Algeria through Alger

[Tomasz]

Anyone have entered Algeria by ferry to Alger recently? I have a problem. Three vehicles packed and ready for a tour to Algerian Sahara, but no Tunesian visas. Thus we are considering to re-book ferry and go directly via Alger.
What do you think? Is it safe?

[Sam Rutherford]

I have never done it, but I reckon you'll be fine. Try to be out of the city and heading south before it gets dark.

Sam.

[Yves]

Hi Tomasz,

Entry via Alger no problem.
Yves

[Treeclimber]

Sorry if this should be obivous to me, but why do people usually enter from Tunisia? Is it just the security situation in the north? I have been planning to enter through Oran this spring and travel south into Mali first by bus and the with whatever I can get. Maybe over the Tanezrouft if all goes as planned.

[Tomasz]

Yes, it is the security issue. However, there has been quite clm in the north recently.
Which does not mean that nothing would happen now.

[Chris Scott]

We did Alger last October with a car (the first time for me in 17 years or more) and the only tourists on the boat. At the port they were friendly but confused by foreigners and would not let us out until our guide was escorted in from the gate, asked for his 'Ordre de Mission' and then allowed to take us out.

Security in north Alg is not the only (or even the main) reason people go via Tunis IMO; the ferry to Tunis is a whole lot cheaper than Alger - and cheapest of all from Genoa.

... try to be out of the city and heading south before it gets dark.
Actually I would say it is in the countryside around Blida and Medea where the dangers are (and certainly were) greatest and where the heavily-armed and protected checkpoints most frequent. These were not evident in the city.

(Treeclimber, if you are wanting to blend into southern Alg discretely, I think you are much better flying in (cheap from Marseile) than coming on a boat. All foreigners are let out of Algiers airport without restrictions in my experience - don't know if that will happen as a pax off a boat in Oran or anywhere.)

Ch
http://www.sahara-overland.com/Sfiles/tessalit.htm

[Tomasz]

Hi Chris,

I have just checked the ferry prices on sncm.fr.
Marseille - Alger 610 Euro
Genoa - Tunis 711 Euro
Actually, Alger is less expensive

[Treeclimber]

Thanks for the tips Chris, looks like ferrying in would involve more hassle than I am looking for. Flights to algeries can be had from about 250EU's. Sound right? I may do that, but I also found Point Afrique is offering direct flights from Marselle to Tam for the same price. Anyone flown direct from Europe into Tamanrasset?

[Tomasz]

The show must go on!
We have rebooked the ferry and now we are going to Alger
Just kidding (about the HELP banner, not Alger)

[wilco]

I'm doing that route in a fortnight. Inexpensive and very simple to arrange.

[Chris Scott]

Actually, Alger is less expensive

Great news for my next car run; one less border. Dont know why it was so much when I asked last Oct, although it's the 'Jasmine' tariff on Tunis boats (2 pax + a car) that is the good deal.

about 250EU's. Sound right?
Depends from where. Cheapest from Marseille.

I may do that, but I also found Point Afrique is offering direct flights from Marselle to Tam for the same price.
But you have to get to Orly and miss out the cross country - and have to deal with PA's mystery schedule which just cost me 600 quid.

Anyone flown direct from Europe into Tamanrasset?
French tourists do it every Saturday - we did it in 2005 but had guides waiting.
Without guides you might blend in in Tam - hitching out of town I dont know. A nifty flight I found from the UK is Gatwick to Hassi Mess: twice a week with BA 250 quid or so. I'll use that in future, not PA.

Ch

[Tomasz]

Back from Algeria via Alger. From Marseille to Alger we took a Mediteranee ferry - an old crap, and it seemed that we were the only tourists on the ship. It took nearly 4 hours to overcome the paperwork in the harbour. By end of the day we were fixing one of the vehicles, and only when it was totally dark did we decide to go south! Yes, we did what everyone was warning us not to do. For the next five hours we made some 200 km accross the mountains. There were at least 25 checkpoints on the route, armoured vehicles, soldiers with machine guns. I do not think we would make it unless the assistance of local pilot we hired from the Tanezrouft Voyages. Once you get south there are not so many checkpoints; however, it seems that it is not possible to drive to the next post unless you have a licensed local guide with documents. That was an adventure!
On the way back we made it in the middle of the day. It seemed that there were military posts everywhere around in the mountains south of Alger. We had not seen them when travelling at night. We stopped in youth hostel in Blida, but when we went for a walk in the city in the evening, we were attacked by a group of teenagers. A few bottles were broken on the pavement. It was unwise of us to feel so safely, but there were a few local people who defended us. On the way back to Marseille we sailed on a very clean ferry Daniele Casanova. Totally different world comparing to the other boat. But before we got on board we spent another 4 hours in the harbour.
Nevertheless, it is worth to enter Algeria via Alger. I will definitely do it again this way. Just be careful!

[wilco]

Simple, easy, very comfortable, excellent food on the ferry. A brilliant way to start a trip.

Dave