Erg Occidental

[Tomek]

Hi Hieronymus,

Originally Posted by hieronymus

When Tanezrouft sent an invitation to the embassy in The Hague last january by fax, I got my visa within 2 days......

Did you go in your own car or did you hire 4x4 in Algeria? Where did you exaclty go?

Regards,

Tomek

[hieronymus]

We drove our own cars from Ohran to Tam and back, you can read about it at:
Chris Scott - Algerian Sahara 4WD tour report 2011

[Yves]

Hi Tomek,
if you did not obtained visa within a few weeks then you will probably not get one this time.
From my time as Tanezrouft representative I only remember 2 cases of visa refusals (on hundreds successful ones). And visa had still been granted to other European customers in 2011.
I expect that you will need to reapply with a new LOI to have any chance at all because the procedures changed. However, I can't help with it any more because my primary employment does not permit any more.

[Tomek]

Hi Yves,

Originally Posted by Yves

if you did not obtained visa within a few weeks then you will probably not get one this time.

You might be right.

Originally Posted by Yves

From my time as Tanezrouft representative I only remember 2 cases of visa refusals (on hundreds successful ones). And visa had still been granted to other European customers in 2011.

The thing is that we haven't got even a refusal yet. In Warsaw we were told that if we get a refusal we would be able to ask for refund of visas fee.

Originally Posted by Yves

I expect that you will need to reapply with a new LOI to have any chance at all because the procedures changed. However, I can't help with it any more because my primary employment does not permit any more.

If only we knew the reason for not giving us visas we would definitely try our best to avoid such situations in future. Unfortunately we do not know the reason.

Could you please tell me if Tanezrouft can provide us with new LOI as we have already paid 10% of the fee. Can people from my group who might not able to go for next trip ask Tanezrouft for refund of these 10%?

Regards,

Tomek

[Tomek]

Hi Hieronymus,

Originally Posted by hieronymus

We drove our own cars from Ohran to Tam and back, you can read about it at:
Chris Scott - Algerian Sahara 4WD tour report 2011

I read it some time ago. Lucky you!

[TurboCharger]

So a quick update on our visa situation for Algeria.

We applied on the 12th September here in Switzerland and now, as of today, we both have our tourist visas for Algeria!!

Algeria HERE WE COME!!!

We will enter from Taleb Labri border by motorcycle from Tunisia and leave from Ghazaouet by ferry to Spain. We are riding two-up (Riding2up) and we are using Tanzerouft as guides for the whole trip taking 9 days to cross Algeria.

Tanzerouft faxed a letter to the consulat/embassy for us and it was relatively quick given other reports. So I don't know what the fuss is all about, were we just lucky. I don't know. But the true test will be when we arrive at the border with our beast of a bike and the tow of us...



We will update our blog and probably post some pictures here on the HUBB as well.

[Tomek]

Originally Posted by TurboCharger

We applied on the 12th September here in Switzerland and now, as of today, we both have our tourist visas for Algeria!!

That's good news.

Have fun and ride safe.

Tomek

P.S. Don't forget to share your best photos with us

[Chris Scott]

Getting back to the OP about a 10-day in the GEOc, an Algerian tour op just spammed me this itinerary - it may interest some people. I have not tracked it on map and dont know 90% of the places listed, but it look like it goes into the GE from Metlili at the east end (south of Ghardaia).
Looks like lots of nice old ksars in there, too.

Ch

J1 - Taleb to Ghardaia (that would be a l o n g day...)

Jour 02 -: Metlili - Lemneikel - Abaza - Hassi Ouled Zeid

Jour 03 -: Hassi Thaldja - Dayet Soueid - Guern Laghouati

Jour 04 -: Hassi El Mer - Guern Bent Bouhamama -Selslet El Maleh - Diba

Jour 05 -: Mkamat - Oued dahab - Hassi Aicha

Jour 06 -: Fort Zaouiet Debagh - Semaouta - Hadj Guelman- Kssar Keddour

Jour 07 -: Visite de la ville de Timimoune et des Kssours et jardins. Nuitée Camping

Jour 08 - : Hassi Saka - Moul El Kendous - Mercheg Echems - Lehzeima - Hassi El Baroud - haouda ou Guedar - Hassi Sedra - El Atrous - Mabrouka

Jour 09 -: Hassi Guern Cheikh - Sidi Mhamed - Nebka - ElGolea repas après visite dl'église, musée, lac, vieux ksar. Nuitée Camping

Jour 10 -: départ tot pour les frontières arrivée à 13h.00 taleb laarbi pour la Tunisie

[roro]

And something about any escort by gendarmes for this tour?

RR.

[Chris Scott]

I think not. Like I say I have not traced it on a 200k map but I suspect to takes a loop around the eastern GEOc (all off road) and comes back to Ghardaia area to go back to Taleb (just a guess). So it does not enter Adrar/Bechar wilaya - or if it does, no one sees it.

Ch

[ktm990]

Someone know where are the hightest sands, in Grand erg Occidental or Grand erg Oriental ?

[Chris Scott]

I would say at the southern end of the GE Oriental - from what I have seen around Hassi bel Guebbour.

The northern sand seas are usually lower, right across the Sahara (except Erg Chebbi) - I think because they are less arid.

Ch

[Yves]

you will find the highest dunes of Algeria in the Erg Tiffernine. It is very difficult to drive. Unfortunately it is closed for Tourism since 6 years.

[Chris Scott]

Ah yes, I remember Tifernine. Very big dunes. Those were the days.

Ch

[ktm990]

Originally Posted by Yves

you will find the highest dunes of Algeria in the Erg Tiffernine. It is very difficult to drive. Unfortunately it is closed for Tourism since 6 years.

Is there in Algeria an equivalent of the lybian erg merzuk ?
Cross this erg should be a great experience !