Not overland, but I'm living in Alicante and there is a ferry to Algeria... And I have two weeks off in December. Has anyone taken their own vehicle into Algeria post-covid? I saw someone had on Facebook, but he isn't answering my messages......I would love any information!

I have a visa and have bought a ticket. Leaving on the 18th. I'll let you know how it goes. And if you find any info, please share.

Thanks and bon voyage!

Just called the customs at Almeria (Spanish port) and asked what papers I need to board the ship.

They told me that I don't need any thing special just:

- Ticket for the boat
- Passport with visa
- Motorcycle papers

They said everything will be fine as long as I stay under 6 months.

Made it into Algeria! No problems taking the ferry as long as you have all the correct paperwork and you do not intend to visit Sahara.

Will do a longer writeup in the future, but right now I am exhausted.

From the WA facebook group

"People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
Ministry of the Interior, Local Governments and Urban Development
* Ministry of Interior
P
02
Initialization
2024 24 boom
In implementation of the instructions of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune Al-Masdada, on the occasion of the inauguration of the two fixed border crossings between Algeria and Mauritania, which he supervised equally with his brother, the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh Al-Ghazouani, on February 22, 2024, the Ministry of the Interior, Local Communities and Urban Development informs that all arrangements have been made. necessary at the level of the “Martyr Mustafa Ben Boulaid” border crossing, starting yesterday, Friday, February 23, 2024, in order to open it to the movement of people, and to ensure its smooth entry and exit to and from the Islamic Republic.
Mauritania, in parallel with opening it to commercial traffic.
These measures are an embodiment of the high political will of the two presidents of the republic
The two countries to advance bilateral cooperation relations, common development and good neighborliness."

And how about this - eight gas stations on the 800 kms Tindo road?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C2pNdp4M_k
Morocco - your move!

Stephan's report from the RIM/DZ border.
A case of very good timing:
https://cantone-libero.ch/reisen/afr...fen-%e2%ad%90/

https://www.algerie360.com/algerie-m...te-frontalier/

__________________
Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

It seems they hadn't guide. Looks promising.

__________________
Bartosz
www.wyprawy4x4.com.pl

Is this a game changer? When you can now make working plans for a circuit including both Morocco and Algeria on the same trip, not having to take the same long road back but have several choices for Algeria.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Tang...iers,+Algeria/
Does this mean a potentially huge increase for tourism in south Algeria?

I don’t think that will happen soon. Or an increase from a very small number of adventurous overlanders to a small number.
There are still the delicate visa hoops to jump through; most others are still nervous about Algeria the way they used to (pretend to) be about Libya – before that became an actual fact in 2011.
And anyway, unless I was heading on to West Africa, I’d sooner spend all those miles and days exploring more of DZ than schlepping across northern RIM and back up the Atlantic Highway.
But your loop could make a great desert road trip. What a shame Grand Tour TV show is ending…

A couple of days ago at a Moroccan checkpoint close to the Alg border, the guy noted an old DZ visa in my passport.
‘You been there?’ I asked. Then I realised that was the wrong thing to say ;-)

__________________
Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

For me it is definitely a tempting game changer and I've googled nearly the same route: like yours, but via Tunisia for the more convenient ferry options.

I absolutely like this new option. It would be more Sahara, than I´m dreaming of and it would be cheaper than the previous options driving to northern Africa, as I'd save myself +3000km worth of pricey EU fuel and French speed tickets.

Starting in central Europe towards the African Atlantic, it always felt like wasting time and fuel through mostly known areas (Germany, France, Spain) spending the best part of a week and 1k€ before I see something exciting in Morocco to then continue into a dead end, where I'd have to u-turn and +50% of the returning route is again already known turf.

Now I could drive to Genova in a loooong day, hop onto 100€ over-night ferries to Sardinia, then to Sicily (both is known surf and turf, too, but I´d surf the next day - not next week and food is just better) then to Tunis.

As far as I understand it, Tunisia - Algeria border is quite straight forward, if you have an invitation letter or hotel booking and I assume the crossing from Algeria into RIM will be visa on arrival for my German passport, like it is when coming into RIM from Morocco/DZ or Senegal. So this is visa wise a very low effort trip, without big planning in advance needed.

I think it comes down to a few things, but principally to what extent there has been a change in policy in Algiers or whether things are changing ad hoc.

A few thoughts:

1. For a substantial increase in the number of tourists, I think people will need more clarity and certainty before committing to a trip like this. That's dependent on a number of things falling into place (see pt.3) but principally a growing number of people being able to do this route and proving that its possible. Think of it like a tip of a spear - with the likes of the Swiss couple being at that tip.

2. Flowing from that, I think it comes down to a number of people who are just willing to give it a go and risk getting turned back, and being happy with that. Not all overlanders would wish to take that approach - overland travel has a range of people with a range of different appetites for risk, availability for travel, financial resources etc.

3. Really encouraging that the border has opened again, and great that there has been a formal announcement (unlike any change to visa requirements, excepting VOA). But be slightly cautious about viewing this purely through the prism of overland travel - i.e. it might be a loosening of rules that aimed at Algerian and Mauritanian citizens and trade here. A small number of tourists may be tolerated but only up to a point - a larger number of tourists may lead to a re-tightening of policy, especially if the Gendarmerie aren't comfortable with the number of tourists they have to keep track of. This applies to wider visa policy too by the way.

4. Question marks also still exist around guide/escort etc. When I was in the country last autumn, I left the main route to Tindouf somewhere after Bechar and didn't require an escort to that point but I'm not sure about thereafter. The Tindouf border crossing is obviously in a more sensitive area due to the WS issue and Mali isn't a million miles away either. On security and travel in the rest of the country (including the far south), I would describe the attitude of the Gendarmerie and the army on the ground as accepting of independent travel but not wholly comfortable and there being a consistent undercurrent of nervousness.

So there's a need to think about to what extent the le pouvoir are thinking about tourism policy in a serious way.

It could be, like the Saudis for example (another petrol-chemical state, and one which is thinking about its post-oil future), that this marks a concerted effort to attract tourism back to the country. However, and based on the 2 months I spent there last autumn and the country's history and power structures, I'm not sure if the country's leadership is dynamic enough to be thinking that way.

And its worth remembering that, from I understand (Chris S, do comment here!), even during the Saharan travel glory days of the '70s and '80s in the country, this was the result of a laissez-faire attitude rather than anything else.

So, certainly not wanting to put a downer on what's an exciting development, but also think there's a need for pragmatism here.

A few Sunday morning musings....

Ed

__________________
Where Next Barney? / Trans Morocco Trail

Third time’s a charm - just managed to get a visas for the third time in London, smoothly enough, and despite multiple DZ port vehicular entry/exit stamps in my pp from previous trips.

I’ve only go two weeks in Feb so won’t make it too far south but still plenty to explore within two long days’ ride of the coast. Far enough to get down from the mountains at this time of the year. Nonetheless looking forward to seeing what I can squeeze in a shorter trip this time.

PS Jim - if that northern In Salah CP is right on the town limit, that’s a new one compared to last year. May or may be noteworthy.

Ed


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

__________________
Where Next Barney? / Trans Morocco Trail

This wont be of use for your trip in Feb and while I wouldn't advise anyone else reading this to avoid check points - it can make life easier!

Especially the one to the South of In Salah which is at the roundabout by the filling station at 27.174844/2.499995.

The northern checkpoint is just to the N of the escarpment to the N of In Salah Airport - I did have this waypointed on my DMD but I lost it - taken from Google it's at the junction at 27.418733/2.557607

I left town from the road that finishes at 27.165738/2.481672 (seemingly a cemetery) and cut S.

Yep, this is a new one Jim compared to October 2023, at least. Previously the first northbound (from In Salah) CP was at Fort Mirabel here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Zj7rztMQmrPTzyRy9.

Read into that what you will! Could be just natural rotation of things, particularly given the dodgy nature of the Tademait plateau to the north.

Ed

__________________
Where Next Barney? / Trans Morocco Trail