As the day ended in Taghit, we chased the sunset. Our experienced drivers guided us up and over the dunes, meandering across the landscape as we searched for the perfect spot to watch the sun finally fall below the horizon. Atop a dune, we watched as the shadows of the dunes stretched long before us, the bright blue sky darkened and the yellow of the sand became a beautiful burnt orange. A scene all of us will remember.

The labyrinth of the Kasbah in Algiers is far less daunting with your local guide. We followed Ahmed with confidence as he strode knowingly into the city, down snaking alleys and spiralling streets. It didn’t take long until we were sat on the upper floor of a traditional home, admiring the city’s architecture. The bright white buildings shone in the sun as we sipped on local tea and snacked on traditional almond sweets called Tcherek. We weren’t just there to see the sights from afar, we were in the middle of it.

We drove from Constantine through rolling hills and lush green farmland to the Roman ruins at Tiddis. We were all struck by the sight before us as we climbed out of the vehicles. Spring had truly arrived in Algeria with an abundance of wildflowers lining the winding pathways and colouring the remains of the ancient settlement. A beautiful juxtaposition as new, budding flora and fauna merge with the ageing monuments of old.

As the evening drew in, we finished exploring the ancient Ksars and were driven to a sheltered enclave amongst the dunes. Despite the unfamiliar setting, we felt at home with our desert guide brewing us local tea and motioning for us to warm ourselves beside a small fire as the temperature dropped. Conversations amongst the group petered out and we enjoyed a period of silence. We took in the awe-inspiring scene, a sea of sand surrounding us as the sky darkened further and stars began to shine, besides the crackling of the fire, not a sound could be heard. Time seemingly stood still for a few minutes.