Hoggar Route (Algeria)
 

Does anyone have any specific info on what the compulsory guide is likely to cost on this route across Algeria? Crossing from Tunisia and going via Tamanrasset into Niger, ideall taking about 10-12 days with 2 or 3 4wd vehicles. Any info appreciated.

ZB

About 500 euros border to border.
See http://www.sahara-overland.com/country/algeria.htm

Ch

expect to pay somewhere around 20E / day for guide , and 50E / day for each vehicle.
When we were in the area ( last month ) we checked with the chief of the Gendarme in InSaleh , he assured us that there is only a requirement for a guide south of InSaleh. The 'border to border' guide requirement is not enforced - we traveled north from InSaleh by ourselves on 2 bikes with the only requirement that we checked in with police & gendarmes and rode north to Laghoat with an organised convoy.
I imagine you might need to arrange for a guide to meet you at the border in case the authorities there are picky ( we had to at InGuezzam, and had to wait for 2 days....), but once inside it's a lot easier.

Ray

>>>The 'border to border' guide requirement is not enforced

To clarify: it sure is when you arrive from the north in Tunisia (as most people do), tho I have heard of people getting down unguided south from coastal Algeria until they hit the 'southern guide zone'.
Also, it is not uncommon for a cheif of one district (eg: In Salah) not to be reading from the same hymnsheet as the guy in Taleb Larbi (main Tuni border).

Coming north in transit (less common) is a different story, it seems - even joining the TSH convoy has been avoided. Thanks for the info, but while you have long been able to roam around north Alg unguided, don't count on this being a nifty dodge to do some unguided piste-bashing.

Ch