Hiking and yoga in the heart of the Sahara dunes

Waking up is always a magical moment… Opening your eyes in the middle of the Tassili desert, surrounded by silence, golden light, and endless dunes, evokes an unforgettable feeling. No walls, no noise, only the whisper of the wind on the sand and the gentle warmth of the sun slowly rising over the horizon. Around the still-warm fire from the night before, tea is brewing. We savor breakfast facing the infinite expanse, in absolute serenity. We walk slowly, in an inhabited silence, as if time itself has stood still.

At midday, we take shelter under a rock or a solitary acacia tree, sharing a simple but delicious vegetarian meal. The astonishing formations of Tikoubaouine, its natural arches and canyons, offer spectacular views—a veritable open-air museum. Night falls, the sky opens, and millions of stars light up one by one. Around the fire, the voices of the Tuareg rise, their songs echoing on the wind. The Tuareg language is dominated by the vowel sound "a," a testament to the fact that the hearts of the desert people are as vast as the land itself.

As I walked, I picked up camel droppings, which amused the northern Algerians and other tourists, but that's because they don't know the usefulness of dung and droppings, which have a powerful purifying effect. The Tuareg use them in the same way we Mongols do.

Presentation of the trip and workshop on nomadic shamanism (30 min)

The day begins with breakfast, enjoyed overlooking the vast desert, before setting off for the spectacular Issendilène Canyon. We'll stop there for lunch, soothed by the whisper of the wind and the stark beauty of the landscape, before hiking along the canyon. The trail winds through a valley of oleanders, where the coolness contrasts with the heat of the sand. Just as in Mongolia, we see animals roaming freely, a testament to the Tuareg nomads' continued commitment to their vow to respect the freedom of their livestock.

As night fell, we set up camp on a dune overlooking the wadi, an ideal spot to admire the sunset setting the desert ablaze before spending the night under a sparkling sky. I had never imagined before that the dunes could be so welcoming, even though I am descended from the people of the Gobi Desert's sand dunes. Our guide then shared with us the ancestral wisdom of the Tuareg, this desert people whose philosophy, dignity, and profound spirit are part of the pride of an Algeria rich in its diversity.

Workshop on mindful presence (mindful breathing, walking and eating 30 min) and Yoga by Séverine.

At sunrise, after a hearty breakfast, you'll board your 4x4 vehicles for an expedition across the magnificent landscapes of the Dider plateau. It is there, in the heart of this vast, mineral expanse, that you will discover a true marvel of rock art—one of the most beautiful engravings in the world, a silent witness to an ancient humanity and its intimate relationship with nature. When I visit a country, what I seek above all are traces of its worldview, the signs left by those who inhabited it. How do the Tuareg people interpret life, the meaning of existence, or even universal law? Often, it's all there, engraved in stone, inscribed in the symbolic richness and diversity of their rock paintings—an eternal language protected by the desert. Nomads share a common vision, whether in Algeria or Mongolia.

After an open-air lunch, soothed by the silence and grandeur of the Sahara, the journey continues to the village of Ihrir. There, you will spend the night in a traditional hut called an “Idarène,” for your fourth bivouac. A simple and authentic experience, bringing you closer to Saharan life under the endless desert sky.

Workshop The Three Bodies and the Values ​​of Human Life (1 hour) and Yoga by Séverine.

Prepare for a complete immersion in nature. After a leisurely breakfast, you'll set off on a hike to discover the sublime Ihrir Valley. You'll have lunch in Idarène, and the afternoon will be dedicated to exploring the canyon's hidden treasures. Let yourself be amazed by the raw, wild beauty of the landscapes. As night falls, you'll set up your fifth bivouac in a breathtaking setting.

Workshop on the 9 wills and Yoga by Séverine.

The day begins with discoveries and shared moments, bathed in the first rays of sunlight that illuminate your last day in the desert. After a hearty breakfast, we set off back towards Djanet, but the journey still holds one more wonder: the majestic dunes of Erg Admer. We walk through a breathtaking landscape, between strangely shaped rock formations and golden dunes. Then, the team joins us for a simple and joyful nomadic meal—a suspended moment, filled with friendship and gratitude.

In the afternoon, we discover a thousand-year-old work of art: "The Weeping Cow," one of the most moving and mysterious rock engravings in the Sahara. We visit the town of Djanet with its souks; it's a charming, lively little town. And so our journey comes to an end. We will spend another day gazing at the Saharan sky before taking off in the early hours of October 23, 2026, at 4:15 a.m., to reach Algiers at 6:30 a.m.

The night will be short, but the heart will remain long filled with the magic of the desert. I have invited the driver-guide-tracker (the only French-speaking Tuareg) to come and discover Mongolia and present the nomadic culture of the Tuareg at the World Nomads Festival in Mongolia in August 2026.

You can now book your flight from Algiers to Paris, late morning.

Sometimes flights are delayed, but generally, Air Algérie's schedules are punctual. You can expect to return in the afternoon.