Chandigarh to Algiers Flights

  About Chandigarh

Located on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, is the gorgeous city of Vancouver. It is famously known to be one of the most densely populated cities in the country. Not just the population but even the ethnic diversity sets the city apart from the others. Vancouver has a plethora of gardens and parks, along with museums and galleries. The city has managed to find fame amid travellers in recent years. Owing to the landscape scenery and thriving food establishments, Vancouver has grown into becoming one of the most important cities in Canada. It is easy to connect flights to Vancouver as well.

Best time to visit Chandigarh

Vancouver is predominantly a cold city with temperatures barely exceeding 22 degree Celsius. However, the spring, summers and fall are pleasant in Vancouver, giving way to tourists. Since summer is the peak season in Vancouver, often you will find a plethora of tourists from around Canada to flock over for some fun. The city's thriving culture and lifestyle, topped with the slew of amazing festivals such as TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Vancouver Pride Parade & Festival, Vancouver Folk Music Festival and Bard on the Beach, further make people want to head to the city. With so many events and lovely weather to take in, the hotel prices and flight tickets also tend to get expensive. Plus, with the crowd, it might be difficult for you to enjoy a quiet and quaint environment. The cruise port also gets busy as the travellers need to be accommodated. However, the spring season will get your spirits high and your pockets happy. From March to May, the city turns lively as the cherry blossoms bloom and the whales pass through the Vancouver waters. It is a beautiful sight and certainly comes with great perks.

There are some fascinating events such as the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival and Vancouver International Dance Festival that take place during spring. It is certainly the kind you shouldn't miss as the streets turn carnivalesque. Autumn is just as favourable as spring as the city prepares for the winters. It is easier to book hotels in Vancouver during this season as people are departing from the summer fun, reducing the demand for the city. Just as the temperatures go down, even the hotel prices and flight ticket costs drop, making it easier for tourists with a strict budget to traverse. While the city folks continue with their fairs and events, a new wave of budge tourists come over to be entertained by what the city has to offer. The temperatures would require you to carry jackets and coats along with you. It can get super cold, especially if you're from a hot country and are not used to the drop in temperatures. The experience of autumn in Vancouver is just as beautiful with the city streets turning crimson red as maple leaves flood the streets.

Places to visit in Chandigarh

Life in Vancouver is on the outside and not indoors. The city bustles and brims with opportunities for tourists to engage in. The Stanley Park is one sweet place from where you can begin your Canadian tour. Granville Island is the one place that will give you trendy restaurants, theatres and alluring galleries. All you've got to do is to hitch up a ferry ride and ho to the island. Another lovely place to visit would be Queen Elizabeth Park, a famous outdoor attraction in Vancouver. Famously known as the Kitsiklano 'Kits' Beach, the stretch of shores finds itself in the lines of an LA or Venice beach, thanks to the pristine water it touches. Spanish Banks Beach is another thrilling spot that would make you happy, especially if the water is something you love. The city has far too many gardens so you will never be tired of the greenery around you. The VanDusen Botanical Garden also deserves to be visited as it is one of the pretty places. It's not just gardens and beaches though, the city also has Yaletown, a chic neighbourhood to indulge in some upscaled lifestyle.

Things to do in Chandigarh

One of the best things to do in Vancouver is easily the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge. It is 450 ft long, and 230 ft elevated from the ground that offers a stunning view of the river flowing under. It is quite thrilling and definitely poles apart from the feeling the gardens in Vancouver invoke. You can indulge in some leisure sightseeing and shopping at the Lonsdale Quay Market. Another fun thing to take up in Vancouver would be to indulge in a food tour. As the city does brim with a vast opportunity for lip-smacking food, you will not be disappointed with the establishments the city has. Sailing is another activity that you can take up in the city. It would be fun, and you will get to learn something new. Plus, for the outdoorsy kind, you can visit Grouse Mountain for some adventure fun.

Food and Restaurants in Chandigarh

Vancouver is nestled along the Pacific coast, making seafood as it's the staple food. In fact, much of their food has fish and other aquatic life as the base. That includes the classic fish and chips too, which is otherwise a London speciality. These can be found in the city's markets such as Granville Island. The place is ideal for you to explore their seafood delicacies. While Granville has some of the basic but delicious street meat, Yaletown upscales the whole experience, which would be ideal for you if you're on a romantic rendezvous. The setting at Yaletown is formal and posh. Some of the food establishments that you should visit during your trip are Rodney's Oyster House, Blue Water Cafe, to name a few. These are the best seafood restaurants in the city which you will surely like. You can also check out YEW Seafood + Bar, which is located at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver. Their speciality includes Sidney Island venison and Qualicum Bag scallops. These are a big hit in the city, and something many would recommend.

A little away from Vancouver is Richmond (in British Columbia), where you'll find more seafood with wild salmon, tuna, mussels, crab and halibut too. What makes this place special is how the fish are fresh catch of the day which the fishermen get from the docks. These you can find at Steveston Village. Not just seafood but Vancouver also has its own version of Chinatown where you will find some of the best Asian dishes. In fact, you can also experience the little India that is settled in Vancouver. There is a Punjabi Market which is basically an Indo-Canadian neighbourhood located in the South Vancouver. Rest assured, all your cravings for Indian curries and delicacies shall be fulfilled here.

How to reach Chandigarh

There are no direct flights from Indian to Vancouver. However, the flight connectivity to Vancouver from India is exceptional. Canada, in general, receives a lot of tourists and potential residents from India. Due to this, the popularity of flights to this route is quite high. In fact, every second day, there are people travelling to Vancouver or other parts of Canada. Since there are no direct or nonstop flights to Vancouver from India, many airlines do have services to reach with layovers in other international cities. Airlines such as Delta Air Lines, Air France, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines, British Airways have some dedicated flights flying to Vancouver. As there are no direct flights, many have layovers in their origin countries. For example, Air France has flight connectivity to Vancouver from Paris, so there is a layover in the city. Similarly, other cities with layovers are in Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Newark, Istanbul, to name a few. The most popular route for flights to Vancouver is from Paris and Frankfurt. However, some of the flights need a second layover which either takes places in Montreal, Toronto or Newark.

To fly to Vancouver from India, you will require to apply for a transit visa. Since the international routes connecting Vancouver and India are from cities like Paris and Frankfurt, they require a transit visa from the passenger. To make things easier, the Canadian Embassy has allowed for online applications. All you need to do is fill up the application online and submit the same. The process is easier and less time-consuming. Besides, the status of the application is received promptly. The flight tickets to Vancouver are considerably on the expensive side. The distance is quite a lot and travelling through certain airlines is why the prices are steep. However, you can always find exceptional flight deals online. There are provisions of miles as well which enable the ticket prices to reduce. You can find cheap flight tickets to Vancouver online, especially if you book them well in advance. Simultaneously, you can make your hotel reservations too. Booking in advance always comes with its perks and booking your hotels in Vancouver will also be cheap if you do it beforehand.

  About Algiers

Algiers is the capital of Algeria, and you will find a lot of French colonial-style buildings in the city. Exploring the neighbourhood by food is one of the best ways to explore the city. It is a hilly place, and if you have booked a hotel in Algiers that has a view of the entire city from the top, you will certainly be a tad overwhelmed. It is far more convenient to take public transport than hiring a car and paying more money for that. The fuel is cheap, the food is exquisite, and you get the best desserts in town. Algiers will not disappoint you at all. However, you won't find any retail chains in the city be it a Zara or McDonald's. The French highly inspires the food in Algiers, but they also add their own charm to it. Though you won't find high-end Michelin star restaurants in the city, you will find a lot of small eateries and joints that will ensure you don't leave disappointed. Le Jardin d'Essais du Hamma is a botanical garden, which is also an important tourist attraction here, especially if you are visiting during summer.

Best Time to Visit Algiers

November to April is high season for Algiers since the weather is less ferocious and a lot of tourists plan on visiting the Sahara desert, too. Make sure you book your hotel in Algiers well in advance to avoid the surge prices. January records the coldest temperature up to 8 degree Celsius, but you can still head to the city during this season. It won't put a damper on your plans to go sightseeing or indulge in any outdoor activities. Make sure you also book your flight tickets to Algeria in advance to avoid the surge pricing.

March to July is the spring and perfect to explore the Roman sites in the city. The weather remains pleasant and lets you carry on with your sightseeing plans without any hindrance. However, you might even get a good deal on flights to Algeria since it is not peak season and airlines will introduce a lot of offers. August is quite hot, and the number of tourists in the city also sees a dip considerably. Best to avoid the Sahara. The temperature reaches up to 31 degree Celsius.

Places to Visit in Algiers

The old city in Algiers is called Casbah, and it is a popular tourist spot in the city. Casbah is that part of the city that dates back to the 17th century. It was founded on the ruins of old Iconium. The exceptional architecture of the Ketchaoua mosque, mosque el Djedid and mosque Ek Kebir are the main reasons why Casbah made it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Notre Dame d'Afrique is another popular tourist spot that you must head to if you are visiting Algiers. The stunning Catholic basilica was constructed in the late 1800s and is the perfect symbol of the Neeo-Byzantine style that took over French Algeria at the time. It took fourteen years for the construction of the church to finally get over. It opened its door to the public in 1872. You will lose yourself in the beautiful intricately designed glass windows of the basilica. Visit the Maqam Echahid to pay your respects to everyone who was killed in the Algerian war. Didouche Mourad Street is one of the main shopping areas in Algiers and quite a happening place, too. The Grande Post office, Faculty of Algiers and the park of Galland are some of the popular attractions here. The Great Mosque of Algiers dates back to 1097 and is the oldest mosques in the city.

You can also head to the coastal town of Sisi Fredj. It is one of the most visited resorts and is about 30 km from Algiers. It is popular for its splendid architectural work and sandy beaches. If you want to spend your day having lots of fun and getting a spa together? Head Over to Aquafortland which is a water park that has an outdoor Jacuzzi, three swimming pools and a man-made sandy beach. The Aquafortland Spa will take all of your troubles away and instantly put in you in a calm, relaxing zone. You can spend your evening at Sheraton Club des Pins Resort, one of the fanciest places to visit in the city. Visit the local art museums, if you are an art lover. The city's art galleries feature artworks from some very talented Algerian artists. If you are a history buff, You can head to a couple of museums in the city like The Bardo Museum and the National Museum of Antiquities. The displays and the stunning rock carvings, everything leaves you stumped. You will also come across a lot of malls in the city to fulfil all of your shopping desires. You can buy souvenirs, desserts or clothes for your loved ones at a reasonable price. It will surely not burn a hole in your pocket.

Things to do in Algiers

Take a walking tour at the Casbah. Not only is it one of Algiers' oldest towns but also one of the most beautiful towns to visit. You can also head to the Martyr's Memorial to pay your respects and learn more about the history of the city. If you have nothing planned for the day, just put on your favourite music and take a walk at The Botanical Garden. You can also go visit the Notre Dame d'Afrique here and compare it to the original one in France. You can also visit the National Museum of Fine Arts of Algiers if you are an art lover. You can also experience the vibrant nightlife here without having the dreaded feeling of going back to work the next day. The city is also quite popular for its culinary scene, and you are not exactly very motherly, and I know. Try the local food joints and eateries here instead of being hell-bent over heading to an expensive restaurant. Algiers is one city that will not disappoint you at all. The people in the city are quite friendly and very helpful, too. You will also end up making some great friends in Azerbaijan. You can also enrol yourself at one of the cooking classes in the city, and you will certainly come back more talented. Your love for food will certainly but do make sure that you don't leave your families lying around.

Foods and Restaurants in Algiers

Kalb-el-luz is easily the best way to end your Algerian dinner. The delicious baked dessert is made of semolina and ground almonds with lovely flavours of cinnamon, cardamom and vanilla. Liam lahlou is a beautiful lamb stew that is slightly sweet to the tongue but tasty overall. Interestingly, this meat dish has all kinds of fruits and nuts that compliment each other perfectly. It is certainly a dish worth trying. If you don't wish to experiment with much of their cuisine, then you can simply opt for Algeria's basic Tajine stone. It only has chickpeas, carrots, onions, olives, mushrooms and pieces of chicken. The exquisite dish is cooked well and is often garnished with lemon juice and saffron. Meat is predominantly part of all Algerian food, so do not be surprised to see more meat in your soup. Speaking of, you should give chorba a try. It is a tomato-based soup that has been tossed with cooked meat, chickpeas, frik and Algerian spices. These dishes will surely take you through quite the culinary trip.

For an intimate outing, head straight to Le Caid in Algeria. The place is beautifully set with classic local settings. Some more restaurant options that you should definitely visit when in Algiers are Restaurant Le Saint which is rich in seafood, Lalla Mina with its host of musicians, Cafe Yontonville with their top-notch breakfast and La Maison de Couscous to taste some of the best Algerian cuisines which do consist of some of the dishes mentioned above.

How to reach Algiers

Houari Boumediene Airport is the main airport that serves Algiers and is about 17 km away from the city. The airport has been named after the former President of Algeria, Houari Boumediene. The airport has been functioning since 1924. The flight connectivity to Algiers from India is excellent. Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Emirates Airline have frequent flights to Algiers with layovers at Istanbul, Frankfurt and Dubai. You might come across exciting flight deals to Algiers if you book well in advance. If you visit during the offseason, you might even get cheap flight tickets to Algiers. You will find it very convenient to get a taxi service from the airport to your hotel, in case you haven't pre-booked your ride. The airport has free WiFi, restaurants, cafes, medical help, smoking areas, children's play areas, lounges and a lot more. You will definitely not get bored if you are waiting at the airport to board your flight. 

  About Chandigarh Airport

Chandigarh International Airport is a custom airport that also serves as a passenger airport to the Union Territory Chandigarh. Along with the city, the airport also serves Panchkula, Mohali and other cities in the states of Punjab, Haryana and a few southern districts of Himachal Pradesh. The airport runway is situated in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. In contrast, the international terminal falls on the south side of the runway, close to the village of Jhiurheri in Mohali, Punjab. The international airport has all its civil and commercial operations conducted from the civil enclave of the Indian Air Force Station. In the 1970s, the airport witnessed tremendous flight activity and operations from Indian Airlines. There were regular flights connecting Chandigarh to Delhi.

Following the construction of a new airport building in the civil enclave in 2011, all operations were diverted to the new terminal. This special air terminal was announced as a customs airport in 2011, giving it the international stature. Although it became an international airport, the terminal never witnessed international flight activities operate from its premise. In 2008, the Government of Punjab acquired a land area of 304.04 acres to construct the new international terminal. Over its completion in 2015 and a few Public Interest Litigation case hearings that took place at the Punjab High Court and Haryana High Court, the airport finally witnessed international flight activities from 2016. IndiGo and Air India Express became the first airlines to commence international flights to fly to Dubai and Sharjah from Chandigarh International Airport.

About Chandigarh Airport Terminal

The new international terminal came into existence in 2015 and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The new terminal has been built in an eco-friendly manner with several features validating the same. Larsen and Toubro constructed the airport's new terminal. The airport's interiors have an abundance of plants which gives a rather botanical garden feel. The earlier domestic terminal now caters to VIP flights and is also reserved for flying club. Meanwhile, the new terminal includes two link taxiways that connect to the terminal as well as the cargo complex. There are four aerobridges apron reserved for parking of four in contact, and eight remote parking stands for aircraft. The terminal is divided into two levels with the first level taking care of all departures while the ground level has arrivals. The first phase of the airport terminal has the capacity to handle about 1,600 passengers at a time with a parking space to accommodate 150 vehicles. Although the airport is not a greenfield airport, it does use the runway of the current Indian air force base. The departure section of the terminal has relevant facilities such as ATMs, WiFi and a duty-free shop. Much recently, the terminal's check-in counters have also been expanded from 24 to 26.

About airport authority

Chandigarh International Airport is jointly owned by the government of Punjab, the government of Haryana and the Airports Authority of India. In fact, they have formed a consortium as the airport's operations are handled by Chandigarh International Airport Limited. In the consortium, Airports Authority of India holds a maximum stake with 51 per cent equity while the Government of Punjab and Government of Haryana hold 24.5 per cent of shares respectively. Chandigarh International Airport Limited is responsible for all the management, maintenance and other such operations of the airport terminal. Ever since the airport's genesis, CHIAL has been working towards expanding the airport's premise and providing world-class facilities to attract more flights and passengers. After quite a lot of struggle with cases going up to the high courts of both the states, Chandigarh International Airport finally even received international flight operations. Currently, the airport caters to a slew of domestic airlines, some of them catering to Indian as well as international cities.

Facilities at the Chandigarh Airport

Food court - Chandigarh International Airport may not have a slew of fancy restaurants installed in its vicinity; it does have a dedicated food court. Passengers can avail lip-smacking dishes from the airport's food courts. They have local and globally recognised food joints available. From burgers to chole bhatures, you can find all kinds of cuisine.

Trolleys and wheelchairs – Trolleys and wheelchairs are available at the airport. While the trolleys can be found at every junction of the airport's arrivals and departure section, wheelchairs need prior intimation. You will need to speak with the airlines and inform them about the requirement for a wheelchair at the entrance of the airport's departure gates. Following the same, the airport will send trained staff to help out the passenger in need of the wheelchair.

Baggage – The baggage system and services at the Chandigarh International Airport include trolleys, baggage wrapping services, storage facilities and more. There are dedicated reclaim baggage conveyor belts located in the arrivals section from where passengers can get access to their checked luggage.

ATMs and currency exchange – As an international airport, Chandigarh International Airport has installed currency exchange booths in the arrivals section of its international terminal. International travellers can get their currencies exchanged and also make money transfers at the forex counters. Plus, there are ATM kiosks also available in the airport premise. Passengers can withdraw money if needed, especially if they are travelling within any liquid cash.

Medical facilities – The airport also has medical facilities available for emergency cases. It is essential to have medical experts on the airport campus at all times. Hence, the airport has ensured to keep a team of dedicated medical professionals. There are medical rooms also available at the airport. You can avail these services for free. There are pharmacies also available at the airport. They provide medicines as well as toiletries that you can purchase.

Child care room – Parents travelling with infants can avail the child care room facility. These rooms have been reserved for parents to help tend to their infant babies. Activities such as breastfeeding and changing diapers can be done in these rooms as it offers privacy. Simultaneously, the child can be put to sleep in the room while they wait for boarding. These rooms are kept well-sanitised.

Smoking zones – Chandigarh International Airport does not allow smoking in public. Hence, they have provided special smoking zones for passengers. These can be found at the departures and arrivals of both the domestic and international terminals. It is essential for passengers to adhere to these rules and smoke within the premise of the smoking lounge provided by the airport.

Special assistance – The airport caters to special assistance for disabled travellers. Prior intimation needs to be given to the airlines by the traveller if they wish to avail these services. You can also specify the requirements for the traveller to the airlines, and the airport will make the necessary accommodations for the same.

International SIMs – For travellers who are visiting Chandigarh and do not have a local SIM number, you can get hold of the same at the airport. There are dedicated counters at the arrivals section of the international terminal where counters have been installed to provide temporary SIMs. Mobile phones are also available, in case you need one.

Top airlines flying from the Chandigarh Airport

Chandigarh International Airport currently enables operations of seven domestic airlines and caters to connect two international destinations. Presently, the airlines that operate from Chandigarh International Airport are AirAsia India, Air India, Alliance Air, Air India Express, GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara. These airlines have excellent connectivity with various Indian cities along with designated international destinations. Chandigarh International Airport connects flights to cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Dharamshala, Pune, Jammu, Chennai, Kullu, Dubai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Srinagar, Ahmedabad, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, Patna and more.

How to reach Chandigarh Airport

By Bus

The new terminal of Chandigarh International Airport is close to 14 km away from the main city of Chandigarh. The city of Chandigarh has excellent bus transport facilities that help connect to various parts of Punjab, Haryana and parts of Himachal Pradesh too. Chandigarh Transport Undertaking has AC buses that operate from the main city to the airport's new terminal. The buses take Route 38 and 36 to reach Chandigarh International Airport. It is easily one of the most sought-after ways to reach Chandigarh International Airport. The ticket fare is also quite affordable and ideal for travellers. Besides, the buses have been designed in such a way that they offer a comfortable journey to the airport. The transport service also has a mobile app from where you can book tickets and get details about the bus schedules and routes to reach Chandigarh International Airport.

By Taxi cabs

Taxicab services are also present within the city to reach the Chandigarh International Airport. You can hail a taxi cab from anywhere around the city or the other surrounding states to reach Chandigarh International Airport. It might be challenging as you will need to communicate with the drivers and ensure that they don't make you pay an exorbitant amount for the journey to reach the Chandigarh International Airport.