On the hillside above the oasis, the ruins of the original Chebika village stand largely as they were left after the floods of 1969 swept through the lower settlement. The houses are built of the same local stone as the cliffs — pale orange and beige, almost indistinguishable from the rock face. Low doorways, narrow alleys, and roofless rooms gradually dissolving back into the hillside.
The old village is quiet and a little melancholy. You can wander freely through the ruins; some of the walls are still more or less intact, and there are good views down over the modern settlement and the oasis below. The atmosphere is enhanced by the absence of other people — most tour groups spend only a short time at the site — and by the absolute silence once you are away from the car park.
A short climb above the village reaches a plateau with panoramic views across the desert plain toward Algeria, flat and immense, with the Atlas foothills rising on either side. This is the best vantage point at Chebika and worth the ten minutes it takes to reach.