M'zab

M'zab is a limestone plateau in Saharan, Algeria and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its collection of desert fortress-cities are exotic to the point of surrealism.

M'zab is made up of five separate "cities," which essentially serve as separate urban centers of one large "Pentapolis," home to over 350,000 people.

• Beni Isguen
• Bounoura
• El-Ateuf
• Ghardaïa — the largest city of the valley, with a population over 100,000.
• Melika — a small and less remarkable center, but one that offers the best views of both Ghardaia and Bounoura.

Outside the Pentapolis of the valley, there are two other Mozabite oasis towns far to the north:

• Guerrara
• Bérianne

There's only one way you are likely to get to M'zab, and that's by vehicle on the N1 south from Laghouat.

• If you have to spend a night here, as I did in 1974, and it is 90 degrees at 2 in the morning, here is a tip-- go into the bathroom and fill the bucket there with water from the tub or shower.. then flood your floor and put your mattress on the ground.. it'll cool things off a tad. • Bob D.
• Algérie. Ville sainte, Ghardaia est entourée d'un mur. Si vous voulez y pénétrer, il vous faudra un guide local : et même votre guide algérien deviendra touriste comme vous! Dans les étroites ruelles vous croisez parfois une habitante de la cité. Elle est entièrement recouverte. Seul un … • Patrick D.