Hoggar, a mythical region for rock climbing
Highlights
- Climbing the mythical peaks and summits of the Hoggar, in the footsteps of Frison-Roche
- Experienced French mountain guide
- Small group of 2 to 3 participants maximum, depending on technical level
- A wide range of routes from easy to difficult
- The majestic and mythical setting of Atakor
- Preparation course, 24-hour medical hotline
We are off to conquer the mythical peaks of the Hoggar, a massif located in the heart of Algeria's Deep South, a mountainous area teeming with walls ideal for rock climbing. Superb, colourful rock, the massif is made up of volcanic and granitic rock, at an altitude of between 1500 and 3000 meters: an extraordinary geological chaos in infinite shades of colour, with its organ pipes, peaks and ochre-coloured pitons. Seven peaks are on the programme, as we explore at a leisurely pace with our French guide and our Tuareg team: Pic Iheren or Laperine, Adriane, Tezouaigues, Mount Illaman, Garet El Djenoun, the Tassili domes of Tagmart and Mertoutek... Depending on the level of our very small group, our guide and I select the most favourable routes. We progress with emotion in the footsteps of Roger Frison-Roche. The summits offer us beautiful views over the plain of Tamanrasset, the basaltic organ alignments of the Atakor or the Assekrem, with the hermitage of Père de Foucauld.
Descriptif
At the centre of the Hoggar lies the Atakor massif, at an average altitude of 2000 meters. This mountain has been shaped by water, moulded by torrents and rivers, and fertilised by rain. Seeing all these eruptive rocks, we are struck by the astonishing power of colour and its movement with the passing hours. Dotted with peaks almost 3000 meters high, this is the Atakor of the Tuaregs (in the middle of the mountains).
When Charles de Foucauld arrived in Tamanrasset and built his house there in 1905, the town was a small village of around twenty zeribas (reed huts). He stayed there for eleven years. At that time, Abalessa (to the west of Tam) was the largest centre in the region, with up to eleven foggoras (underground drains).
Since 1920, Tamanrasset has grown steadily to become a major metropolis. In 1972, the first trade and cultural fair of all the Sahel countries (Assihar) was organised. The last town before Black Africa, ‘Tam’ is a city where economic progress now coexists with tradition.
Jour par jour
Day 1: Flight to Tamanrasset
Day 1
Flight to Algiers and on to Tamanrasset. Arrival in Tamanrasset in the late evening, welcome, transfer and overnight stay with local people in Tamanrasset.
Day 2: Preparation and visit of Tamanrasset
Day 2
After our late arrival in the middle of the night, we take the time to rest and get a good night's sleep before our various climbs over the next 11 days. We prepare all our climbing equipment: ropes, belays, pitons, carabiners, helmets and harnesses. Our guide gives us a briefing on the different climbs we will be doing during our stay, but the best thing will be to find out all about them on the spot, site after site, not far from each other. Beware of the quality of the insurance, as the quality of the rock is sometimes very poor in this remote part of the world. A zen attitude... and caution! In the afternoon, we visit Tamanrasset, a village that has grown considerably over the last twenty years.
Day 3: Tamanrasset — Climbing the Adriane — Laperine Peak
Day 3
Breakfast with our correspondent. Departure in the morning, by vehicle, to the foot of the Adriane, Tamanrasset's mountain. It rises to a height of around 200 meters and has an easy climbing route that allows us to get to grips with the distinctive rock of the Atakor peaks. With pleasant temperatures, we return exhausted from our efforts and are welcomed by a strong, sweet tea. We set up camp near the peak of Iheren (Laperine) and sleep under the starry sky.
Day 4: Climbing of Laperine Peak — Afilal
Day 4
Some 200 meters high, the peak of Iheren (Laperine) offers several routes of moderate difficulty. From its summit, we overlook the plain of Tamanrasset and discover the surrounding peaks: the Adrar Ihiagaren and Tindé, which form a beautiful basalt table. After our climb, we are back in the vehicle to head north towards the Afilal gueltas, where we set up camp not far from the pools of clear water and small waterfalls that this magnificent site has to offer.
Day 5: Afilal — Climbing the crag of Tezouaigues
Day 5
Quite early in the morning, we leave the enchanting site of the Afilal guelta to continue northwards. We soon reach the foot of the Tezouaigues needles. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful peaks in the Atakor. These 300-meter-high crags feature a spectacular alignment of basalt organs. Numerous itineraries have been mapped out on their slopes. Depending on our fitness and mood, we can take one or other of the routes on offer. From the summit, we have a fantastic view of the surrounding area and the Assekrem Plateau. Two fathers of the Foucauld congregation still live on this plateau. They are the successors to Charles de Foucauld, who lived here at the beginning of the last century. Bivouac at the foot of the mountain.
Day 6: Tezouaigues crags — Assekrem
Day 6
If we feel fit enough, we can climb one of the three Tezouaigues needles again. We can also devote a day to exploring the surrounding area: gueltas, rock paintings, narrow gorges. We climb up to the Assekrem Plateau to discover the hermitage of Father de Foucauld and take in all the peaks of the Atakor. Bivouac at the foot of the mountain.
Day 7: Assekrem — Climbing of Illaman
Day 7
By vehicle, we set off in the direction of Illaman. Between 300 and 400 meters high, depending on the face, this summit juts out superbly in the middle of the desert. We climb it via one of the routes marked out on the summit. Bivouac at the foot of Illaman.
Day 8: Illaman — Climbing the Tassili Tagmart Domes
Day 8
This morning, we take our vehicle in the direction of the Tagmart Tassili to climb its domes. We climb small granite faces forming slabs. Depending on our level, we decide to climb slabs that are already equipped or we climb the routes ourselves. Bivouac in this tassili.
Days 9 to 12: Climbing at Garet El Djenoun
Day 9
On day 9, we head for Garet El Djenoun in the Tefedest massif to the north-west of Atakor. It takes between three and four hours by car to reach the high granite cliffs of Garet El Djenoun. In the afternoon, we wander around our bivouac to get a feel for the type of cliffs we will be climbing on day 11.
The next day, we return to the heart of Garet El Djoun to walk to the classic couloir that we will be climbing the following day. We set up camp at the foot of this couloir.
The following day, we can climb the mythical Garet El Djenoun couloir that the famous Roger Frison-Roche was the first to clear. At the end of the day, we return to our bivouac.
On day 12, we return to our Tuareg team and vehicles at the entrance to Garet El
Day 13: Garet el Djenoun — Mertoutek
Day 13
Day 14: Merkoutek — Tamanrasset
Day 14
This morning, we packed all our climbing gear into our vehicles and set off again for Tamanrasset. We arrived in Tamanrasset in the early afternoon and took the opportunity to have a good shower. We had a chance to wander around Tamanrasset for a while before heading to the airport in the evening for our return flight to Algiers, then on to Europe in the morning.
Day 15: Arrival in Europe
Day 15
FIN DE PROGRAMME
For reasons that cannot be foreseen at this stage, such as unpredictable weather, the physical fitness or lack of fitness of participants or other circumstancess (customs formalities, road conditions, traffic, landslides, force majeure, etc.), your expedition leader may have to adapt the program, if necessary, to ensure the smooth running of your trip. He remains the sole judge and the one who guarantees your safety. Activity times are given as an indication and may vary from one participant to another.
The itinerary for all our expedition programs, or the ascent program for our high-mountain expeditions, are given here as a guide only. They are flexible enough to adapt to weather conditions with a few contingency days. In any case, you should follow the recommendations of your guide, who may suggest that you cancel your expedition due to weather, safety or physical conditions.
It is important to remember that this is a truly unsupported expedition, and that anything can happen. Expeditions Unlimited, your expedition leader, your guide or our local teams can in no way be held responsible.
Any costs incurred as a result of a change in the expedition schedule (extra nights' accommodation, extra flights) will be borne by the participants and not by the organizers. "Contingency days" refer to the expedition in the strict sense of the term (base camp/base camp in the mountains, departure point/exit point on a traverse, etc.).
Any early return of the expedition or of certain members only (early success, abandonment, etc.), generating costs for accommodation, meals, changes to air tickets or other activities not provided for in this program, will be charged in full to the participants.
Fiche Technique
Accompagnement
Supervision by Clément Flouret, French mountain and climbing guide.
If, for reasons beyond our control, Clément Flouret is unable to lead the group, he will be replaced by another experienced French guide. The services would not be changed, the conditions of the trip would remain the same and this change would not constitute a valid reason for cancellation.
In addition, you will be accompanied by a French-speaking Targui guide and a local Targui team, including a cook and a driver. Their priority is to follow the itinerary and ensure your safety. Along the way, they will share with you their life and experience of the desert.
For unpredictable reasons at this stage, like adverse weather conditions, insufficient physical condition of participants, insufficient competencies of participants related to the intended activities, your guide may decide to adjust the intended program and/or activities. At all times, his decision will be final on all matters likely to affect the safety and well-being of the trip.
Niveau de difficulté
Level rated: challenging
This program is designed for participants who take part in a regular sports activity several times a week, including endurance activity.
This climbing programme is aimed at participants with regular indoor climbing experience, on walls and ideally on long routes. It is necessary to equip most of the routes. The routes start at 5a and can easily exceed 7. Your guide will adapt to the level of the group to identify the most appropriate routes. To give yourself more room for manoeuvre and safety, your guide can take 2 climbers of average level with him and if the participants are stronger, then the group can go up to 3 climbers with two autonomous roped parties.
It will be necessary to arrange a weekend meeting with your guide beforehand to prepare and get to know each other. This weekend is included in the price of this expedition, excluding transport costs, accommodation and meals.
Niveau de difficulté technique
Mountaineering level: PD like... A little difficult (Peu Difficile in French)
In this program, the use of mountaineering equipment (crampons, harness, ice ax, ropes, etc.) is necessary and the route tackled may involve small difficulties, whether it is a little more inclined during glacier mountaineering, height of the walls, the length and the continuity of the efforts. It is therefore aimed at rough beginners who already have a little experience in mountaineering, who have already completed a few ascents of this level or slightly below. The mountaineering courses at our Adventure School from three days are for you. And this technical rating applies of course to normal weather conditions: the difficulty can increase in the event of bad conditions, fresh snow on rocks, insufficient or lack of quality of ice , etc. Likewise, the situation changes radically, for the same technical level, with the altitude, the weight of the bag, the lack of equipment on the route, the fatigue associated with the approach if it is long, the environment, if particularly hostile, etc.
Programme sans aérien
We meet up in Tamanrasset, where we are met at the airport by our local teams.
Flights to Tamanrasset are operated by Air Algérie from the main European cities via Algiers.
Given the diverse origins of the participants on this trip, international outward and return flights are not included in this package. In most cases, we book flights on your behalf to ensure that the whole group arrives at the destination at the same time. We do not charge any fees for these air bookings. Please do not hesitate to contact us. If you book your own tickets, we will advise you on the ideal flight schedule to enable all participants to arrive within a reduced time frame. At the very least, you need tickets that can be modified.
Hébergement
In a single room with a local in Tamanrasset. During the expedition, in a single tent or under the stars, as you wish (mattresses and pillows provided).
Repas
A hearty breakfast is served on the trail. Lunch is a hot or cold picnic. In the evening, it is a hot meal prepared by our Tuareg friends and guides, using fresh local produce available at the time of year.
Although the water is usually boiled by your guides, you should bring tablets (Micropur or similar) to disinfect the water you put in your water bottle, depending on the source and on the advice of your guide. You can also take a water filter with you to make your water clearer. You can also buy mineral water locally (not included in the price), but as you know, it has a poor environmental record. So we do not recommend it.
Transferts / Transport
Transfers to and from the airport are provided by minibus. The itinerary is planned in a 4x4 vehicle.
Taille du groupe
The group is composed of 2 to 3 participants maximum. The number of participants is deliberately limited to allow for greater immersion, to avoid embarrassing our hosts, and to develop freedom and flexibility. However, the maximum number may be exceeded if the last person to register wishes to travel with one or more other people. The services will not be modified, and the conditions of the trip will remain the same.
Équipement
Personal equipment is not provided. However, a full list is provided so that you can check that you are taking what you need.
All logistical equipment is provided: cooking and bivouac equipment (tent, mattresses). Binoculars and drones are strictly forbidden in Algeria.
Most of the climbing equipment is provided by your guide. You will work together to finalise the list of technical equipment required during your preparatory weekend.
Nos engagements pour un développement durable
Our commitment to a better planet has been a reality since the beginning of our story but we always need to do more and better. Please find out more about our charter and our commitments in terms of sustainable development. We have drafted our charter and take action through six themes on which we act as concretely as possible, most often with you: social equity and cultural respect, preservation of water, waste management in expedition, protection of biodiversity, raise public awareness on these subjects and finally, the optimization and recovery of CO2 emissions.
Regarding carbon emissions, most of which are due to air travel, we calculated and communicated in 2018 on the carbon footprint of each of our programs, expressed in tonnes of CO2.
These calculations made us aware of the importance of the total carbon emissions generated by our activity. Also, we have committed in 2022 to a carbon reduction that we believe is unprecedented in the tourism industry, aiming to reduce the total emissions of our activity by 5% per year, taking 2019 as the reference year (3,430 tonnes of CO2). This commitment is in line with the trajectory of the Paris climate agreements of 2015, the current benchmark. Thus, in 2030, we commit ourselves not to exceed 2,160 tonnes of C02. Thus, our maximum “carbon” budget for 2024 is 2,950 tonnes and for 2025, this budget will be reduced to 2,800 tonnes. And so on until 2030. To find out more about all of our calculations and our commitments in terms of reducing our carbon emissions.
In addition, since 2019, we have been encouraging you when you book for your journey to contribute with a donation to an independent NGO, among the two we have selected that share the commitments made in our charter. We matched the amount of this donation to this program's carbon footprint. Thus, the journey you are considering generates 1,71 tons of CO2, which corresponds to a 100% donation of €51 for an estimated value today of €30 per tonne of CO2. This donation remains of course optional and you can decide to give between nothing and 100% of this amount. Since 2019, including covid years of 2020 and 2021, we have been able to collect thanks to you nearly €7,000 for these associations.
Please do not hesitate to come back to us with any questions you might have regarding this carbon footprint mechanism, our other sustainable développement commitments or even to share with us your experience through a chat or a mail at contact@secret-planet.com.
Mot de l'expert
As soon as the northern part of the Hoggar reopened, I had the idea of putting together a 15-day trip based around climbing in the Hoggar, which is one of the most suitable playgrounds for experienced climbers. We climb a summit or a peak by the day, taking the time to select the best walls to climb and equipping the routes to ensure the safest possible climbing experience. Our French mountain guide will provide us with all his climbing knowledge and advice. The group is limited to 2 or even 3 participants for greater safety and flexibility. A rare expedition that has not been undertaken for many years.
Clément Flouret, mountain, climbing and caving guide
Clément supervises our mountaineering courses in the Alps, our caving courses, and some of our high-altitude ascents to 7000 and 8000 meters.
Clément has taken part in several caving expeditions, including a major National Geographic project in Papua New Guinea and our reconnaissance in Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam. He guided our Muztagh Ata (7546 m) and Manaslu (8163 m) expeditions. He has climbed the summit of Denali in Alaska (6132 m).
He regularly guides climbs in the Alps, where he knows most of the 4000-meter peaks.
Enthusiastic and experienced in expeditions of all kinds, Clément is always up for exploration in white or green universes, on snow-capped peaks or in the most grandiose underground caves.
Dates et Prix
Please find below all dates and prices for this expedition. Prices are quoted "from" and may be adjusted notably according to the number of participants (see trip notes for details). Please note that dates and prices for years beyond 2024, when given, are for guidance only and are subject to change and readjustment to take account of current economic realities.
Le prix comprend
- Airport/accommodation transfers in Tamanrasset
- Overnight accommodation with local people or in a gîte in Tamanrasset with breakfast, single room, for two nights
- Transfers by private vehicle from Tamanrasset and between climbing sites
- Full-board meals during your stay, either in a restaurant or prepared by your cook as detailed day by day
- Accommodation in tents or gîtes during your stay
- Provision of one tent per person, with mattress and pillow
- Insurance for guides (evacuation, hospitalisation, medical expenses, life insurance), cook and helpers
- Experienced French mountain guide
- Tuareg guide, cook and driver
- Collective climbing equipment (ropes, fixing points, stoppers, pitons)
- 1 satellite telephone dedicated to your expedition and entrusted to the expedition leader (for rescue purposes only)
- Solar panels at the base camp to charge small electronic equipment (such as mobile phones and cameras). Insufficient to charge computers
- Taxes and permits, government duties and taxes
- Medical follow-up by Ifremmont during the expedition
- Fees for the preparation weekend
Le prix ne comprend pas
- International return flights to Tamanrasset
- Consular fees (visa)
- Any additional nights' accommodation in Tamanrasset (more than 2 nights)
- Costs of the preparation weekend (meeting in Chamonix, accommodation, meals)
- Costs associated with the early return of the trip or of certain members only (early success, dropping out, etc.), resulting in costs for transfers, accommodation, meals, changes to air tickets or other activities not provided for in this programme.
- Expenses related to a change in the travel schedule (additional nights' accommodation and meals, additional flights)
- Tips for the local team: €200/participant
- Any personal communications by satellite telephone (to be paid locally)
- Personal equipment, including individual climbing gear
- Hire of personal climbing equipment, subject to availability (ask us)
- Drinks and any personal expenses (personal visits, taxis, souvenirs, dry cleaning, etc.)
- Travel and expedition insurance (assistance, evacuation and repatriation)
Your custom expedition
We put our expertise, our knowledge of the terrain, our creativity, our experience, the quality of our guides and the reliability of our partners at your service to build your custom expedition. We can also personalize an expedition to your wishes as soon as you form a "closed" group, whatever the number of participants.
This means that, unless you authorize us to do otherwise, no outside participants join you, and we can personalize your expedition by adapting it to your own pace, with the program extensions you desire, a higher level of comfort, certain activities, other encounters, etc.
Every expedition of this type is subject to a specific quotation. To get in touch with us now, please fill in the short questionnaire below. One of our experts will get back to you to refine your request and make you a proposal.
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