algerian escorts

[mario travaini]

Hi, does anyone have any recent concrete info about procedures/prices/situation in entering Algeria from Tunis driving to Niger?
Does one need to "book" in advance or just show up at the border, or?
are the prices negotiable or standard fixed by day basis?
any info would be greatly appreciated.
thanks

[Aceras]

You absolutely have to register in advance by asking an official local travel agency to hire a guide for you.
The travel agency then sends a note to the Algerian Consulate in your country. Tou need this document to get the visa.
The price is quite big. Try to negociate!
Good luck!
François

[Chris Scott]

There are guidelines, some prices and contacts here: http://www.sahara-overland.com/country/algeria.html

As far as I know negotiation is only possible with big groups.

Chris S

[mario travaini]

bummer...!
I was hoping for the kind of escort you get in Egypt or Northern Kenya which it's not really an escort(and free), but this seems more a kind of problem than other.
I'll soon get in contact with one of them and find out how many vehicles can travel with one escort, maybe we can start organizing a kind of caravan or so for late this year.
cheers
(anyone interested send me an e-mail inside www.southing.com )

[Yves]

Hi Mario,

some recent informations: http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/Explo4x4/message/24813

6 days for the transit is realistic minimum, 8 days not unrealistic... 10 days worst case, normaly.
Guides will do their best to pass you as quickly as possible, but it is not allways easy.

A guide needs to travel twice the distance, so about 8-13 days to pay, about 500€ for guide only, depending on the size and kind of the group.

You might contact www.tanezrouft.com for details. I'm helping them with communication for Europe.

Yves




[This message has been edited by Yves (edited 29 April 2005).]

[mario travaini]

hi, I just applied for visas at the algerian embassy in copenhagen, it went suspiciously easy. No need to show any booking or invitations, just a copy of the registration papers of the car, a detailed itinerary with places and dates, a copy of a travel and life insurance(!), a valid passport and 35 euros.
They told me that if we intend to drive through Djannet then we'll need an escort, but not if we drive the tarmac road all the way to Tamanrasset and then In Guezzam.
Well, i don't expect it either to be that easy, visas should be ready on a month or so, let's see how it goes.

[Chris Scott]

"but not if we drive the tarmac road all the way to Tamanrasset and then In Guezzam."

Sounds promising - let's hope it's true.
In the end travel regs in Alg are bound to relax. Please keep us informed.

Ch

[Yves]

Ho Mario,
hope it's true. Anyway, you better enter Algeria via Alger, not Taleb Larbi, to go without guide.
Keep us informed.
Good Luck, Yves

[mario travaini]

we start our trip the first week in september, I'll keep posting here any news about the visas...
(Ives)why would it be better to enter through Alger? We're planning in driving through Tunis taking the ferry from Sicily (here the whole itinerary: http://www.southing.com/westafrica/i.../itinerary.htm )

[roro]

If you'll try to enter via Taleb Larbi you MUST have a guide .
If you enter via Alger , no guide until you'll reach El Golea . After it depends : may be guide , may be convoy , may be .... nothing .
It depends of what ?
I DON'T KNOW ! ( except the route you will follow )
RR .

[colombin]

I'm coming back from Algeria, 3 weeks ;I printed 40 group list, I have no more than 3;
everywhere you have to suffer controls, with guns pointed on you ; 3 to 4 days to go from Taîeb Larbi to Tam if you are lucky enough to avoid escort ; obviously it's impossible to go off road ; I regret to deliver this advice : don't go !

[Chris Scott]

I have also heard recently that there is much less chance of being expected to have a guide if you enter via Algiers (or other northern ports). Taleb I am sure they expect you to have a guide waiting.

Ch

[mario travaini]

"I regret to deliver this advice : don't go!(Colombin)" = That this mean don't go through Taîeb Larbi or don't go to Tam at all..?

I would of course like to spend some time in southern algeria, but if necessary we'll just cross the country, at the end of the day we will be in transit to Niger...

[colombin]

Oh excuse me, I mean don't go to Algeria. We spent to much time on tarmac for 6 days in Tassili du Hoggar which is a very pleasant place with some great landscapes but don't deserves a so long and so unpleasant trip ; It can't be compared to Tadrart or Akakus.
For now, in my mind, a possible way is going by plane to Tam or Djanet and visit with agencies cars ; going with it's own car is to much hassle ; but the best, probably, is going elsewhere.

[Richard Washington]

Originally posted by colombin:
For now, in my mind, a possible way is going by plane to Tam or Djanet and visit with agencies cars ; going with it's own car is to much hassle ; but the best, probably, is going elsewhere.

This is exactly what the tour agencies wanted to happen after the abductions, i.e. make it tough for people to go with their own car. One way of approaching this is to carry on going with our own cars. This will wear down the beauracracy in the end.