Need some info about Algeria
 

Hi everyone.

a friend of mine is planning to go to Algeria.
He got some info :
- he will need to book the hotels in advance
- he will need a guide for 200 euro per day.

the advance booking, okay. They want to know where he will go.
But 200 euro per day for a guide, it's a pure and simple robbery, don't you think ?

If you have any suggestions about that.....

cheers,
/thierry

What kind of trip is planned?
The guide is a must only in the south, about south of Ghardaia, prices start at about +/-50 EUR per day for a guide without car.
With car it starts at about 120 EUR (cheapest).
Booking hotels in advance might be of interest in the big cities, but is not cumpulsory.

Yves

Salut
With a bike, 4x4, by foot, where he will enter...???
Riding or driving alone in south is not allowed, it seems that a guide is mandatory.
Otherwise, if your friend is french I recommand those forums:
Forum général - Liste
Explo4x4 : Exploration en 4x4 et navigation

He's on bike.
He will enter in Oran from Spain and go east to cross the border on the road to Tozeur, tunisia.
He'll remain mostly on the north avoiding the shores as they are "off limit", I mean they said they are too dangerous.
/thierry

Hello, what`s about nothern border crossing without guide?? Can I enter there with a bike? Which nothern border is better/easier for crossing, sea or land (Tunis)? Where I should look for the guide, in Ghardaia or in Algiers??
Thank you for the answering.

Hi Alex,

it is very likely that you will need an invitation from a travel agency or private person in Algeria to apply for the visa (I don't know any exception in the last year). The agency normaly will provide the guide for the whole journey from border to border because it is responsible for your safety.
When you are successfull to obtain the visa by another procedure you don't need a guide in the north, but local authorities might insist on anyway.
In both Algiers and Taleb Larbi authorities insist on a guide.
When you are stuck somewere and desperatly need a guide you will probably pay a high price, better compare prices and references in advance.

Regards, Yves

hi Yves, I plan to get a visa in travel agency in Moscow. They make it without invitation (100-150 eur). How do they control me inside a country? I want to ride along Hogar highway towards South. Where will they stop me? It will be better to ride without guide as far as possible.

Alex

Hi Alex,

there is plenty of check points on the way south so you must be accompanied by the guide.

Regards,
Tom

I agree with Yves...in the South, you won't get through without a guide...

Contact Akar Akar...I used them, to cross over...they're not the cheapest, nor the most expensive. BUT they are reliable and that in the long run is the cheapest way to go...no surprises.

sahara AKAR-AKAR Agence Algerienne

Yes, the guide is needed in South. Did you have a personal guide or you joined a group?