Djanet's old quarter sits at the base of the dark sandstone cliffs, a cluster of traditional Tuareg and Saharan houses built from stone and earth. The narrow streets are quieter than the modern part of town, and the gardens here — irrigated by ancient channels from the springs — produce dates, vegetables, and fruit in the middle of the desert.
The old town gives a sense of what Saharan oasis life looked like before concrete. Wander through in the late afternoon when the light is golden and the heat has eased. The small market near the edge of the old quarter sells Tuareg silver jewellery, leatherwork, and indigo-dyed cloth. Djanet has a Tuareg character distinct from the Arab towns of northern Algeria, and the old town is where that is most visible.