Taghit is a spectacular oasis town in western Algeria, pressed between a palm-lined river valley and a wall of golden sand dunes that rise hundreds of metres directly above the town. The contrast is extraordinary — lush date palms on one side, the Grand Erg Occidental on the other, and a ruined ksar (fortified village) clinging to the cliff between them.
The old ksar, built of mud-brick and stone, cascades down the rocky hillside above modern Taghit. It has been largely abandoned but is still possible to explore — pick your way through the narrow alleys for views over the palm groves and the dunes beyond. The rock engravings at Barrebi and along the Zousfana valley, a short drive from town, include prehistoric carvings of elephants, ostriches, and cattle from a time when the Sahara was green savanna.
The dunes are the main draw. You can walk up from town in 20 minutes and find yourself on a ridge of sand looking out over an ocean of dunes stretching to the horizon. Sunset from the dunes above Taghit is one of the most memorable experiences in Algeria. The town is reached from Béchar, about 90 kilometres to the south, by road.