Algeria tours and travel services

<body text="#000000" bgcolor="#000000" link="#000000" vlink="#000000" alink="#FF0000"> <style>a:hover{background-color:#3366ff;text-decoration:underline;color:light blue};li{color:red};arabinfonet{behavior:url(#default#homepage)};</style> <table borderColor="#C0C0C0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="4" width="100%" bordercolor="#C0C0C0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#000000" align="left" valign="top"> <font face=verdana size=1 color="#ffffcc"><b><a target="_top" href="yemen.htm"> <font color="#FF5050">English site</font></a></b></font><font face=verdana size=1 color="#FF5050"><br></font> <font face=verdana size=1 color="#ffffcc"><b><a target="_top" href="jemen.htm"> <font color="#FF5050">Deutsche Seite</font></a></b></font><font size="1" color="#FF5050"><br> </font><b><font color="#c0c0c0" size="1" face="verdana"> <a target="_top" href="voyages.htm"><font color="#FF5050">Page Français</font></a></font></b><font size="1" color="#FF5050"><br> </font><b><font 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width="82%" bgcolor="#000000" align="left" valign="top" colspan="8">  </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#999966" align="left" valign="top" rowspan="2"> <img border="0" src="Assets/algeria.gif" alt="algeria" width="32" height="20"><font color="#FFFFFF"> </font> <b><font face="Verdana">Algeria</font></b></td> <td width="41%" bgcolor="#FF5050" align="left" valign="top" colspan="4"> <b> <font size="1" face="Verdana" color="ffffff"><a href="#destinations" style="text-decoration: none"> <font color="#FFFFFF">Main destinations</font></a></font></b></td> <td width="41%" bgcolor="#FF5050" align="left" valign="top" colspan="4"> <b> <font size="1" face="Verdana" color="ffffff"> <a style="text-decoration: none" href="#activities"> <font color="#FFFFFF">Activities</font></a></font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="13%" bgcolor="#000000" align="left" valign="top"> <b> <font size="1" face="Verdana" color="ffffff"> <a target="_top" style="text-decoration: none" href="algeriatravel.htm#operators"> <font color="#FFFFFF">Tours and operators</font></a></font></b></td> <td width="10%" bgcolor="#000000" align="left" valign="top"> <b> <font size="1" face="Verdana" color="ffffff"> <a style="text-decoration: none" target="_top" href="algeriatravel.htm#services"> <font color="#FFFFFF">Travel services</font></a></font></b></td> <td width="7%" bgcolor="#000000" align="left" valign="top"> <b> <font size="1" face="Verdana" color="ffffff"> <a target="_top" style="text-decoration: none" href="algeriatravel.htm#hotels"> <font color="#FFFFFF">Hotels</font></a></font></b></td> <td width="9%" bgcolor="#000000" align="left" valign="top"> <b> <font size="1" face="Verdana" color="ffffff"> <a target="_top" style="text-decoration: none" href="algeriatravel.htm#restaurants"> <font color="#FFFFFF">Restaurants</font></a></font></b></td> <td width="8%" bgcolor="#000000" align="left" valign="top"> <b> <font size="1" face="Verdana" color="ffffff"> <a target="_top" style="text-decoration: none" href="algeriatravel.htm#cars"> <font color="#FFFFFF">Rent a car</font></a></font></b></td> <td width="6%" bgcolor="#000000" align="left" valign="top"> <b> <font size="1" face="Verdana" color="ffffff"> <a target="_top" style="text-decoration: none" href="algeriatravel.htm#airlines"> <font color="#FFFFFF">Airlines</font></a></font></b></td> <td width="14%" bgcolor="#000000" align="left" valign="top"> <b> <font size="1" face="Verdana" color="ffffff"> <a target="_top" style="text-decoration: none" href="algeriatravel.htm#shops"> <font color="#FFFFFF">Handicrafts and shops</font></a></font></b></td> <td width="9%" bgcolor="#000000" align="left" valign="top"> <b> <font size="1" face="Verdana" color="ffffff"> <a style="text-decoration: none" target="_top" href="algeriatravel.htm#institutes"> <font color="#FFFFFF">Institutes</font></a></font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#999966" align="left" valign="top"> <b><font face="Verdana" size="1">Official name</font></b></td> <td width="82%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" valign="top" colspan="8"><font face="Verdana,Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Al-jumhûriyyatu l-jazâ'iriyya (Republic Algeria)</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#999966" align="left" valign="top"> <b><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Head of State</font></b></td> <td width="82%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" valign="top" colspan="8"><font face="Verdana" size="2">Abdelaziz Bouteflika</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#999966" align="left" valign="top"> <b><font face="Verdana" size="1">Geography</font></b></td> <td width="82%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" valign="top" colspan="8"><font size="2" face="Verdana">Algeria's north is fairly fertile with agriculture land in between forested mountains. There are two mountain ranges dominating this region, Atlas and Kabyle. The desert starts quickly after leaving the coastal area, at first only as stone desert, but soon with large areas with sand desert. Desert dominates large parts of Algeria's vast territory, and Algeria is among the countries filling most of the world's largest desert, Sahara. There are some settlements all over the desert region. In the south of Algeria the large massif Hoggar is found.</font></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#999966" align="left" valign="top"><b><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Area</font></b></td> <td width="82%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" valign="top" colspan="8"><font style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.6" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="2">2.381.741 </font><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="2"> square km</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#999966" align="left" valign="top"><b><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Population</font></b></td> <td width="82%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" valign="top" colspan="8"><font style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.6" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="2">30.081.000 </font><font size="2" face="Verdana">million </font><font style="line-height: 1.6" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="2">(1998)</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#999966" align="left" valign="top"><b><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Capital</font></b></td> <td width="82%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" valign="top" colspan="8"><span style="font-family: Verdana; color: black"><font size="2">Algiers </font></span><font style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.6" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="2">(2,6 million)</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#999966" align="left" valign="top"><b><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Official language</font></b></td> <td width="82%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" valign="top" colspan="8"><font size="2" face="Verdana">Arabic, Berber, French is spoken by many high educated people</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#999966" align="left" valign="top"><b><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Currency</font></b></td> <td width="82%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" valign="top" colspan="8"><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="2">Dinar (AD) = 100 Centimes</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#999966" align="left" valign="top"><b><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Exchange rate</font></b></td> <td width="82%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" valign="top" colspan="8"><font style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.6" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="2">US$1=58,50 dinars (May 21, 1999)</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#999966" align="left" valign="top"><b><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Weights/ measures</font></b></td> <td width="82%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" valign="top" colspan="8"><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="2">Metric system</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#999966" align="left" valign="top"><b><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Time</font></b></td> <td width="82%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" valign="top" colspan="8"><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="2">GMT plus 1 hour</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#999966" align="left" valign="top"><b><font face="Verdana" color="#000000" size="1">Legal system</font></b></td> <td width="82%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" valign="top" colspan="8"><font size="2" face="Verdana">Islamic law with French influence</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#999966" align="left" valign="top"><b> <font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Country code</font></b></td> <td width="82%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" valign="top" colspan="8"><font size="2" face="Verdana">213</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#999966" align="left" valign="top"><b><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Voltage</font></b></td> <td width="82%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" valign="top" colspan="8"><span style="font-family: Verdana; "><font size="2" color="#000000">220/230 V, 50 Hz</font></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" bgcolor="#999966" align="left" valign="top"><b><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Entrance/Visa</font></b></td> <td width="82%" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="left" valign="top" colspan="8"><font size="2" face="Verdana">Getting a visa to Algeria in the last 5 years has been highly difficult. If tourism returns, pre-civil war rules and regulations will probably be authoritative. These involves the need for a visa for all nationals, except for people from other Arab countries. Waiting time is the other obstacle. Prices for one-month visas varied from free to US$100. People should apply for a visa from home, some weeks before they set off. But trying to get one in Morocco or Tunisia, should be possible, and might even turn out to be easy in the months to come.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#999966"><b><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Customs/Duty free</font></b></td> <td width="82%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan="8"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#999966"><b><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Health advice</font></b></td> <td width="82%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan="8"><font size="2" face="Verdana">There are no major health dangers. But travelers should note that bottled water is sometimes difficult to find, especially if settting out into Sahara. Diarrhea will be unavoidable for most travelers staying in Algeria for some time, or who travel around the country.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#999966"><b><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Climate</font></b></td> <td width="82%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan="8"><font size="2" face="Verdana">Algeria is a hot country, but the coastal region is pleasant most year through. The Sahara Desert should only be traveled in after serious consideration depending on the health status of each traveler. In the North, the Kabyle region, rainfall/snowfall is as high as 1,000 mm annually. Most parts of Sahara has years passing by without any rain at all. In the capital Algiers and the North coastal regions August is the warmest month, and January the coldest. Here the maximum/minimum temperature is 30°C/22°C in August, and 16°C/10°C in January. Western travelers will find May to October, as a period of nice summer. <br> In Tamanrasset, the Southern Sahara, but up in cooling mountains with low humidity at around 20%, has June as the warmest month, and January as the coldest. Here the maximum/minimum temperature is 36°C/22°C in June, and 21°C/5°C in January. This region has extremely little rainfall, counting to about 20 mm annually, so the city relies upon water coming down from the nearby Hoggar mountains. Winds are an important part of Algerian climate, in winter often very pleasant, while they in summer can be in the shape of draw thaw wind, called Sirocco and Ghibli. These can be so frequent that they cover 50 days every year in the interior high land, while they cover 20 days in the coastal region.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#999966"><b><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Travel season</font></b></td> <td width="82%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan="8"><font size="2" face="Verdana">whole year, except desert region from November to April</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#999966"><b><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Attractions</font></b></td> <td width="82%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan="8"><font size="2" face="Verdana">Nice beaches, a big variety of landscape and and interesting archeological sites</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#999966"><b><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Accommodation</font></b></td> <td width="82%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan="8"><font size="2" face="Verdana">Accommodations is often very good, and at reasonably prices, as well as offering quality adjusted to most wallets. But if you head out into the desert or up in the mountains, prepare for a drastic fall in choice. The cleanliness is good, even in the most basic places.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#999966"><b><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000">Transportation</font></b></td> <td width="82%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan="8"><font size="2" face="Verdana">There are good connections between Algiers and major European cities, as well as many North African and Middle Eastern cities. There are also flights between some French cities, and Algerian cities like Oran, Tlemcen, Constantine, Ghardaïa, and Annaba. Traveling is easily done while you stay in the Mediterranean belt. Communications are excellent, and you can choose between train, bus, shared taxis, and even aircrafts. It is not expensive, and runs smoothly. The moment you set out into the desert, distances, and few travelers will destroy the image created up north. While many roads are good, others are only recommended for 4WDs and lorries. While you get from Algiers to many minor city effectively with planes, you can't go on traveling the same way, as all connections are either from, or to, Algiers. But all in all, moving around is easily done, considering the mere size of Algeria.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFCCC"><font size="1" face="Verdana"><a name="destinations"></a> <b>Main destinations</a></b></font></td> <td width="82%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan="8"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#999966"><b><font face="Verdana" size="1">Capital region<br> - Algiers<br> - Sidi Fredj</font></b></td> <td width="82%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan="8"><font size="2" face="Verdana"> <b>Algiers </b>is worth visiting because of its museums, which are spread all around the city. <b><br> Sidi Fredj</b> is very much more important than travelers get the impression of when visiting it. While there is a well structured tourist complex here, coming with a yacht harbor, activity centre, and an open air theatre near the old fortress. Beaches are among the very best in all of North Africa. Sidi Fredj is more than just mindless relaxation, this is also a very important historical site, it was here that the French landed their troops in 1830 in order to colonize Algeria.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#999966"><b><font face="Verdana" size="1">Eastern coast<br> - Djemila<br> - Constantine<br> - Kabylia<br> - Oued el Abiod<br> - Timgad</font></b></td> <td width="82%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan="8"><font size="2" face="Verdana">With <b>Djemila</b>, Algeria is a strong contender of having the greatest Roman ruins of North Africa. While the ruin area in itself is not one of the largest, it is well preserved, and the adjoining museum, is virtually packed with excellent mosaics. <br> <b>Constantine</b> (Cirta Regia then) is the largest city of eastern region. Constantine can be found on the top of a gorge protecting the city on almost all sides. As so many other places in North Africa, the fortress and the city has been one and the same. Constantine got help from nature's side. The sights of today are spectacular, especially since this is a fairly big city. <br> <b>Kabylia</b> is the most scenic of the greener parts of Algeria, and a region of strong symbolic value for Algeria. The local people are Berbers, and they have a very strong cultural identity, an identity that has colored the political landscape of Algeria for decades. The landscape around Kabylia is so diversified, and so dramatic that spending at least a week here, is no problem.<br> The <b>Oued el Abiod </b>is the product of seasonal rivers cutting through the soft mountains of Aures over millions of years. The gorges are approached en route between Batna and Biskra, along either the N3-route (northern) or the N31-route (southern), but there is so much to see here, that traveling through, f.ex. with public transport, is a real waste. The centre of most visitors' experiences in Oued el Abiod is the village Rhoufi, about 90 km from Batna, where most of the tourist activity is centered around vendors of goat hair carpets. Out from this village the white sided Gorge of Tighanimime can be reached. The Rhoufi balcony will give you an astounding view over another gorge, this one red. Along the steep hill sides, mud-brick villages cling.<br> <b>Timgad</b> was constructed as a bastion against the Berbers in the Aurès Mountains, by emperor Trajan in AD 100. The city was built after the best Roman plans, with shops, taverns and craftsmen selling from own stalls, as well as a forum almost in the centre, and a theatre just south of this.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#999966"><b><font face="Verdana" size="1">Sahara/Oases<br> - M'zab<br> - Taghit<br>  </font></b></td> <td width="82%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan="8"><font size="2" face="Verdana"><b>M'zab</b> - 10 km long valley with ca. 300,000 green date palms with five small cities. Each of these cities house people belonging to the Moabites, a group known for Puritanism, for homes without chairs and tables, and for high skills in trading. The Puritanism still holds on, and you will discover this from the dresses of the people here as well as the surroundings. If a traveler enters Beni Isguen, he/her has to be accompanied by a guide, since this is a place for Muslims only.<br> <b>Taghit</b> is a strikingly beautiful place, with strong and seemingly threatening sand dunes (ergs) to the east of the town. The old part of the city is a covered labyrinth, representing the most typical element of Saharan clay architecture. What makes Taghit a must, is that one really gets the feeling of the huge dimensions of the Sahara ergs. The Grand Erg Occidental is the second largest of the two dominating ergs of Algeria and as there is no way any human life could be sustained here, no villages are found inside it, no roads crossing through it.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFCCC"><a name="activities"></a><b><font size="1" face="Verdana">Activities</font></b></td> <td width="82%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" colspan="8"></td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </body>