Algerian routes
 

Chris Scott
 

Hi, I have not been there myself (yet) but have you looked up Chris Scott's books or website? There are routes notes in his book "Sahara Overland" published by Trailblazer covering all the North Africa countries. His website also has up to date info.

Chris Scott's Sahara Overland ~ The book and the website

He should be able to answer any questions you have as he has been all over the sahara.

Am I correct in thinking that you must have a local guide for Algeria?

Enjoy
W!

"In Salah-Erg Mehejibet - Erg Mehejibet -Tesnou- In Ekker (In Salah - In Ekker about 200km piste)
"
We have done this route (in the reverse direction): you can do it without riding on TSH: beetween In Salah erg Mehedjibet you can take the old piste via Tadjemout, very nice place (and also the gueltas between Tadjemout and In Salah).

Between Mehedjibet and in Eker this a lot of offroad drivig with a lot of interesting places and if you have time jou can make a bigger loop in Ahnet.
RR.

"Am I correct in thinking that you must have a local guide for Algeria?"

Yep, local guide required from border to border. Apparently some get lucky and travel without a guide, but other get turned away at the border already.
I opted to take the guide...

Have fun!

Hello

Is there any way to travel from around Tesnou or In EkKer to Tassili (Tassili and Illizi is the same location?)

I’m trying to find a off road loop in that region that passes in Tesnou, Tassili, Djanet, Ideles, Assemkem, Tam

In C.S. book:
Djanet – Ideles A7 and
Ideles- Tam A11 or A8

thanks

stay west young man
 

I’m looking for some info about Tim Missao area and Erg Mehejibet? I can’t find much information about them.

Erg M is a small but high erg just west of the road 50kms north of Arak. You can only get around it. We passed there last week. There is a well on the south side.

Tim Missao is a nice spot (well, rock art) but there is now an army base nearby. Last there in 2006 coming back from SEQ. (Click for pix and new yarn).

In between is Adrar Ahnet - wells, nomads, table plateaus - all very nice right down to Tesnou area. The pink route on the map link below from Moulay via 'Sing Dunes' and a green dot to In Amguel is very nice. We did it after MoG. (Click for pix).

Strictly speaking in Algerian Tuareg lands 'tassili' means rock columns (a type of terrain, like 'erg') and there are many Tassili regions in Alg, the Tassili N'Ajjer from Amguid via Ilizzi and Djanet being the best known (Tassili Immidir is another, tassili hoggar, etc). I tend to abbreviate the N'Ajjer as 'the Tassili' which may be why you were confused. being rocky plateaux, most tassili areas have a limited number of routes for 4x4 and motos, especially the Ajjer when you consider its size.

If you have 2 weeks in Alg I would not consider going further east than Assekrem/Tefedest. The Tefedest and the west side (south of Ahnet etc) is mostly open driving on granite sands; you can make it up/go x-country more easily than in the east (N'Ajjer).

Have a look at this map and you will see some routes I have done in the last few years (since the book was published - I think a couple of the wider tracks out of In Salah were planned but not actually done). Note that the modern TS highway is not shown north of Arak on these old maps and also dont forget that the new pipeline being laid along the west side of the road limits where you can get on/off the TSH a bit, but eventually you will work your way around to find a gap/bridge.

There is another map of a 2008 bike tour I did here - possibly doable in 2 weeks out of Oran. Click back to .../dr8pix for photos. Sli Edrar is a great spot just a few km from the TSH which I spotted on my very first trip back in 1981 (pic from '86)

There is plenty to see in the west IMO, and great open driving too - not much rock/corrugations to drive on like most Hoggar and some Ajjer routes (A3) and heavy dunes like Ubari so all the better for it!

Ch

PS. I just found this tracklog from 2008 tour.

Ola Bernardo

Just a small detail...
From Almeria is impossible to get a ferry to Oran.
(You just can travel to Ghazaouet).
check by yourself at Acciona: Trasmediterranea

Just a question: any calendar for your trip? This spring 2010?

Thank You.
Rui Pedro
Castro Verde - Alentejo

Just a small detail...
From Almeria is impossible to get a ferry to Oran.
(You just can travel to Ghazaouet).
check by yourself at Acciona: Trasmediterranea


Hi Bernardo,

Or you can do Alicante to Oran and book through Southern Ferries - SNCM Ferries, Trasmediterranea, Comanav, Tunisia Ferries, Algerie Ferries


My trip has to be postponed once again and the next few weeks will show how things pan out. I have to be out of Europe latest 11 March so if the necessary things fall into place I'll get to Algeria probably on 10 March.


Enjoy the planning - it can be a large part of the actual journey!

Hello

Thanks to all for your comments!

Chris: I will analyse your suggestions carefully and I will come back to you. You are recommending to leave Hoggar for another expedition and concentrate in the region east Tam with more sand and less rocks?


Rui Pedro: olá! I mean Alicante not Almeria! But as Gottoride mention Almeria-Ghazaouet could be a good option! (We are planning to leave in April)

Gottoride: thanks for the idea Almeria-Ghazaouet! Did you tried this way?
Planning is one of the more interesting parts of the journey and for sure the most stressful and exhausting part of it! When I finely leave home I relax and enjoy!

If any one is interested we could make a small group to cut the expenses.


Bernardo Feio

You are recommending to leave Hoggar for another expedition

Actually I am suggesting leave Tassili N'Ajjer for another time (or take 3 weeks in Alg). Most people want to at least visit Assekrem in the Hoggar which is close to Tam.

Has anyone actually done Alicante-Oran this winter yet?
I suppose its only a boat between 2 ports but it would be good to have a description/costs/facilities of how it all was compared to the better known routes.

btw, if anyone is going to Alg soon with Tanezrouft Agency, they want a stack of cheap Decathlon flip-out tents taken out and will take the cost off your fees.

Ch

OK, I will PM you with details. Fouad wants 20 so you better have a good story for Customs!

Added later: Actually the tent is much cheaper in the UK right now so still looking for a Brit for the job.

Ch

Gottoride: thanks for the idea Almeria-Ghazaouet! Did you tried this way?

Hi Bernardo,

No, I have not tried the route - it was in my original planning but I could not find a shipping company that was open for bookings. So, I finally decided on an Alicante - Oran ferry with bookings open a month in advance on Southern Ferries - SNCM Ferries, Trasmediterranea, Comanav, Tunisia Ferries, Algerie Ferries
It seems I will now only get away early in March so I'll only be able to report on that crossing in about two months...

All the best!

Olá Bernardo
Hi Chris
Hi Gottoride

I was at Almeria port last September, looking for a ferry to Algeria. Now I have one ferry ticket to Ghazaouet for 2nd March. I will go alone in my GSA 1200. I think it´s cheaper than Alicante. The price to cross to Algeria is 88,33 € for one person and 330 € for the motorcycle. For me Ghazaouet looks fine, even better than Oran. Smaller city and closer to Tlemcen, the gate to my western oasis route: Ain Sefra, Taghit, Beni Abbes and Timimoun. Maybe I'll stay a few days at Taghit and Timimoun...

Rui Pedro
Alentejo - Portugal.