Request recent information about Algeria!!! Specially after feb 2011 is very welcome
 

Hello Friends,

I am planning an Mediterranean tour. I want to travel for 5 or 6 weeks in July/August, eventually September 2011. I start at Montpellier/French, Italy, take an Ferry to Tunisia, cross the border with Algeria, take an Ferry to Spain and back to Montpellier.

If i'm right it is still not possible to cross the border between Algeria en Morocco! Thats way i want to travel between Algiers/Spain/French with an Ferry.

I am looking for recent information about Algeria. Is there anybody travel trough the north of Algeria on an motorcycle and want to share his of here experience with me?

Its hard to find information for me. But there are people who take public transport, bicycle and travel from left to right or visa versa.

I don't want to travel to the sahara!!! (not this time)

any information is very very welcome!

Thanks,

Guus

The situation with Algeria is probably not as clear as you would like it to be.

If you arrive by aircraft into Algiers, you are free to walk off and take public transport without any hassle. Most times if you arrive in the ferry port in Algiers on or in your own transport, you get different treatment. In a car, normally an escort is asked for. On a bike probably the same, though others may be able to comment.

If you arrive from Tunisia into Algeria at Taleb Larbi (near Nefta in Tunisia) you will require a guide to escort you. If on a bike, the guide will need his own car.

If you arrive from Tunisia into Algeria at a border north of Taleb Larbi, you may be able to continue on your own. Some have succeeded.

On balance your best bet would be to try a Tunisia-Alg border crossing north of Taleb Larbi.

The Maroc-Alg land border is still closed although there has been some recent discussion about the border opening.

Thanks for your help.

Suppose they let me into Algeria without an escort at Taleb Larbi. Will i meet other travelers at an Bike or in an own Car who are not native Algerians on holiday in Algeria?

Do you have any recent information about the security?

Do you now places to stay who are save, simple, cheap, clean and friendly to foreigners?

Do you now people who have traveled recently which i can contact?

Thanks in advanced for your help.

Guus

Hi Guus

I doubt that you will meet people from Europe driving in their car or riding their bikes in N Algeria. More likely you will bump into a westerner travelling around on public transport. But I think you could do the whole trip without meeting any tourist from Europe.

It is easier for people on the forum to comment on the security in the desert than in the north of Algeria because not many tourists travel in the north. There are known places in N Algeria to avoid, e.g. mountains of the north east. I spent a few days in Algiers in May. It was fine.

In my experience, Algerians are very welcoming and friendly. Again, people on this forum will be able to say more about the desert than the north. But I am sure you will find places that are safe, simple, cheap, clean and friendly. Outside Algiers, that will be much easier than finding expensive, smart places.

As you may have read on this forum Rafke from Belgium visited the north of Algeria this spring so you may want to contact him.
I was there with a group last February, but our destination was Tamanrasset in the South, but If you want to give me a call sent me a message en I'll give you my phone number.

As hieronumus mentioned I was in Algeria in february-march this year by public transport, so no knowledge on motorcycling in the country but what Richard says sums it up pretty well and matches my experience.

I can add the port of Algiers as a hassle-free entry point as a foot passenger, and that I had no safety concerns at all in the regions visited (Algiers/Oran in the North, around the Gand Erg Occidental in the desert). More, despite the numerous checkpoints etc. it was very relaxed to travel.

To my knowledge, in the north it's especially the Kabyle region to the east of Algiers and around Tizi Ouzou that have their share of insecurity. As a tourist you'll be unlucky to get involved, not dressing up as a police officer will help.

Raf

Two bombs went off in Kabylia today, the first this year. Both were set off by suicide bombers. AQIM suicide bombers kill 4 in Algeria - The Long War Journal

There's been a very few bombs over the last few years, and they have always been aimed at police/military. THere are kidnappings but if you stay away from Kabylia the risk of anything bad happening anywhere in Algeria is minute.
The only exception is that poor Italian woman kidnapped near Niger. Hope she regains freedom very soon.
If they would just let us go, we could all have a jolly good time in Algeria. Yesterday I again making plans for bringing the family and trying to figure the best way to do it.
The fact that this giant country is almost devoid of tourists only increases its appeal to me.