Algeria... is it dangerous?
 

Hi!

We are a couple of Chileans starting a RTW, we are currently in Barcelona, next week we are going to France, currently we are on foot as the bike will arrive to Spain in mid May.

We want to go in the bike to Algeria, but some European people told us that is dangerous and suggested do not go there.

Is it like that? or they just don´t know what are they talking about?(actually non of them has been there)

Are there camp sites? How can I get the info?
I bet they don´t have couchsurfing.

PS: I read several theads about Algeria and in non of them I read about safety issues, so I guess is ok, but is better to be sure.
And I understood that nowadays a guide is not required in the north, am I right?

Hi Gotan,

Getting a visa for Algeria might be difficult and tourism isn't a priority for them at present.

Also this just in:- BBC News - Algeria: AQIM militants kill 14 soldiers in mountains

Happy trails,

Peter

I don't believe it is as dangerous as many people say and certainly less so than Libya, which travellers occasionally transit. The problem is they don't really encourage tourists, visas can be difficult to get, and what little tourism there was has collapsed.
Plus, as in all these countries, you will be a conspicuous as foreigners (probably the only bikers in the country) and so possibly more exposed.
To travel in the south - the best bit by far - you will need an escort (which doesn't really make you safe from kidnapping) but many pistes there are closed so its a bit of a road ride there and back.

Even then, I would say a return run to Djanet for example would be a great ride of about a week. Or the same to Tam, taking a loop up to Assekrem (piste, but probably open).

I am not sure I would bother with the north, even without an escort. You may be less likely to get a visa this way. One good tour that is technically out of the escort zone is down to El Meniaa, west to Timimoun and back up via Bechar.

The only way in or out in via the Med ports or from Tunisia. All other borders are currently closed and some are genuinely risky areas.

Camp sites are few but the desert is one big camp site. Never investigated couch surfing, hotels can be cheap, so is food and fuel. People are great in my experience; no hassle whatsoever as you find in Morocco/Egypt.

Ch

fyi: the Tizi Ouzou area mentioned in the link above has long been a no go area.

Hi Peter Girling and Chris Scott:

Thanks a lot for your answers!

Sadly, the Marroco consulate in Spain told us they will not give us the Visa to go to Marroco, we MUST get them in our country of residence (Chile), so to get the visas we should send our passports and other documents back to Chile... lot of trouble.

that and the "no go zone" in the north, which we were planning to cross to get to Tunisia, made us to remove Algeria (and Tunisia) from our planned route.

Kind Regards,

Francisco

PS: Thanks again!... coming from the other site of the world - were there´s little of no information about so far away countries like Algeria - is great to have a place like this to talk about this things.

The border regions with Mali and Libya are rather dodgy, with many shady characters trying to cross, preferably without attracting attention. Latest news from El Watan:
La menace persiste aux frontières sud - Actualité - El Watan

Nevertheless, as Chris said above the rest of the South (at least where you are permitted to go) is reasonably secure by Saharan standards.

Hi
As i am a touareg ..born & living in djanet .. I have a good knowledgement of my land ...so I'm telling you that peace is all around in here .
I work as a guide and i just came back from a 3 trips since the beginning of september with european tourists we navigated tadrart , Essendillene ,and erg Admer
" Peace"

Can we drive down to Djanet in our own 4x4?
Pick up a guide in Illizi perhaps?
Can we take the shortcut from HBG to Illizi?
Go to Amguid?
Berliet no22?
Cross over to Tamanrasset?

:)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NG...g=w800-h600-no

I would add "Can we access the Tamrit plateau above Djanet ?" to the list...

Jan 17
 

Situation Jan 2017:
A guide is waiting for you at the border.
Desert exploration started from Djanet. HGB> Illizi still with Gandarmerie. I think it would be very difficult to force them to drive off-road.
From Djanet>Tadrart Rouge>Djanet only guides with us.
We went east from N3A so we didn't see any balise.
We were told we can't drive to Tam from Djanet but that Tam is accesible via TSH.
We felt safe all the time.

Hi,

You wrote: "Tam is accesible via TSH."
Also for European tourist with their own car (with a guide)?
RR.

Don't know about B22 but no to the rest last time I asked a few weeks ago.

yes, but from there all you can do is Assekrem.

So really, a long drive to explore a relatively limited area(s) if you seen much of Alg before. But if you've not seen Afara to Tadrart and all in between, probably worth it, despite visa hassles.
We have just started the visa dance with 3 months to go.

I know it is not the same, but what about exploring other parts of Algeria, like the southwest. Beni Abbes to Reggane. Impossible? I haven't seen anyone asking.

According to Timtar - yes.

afaik, if you stay on the road you can go as far south as the timimoun road.
below adrar is same as below in salah.

Without an escort or even a guide?
Then one could theoretically do a few detours :)

"Also for European tourist with their own car (with a guide)?
yes, but from there all you can do is Assekrem.

So really, a long drive to explore a relatively limited area(s) if you seen much of Alg before. "
I totally agree, but if I want to drive to Tam and see Atakor a last time before I die...:scooter: may be I have to take my chance :innocent:
RR.

Not exactly a rigorous analysis of the safety situation in Algeria, but I noticed yesterday that in the whole world there are only a handful of places without a single entry on iOverlander.com

Greenland is one. Another is Algeria. It did have one place way out in the desert but it turned out to be an error and it should have been in Morocco.

The other main ones are Chad, Libya, Tunisia, Iraq, Yemen, North Korea and South Sudan.

First, I'm a native from Algeria.
I think that there is a lot of exaggeration regarding this area like always with Algeria.

People of Kabylia are Amazigh like the touareg and speak Kabylian.
Therefore, you should be accompanied by a trusted person from the region. Even algerians who don't speak Kabylian prefer to be accompanied by kabyle people.
You have to distinguish between the heart of Kabylia (the Tizi-Ouzou province) and all the surrounding provinces like Bouira, Boumerdes which do have extremist people (and many many checkpoints). Follow the advice of your guides (they know better which places to avoid).

Most kabyles in the tizi ouzou province are not extremists. Actually, this is the region where you'll find the least extremist people in Algeria and also most of Algeria's Christians.

If you go through the high-way you'll not face any risks. The Gendarmerie is everywhere.

There were foreigners who visited the region recently :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbPa0jtjJZw (Tiferdoud Raconte Arts festival 2018)

Moreoever, the small ISIS group(around 30 people named Jound al-Khilafah fi Ard al-Jazair) was eliminated by the ANP.

Actually I would be way more afraid if you go to the mountains between Jijel and Skikda, the vegetation is very dense and the terrain is very difficult which makes it a perfect place for terrorists. Also, the people there are extremists and they do provide help to terrorists.

Thanks,

Good to have an Algerian people's point of view!

RR.

info
 

hi,
anyone know how is safe in north algeria ?
i would like to enter from tunisia visit mountain and seaside then take boat in oran to spain !
thanks

Which mountains do you want to visit ?
The situation is safer than in Tunisia or Morocco.
Avoid mountains in Skikda and Jijel, avoid Ain-Defla.

I hope that helps.

Hi,

How are you planning to enter in Algeria from Tun.?
With your car ?

RR.

with my motorcycle

Thanks,

Give us a report about it , when you come back.

RR.

you will love Algiers and Algerian.....seems strange but you will just see by your self, if you need any English speaker just drop an email here I will help you for to find very good friends, very open mind and as the tradition is they are very welcoming

border area
 

thanks !
i was told that the area of the border algeria tunisia is not safe , is it true?

The hills of Djebel Chaqmbi west of Kasserine are where you don't want to go. ISIS types (from Algeria?) hide out there or do attacks on locals, etc. US army are helping with discreet ops there.
And Tebessa area over the border in Alg has long been dodgy.

Elsewhere, including the Nefta - El Oued crossing further south is normal.

what about tabarka/ el kala ?
thanks

As a border crossing was rarely done even in the good years.
They may expect you to have a guide/escort at the border.
Same at Taleb Larbi.
Only one way to find out.

The border is safe, the only place where it is risky is the Chaambi mountain surroundings in Tunisia where many tunisian djihadists especially those who were in Isis are hiding.
The Algerian army is securing it because the tunisians don't have enough military personnel nor weaponry to do so, the cooperation between the two countries is excellent.
But obviously you'll not cross through these mountains, you'll take normal roads.
The El Kala crossing is fine, same for Taleb Larbi.

Or enter with the ferry at Algiers from Marseille...