Ive never been asked for any invitation or proof of accomodation when applying for an Algerian visa, so I cant help you on that one. If you go from Tunisia to Algeria via Nefta/El Oued it is no problem without a vehicle. Take a taxi to the border, do the formalities and the next car that passes will (have to) take you to the Algerian border. I also have no idea why people try to put you off travelling in summer. I think its the best time because there are no tourists around, but this is a personal opinion. I also think that its possible to get around on less than five litres of water a day, if you try wearing a cheche it is definitly possible.

Terry,
I think you are being way too polite!

Peter,
Enjoy your next watch, I'm not sure how many more dawns you are going to see if you really run your life as you appear to.

I suggest you wait until you are in Europe before continuing your 'research'.

Sam.

well well, kind of interesting conversation guys you have. :)
In spite of I am considered naive by some of you, I'm go for algeria with 1 Aug. so it is not true that it is impossible to find a fellow travellers for hikink in mountains in summer. There was also ohter person who wanted to go in summer (by car) - the "traveler" I quess, and anotherone I met without giving much care for seeking.
So perhaps even if this is not a high season for visiting sahara it doesn't mean nobody will go.

Peter if you're sailing a boat - why don't you just sail to Algier.

Bart.

I met a couple of Algerian girls in Assekrem at Christmas. They were from the North and played down the troubles. "Come and see us" they said. Not on your nelly! I have friends in the security side of the oil industry out there and know how hard they are. I respect their advice which is to stay clear of the North. Since the new year, I had a couple of emails from the girls ... "sorry I haven't written for a while, but there's been a lot of trouble and getting to the internet cafe was out of the question".
As for going in the summer ... I admire it in a "mad dogs and englishmen way". I love minus 25 in the mountains, but I'm not built for +40.
As Chris started out, the paperwork is do-able. The heat is bearable for some people. Getting knifed in the North is probably 50:50 and, I gather from the girls, not really worth it.
Me? I'll be going back in December. To the South.
Richard

Isn't this getting to be quite the topic?

Anyway Mr. Terry Davies: If you would be so kind as to get on the M4 and head to Bristol Docks for about 20/07/2002, look out for the blue hulled 52' ketch rigged (aren't they all) Swan and I'll be very glad to buy you a pint at whatever boozer is around there and will gladly accept your apologies for another wrong assumption. This is far from a troll. I regret it if you are unable to answer my questions, c'est la frigging vie.


Mr. Kevin: Thank you kindly for your reply. Alas, it contradicts what others have said, but perhaps you have a non-UK passport and the visa requirements don't apply to you. Others have said that there are proof-of-accomodation requirements for the visa. Also, someone in a previous reply said that the ONLY way into Algeria was through Algiers airport. You say that the Tunis border crossing is no problem. Logically, you both can't be right but again, perhaps you have a non-UK passport and your situation is different. Please report to the Bristol docks about 20/07/2002, find the above mentioned vessel, I'll find the boozer and we'll get legless together.


Mr.Sam: See the problem? Different folks say different things about the same question. It's confusing. Also, last night's watch sucked (that's why I couldn't go online). All three of us stayed up all lousy night. Damn main needed reefing and got stuck and wouldn't come down. We rolled a dice and yours truly lost and ended up going up the 55' mast. The whole process took me 25 minutes and wasn't fun. See, I'm not suicidal, shit just happens.

Mr. Bart: It was a little tempting to sail to Algeria. However, the old fella (my Dad) thinks it's time the yacht needs to get taken out of the water and cleaned up. They've spent most of the winter in the Caribbean just goofing off, I just hitched a ride back with them as I was in Florida anyway and they wanted to visit there anyway so what the hell? I just thought I'd go back with them. So, I don't have much of a say where this yacht goes.

Mr. Richless: We're on the same wavelength dude. Despite what others have wrote, I have no intentions of dying just yet. I don't mind pushing the envelope here and there (I went spinnaker flying a few days ago, now there's a rush), but for the most part, I'm quite smart about this stuff. However, shit happens and when it does, I just have to deal with it.


Anyhow all, keep the replies coming. I'd love to get this sorted out before we hit land, but it doesn't look likely right now.

JUST TO CLARIFY: (if I read this right),

Chris Scott wrote that the only way for folks without a vehicle to enter Algeria is through Algiers airport. Kevin wrote that's it's no problem for carless folks to enter via the Nefta/El Qued border. Logically, one of these two statements has to be incorrect (unless I'm missing something here). As Kevin appears to have actually crossd that border on his lonesome, I'm more inclined to believe his statement. Although, I do know that what is official Govt policy is not always carried out. So perhaps the border is officially closed to carless folks, but the officials think the laws are a crock of shit and let everyone through anyway.

Any Algerian/Tunisian border guards logged on right now who can sort this out for us please?


Why is this important to me? Because I don't want to get myself to Tunisia, then try and cross the border only to be turned back. As Libya is the only other country that borders Tunisia, I sure as hell don't want to have to ferry/fly off somewhere else.

Hi Peter,

I'll propose the following based on the idea that one shouldn't relly upon something that could not be granted:
- When its time (about 6-8 weeks in advance) request your visa. You will need the invitation almost 100%.
- To make sure (almost ;-)) to enter DZ without a car take the route via Algier. DZ national flights are cheap.
- avoid the area north of Ghardaia
- Leaving DZ for Tunisia without a car should not be a problem.

Good luck, Yves http://www.sahara-info.ch

[This message has been edited by Yves (edited 10 July 2002).]

[This message has been edited by Yves (edited 17 July 2002).]

Hi Peter,

for somebdoy who is off for a two-year trip with open end and open route you seem quite tense.

Go to the border, and check it out there.

kevin

Since April last year I took the Italy-Tunisia-Algeria route five times, the most recent in May. I took the visa three times in bamako, once in Berlin and once in Paris. I am not a resident of any of those countries, and have an EU passport.

Nobody asked me for info on accomodation or for invitations. I have not heard on any of the German or French websites of anybody being asked for proof of this, so Im interested in finding out if this is only yhe case in the London embassy for UK nationals or for everybody. Does anyone have full info on this and not just rumors or guesswork.

The situation at Nefta-El Oued is that you cannot WALK from one border to the next. The Tunisians will make sure that the first car passing will take you to the Algerian side to do all formalities there. I took hitchhikers on four ocassions, both Arab and European and nobody had any problems. This is only my experience, maybe the Algerian embassy say something else.

If anyone is unsure then I think the above suggestionm to take a domestic flight is excellent.

Hi,
I crossed Algeria in June 2000 on my bike.I had no problem getting a transit visa in Bamako.It was a great experience,but it was beyond hot...any hotter would have been truly miserable.I only met one our european on the trip.enjoy it,it is unreal

Hi Kevin,

My friend from NZ just applied for a Algerian visa in London (with NZ passport) and was told to get the tourist permit thing though the agents (100 euro minimum, accom etc)

Still, it was a better response than that recieved from the Sudanese - go to Tokyo as thats the nearest embassy to NZ and apply there ;-)

Anyone have the details of the algerian emb in Paris?

Hey gang

how's the world out there? As I read other posts out there, it seems that there are many questions that have different answers depending on whatever. A lot of it seems to depend on the applying passport and other determining factors seem to be WHICH embassy/consulate and the mood of the clerk on duty. One would think that some of these countries would want more visitors and would make their visa applying process a lot easier, but perhaps not.

Re my own situation, it seems that the general concensus is that it is possible for travellers without vehicles to enter Algeria from Tunisia (although some people here say not). The jury is still out on the various requirements re pre-arranged accommodation. If anyone has any FIRST-HAND knowledge on this topic, please post here. But please tell us what the applying passport is and which emassy/consulate you applied at. Plus whatever else you think we should know.

Hello Peter...

<<FIRST-HAND knowledge on this topic>>

YOU NEVER KNOW!!!

That's what makes life exciting out there, and rather boring in here ...

Exactly! Those countries are run by guys who like the clerks on duty change their moods quite often. In Lybia I heard a story than some time ago one faction convinced the Colonel to invest in tourism. They started building hotels and developing infrastructure. Then another faction whispered in his ear that if tourism takes off, some people are going to get rich quickly and his grip on power may suffer. So they stopped the development and made restrictions on incoming tourism. When this is going to change again is anybody's guess.


------------------
Roman (UK)
www.polandrover.com