Algeria: Getting there & around

Getting into Algeria is easy enough, with flights from Europe and within Africa flying directly to Algiers, Oran, Annaba and Constantine in the North and to Tamanrasset and Djanet in the south. Ferries link the northern cities of Algiers, Annaba, Bejaia, Oran and Skikda with Marseilles in France and Algiers and Oran with Alicante in Spain. Land crossings are altogether less reliable and riskier, with the Moroccan border closed, and the Mauritanian and southerly Libyan crossings unsafe. All self-drive tourists entering southern Algeria through Mali, Niger and Libya must arrange to be met at the border by an Algerian guide. Tour agencies in Tamanrasset, Djanet and Adrar can arrange this.

Following the tourist abductions of 2003, self-drive travellers are required to be accompanied by an Algerian guide. Trains operate between the major cities in the north and there's a network of buses, minibuses and shared taxi services throughout the country. However, travelling long distances by public transport requires a great deal of time and patience.

Because of the huge distances involved, flying can be a good way to get around Algeria; there's an excellent network of regional airports. For the more popular and less frequent routes, such as Tamanrasset or Djanet to Algiers, it pays to book well in advance (if you can!). Before boarding an internal flight, you will notice the flights' baggage laid on the tarmac. You have to identify your bag to the ground staff before they put it on the plane. If you don't, it'll get left behind.