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Tunisia-Algeria border post
Hi
I was 2 times to Algeria with guide. Two times crossed in Taleb Larbi. This time I want to travel independent in north of Algeria. My question is which border crossing is open for EU citizen? Only Alger port or also border crossing up north (Malloula or other)?? thanks for help |
We entered at Maloula, in 2019. Without agency and guide. Traveled independently to Alger, staying in Annaba, and some other places, along the way
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You should probably read this thread: https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...algeria-103794
But in short all tunisia -> algeria border posts are open to EU citizen (as far as I know) |
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For my own trip, on a motorbike, I was able to explore desert tracks though I was careful about not telling the gendarmes when I planned to do so. Read more here: https://wherenextbarney.me/algerian-...outh-off-road/ Ed |
We drove down to Djanet in 2009 in our own vehicle.
Came in at Bou Chebka, which is just west of Kasserine and Djebel Chambi Natl Park, later a stronghold for jihadists and perhaps not the best route to take even today. But an easy crossing. We nighted in Tebessah which was a spooky town, carried on to Oued where we needed to exchange our USD. Our presence worried the local police so much that their boss personally took us to a bank which was closed, woke up the sleeping president and let us do the exchange and then escorted us to the city limits. We did get renseignements from the gendarmes in Ouargla and Hassi Messaoud but noone asked us for a guide until we came to Illizi, where the chief of police came out to greet us at the first rondpoint. |
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It will be interesting to see if the current relaxation of rules continues. When the gendarmes were concerned about me not having a guide, they rang their HQ and I was always allowed to proceed without one. From speaking to at least one Algerian guide in-country, their perspective was that when the VOA was introduced last year, the government also relaxed the guide rules for travelling in your own vehicle. That said, the majority of guides I did meet were still surprised to see me there without one. I know that when I arrived in Djanet, the guides were going as far as sharing passport details of their group members with the gendarmerie prior to their arrival. It also sounds like the non-VOA visa application process has changed too - for example in London, there is no longer anything in the process about declaring by what form of transport you will be travelling, just a customs type section in the visa form about 'equipment'. I didn't mention my motorbike in this for obvious reasons. Ed |
During my trip last month I noticed that atmosphere is more calm than during my last trip in 2017. There wasn't any escort from Djanet to Tam (it was supposed to be obligatory). Most of the posts we passed without guide and many times before guide who drove behind us.
It looks like you can drive independent and only stay for night on post or in city. And you can travel free. I will back there in February and will test it. |
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Yep that was also my experience in September to November this year, with no guide. Ed. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk |
When we arrived at Illizi we asked the chief of police if we could carry on without a guide as we had had no problems so far. He curtly replied "ici c'est le grand Sud".
He said we were the first to arrive on our own since the kidnappings of 2003. So we had to find a quick guide to Djanet. There we found two excellent guides and spent a wonderful week driving around the desert and on to Tamanrasset, avoiding all gendarmes. In Tam we waited eleven days for a visa to Niger, which was ultimately denied. And so we had to drive to Mali, which became an eventful trip. The guide we were assigned (by the name Rasta) we found untrustworthy and he later actually went to jail for staging a kidnapping. We asked around town for the best guide to go to Kidal, and found the perfect one - an old warrior who was well known to everyone we met all the way to Gao. His name was Zroufi. Overall one of the best trips I have ever made. Brahim and Abdellah from Djanet https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-gm?authuser=0https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...4-h395-s-no-gm Zroufi from Kidal https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-gm?authuser=0 Magical Tanezrouft https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-gm?authuser=0 Coming home I started planning for the next trip to Algeria, but as the situation deteriorated over the following years, it never happened. Alas. |
Hello,
Any updates in 2024 regarding border crossing to Tunisia (EU citizen with own vehicle)? I am planning a motorcycle trip in a few months, going on a ferry from Almería (Spain) to ORAN (Algérie), (EDITED, thank you Edwardbgill, looks I was sleepy!). Then travel (mainly on the coast, but checking other options to the South) towards Tunisia and then to Italy. I just started to collect info: no CPD required and safety in Algeria much better than in the past. Any info or advice greatly appreciated. Thanks! Esteban |
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Just to double-check, but Nador is in Morocco? If you were thinking of crossing from Morocco to Algeria, the border has been closed between the two countries for the last 30 years or so. Safety wise, Algeria is fine - you just need to be a little careful in the known trouble spots; so close the border with Libya and in the south/south-west towards Mali. Ed |
Hi Edward,
I meant ORAN, Algeria, thanks pointing out I misled it (late hours are tricky to write posts!). Yes, Morocco-Algeria border closed, that is why I plan Spain to Algeria directly. Borders with Lybia and Mali thank you for the info) are out of my possible route and mainly du to safety as well. I am on initial stages, so figuring out the plan/route. Regards, Esteban Quote:
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