We are planning a 5 week Sahara trip in 2007 taking the classic Hoggar route. After studying the topics, Cris' book and some maps I have a few questions:
1. In Algeria, is one allowed to drive off-road / off piste (with guide) e.g. Sahara-Overland routes?
2. How risky is the part Tam. - Agadez, should we opt for a military escort from the border into Niger?
3. From Agadez we would like to visit the Air mountains, do we need a escort/guide (for security reasons)?
4. Where can I get digital versions of IGN maps?

Thanks in advance for the replies
Jurjen

1. At present yes.
2. Not risky but officially you'll need the guide to the border
3. Some get away without escort/guide but it is historically riskier (French guy shot in Jan)
4. Me - among others.

Make the most of Alg - even with a guide it is the best of the Sahara.

Ch

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Thanks for the info Chris,
How can I order the IGN's from Algeria and Niger from you? Which one(s) do you recommend?. (Our route will be from Tunisia to Djanet, Tam en then down to Agadez, including the Air.)

Greetings Jurjen

Hi Jurgen - leave/send an email and I will contact you. The IGN 1:1m CDs of Alg and Niger will do you - or have a look at the updated Sahara Overland maps page:
http://www.sahara-overland.com/maps
The Gizi Algeria map (paper) is not bad.

Chris S

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Hi Chris
Trawling through this excellent Hubb, planning a Sahara trip,
unable to decide west or Algeria:
I have a few questions
(I've ordered your book, but plan to leave in 2 weeks!)

Is it best to travel in convoy through Algeria?
Tunis to Agadaz, about 3-4 weeks?
Any up todate advice (Toyota Landcruiser, 2 of us)?

Ideally I'd like to travel estern side down - via Mauritania and Agadaz Tunis on return,
but i think it will be too hot in March/ April when we think of returning - this is my most important question.

Thanks
Rachel

Hi Rachel,
(I've ordered your book, but plan to leave in 2 weeks!)
A lot of answers and ideas in there - also at:
Sahara Overland ~ Trans Sahara Routes
Sahara Overland ~ Country Information
Sahara Overland ~ Travellers reports

Is it best to travel in convoy through Algeria?
Not necessary but for Niger they will insist on some stages past Agadez. In north Mali also advisable but no official convoy, so can be expensive. i would avoid that bit of Mali and spend my money/time in Alg, then get rushed through north Niger.

Tunis to Agadaz, about 3-4 weeks?
Sounds good but Agadez may not be a great place to stop these days.

Any up todate advice (Toyota Landcruiser, 2 of us)?

It's all here on HU, on my website or in the book.
String it out in Algeria, I would. An escort in your car - as opposed to his own - will be half price. If he's an agreeable guy it will be fun.

Ideally I'd like to travel estern side down - via Mauritania and Agadaz Tunis on return, but i think it will be too hot in March/ April when we think of returning - this is my most important question.
Yes, better to leave those months for the cooler and easier west side coming back.

Ch

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Dear Chris

It's a pleasure to hear from you directly.
Thanks for the pointers. Very useful.

A few things have since arrived to trip me up:

I am horrified to find the Marsailles Tunis crossing (Landcruiser + 2) is E850,
which these days is the same in UK pounds.

Getting an Algerian visa is proving impossible without going through a tour guide, (recommended) secretariat@tanezrouft.com, who say
"From Tunisia (border at Taleb Larbi) you will need a guide till Ain Guezzam"
On my map that's throughout Algeria! They have not mentioned the time it would take (any idea - 5 days?) nor the price.


They continue:
"From there you continue without guide to Niger/Assamaka. From there to Arlit and in military convoy to Agadez and further on to Niamey - due to the Tuareg rebellion the north of Niger is actually not for tourism.
We do not provide services for Niger.

However, I am much heartened by direct experiences reading on the Hubb, what a great resource this is.

Rachel



Hi Rachel,
(I've ordered your book, but plan to leave in 2 weeks!)
A lot of answers and ideas in there - also at:
Sahara Overland ~ Trans Sahara Routes
Sahara Overland ~ Country Information
Sahara Overland ~ Travellers reports

Is it best to travel in convoy through Algeria?
Not necessary but for Niger they will insist on some stages past Agadez. In north Mali also advisable but no official convoy, so can be expensive. i would avoid that bit of Mali and spend my money/time in Alg, then get rushed through north Niger.

Tunis to Agadaz, about 3-4 weeks?
Sounds good but Agadez may not be a great place to stop these days.

Any up todate advice (Toyota Landcruiser, 2 of us)?

It's all here on HU, on my website or in the book.
String it out in Algeria, I would. An escort in your car - as opposed to his own - will be half price. If he's an agreeable guy it will be fun.

Ideally I'd like to travel estern side down - via Mauritania and Agadaz Tunis on return, but i think it will be too hot in March/ April when we think of returning - this is my most important question.
Yes, better to leave those months for the cooler and easier west side coming back.

Ch

I am horrified to find the Marsailles Tunis crossing...
That is the most expensive option. Genoa Tunis is usually cheaper and is the same distance from UK.
Almeria to Oran may be cheaper too, or even Mars-Algiers.

"From Tunisia (border at Taleb Larbi) you will need a guide till Ain Guezzam"
Someone said recently here they let him loose from Tam to IGZ - which would be nice...

On my map that's throughout Algeria!
Correct. The same story in the Aïr/Tenere (when it was safe), and the Gilf and Libya and now south Tunisia. Welcome to the Sahara, 2009!

They have not mentioned the time it would take (any idea - 5 days?) nor the price[/I].
Prices are here: Sahara Overland ~ Algeria visa information
6 days they say for 530 euros or so, as they have to come up from In Salah and get back there.

Nothing you can do about the euro but why not try some other Algerian agencies.

As I said before, in north Niger you would be swept though, but at least the convoy there is for real and free - unlike in north Mali.

Ch

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Dear Chris

Thanks once again for your responses.

Hoggar route is off for us. The crossings, all - including Genoa etc were around and over E800,
and our plan to resume our travel from West to East fits in easier with
the western route. (last year we covered Senegal/Guniea/GinneaB/ SierraL/ Liberia). However, that does not mean to say off forever. I am going to try returning that route, if weather not too hot and sandstormy.

The prices across Algeria with guide were half of the 22 hour ferry crossing
QUOTE FROM info@tanezrouft.com>>or a fast, 5 days transit from Taleb Larbi to Ain Guezzam the cost would be:
- 5 days of guide in your car at 50 EUR/ day: 250 EUR
- 4 days of the guides journey to the border and home: 150 EUR
- Administratikon cost: 30 EUR
Total: 430 EUR

I'm still exloring the HUBB to find the different forums for paper trails, equipement, and am impressed with the array of information. Albeit sometimes overwhelmed!

Thanks for your help in this one. I look forward to reading your book on the trail.

Rachel

Hello,

I'm planning a trans-Saharan journey early 2010 (from Italyv ferry to Tunis, Algeria, Niger, Benin) and want to take this route, but have some questions.

Re. the guides - if our group is 5-6 vehicles, how do we deal with the guide? 1 guide each car? Or 1 for the whole group of vehicles?

What do the guide do there apart from sitting on the back seat? Does he have any particular job or just a must to carry with us? Can he disagree with our itinerary?

Any guide issues in Niger nowadays?

Thanks!

g.

"What do the guide do there apart from sitting on the back seat?"

Why on the back seat ?

RR.

............................

1. You should have a tuareg guide only.
2. Tam - In Guezam 100 km off-road, not risky
In G - Assamaka soft sand and pist ride in the daytime
Assamaka - Arlit desert, no road, risky, riding with tuareg guide only. You can finde him in Assamaka. Do not go without guide.
Arlit - Agadez military escort, not every day.
Agadez - Niamey military escort
Niger is a very hard country, think twice again before going.

Alex

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