Algeria Visa as an academic visitor
 

Hi,
I want to explore Algeria in our motorhome. I could probably get a genuine letter of invitation from a University. I guess that would be a business visa? Would it allow me to travel around independently? Only with a guide? Or not at all?

Afaiu, the problem might be that the institution is responsible for your movements. I imagine they'd normally expect you to turn up on a plane, go to a conference, maybe visit for a day or two then fly back. Not swan around the desert in a motorhome ;-)

Unless you're sure that would work, just apply for a regular tourist visa supported by hotel bookings and detailed itinerary (rather than agency invite) that stays out of the south (below In Salah or even El Golea/Timimoun).
Enter via Ghazaouet not Algiers; plenty to see in the Taghit - Timimoun area and I read here that the gendarmerie escort rule may no longer apply to tourists in the north.
But that could be specific to the Bechar region. I would not bank on it.
See how that TT guy gets on next month...
It appears he got the usual agency invite from Taghit but without need for an escort/guide in or with the vehicle.

Agree with Chris, not a good idea to step outside the bounds of your visa purpose. A thing to also consider is that this will not only put you in trouble, but (to a greater extent) those who helped arrange that visa.

Yes, understood. I would not abuse my invite. Just wondered what freedom might come with it.

I worked in Algeria for 4+ months, due to the conditions of getting a work visa the company got me in on a tourist visa, I was essentially an academic in the role (long drama about pay etc!)

Anyway, I spent a lot of my weekends and time off wandering around Algeria without any problems, absolutely adore the country.

Just go for a tourist visa, you should be fine all over, the only exception might be Tindouf

I have been to Algeria several times on a business visa and also on a tourist visa. I can confirm that when travelling on business, the institution that issued the letter of invitation is responsible for you. In my case that translated to being met at the airport arrivals and then also dropped off at airport departures at the end of the visit. It seemed they needed to know where I was at all times.