Hey, all. New to this forum. I'm a pretty experienced traveler and have spent a good deal of time in undeveloped places (e.g., Myanmar, Peru/Bolivian border, etc...). I'd like to think that I can haggle, negotiate, and weasel my way out of sticky situations right up there with the best of them. That said, my next big project is going to be Algeria, and that's a whole different animal.

I want to fly into Tamanrasset and hopefully get as far down south as In-Guezzam. To the best of my knowledge, the security situation has improved in the past few years compared to some other routes I could mention (my initial plan was to cross into Niger from Qatrun, but it's come to my attention that that's absolutely suicidal...I don't even know how I'd get to Qatrun without being taken hostage), so I'm not too worried about being killed. As I understand it, I need a confirmed hotel reservation (easy enough) to have any chance at a visa, but in order to pass roadblocks, I'll need some semblance of a guide. Does anyone have any recommendations? Should I fly into Tam and then figure out transport, or is there someone I should contact beforehand?

Also, if anyone has any updates on that lorry convoy that supposedley leaves Tam every fifteend days for Agadez, I'm all ears .

-Jonathan