there is nothing like Erg Murzuk in Algeria.
I would say that Issaouane is the one which comes closest (it is closer to Erg Ubari) but much smaller in extension. Regarding degree of difficulty Tiffernine tops the Erg Murzuk considerably even if it is smaller. Only very few 4x4 and drivers will be capable to drive in Tiffernine. Don't expect any agency to drive Erg Tiffernine.

Maybe not the highest dunes in Algeria, but still impressive: Erg Mehajebat

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l1...C_0697_074.jpg

photo: reggwensie

Spectacular picture, it's your personal picture ?
Some others ?:thumbup1:

@Chris: could you send me some more details about the tour operator that made the suggestion about the 10 day loop?

I was in touch with Mer de Sable in Timimoun for a trip in the desert, but we get the impression they either don't understand what we want (because they keep offering nights in hotels or small daytrips into the dunes) or they're somewhat hampered by the authorities. So anyone with suggestions for a 8-10 day loop and/or a reliable guide would be more than welcome!! We don't want to go further south than say In Salah.

[QUOTE=hansgruyaert;354667 So anyone with suggestions for a 8-10 day loop and/or a reliable guide would be more than welcome!! We don't want to go further south than say In Salah.[/QUOTE]

it is difficult to set up an 8-10 day loop north of In Salah without dipping into towns. There is plenty of desert, but it is difficult to drive in because:
1) the sand seas in the north are exposed to wind from multiple directions (they get the cyclonic influence of mid-latitude depressions, rather than the steady, uni-directional trades which make for long dune corridors). So the dunes in the north are tricky mounds of inter-connected sand.
2) The Tademait plateau lies to the north of In-salah. Here it is hard to drive off road because of the rocky nature and incised landscape.
The best bet north of In Salah latitude might be west of Reganne in the northern bit of erg Chech. I don't know if this is permitted though.

Driving across the desert south of In salah is much easier - the desert opens up into big plains, bounded by mountains. Dunes tend to align with the wind. Corridors are wide.

How tall is a dune?
 

It is easy to loose your perspective in the sand. At Moul Naga going to Tin Merzouga, east Tadrart
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E...0/DSCN0314.jpg
My pal made a silly bet he could climb that dune. How far - half a mile? ;)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d...0/DSCN0329.jpg
These dunes are trying to engulf the Tassili n'Ajjer. The little speck, if you can see it, is my pal, half an hour later.
Shortly before he gave up.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7...0/DSCN0331.jpg
So how tall was it? I guess we'll never know
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o...0/DSCN0328.jpg

Hi Hans

the company called itself ATS which could be Amina Travel Services, and his email was
slimani abderahmane" tourdusud2000 x yahoo.com

Ch

PS: now we know why northern dunes are smaller and mixed up. Not to do with humidity as I thought.

Thank you Chris for the email, try that, but i assume you don't know them? We're a bit reluctant to go much further south than In Salah because of safety concerns. I'm travelling with my 3 year old daughter so don't feel like taking unnecessary risks, desert traveling should be fun right. But maybe our worries aren't justified?

@Richard: so a loop from Timimoun south towards Reggane somewhere to the west of the main road might be an option then? On my michelin map the area is marked 'Tohat'?

@priffe: great pictures of Tadrart, reminds me very much of Akakus (but then again, they're somewhat neighbours). Remains the most beautiful desert scenery I've seen so far. But that's where the Italian got kidnapped earlier this year, and of course chances are slim, but that's the kind of pressure i don't want to carry along.

A loop between Grand erg occidental and the Mzab valley would be very nice to do also.

Hi,

About security I'm not sure that safety is better north of In Salah than south (ie. Ahnet and between IN Salah and Tam).
Am I wrong?

RR.

I agree, Ahnet is a great area for the real thing, but still far enough from the border areas. There are man spots I would like to revisit after our car tour there in Feb. The route is here.

I am not sure tourists are allowed west of the Reggane highway (Erg Chech).

Ch

The traks of this map not exists in the IGN maps, is it off road traks ?
Possible to do off-road in this area ?

Most IGNS are 40-50 years old, there are many more tracks out there now, but out of the mountains you can of course go where you like which we did in places.

We had a really good guide on that trip too. The video is here

Ch

There was a request for pics. There are some here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/Reggwen...eat=directlink

Just for your information: ATS who spammed Chris with the program is not Amina Travel Services but (Algerie) Tour du Sud, they're based in Ghardaia and up till now have been responding very fast to our emails and seem to be able to deliver the kind of program we're looking for ;).