Camel trek from Tamanrasset to Assekrem via Wadi Tanget and Aréchaoum

Early in the day, flight Paris > Tamanrasset.

Departing late morning, in 4x4, we cross the plains of Tamanrasset and Tizelaïn. The latter is dominated, to the south, by Tin Amor (2138 m). A small pass allows us to access the wadi Tackecherwet.

We pass the volcanic peak Adaouda (Pic Jacquet). We skirt to the south the tabular mountain Ahounahamt (1887 m), then we reach, to the east, Takecherwet which is the meeting place with our caravan.

In early afternoon, we begin the camel trek.

First camp at Egnawen.

We help load the luggage onto pack camels and then, after approximately one hour of walking, we mount our camels for the first time…

We advance through a region of hills. The wadis Aha n'Fezouan and Tifarfara (engravings) wind between enormous granite boulders.

We then reach Tisset n'Ouazen, a small valley set between the volcanic plateau and the Aleheg mountain, a mix of smooth slabs and enormous granite scree. We camp there. Numerous acacias (tamat and abser). Very beautiful rock engravings.

We bypass the Aleheg massif through the gorges of the Amezegin wadi. After crossing the In Dalag wadi, we enter the plain of Téhé n'Oudi (the Butter Pass)

The mountains recede for a time. Along the wide Isigen wadi where tamarisks grow, we arrive near Aguelzam, a superb volcanic formation whose mass dominates the landscape.

In the afternoon, an easy climb up Aguelzam, a remarkable vantage point over the region we have just crossed and over the basin of the oued Tanget.

Then, still on foot, we reach this wadi near the water point of In Egreoual (gardens, palm trees and abandoned huts) where we meet up with our caravan.

We enter the Tanget basin where a multitude of peaks appear: Oussouk (1626 m), Tarara (1860 m), Ekneouen (The Twins), Tetaqaout, Tin Sanen…

By the Isigen wadi, we reach the Tanhart wadi, and we enter the Tan n'Manri corridor, a gorge where the Kel Ajjer defeated the Kel Ahaggar (around 1875) despite being ambushed on the slopes overlooking the track.

Several tombs remind the traveller of this famous battle among the Tuaregs. A few beautiful peaks border the track: Materey (2414 m) to the north and Eferi Ouan Tioufatin to the east. The track climbs and the camels must cross several small passes.

We pass through a gorge and admire some rock engravings at In Tifinar.

We finally arrive at the foot of the Tezouiag (The Bustards, 2750 m), two of the most beautiful peaks of the Atakor.

We can leave the caravan to climb the Tezouiag South peak (easy) by crossing the pass situated between the two summits. From the top, magnificent views of Assekrem, the main peaks of Atakor and the Taroumout wadi.

We find the caravan on the other side of the Tezouiag and join the Taroumout wadi, then the Seguika wadi, where we set up camp.

From the camp location, we can make an excursion into the Amezeroug mountain which is a very special site because the mountain contains a vast cirque where Mediterranean vegetation grows: olive, lavender and zézéré (Artemisia herba-alba). We admire rock art there in a tiny shelter.

Full day on foot because camels cannot climb onto the Assekrem plateau. Ascent to the Assekrem (2726 m). Visit to the Hermitage of Father de Foucauld and the Brothers who maintain their presence there.

We are on the most beautiful viewpoint of the Hoggar. We can walk around it and climb Engh'Akli, the summit facing the Assekrem, to the south. From this summit, we have an overall view of the Assekrem.

In the afternoon, we rejoin the caravan at the bivouac located in the oued In Fergan.

The route crosses a small pass west of the Assekrem plateau and reaches the foot of the Tahat mountain, which is the highest point in Algérie (2908 m). The landscape is severe and grandiose.

Afternoon devoted to the easy ascent of Tahat via its south ridge and large slopes of scree and boulders (approximately 3 hours). From the summit, the view is superb and, if the weather is perfectly clear, we can see to the north the granite domes of the Téfédest whose highest is In Oukoulmou (2336 m)

We are north of the magnificent Ilaman mountain (2739 m). We follow the wadi of the same name, wedged in narrow gorges dominated by the mountain. Gradually, the wadi widens and we soon leave it by a small pass to reach the Tameslozent wadi where some tabarakat (tamarisks) and azawa (other tamarisks) grow.

The Amgar mountain rises above us. Amgar, according to legend, was the rival of Ilaman for the conquest of the beautiful Tahat…

Through successive small passes, we cross the oueds Tiloq, Talat Mellet and Amoulal.

A pass between two small peaks, the Infaf (2007 m), allows us to reach the Tafosest wadi. The trail, often on a ledge, offers unusual and grandiose views of the immensity of the desert. The camels progress slowly, carefully monitored by the camel herders when crossing difficult passages.

After the Amoulal wadi, we reach the In Tékadé wadi cluttered with acacias. A fairly rapid descent for the animals allows us to plunge into the narrow gorges of the Ilaman wadi that we left two days ago.

From now on, the landscape becomes gentler. We cross large plains dotted with rounded granite peaks and leave to the east the imposing Taessa massif.

We soon cross the wide bed of the Terhenanet wadi occupied by a flow of blue basalt that we follow until the great plain of Essouf Mellen (numerous gueltas set in the rock and a few palm trees).

The landscape is vast, composed of ridges and small rounded granite domes.

After passing beneath the smooth-sided summit of Tesselit Lehet (1751 m) and after a succession of wadis and granite thresholds, we emerge into the cirque of Tesselit de Tagmart.

After the midday stop, we can climb one of the domes of the Tissalatin Tin Tagmart. Very beautiful view of the mountains of the Atakor and of the plains and the wadis of Essouf Mellen, the White Solitude.

If this easy ascent doesn't appeal to us, other summits, even easier, can be the goal of pleasant walks.

Then, after crossing the wadi Tagmart, we reach the foot of the volcanic peak of Aharar (1753 m) at the foot of which we set up our last bivouac.

Last morning of camel trek. Through a succession of rocky thresholds and plains, Iguenda Wan Tassa, Wan Tataït, Wan Bouzin, we end our camel trek in Iguenda Tarzaghana, just before the Tin Irlalen gorges which separate us from the Tamanrasset plain.

After thanking our Tuareg companions and saying goodbye to them, we return by car to Tamanrasset (approximately 15 km). Check-in at the guesthouse "le caravansérail".