Algeria desert
 

I want to know what do you think about a trip in Agerian desert this autumn , if the last 15 missing tourists were find safe and free .
I'm planning to cross the south of Algeria beetween Tamanrasset and Djanet ( southern route ) , or vice-versa with a local guide .
How many cars to do this ?
How much time ( not too speedy ) ?
Thanks for your responses .

Roro .

I think the 'is Algeria safe yet?' question is one that will be doing the rounds for some time once the present situation is resolved. A very personal decision in any case, risk versus reward...

Sam.

Feel a little guilty that I only answered part of the question - which seems to have stopped this thread so, for the other questions:

You can do the route solo (but two cars gives a nice feeling of security (in case of break-down).

It is possible in less than three days, but you could take up to 5 perhaps.

Sam.

Regarding security - The local guide may help if we suppose that tribal structures still work (there is evidence in Algeria, but not in Mali and Niger) and the "bush telegraph" delivers accurate results where not to go.
I would avoid Algeria at least until next year's presidential elections and reassess afterwards - there are too many lunatics around...

Peter

Thanks
To Sam : When I say southern route , I mean the "track" going through Tagrera,erg Kilian, Mounts Gauthier ( I don't know where is the more useful way ) .
If 5 days is sufficient to do this , I think than 3 weeks of vacation is OK ( departure from France ) .
May be I can also do a little loop in Tadrart before crossin to Tam ?
Another question : I have alredy do a little loop in Tagrera 15 years ago : Except Tagrera , what are the most beautiful landscapes beetween Djanet and Tam near this route ?
Thanks again .
RR.

We did Tagrera, Killian, Mts Gautier, Berliet 21, Djanet last December.
There was no track much after Tagrera (apart from many many N-S smuggling tracks) but using old NavStar waypoints we managed it in 4 days.
It was nice to see no other cars.

Tagrera is famously scenic for tours but the granite inselbergs around Mts du Metal were nice, as were some big unnamed peaks at the south end of Mts G. Erg Killian was not so intersting

Most of the time we were finding our way through long N-S ridges, then over a plain then ridges....

In fact I just remembered I wrote a report about it here:
http://www.sahara-overland.com/Sfiles/trippy.htm

Ch

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Author of Sahara Overland and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, among other things

http://www.sahara-overland.com

"...but the granite inselbergs around Mts du Metal were nice"
Thanks for your response... But where are these mounts ? I didn't find any description for these mounts in your report .

RR.

OK , I've found Mt Du Metal on IGN's map .
Does anybody know how is the mood now on algerian roads ?

Sorry, I was going to dig up the waypoint then I got distracted... more or less 22 06 N and 8 02E

Ch

I've got a new info. on a the french forum : It's no more possible to enter in Algeria with a 4x4 !!!
What do you think about it ? TRUE ?

RR.

That will make the Arlit to Tam piste interesting.......

Very interresting , but how do you go to Arlit with your 4x4 ?