Solo moto in Algerian Sahara: just arrived!
 

Hi everyone.

I just arrived from my algerian solo moto travel. Between 2-11 March I´ve done the Grand Erg Occidental all-round. I bring all the GPS positions of the road police controls and other update informations.
As planned, I used the Almeria - Ghazaouet ferry line. Very very good, with few passengers and quick and simple border formalities. I recommend and I hope to return in October / November using this port.
Tlencem is a nice departure point for Ain Sefra - Bechar - the western oasis: Taghit, Igli, Beni Abbes and Kerzaz - Timmimoun - El Golea - Ghardaia - Laghouat - Aflou and Mecheria.
I went alone with my GS1200 Adv. and without any local tourism agency support or contact. All just perfect!

Rui Pedro Tremoceiro
PORTUGAL

Hotels of my Algerian Trip: (early March 2010)


TLEMCEN - Hotel Agadir (N 34. 52. 920 - W 001. 18. 221)

AIN SEFRA - Hotel El-Mekhter (N 32. 44. 492 - W 000. 34. 845)

TAGHIT oasis - Hotel Taghit (N 30. 55. 352 - W 002. 01. 860)

TIMIMOUN - Camping Rose des Sables (N 29. 17. 018 - E 000. 13. 770)

GHARDAIA - Hotel de la Palmerie (N 32. 29. 611 - E 003. 40. 974)

For more details, just ask.

See you soon,

Rui.
Portugal

Sounds like a great trip, Rui. Thanks for the useful information.

Do you know how much the ferry costs one way?

Regards.
Stephan

GPS positions for Police (gendarmerie) controls, quality fuel stations and other road utilities:

From Tlemcen to Ain Sefra

Road N22 and after the N6.
Police control on N22 at Abdelmoula town - N 33.53. 182 - W 000.59. 225.
Mecheria turn south control at N22 / N6 juction: N 33. 27. 874 - W 000. 17. 878.
At this both controls they allowed me to follow alone.
But just 10 min. after my arriving at Ain Sefra hotel I had the gerdarmes looking for me at the front door. The recepcionist called them. After the normal questions (from where / to where) I said I would like to follow alone and tried to show them to knew the road. The next day they were there, but just to let me outside town, after non-stopping at the usual police barrier.Nice guys and not really concerned with my presence there. Good.

From Ain Sefra to Taghit oasis: N6 and a new M??? road (municipal / local)

important control +/- 8 km before Beni Ounif / border to moroccan Figuig: N 32. 03. 255 - W 001. 10. 891. Here they didn´t allowed me to follow alone and put me in a escolt convoy with a french couple until Taghit hotel. Big delay and like a "inside tunnel" experience - impossible to stop and to go more than 100 km/h!

At Taghit oasis: I said them (gendarmes) that I will stay at the hotel during 4 days. I was free again. Next morning I left all the luggage and aluminium panniers at the hotel and drive off-road solo around the aosis, including pistes and sand. All day alone, with my water and food supllies. Just perfect!

(to continue)

Rui.

Just one way ticket Almeria - Ghazaouet with Trasmediterranea

1 personne - 117 €
1 motorcycle - 218 €
TOTAL: 335 €

Go & Return ticket was 546 € (+/-190 € person + 330 € moto +taxes)

No need to book in advance. Very few passegers because it´s mainly a freight ferryline with lots of trailers that always cause 1-2 hours delays.

(to continue)

Police controls on the road:

South Taghit you have a gendarmerie barrage at N6 before turn to Beni Abbès at N 30º 00. 705 - W002º 14. 511. The allowed me to follow alone.
Kerzaz: N 29º 27. 436 - W 001º 26.362. A small control with just two gerdarmes, but the man in charge was very stressed with my presence there. Call the superiors and ask a escolt for me. I wait half hour for the two green 4X4 new Nissans. This escolt changed for another area team at N 29º 19. 793 - W 001º 16.640 and I follow the road with a new brigade.
They left me alone after a bridge / end of wilaya territory at N 28º 58. 672 - W 000º 55. 117 and said: "follow by yourself and present you at next gendarme base". I just stopped at Timmimoun camping entrance. I never found gendarmes again, until M'Guiden: N 29º 31. 287 - E 001º 32. 913.

FUEL:
GPS positions for Naftal petrol stations (usually big and/or new and with essence sans plomb)
Tlemcen: N 34º 54. 902. - W 001º 20. 932.
Naama: N 33º 15. 618. - W 000º 19. 010.
Béchar: N 31º 35. 173. - W 002º 13. 541.
Timmimoun: N 29º 15. 280 - E 000º 13. 984.
(24h/24h but no fuel sans plomb, just "super" at south)
Ghardaia: N 32º 22. 316. - E 003º 47. 597.

Rui
Portugal

Hi Rui,

The convoy you took together with the French couple - how did it work? Had it been already organised by the French and you just joined? Or were the French in the same situation, arriving there without a guide, and both of you were given a (free?) convoy by the gendarmes? What do you think would happen if the French never came - would the gendarmes let you go, or keep you waiting until someone else turned up?

Peter

GPS Location Info
 

Rui,
Thank You for posting all the information on checks and hotel locations.

JB

Hi, famous walker.

The convoy was not prepared in advance and was free. That´s why I think there is no need to pay an agency around 50€ / day for a service that police will provide always free, driving not to south. I think I could reach In Salah driving alone.

On this control just before Beni Ounif, I arrived first.

What do you think would happen if the French never came - would the gendarmes let you go, or keep you waiting until someone else turned up?

That´s the point. Sometimes they let me follow alone, sometimes they ask me to wait for their convoy, made by two 4X4 longs Nissan greens. They never ask me for wait to the next car with foreigners to arrive, because that´s very unusual to happen.

I'll try to include a photo:





Rui
Portugal

Hi guys.

Thanks a lot for your interest and nice private messages.

I will try in the next days to create a blog to include a selection of photos.
Soon I hope to get that gps file.

About a blog for photos: I accept sugestions! What's the best way to do it?

I still in love with this algerian route! I just want to return with more time for each location.

Rui.
Portugal.

I did similar tour by the main roads in a van with group of 6, guide and police or gandarme cars all around :)
pics and movie
Picasa Web Albums - dare - Algerie
YouTube - dare326's Channel

See "Algerian Routes" thread also
 

Hi, in Tamanrasset now and heard tonight that travelling through Tassili du Hoggar is now closed to tourists, except for main road down to Niger where you have to be accompanied by a guide. Route from Djanet to Tamanrasset closed to tourist travel with or without guide (apparently) since end of Feb 2010.

Could get my visa in Pretoria without guide agency invitation. Neither could Ian (British). Also travelled under friendly but armed police escort with wailing sirens and flashing lights from oran port to Ghardaia, never stopping at road blocks, only for escourt changes. Were not allowed to leave Oran port before our guide AND pollice escort had arrived.

Things seem to change daily, so try to make contact with LOCAL tourist agency. Road closure info seems to reach foreign representatives quite late sometimes.

Good luck!

Kobus

will see what info i can get from local touris office tomorrow and post on "Alegerian routes" thread, same forum.

Hi Dare.

Thanks a lot for your nice pictures.
That´s right, it´s the same route.

Rui
Portugal

Hi Gotoride!

Good journey for you! Your informations are very useful. The portuguese Bernardo Feio (algerian routes) I ready to go! That´s very important to receive fresh news from Tamanrasset.

Keep in touch!
Safe road for you.

Rui
Portugal