protocol for dealing with algerian guide?

[Dean74]

Hello,
am in the planning stages of trip north through africa including a crossing of the sahara (Niger / Algeria) around April 2010.

have been reading posts about this with interest, and managed to find a guide for the Algerian leg, and was about to send some personal details for the LOI but thought to ask a question here first.

Is payment usually in person, or will they ask for credit card or bank transfer? If in person, is it at the start or on completion of the trip?

The guide company i have found is Agence Tanezrouft Voyages - anyone used them before?

Am v new to this so any info on how this usually works would be much appreciated.

Dean.

[tom cruiser]

Hi Dean,

we have always used cash for paying the guides - regarding the payment it really depends on the agreement between you and your guide. In my experience we always paid half in advance for covering his travel cost and half at the end of the trip.

As far as I know Tanezrouft Voyages are very reliable and recommended by many HUBB users although I haven't used them myself.

Enjoy your trip & regards,
Tomaz

[Dean74]

by half in advance? - do you pay by credit card before you meet them? just a little concerned about giving all my details AND credit card info to someone, seems like asking for trouble maybe...

and out of interest - does anyone have any experience first hand experience with tour operators in algeria that thay would recommend?

[Dean74]

Tomaz - ok, I missed the "cash" part of your reply, thanks again!

[donncha]

Dean

Yes, I've used Tanezrouft Voyages and was very happy with them and the guide. We paid for it in cash at their office at In Salah when the trip was almost over.
They are likely to provide different types of guide depending on what type of trip you plan. If is a straightforward traverse through to Niger on the (mostly) tar road then you'll likely get a young lad who will speak good French and will efficiently process you through all the checkpoints. If you want to go more off road, then you'll get an older guide with lots of desert skills. The second is much more interesting of course.

Donncha

[Chris Scott]

Talking of Algeria and Agence Tanezrouft (who I work with sometimes), they have just released a map of where they can potentially organise tours in the south of Algeria:
http://www.tanezrouft.com/typo3temp/pics/a9ed6c9195.jpg

Ch

[roro]

Thanks a lot for this interesting map, very useful for planning some trip in Algeria.
By the way, I have another question about guide:
Is it possible to leave our guide in In Salah on the come back to Tunisia (after our trip with him in the south, including first our rendez-vouz in Taleb Larbi) ? My idea is to visit Timmimoun,Beni Abbes,Ghardaia at the end of our trip and I don't think a guide is mandatory for this part of Algeria.
RR.

[Yves]

Hi,
a guide is mandatory south of Kerzaz - Ghardaia - El Oued - Taleb Larbi.
It is difficult though to find an agency willing to let you go without because they will still have the responsibility for the tourist. *)

Best regards, Yves

P.S: In case they issued the LOI and signed as responsible agency at the border.

[priffe]

Not quite true that the agencies are responsible for the tourist border-border. But they will say so, as their routine contract means just that - and you'll have to pay all the way.

We found an alternative route:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...a-jusqua-42600

Next trip I will gladly meet with the touaregs I met last trip in Taleb Larbi, Ouargla, In Salah or whatever we decide on. I will yet again avoid using an agency.

thanks for the map, Chris but you gotta learn how to post urls
http://www.tanezrouft.com/typo3temp/pics/a9ed6c9195.jpg

[ilesmark]

I think Harry was happy with his Algerian guide

Across-then-up

[priffe]

Yeah, dear Harry, what a nice adventure for a fugutive hedge fund manager...
Great blog, great pics, great guy (we met him at the Libyan border).
Anyway, he did like his guide but like most of us would prefer to be on your own once in a while.

[Gottoride]

Hi all, Is anyone planning to travel Algeria to Mali mid to late Nov this year? Keen to share a guide...

[priffe]

I am planning to go to Algeria. To go on to Mali from Algeria (like we did two months ago), a guide and a very good one at that may be necessary for survival in the present situation.
What is your planned route?

[roro]

Originally Posted by Yves

Hi,
a guide is mandatory south of Kerzaz - Ghardaia - El Oued - Taleb Larbi.
It is difficult though to find an agency willing to let you go without because they will still have the responsibility for the tourist. *)

Best regards, Yves

P.S: In case they issued the LOI and signed as responsible agency at the border.

Hi Yves,

Does it mean that I can let the guide in Ghardaia and do the route to El Oued and Taleb Larbi without him?

RR.

[Yves]

Hi RoRo,
>Does it mean that I can let the guide in Ghardaia and do the route to El >Oued and Taleb Larbi without him?

You have to clarify this with the agency in question. Probably not in case they issued the LOI and signed as responsible agency at the border.