GUNUNG · Algeria

Lalla Khedidja

لالة خديجة (Arab) — Tamgut Aâlayen / Azeru Amghur (Kabyle)

Mont Lalla Khadidja (2.308 m), puncak Djurdjura, Aljazair (CC BY-SA 3.0). Photo: source

Information

Elevation: 2.308 m
Country: Algeria (DZ)
Location / Range: Subrangkaian Akouker, ujung timur Djurdjura, Atlas Tell — Wilaya Tizi Ouzou, berbatasan dengan Bouira, di dalam Taman Nasional Djurdjura, Kabylie
Mountain type: Puncak batu gamping (karst) — titik tertinggi rangkaian Djurdjura sekaligus titik tertinggi Atlas Tell; termasuk ultra-prominent peak dengan prominensi 1.720 m
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: 36.4472, 4.2286
Difficulty: Sedang; pendakian sehari tanpa bagian teknis pada musim panas, tetapi tanjakan panjang dan curam. Pada musim dingin puncak tertutup salju dan menuntut perlengkapan musim dingin
Best Season: Mei sampai Oktober, ketika jalur ketinggian umumnya sudah bebas salju
Permits & Rules: Tidak ada izin pendakian formal; kawasan berada dalam Taman Nasional Djurdjura. Pendaki biasanya bergabung dengan klub atau rombongan pendakian lokal, dan kondisi keamanan serta akses jalan sebaiknya dipastikan lebih dulu ke penduduk setempat
Hazards: Salju dan es dari akhir musim gugur sampai musim semi, kabut yang menghapus jarak pandang di punggungan, medan karst dengan lubang dan batu lepas, serta jalur atas yang minim sumber air

Description

Lalla Khedidja, called Tamgut in Kabyle, is the highest summit of the Djurdjura range at 2,308 m and the high point of the entire Tell Atlas. It stands in the Akouker subrange in Tizi Ouzou Province, the heart of Kabylie, inside Djurdjura National Park. With 1,720 m of topographic prominence it qualifies as an ultra-prominent peak and is one of the most sought-after objectives for Algerian hikers. Its name comes from a legendary figure whom local tradition links to sixteenth-century resistance. The classic route leaves the mountain road at Tizi n'Kouilal, passes through Atlas cedar and pine forest, then climbs to high meadows and a rocky ridge; the Experience Outdoor guide puts the ascent at about 4.2 km one way with 766 m of gain, taking two to two and a half hours up. Parties wanting a longer day extend it into the Tizi n'Kouilal – Lalla Khedidja – Tala Rana traverse of roughly 14 km. From the top a 360-degree panorama sweeps the serrated peaks and deep valleys of the Djurdjura, and in clear weather the view reaches the Mediterranean to the north. Snow normally covers the summit through winter, when the Tikjda centre on the northern slopes serves as a base for mountain activities.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Lintasan Tizi n'Kouilal – Lalla Khedidja – Tala Rana

Sedang–berat; lintasan panjang dengan naik-turun punggungan

Sehari penuh

The long version, linking the summit of Lalla Khedidja with Tala Rana to form a traverse of roughly 14 km. Le Jour d'Algérie covered a party from the Les Cimes des Babors club walking this route in May 2025, noting the 360-degree panorama from the summit taking in three provinces at once — Tizi Ouzou, Bouira, and Béjaïa. The route also passes sites tied to the history of Algeria's independence war, so many local parties treat it as a commemorative outing as much as a hike. Given its length and the scarcity of water high up, it demands ample water and an early start.

Tizi n'Kouilal → puncak Lalla Khedidja (rute klasik)

Sedang; jalur pendakian tanpa bagian teknis pada musim kemarau, tetapi tanjakan curam dan konsisten

2–2,5 jam naik; sekitar 4–5 jam pulang-pergi

The most common and shortest route to the summit, leaving from the Tizi n'Kouilal pass reached by the Djurdjura mountain road. According to the Experience Outdoor guide it runs about 4.2 km one way with 766 m of gain, taking two to two and a half hours up, and is rated moderate for fit, properly equipped hikers. The path climbs through dense Atlas cedar and pine forest before emerging onto high meadows and the final rocky ridge to the 2,308 m point. The ideal season is May to October, when the high trails are generally free of snow; outside that window the summit is under snow and winter equipment is required. From the top, a full-circle panorama sweeps the serrated crest of the Djurdjura, and on clear days the Mediterranean is visible to the north.

Route Segments

1

Tizi n'Kouilal → hutan cedar dan pinus

Bagian awal menembus hutan lebat dari celah gunung
2

Hutan → padang tinggi dan punggungan berbatu

Tanjakan curam yang membentuk sebagian besar dari 766 meter kenaikan
3

Punggungan → puncak Lalla Khedidja

↔ 4.2 km ↑ 766 m ⏱ 2–2,5 jam dari Tizi n'Kouilal 2.308 mdpl

Titik tertinggi Djurdjura sekaligus Atlas Tell, panorama 360 derajat

Climbing Experiences

Documentation of Lalla Khedidja is almost entirely in French, Kabyle, and Arabic — a sign that the mountain is climbed mainly by Algerian hikers rather than foreign visitors. Local channels film ascents from Tizi n'Kouilal year-round, including winter versions with the summit under snow. Written sources come from French-language outdoor guides giving concrete distance and elevation-gain figures, and from Algerian press coverage of hiking-club parties who make this traverse a regular fixture. Several videos call Lalla Khedidja Algeria's third-highest peak; that ranking circulates in local media and is best read as a popular claim rather than settled fact — what is not disputed is its status as the high point of the Djurdjura and of the Tell Atlas.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.