So , it seems now possible to visit Algerian desert without guide ?
I can't believe that !
Let me know where is Ghardhimaou ...
RR.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Location in Tunisia Coordinates: 36°27′N 8°26′E / 36.45, 8.433 Country Tunisia

Ghardimaou (Arabic: غار الدماء‎) is a small town in the north-west of Tunisia about 192 km from Tunis. It belongs to the Jendouba Governorate. The town has about 70,000 inhabitants ((67,955 in 2004). The rail line from Tunis passing along the Medjerda river ends at Ghardimou; it was built in 1878, and formerly crossed eastwards the border into Algeria. Souk Ahras, the first stop in Algeria, is 16 km away.
The museum of the "common Tunisio-Algerian Remembrance" ("mémoire commune tuniso-algérienne") was opened in 2005 and describes the national stuggle for independence.

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Hi,
I was told by friends in Algeria that the biker had to stop at an army checkpoint 90km from In Salah were he was permitted to continue the next day with a passing agency 4x4 traveling with other tourists.
I don't know anything about the rest of the trip.

Yves

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Yves

hi there!
it's a great news that no guide is necessery to enter Algeria;
but are you sure that it's also "guide free" from Tam to In Guezzam?
we'll try to get from Poland to South Africa on January next year (all the way by Mitsubishi L300 4WD), and we'll "invade" Algeria from Tunisia;
please, let me know how is the situation up there;
greetings and regards!

90% of overland tourists enter Algeria at Taleb Larbi (the Algerian side of the border near Nefta in Tunisia). At this border post, immigration will not let you pass without a guide. We arrived at 11pm the night before our Algerian guide reached the border. We wanted things to move quickly and so tried to pass through the border without the guide being present, so that when the guide arrived (as planned) in the morning, we would have saved some hours. But the officials would not let us pass - as we expected. We spent the night next to the border post. Only when the guide appeared the next morning were we allowed through.

It is probably the case that there are some quieter border posts where you could pass. But you will be picked up somewhere in the northern part of the desert and kept there until they have a plan for you. Going south from Algeriers this is likely to be El Golea. In the case of the biker making the report, it was In Salah. He got lucky, I think. Going through the eastern side it would surely be Hassi Messaoud.

I would guess that the authorities would start getting very strict if several parties tried this.

Thanks Rich for your reply;
the situation seems to be inscrutable;
in that case which one travel agency do you recommend?

Tanzerouft (Tanezrouft Voyage: Accueil) provided compulsory guide and additional cars for me in Algeria in Dec07/Jan08. They are good people.

ALEX i tried to message your phone but cant get through.. We are in Niamey.. message me on +4526808005

Gunnar

I am also planning a journey from Tunis to Tamanr. without guide if possible. Did you use local buses or your own car? Has anybody asked you about a guide during everyday police controll? Was the immigration process simple on Alg-Tun border? Are you in Niger now? How is the bordercontroll in Assamakka? Did you also have to wait a lot? Did they take your passport, camera, etc? What kind of transportation have you found from Tam to Niger?

Thank you for your help and wish you safe journey,
Krisztian

Have you already got back your camera and laptop? How long did you have to wait for it? Did they give it back in Niamey?

Thanks for your help!

I was in Tamanrasset just over a week ago leading a fly-in commercial tour. Talked to head of the local agency which arranged our trip. He confirmed that the Niger consulate in Tam issues visas as always, no problem. Submit in the morning receive in the afternoon, or submit later in the day and pick up the following day.

He also confirmed the situation with crossing the border and joining convoys from Assamaka onwards, in similar words to what Supervaca and Alex are describing here. Also, he said that the Alg consulate in Agadez is issuing Algerian visas without problems - as always an invite from an agency is necessary, and a guide to pick you up at In Guezzam.

Alex, greetings from St Petersburg! I am back home now, pity we never caught up in Tam this time. Say hi to Vlad, an I hope to see you guys soon, somewhere in the world.

Peter

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Guides, roads etc
Suck Akhras - Tam guide is not required
Tam - In Guezam you can ride without guide, but there are about 100 km sandy pist and a tuareg will be useful. The price is 150 - 400 euro for the trip.
In Guezam - Assamaka guide is not required. There is a very, very sandy road to Algerian border.
Assamaka - Arlit guide is required. The police takes away your passport ONLY. You can not go to Arlit without tuareg guide. Really dangerous places. There are no roads. We rode through the desert about 200 km. A lot of soft sand, dunes and stones. The Price for the guide is about 75-150 euro.
Arlit - Agadez military escort only. Very slow speed 30-50 km\h. Dangerous road. Noone go without escort. 50 km from Arlit gravel and very dusty road. We got the passports in Agadez police commissariat, but no entering stamps was there! We got the entering stamps in Agadez without problem.
Agadez - Niamey a very fast military escort about 200 km, 30 km gravel and dusty road. The speed is about 100-120 km\h! It looks like a rally! after you can will be free.
About things (photo, laptop, camera etc) never make video and photo from Assamaka to Agadez. Do not take out a laptop with people. Otherwise you will see your things only in the Niamey.

Gunnar, I am in Niamey now in Chez Tataui Hotel. But my AT was broken in the meddle of desert between the Assamaka and Arlit! I am waiting for the CDI unit here in Niamey. I left my bike in Agadez and I should come back there and replace the CDI. I hope to obtain a Nigeria visa in Monday or Tuesday and go back to Agadez by bus. Also I hope to get a CDI unit from DHL tomorrow in Monday. So, when I will be on the wheels again, I try to catch up with you somewhere in Nigeria or Cameroon.

Alex

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Thanks for the updates on escorts Alex.

Tam - In Guezam you can ride without guide,

If it's not an anomaly then that sounds promising.
You could zip down to Tam under escort but if they don't give you a time limit to get to IGZ (Route 10 in the book) you could meander down over a few days via say, Tin Rerhoh and Gara Eker for some unescorted DIY...

Ch

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This is really great info thanks for keeping us in the know.

Where are you off to from Niamey, do you have any info on the road from Niamey to Gao along the river bank at all.

Where are you staying in Niamey?

So, after Birni Nkoni the road is very bad. But from Dogondoutchi to Niamey is highway. The best place to stay in Niamey is the Chez Tatayi Hotel (look at the LP)
About Tam-In Guezam. There is a only one check point after Tam. Noone asked us about the guide there.
About the fuel. The maximal distance without fuel is 420 km. Price 1 litre - 0.25 euro

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