Do I need an agency invite just to take the northern highway?
No but you may need proof of a hotel booking to get the visa.
I have a hard believing that all the passenger vehicles coming on the ferry from Spain have guides waiting for them at the terminal.
We 99.94% of them will be Algies going home so obviously not. Maybe you are not aware that north Algeria is not really a regular holiday destination like Maroc and Tuni - great country though it is.
"Where was our guide?" was the first question they asked in Algiers port last year ( http://www.sahara-overland.com/Sfiles/tessalit.htm - first time I've been that way for many years). They were quite taken aback at the sight of a tourist in a 4WD (in the 1980s it was normal). As we were heading down to the desert (where guides are required) we had a guy waiting outside. If I were staying in the north I would have argued that one was not required.
Less busy Oran port is a better choice to enter.
Coming out of Algiers airport as I've done a few times recently - no one asks questions and you can go as far as you can get away with - north would be no prob I imagine. Riding a bike expect plenty of (friendly and even concerned) checkpoint action.
Note that NE Alg - towards the Tuni border - is a relatively 'hot' area.
See News: May 14 http://www.sahara-overland.com/news
good luck
Ch
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