The mythical camel trek from Tamarasset to Djanet

Departure from France in the evening and arrival in Tamanrasset at night. Welcome by our local team and transfer to the guest house.

Free morning. City tour. Tamanrasset (located at 1400 m) is nowadays an imposing cosmopolitan city. Only the city center, with the few remaining tamarisks, has retained some of its authenticity.

In the afternoon, by 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 Takecherwet wadi. 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, the meeting point with our caravan, located near the small agricultural village of Ezarnen (30 km).

Departure preparations. We fix our saddles on the backs of the camels and load the pack animals.

The camel trek begins with a vast plateau with, to the north, the famous Assekrem plateau and the other peaks of the Atakor. A pass allows you to descend into the Amezegin wadi, at the foot of the Aleheg mountain (1962m). Wadis Tineftawin and In Dalag. Plain of Téhé n'Oudi. Camp.

We cross the oued Tahifet and pass near the village of the same name (cultivated areas). We follow for a while the track from Tahifet to Tazrouk, then go up the oued Azrou, before descending into the oued Aborah after crossing a small pass.

We have been in a mountainous area since yesterday, in the heart of the Touareg territory of Adjouh n'Téhélé. The track continues to go up and down. Oueds Aborah, Fisfas and Tamekendout.

At the well of Tamekendout, where the camels drink and we fill our water. A pass gives access to the Touzin wadi where we camp.

Long crossing on a plateau between two high mountains. Descent into the Aoudjerar wadi. Oudrak pass which gives access to the important Sersouf wadi (tamarisks) that we descend.

The mountain moves aside and we leave it on our left. Oued Tin Lalen (water point), pass giving access to the Oued Adjou, descent of the Oueds Eméharagélé and Ilefsawen. Landscape of granite boulders all the way to the Oued Wersegenet.

Oueds In Debiren, In Afegieg, Imbilel. We leave to the east the small village Aït Loaïen d'Imbilel (1044 m). We soon emerge into one of the most important wadis of the Hoggar, the oued Tin Tarabin (which means: "One of the Arab Women"). The first tufts of toulloult (grasses) appear.

Well and bivouac in the oued Amajjar.

Small pass connecting the Amajjar and Ernazaft wadis. In the distance stands the granitic massif of Serkout (2252 m).

Crossing of the Inouhawen wadi made famous by the ambush laid against the Flatters Mission in 1881, at the well that became "Tanout Tan Ikoufar", the Well of the Infidels. Wadis Tassiot Tan Tazabit and Takalous.

Crossing a long plateau, then descent into the Zerzerou wadi. If it has flowed, small water point a little downstream, in its gorges. We bivouac higher up, in the wadi.

Tadnest water point where we arrive around noon. We water the camels and fill the waterskins and jerrycans. Everyone participates in this important task which allows us to stock up on water for 5 and a half days.

Camp at Tadnest.

Oued In Akaokan ("One of the Damans"). The mountains recede further. We first travel through piles of granite boulders, then across a vast plain to Wadi Anemerou where arasou bushes grow. Arrival around 1 p.m.

Today we cross a good part of the Anahaf mountain range. A pass carved into a quartz vein gives us access to a vast plateau that we cross heading northeast.

A quick stop midday at the Amedid wadi (without shade) or, a little earlier, among granite boulders.

We head back north and, after an area of hills, we descend a wide, gray wadi, without a blade of grass. A few more hills, then we camp in the In Terekfin wadi.

The wadis become increasingly wide. We cross the Amedid wadi again (1116 m), then enter a final ridge that blocks the gateway to the Ténéré. On our right, on the reverse slope of a hill, we can see an immense pre-Islamic tomb in a "keyhole" shape. Passage of a small pass before reaching the lunch acacia.

In the afternoon, for several hours, we head towards the right bank of the Tin Hagen wadi cluttered with sand and toulloult. Three small peaks dominate us.

Departure at 5 a.m. The immense Ténéré of the Tafassasset are before us. We cross them to the foot of the Tazat mountain (2061m) where we arrive after crossing the Tamanrasset - Djanet road. We have just completed the longest stage of the camel trek (10 to 11 hours).

Another long stage until the Tabakat wadi (Jujube tree). For a large part of the morning, we cross numerous wadis descending from the nearby mountain.

In the Tabakat wadi, we set up camp near a well, quite far downstream from the small recent village of Tabakat. We water the animals and fill the water skins and jerry cans.

In the morning, we water the camels again and finish the water chore. Departure in early afternoon.

We reach the Zawaten'Laz wadi. A little north of our bivouac in the middle of the tamarisks, is located the small town of Bordj El Haouas (name of Zawatalaz, former Fort Gardel).

We are approaching the sandstone cliffs of the Tassili n'Ajjer. To the south and east, the Erg Admer blocks our way. We go around it to the north. The spectacle is breathtaking.

Camp in the heart of the small dunes of the Sersouf wadi.

Entry into the pre-Tamanrasset region, either via the Essendilène wadi or the Hell wadi. Canyons, cliffs, rocky towers besieged by sand will be our world during these final days of camel trekking.

Arrival during the day in Djanet where we settle in the wadi. Quick visit of Djanet, which has lived up to its reputation as the "Pearl of the Tassili". It has developed and expanded enormously. The entire oasis comprises four villages: El Mihan, Adjahil, Azellouaz (at the foot of the Tim Beur mountain) and Tin Khatma.

They will leave this morning towards the Hoggar. Transfer to the airport at night.