Fancy an immersive trip to Algeria? Immerse yourself in the world of handicrafts, a living heritage handed down from generation to generation. Woven carpets, Kabyle pottery, Tuareg jewellery, city embroidery… each region of the country reveals its unique skills, far from the usual tourist circuits.
This 2025 guide takes you on a tour of some of the finest craft experiences to be had, with encounters, demonstrations and shopping on the local circuit.
Why discover Algerian crafts?
- Travel in a different way, to the rhythm of ancient gestures
- Support the local economy and rural cooperatives
- Bring back ethical, hand-made souvenirs
- Help preserve an intangible heritage
1. Ghardaïa carpets: the woven art of M’Zab
Region: Ghardaïa, M’Zab valley
Mozabite women perpetuate an age-old art through colourful carpets with geometric patterns symbolising Saharan life.
To experience :
- Visit to women’s cooperatives
- Demonstration of handloom weaving
- Buy direct from the weavers
2. Kabyle pottery: Berber heritage in terracotta
Region: Kabylia (Tizi Ouzou, Béjaïa, Bouira)
In hilltop villages, potters hand-mould unique pieces decorated with traditional symbols.
To discover :
- Meetings in family workshops
- Introductory courses
- Direct sales in craft villages
3. Tuareg jewellery: symbols of the desert
Region: Tamanrasset, Djanet, Hoggar
Tuareg silversmiths work raw silver into Agadez crosses, pendants and cuffs with protective motifs.
Possibility of immersion:
- Reading traditional symbols
- Discover how to engrave with a file
- Personalised order from a craftsman
4. Saharan weaving: the colours of the Gourara
Region: Timimoun, Adrar
Carpets, shawls and chechs are woven in warm tones using vegetable dyes.
To explore:
- Visit to collective workshops
- Meet the weavers in the oasis
- Buy local woollen items
5. Leather from Tlemcen: Andalusian heritage
Region: Tlemcen, Sidi Bel Abbès
Leather is hand-sewn into babouches, belts or bags, using techniques from the Arab-Andalusian period.
Experiences :
- Discover the artisanal tanneries
- Observe the different stages of production
- Shopping in the stalls of the medinas
6. City embroidery: elegance in gold thread
Regions : Algiers, Constantine, Oran
Traditional dresses, djellabas and hand-embroidered veils embody Algerian urban elegance.
Worth trying out:
- Meet the designers
- Floral embroidery and hand gilding
- Made-to-measure or personalised items
7. Local products & natural crafts
Regions : All over Algeria (oases, mountains, countryside)
The wealth of local crafts also includes gastronomy and natural cosmetics.
To enjoy or take away:
- Dates, olive oil and prickly pear oil
- Ghassoul soaps, henna, herbal teas
- Tastings at family farms or local markets
Practical advice for a successful craft trip
- Favour local workshops or certified cooperatives
- Prefer payment in cash, which is often required in the souks
- Ask for a demonstration: a guarantee of authenticity
- Find out about craft festivals (often in spring or autumn)
Crafts & responsible tourism
Choosing to travel through crafts means choosing committed, sustainable tourism. You are contributing to :
- Preserving a living cultural heritage
- Encouraging ethical and local industries
- Creating genuine human encounters
- Supporting the economy of women in rural areas
What if your next souvenir was handmade?
A Berber carpet woven in Ghardaïa, a silver ring forged in Tamanrasset, hand-decorated Kabyle pottery… Behind every handcrafted object, there is a skill, a story, a hand. In 2025, let yourself be inspired by the Algeria of craftsmen.
