I'll be bicycling through several West African countries in a few months, starting in Senegal and ending in Nigeria. Is there a sim card that would work in multiple countries? Or will I have to get a new sim card in every country?

Hi everyone,

I am considering visiting Saudi Arabia. Since I have a passport stamp from Wadi Araba (Israel/Jordan border crossing),
I am not quite sure if I can enter Saudi Arabia with this passport. Wikipedia says:

(...) while visitors holding passports containing any Israeli visa or stamp may be refused entry.

Firstly, I do not have an Israeli visa or stamp in my passport (but the evidence that I visited Israel is obviously overwhelming). Secondly, it says you 'may' be refused entry. Given the fact that Saudi Arabia is opening up to the rest of the world, I am wondering if this 'may' actually is an indication that Saudi Arabia does not care?

Hope this may be of use, just as some of the info on this site has proved to be.
1. Visa: Can't offer much help as obtained mine through Algerian Consulate in Barcelona. They needed printed proof of hotel bookings for all nights, the forms and photos and insurance cover, making it clear that if all requisites were satified visa would be issued. It took ten days.
2. Domestic Flights - don't leave it too late to book domestic flights - they can fill up - just the price doesn't rise on the Air Algerie website. Remember - the terminal for local flights is apart from the Intl. and you have to walk. When we went there it took next to no time to check in and clear security, (which is most stringent at foot of the plane).
3. Arrival at Intl Airport. Very few overseas tourists, so be patient with authorities, who were really friendly, but paperwork is what it is. As with about everywhere, really interesting, if you speak French.
4. SIM card. In arrivals there are several, but only Djezzy open till about 9pm. Took only five minutes and cost about €11 for a card providing data and calls for a trip of a couple of weeks. Good signal too, even in Ghardaia and Ouargla.
5. Taxis - as with everywhere, several hustlers, as with those offering black market money exchange. You can argue drivers down, but to go downtown, don't expect to pay much less than 2,000AD. Download the App Yassir and it is about 1000AD to the airport, but you have to wait for the taxi to arrive and speak good French. In town they are rarely more than 300 - 400AD. Traffic is the bane of Algiers - give yourself time if you are heading out between 3 30 - 6pm.
6. Algiers Downtown - very agreeable to walk around -- don't miss the wild lighting of the Poste building in the evening. Good shopping on Didouche and a few decent restaurants at the end - Brasserie des Facultés - seen better days, but good food and friendly staff - show football too! Restaurant de l'Université on Didouche nice quiet atmosphere. Also check out the kebab place on Didouche about 44 - 46 - chargrilled!
7. Kasbah and other sights. Not essential to get a guide, but if you don't want to miss a lot and spend all day there, recommendable. I can provide details of one on request. Get a taxi to the Palais du Dey - still being restored, but possible to see a few gems there - same goes for the Al-Barrani Mosque. Strolling down, stopping at workshops and houses is a must - especially those -now museums, such as Mustafa Pasha , Dar Aziza, and Dar Kha'daoudj. Lower Kasbah gets busier on the way down, but didn't feel uncomfortable. Didn't look really that abandoned or dirty and would consider it a must see stop. The Ketchaoua Mosque seems only open at prayer time so be careful if you want to see it in all its restored glory. Lastly - don't miss Bastion 23 (Palais des Raís) for the interiors, celings, courtyards and views.
Lastly, elsewhere would recommend the Martyr's Monument (Mqam Echahíd), not just for the views, but it imposes and the marble floor with its infinity effect with the sea as a backdrop is sublime. Down from there is the Jardin d'Essai - well worth a visit if only for the avenues of dracena (dragon blood trees). Lots of leafy avenues, a chance for peace and see how the locals relax.
8. Ghardaia - may well be only overseas, but many domestic tourists and those of Algerian parentage, here to see an architectural and cultural gem that won't be here for all that much longer. Airport is small, remote and you will be a long time getting checked and possibly waiting for a Darek (Gendarmerie Escort) to your lodgings. Contacted a local who, for the moment is dealing mainly with national tourism and French, but speaks English, as does his guide. Highly recommend both. Stayed at Dar Akham in Beni Issguen - an oasis of calm, decent rooms and food, friendly atmosphere in a palm grove setting. Our hosts (who run the highly recommendable Maison Traditionelle in Beni Issguen), took us round El Atteuf - most historical, Ghardaia - most commercial - great for souvenirs and berber carpets. Don't haggle. Really. Don't. Prices are reasonable already and people just don't understand. Like bargaining in M&S. Lastly Beni Issguen - charming, sedate, other worldly, marvellous views from the tower at the top. You can, at a pinch wonder round by yourself, but take a guide. They are only a few euros and they are only too happy to share their wealth of knowledge, although a little antiquated in their ways.
Highly recommend you hire a guide and transport for the day - can do all three places easily with lunch and all for about 9000AD the lot - so if you are 2 or 3 works out very well. Hitching - certainly, but need French and ideally Arabic - learn a few words of Dziri Algerian - goes a long way.
9. People - a reflection of the little influence of overseas tourism, perhaps, whether in Algiers, Ghardaia or Ouargla. Only good words for all we dealt with. Friendly, helpful, hospitable. our guides in Ghardaia invited us out for a trip on foot to the desert just to chill and take tea and enjoy the sunset. Simple but unforgettable.

Hello travelers,

I am flying to Kathmandu on 20 October and have time until Christmas. My plan is to do either Annapurna Circuit or Manaslu Circuit (or some combination if its not too much), then I think it would be worth to stay in Nepal for some time - was thinking of going to Bardia national park. Bardia seems wonderfully combinable with Karnali rafting, if it wasnt for the rafting trip price (700 $?!). After that, most likely India for the time left (Gaya, Andaman, Kerala?).

I am used to explorative/tougher kind of travel (travelled remote Indonesia for 6 months). I very much prefer to do things independently and avoid packaged tours. Its my first time in Nepal, so I would be very happy for some advice. My questions are a bit specific/complicated, so I will be glad if anyone could help me answer either of them:

• I am taking a trekking backpack with trekking essentials and a small daypack with non-trekking stuff. I would like to leave the daypack+rent/return my trekking stuff at one place (lets call it base). Pokhara seems like a great place to be the base as post-trek regeneration by the lake with views sounds alluring. However, I am not sure how to plan Annapurna/Manaslu/combo to both start and end in Pokhara - is that in any way possible?

• Onwards after trekking, rafting with end in Bardia sounds great. However, the problem is booking the trip online seems expensive. Is there a way to get from Pokhara to Sauli/Dhungeshwor and look for rafting trip on the spot there? Also, carrying the trekking backpack on the raft - is that possible?

• If the above is undoable, what is the best way of getting from Pokhara to Bardia, possibly seeing some nice and off-the-beaten-path places?

• After Nepal, I plan to go to India. However, the electronic visa allows me to enter India only on selected airports (Kolkata, Lucknow, Gaya, Varanasi seem closest to places I wanna go in India). What would be the cheapest/easiest way to get to India? Is backtracking to Kathmandu necessary for connection to these airports?

• Last but not least, I am not how to solve my preference for non-packaged tours with the need to not trek alone (safety). Is it easy to find co-trekkers on Annapurna/Manaslu? Alternatively, is there a place to find a less of a ‘package’ guide (I dont mind paying him to contribute to local economy). My idea was to co-trek with a local guide/biology student/naturalist/conservationist, but maybe for that you just need too much luck to find such a person.

Sorry for very complicated questions but I know there are very experienced people here so maybe someone would be able to help me (or even join me for parts of it).

Thank you!