which places to visit in Algeria
 

Hello

I (single female) am planning to visit Algeria in October and would like to visit old islamic/berber towns. I plan to visit Timmimoun and Ghardaia. Are there other similar places that you can recommend? I plan to be there for 14 days and would be nice to do a trip including beautiful deserts.

I am having difficulty planning as I am not sure where it is not allowed to travel and if this restriction applies to all foreigners or some with a specific passports.

I plan to fly to the nearest city and hire a driver to show me around.

Thank you in advance

Ghardaia and Timmimoun are good for starters.
From Timmimoun I am sure there are desert excursions to be had into the dunes or ruined kasbahs.
You could then carry on clockwise around the Grand Erg Occidental up via Kerzaz to Taghit and back north.

This area/province of Algeria is possibly even open to tourists without escorts (unlike the deep south), but progress will be much swifter through the many checkpoints accompanied by an authorised local driver with the right permits.

I can give you a contact of someone in In Salah who may still be able to help with invitations, visa and a driver.

Thank you, Scott, a contact would be great!

In the deep south, is the area completely out of bounds or can you visit all areas with the guide?

Thank you

As I understand, from Tam you can only get driven 80km up to Assekrem for an overnight at the lodge, then back to town. Rough drive but great views from the Hermitage.
You could fly to Tam via Algiers (possible overnight needed), do Assekrem then get driven along the TS Highway up towards Timmimoun etc, then fly Ghardaia back to Algiers and out. A good use of 2 weeks, but costly at > €100 a day if exclusive.

Elsewhere, the middle part of the wilaya of Illizi on the Libyan is open for escorted off highway camelling or 4x4ing. See the maps here.
But not the famous plateau afaik and where much of the rock art is. A day trip Djanet to Jabbaren on the plateau edge may be allowed and is well worth it.
But tbh for the Djanet area better to join a tour or it gets very costly.

PM sent with In Salah contact for Timimoun, etc.

Hi Chris,
I'm also interested about this contact.
Can you vive me more details about the loop from Timimoun?
Thanks,
RR.

Timimoun
 

Back in 2011, I've spent 4 weeks in Algeria travelling with public transport without an escort. My route was Alger - Oran - Béchar - Taghit - Adrar - Timimoun - In Salah - Ghardaia - Alger. Only in In Salah the police or gendarmerie were a bit surprised seeing me there unescorted, but it posed no problems since I was on my way up to Ghardaia. Timimoun was the absolute highlight of the trip, I think I've spend 10 days there. In Timimoun I met the magnificent guide Jamal, with whom I made several day trips in the desert. Lots to see, you can easily spend a week or more in the region. If you want I can DM his email and phone number.

Rafke, thank you, please send me Jamal's contact details. I hope is still around.

Thank you Chris

Sent you a DM with his details. I'm sure he's still around, I'm still in touch with him.

Hi,

I have got the information that Plateau is open now. I got it from 4 different sources, for example Mr Samir Baly (Nabil's Baly half-brother) who is director of department of tourizm in Illizi's vilayat. Only one person told me plateau is still closed.
Supposedly it is open for foreigners too, but till now there were Algerians only there. I will try to go coming March.
I saw the pictures from the top made ca one month ago.

Regards
Artur Urbanski

Just back from Djanet, it appears tourism really picked up this year, we saw several other groups (including several French) in the Tadrart which appears to be the most popular destination.

The plateau indeed opened up in October for larger groups (too large for my comfort zone...) for a few weeks, but was closed again, it is yet unclear if visits will be permitted in the New Year season or in spring. The Jabbaren day-trips are no longer permitted.

The rest of the Tassili between Djant and Illizi is open without restrictions. Beware that all pistes are in a very bad condituon after the heavy summer rains. Parts of the old piste between Imirhou and Dider have been washed away and cannot be negotiated along its entire length. The Imirhou piste, which took a little over an hour two years ago needed half a day.

Thanks for these infos!
Have you travelled with your own car?
No restriction between Illizi and Djanet: Does it include Afara,Tamedjert , Tarat (for exemple) and tracks in these surroundings?
RR.

On the Tam side i was told last week: all restricted as usual; just the Hoggar (Atakor) open, but also Tefedest with [Gilf style?] army escorts.
Still waiting to find out where and what the latter means.

Shame that Jabbaren is now closed. That was a good day out.
The rise in tourism may be because the French foreign office softened its travel advice for Alg this year and tour ops are making the most of it.

RR,
We used local vehicles with drivers. Afara/Tamedjert no problem, Tarat (& In Ezzane) off-limits.

Thanks again.
RR.

Thanks for these infos.
Do you mean it's possible to go to Atakor with my own car from Tam wihout escort (but with guide)?
From Hirafok?

RR.

No, this lack of restrictions only apply to parts of the Illizi wilaya. To my knowledge no unescorted travel around Tam, and most of the Hoggar is closed.