Timimoun, the red oasis: what to see, where to stay

In the heart of the Gourara, Timimoun owes its nickname, the "red oasis", to its ochre earthen houses. With its old ksar, a palm grove watered by foggaras, a salt flat and the dunes of the Grand Erg Occidental, it is one of the most accessible gateways to the Algerian Sahara. Here is what to see, when to go, how to organise your trip and where to stay.

The red oasis of the Gourara

Timimoun is the main oasis of the Gourara region, on the edge of the Grand Erg Occidental, a vast sea of dunes. The town first strikes you with its architecture: red-ochre earthen buildings in a so-called neo-Sudanese style, closer to the Sahel than to northern Algeria.

The old ksar, a fortified earthen village, is still lived in. You stroll through a maze of narrow lanes; be discreet, as these are homes, not a museum.

What to see in and around Timimoun

• The palm grove and the foggaras: this ancient system of underground channels taps groundwater and carries it through small canals to the gardens. It is what keeps the oasis alive.
• The sebkha: a dried-up salt lake below the town, an almost lunar landscape, beautiful at sunset.
• The dunes of the Grand Erg Occidental: explore them on a 4x4 trip with a local guide.
• The surrounding ksour: other fortified earthen villages line the old caravan routes around Timimoun.
• The market and crafts: Berber jewellery and rugs.

Allow at least three days to enjoy the oasis and take one or two desert trips.

When to go

As everywhere in the Sahara, summer is extremely hot. The most pleasant season usually runs from autumn to spring; winter nights can be cool, so pack a jacket. Our guide to the best time to visit Algeria covers the seasons.

Getting organised

Timimoun has an airport and can also be reached by road, but distances from the north are long. For desert trips, use a licensed local agency or a recognised guide: in principle this is what travellers in the Sahara are advised to do, and it is also the best way to discover the ksour and dunes. Our organised trips in Algeria can help you build your stay.

To go further into the deep south, see our articles on Tassili n'Ajjer and Djanet and on the Ahaggar and Tamanrasset.

Where to stay in Timimoun

Timimoun offers a wide range of places to stay, from the historic hotel to earthen guesthouses:

• [Gourara Hotel](/en/hotel/gourara-hotel), the historic hotel designed by architect Fernand Pouillon, with terraces over the oasis and the dunes;
• [Dar El Hakim](/en/hotel/dar-el-hakim), a charming earthen guesthouse built around a patio;
• [Ksar Amazaten](/en/hotel/ksar-amazaten), a quiet guesthouse just over a kilometre from the centre;
• [Dar El Kef](/en/hotel/dar-el-kef), a traditional guesthouse among the palms in the village of El Kef;
• [Hotel Roses des Sables](/en/hotel/hotel-roses-des-sables), a camp-hotel by the palm grove, in a room or a tent;
• [Résidence Tin Habib](/en/hotel/residence-tin-habib), a small hotel in the town centre.

All options are on our places to stay in Timimoun page.

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 before you go, and see our Algeria visa page.

Safety. Before you go, read your own government's travel advice (FCDO in the UK, the State Department in the US, Global Affairs Canada, France Diplomatie). Our article Is Algeria safe for travellers? explains where to find it.

Booking your stay in Timimoun

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.

See places to stay in Timimoun

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