2977: where to celebrate the Amazigh New Year.
At a glance: which destination for which mood?
| You want | Where to go | Suggested length |
|---|---|---|
| Desert and starry nights | Taghit, Timimoun, Ghardaïa, Djanet | 4 to 8 days |
| Snow | Tikjda, Chréa; Uludağ in Turkey | 1 to 3 days; a week for Turkey |
| Wellness and hot water | thermal spas, thalasso in Algeria or Tunisia | a weekend to a week |
| A quiet seaside | Tunisia (Hammamet, Sousse, Djerba), the Red Sea | a week |
| A big city | Istanbul, Cairo, Tunis | 4 to 7 days |
The Sahara, in full season
Winter is the season of the Algerian Deep South: mild days, cold nights. It is also the favourite New Year's Eve destination. Ghardaïa and the M'zab valley can be reached by road from Algiers; Taghit has tall dunes at the foot of an old ksar; Timimoun, the red oasis, suits a short stay; Djanet and the Tassili n'Ajjer need more time and a guide. To compare the oases, read our guide the Algerian Sahara in winter: which oasis?. Around New Year, rooms in the oases are limited: book early.
Sahara package tours · New Year's Eve 2027 ideas
Snow without leaving Algeria
For a day or a weekend in the snow, two outings stand out: Tikjda, in the Djurdjura on the Bouira side, and Chréa, above Blida, in its cedar forest. Snow cover is irregular, so check the snow and road conditions before driving up. If you prefer forest walks to skiing, Yakouren, near Azazga, is also lovely in the winter mist.
Tikjda in winter · Chréa: snow and cedars · Yakouren
Hot water: thermal spas and thalasso
A warm bath is the best plan for cold days. Algeria has many thermal spas, from Hammam Righa to Hammam Guergour, and a few seawater therapy centres on the coast. Neighbouring Tunisia is also known for its hotels with thalasso centres.
Thermal spas in Algeria · Thalassotherapy in Algeria · Thalasso in Tunisia
Tunisia, right next door
In principle, Algerians enter Tunisia without a visa, with their passport, by road or by air; check the latest conditions before you travel. In winter you go there not for the beach but for thalasso in Hammamet or Sousse, the calm of Djerba, the Tunisian Sahara around Tozeur and Douz, or the Kroumirie forest around Aïn Draham. To choose your town, read our guide winter holidays in Tunisia: which town?.
Hotels in Hammamet · Hotels in Djerba · Hotels in Tozeur · Tunisia package tours
Istanbul and Turkey
Istanbul remains popular in December: bazaars, mosques, a Bosphorus cruise. It is cold and often damp, so pack warm clothes. For snow, the Uludağ ski area above Bursa normally opens from late December to March, depending on snowfall. Visa rules for Algerians have depended on age since June 2026: read our article and check the latest conditions before booking.
Where to stay in Istanbul · Bursa and Uludağ · Turkey visa for Algerians · Turkey package tours
The Red Sea and Cairo
Summer is very hot on the Red Sea; from autumn to spring it is milder, which makes Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh good winter holiday destinations. Cairo combines well with a few days by the sea. For the visa, check with the Egyptian consulate before you travel.
Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada with children? · Cairo hotels: which district? · Egypt package tours
And if you want to travel far during the two weeks of holidays, see our Malaysia package tour.
Our tips for booking in December
- Book early. The nights from 30 December to 2 January go first, especially in the Sahara and in Tunisia.
- Read the offer's conditions. Whether the 31 December gala dinner is included or charged separately, minimum stay, cancellation terms: everything is shown before you book.
- Think winter. Indoor heated pool, heating in the rooms, spa hours: check them on the hotel page.
- Plan your return. Classes resume on Sunday 3 January in the morning: coming back a day earlier avoids the busy roads of the last evening.
Book in dinars
On Nreservi, you book your hotel or package tour online. From 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. For a hotel in Algeria, also read our article on the family record book at hotels.
Calendar sources: TSA and Algérie 360 (5 October 2026) for the school holidays.
Nreservi, online travel agency — 1st floor, 116 boulevard Colonel Krim Belkacem (Telemly), Algiers Centre — +213 540 28 40 40.