Local Costs

	UK	Algeria
Tea/Coffee	£1.50	£0.25
Soft Drink	£1.50	£0.80
Bottled Water	£1.50	£0.50
Bottle of Beer	£3.50	£2.00
2 Course Meal*	£15.00	£8.00
3 Course Meal**	£20.00	£12.00
Bottle of Wine	£14.50	£9.00
Breakfast	£5.00

*Cheap local fare in a small cafe or restaurant.
**Typical food in a simple, reasonably comfortable mid-range restaurant.

Important Information

Travel Insurance

It is a condition of joining any of our tours that you must have valid travel insurance. It must indicate that you have cover for (at least) medical expenses and emergency repatriation in the event of illness or injury. We also strongly recommend your policy includes cancellation protection as all deposit paid are non-refundable.

If you require travel insurance for your tour, Explore Worldwide is an appointed representative of Campbell Irvine Limited, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority. Our travel insurance policy is specially tailored to the needs of the adventure traveller and will cover you for any included activity on any Explore trip. You can either purchase this at the time of booking or call us 0844 499 0901 after you have booked.

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Visa Requirements

Visas are required by UK, NZ, AUS, USA & CAN citizens and must be obtained prior to departure from your embassy of residence. Your passport must be valid for 6 months and have two clear pages available. Please note visas may be refused if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport; please check with your consular office for the latest advice. Visas can be obtained through the Explore visa service. Other nationalities must consult their travel agent or consular office.

Please be aware that you will need to submit a Letter of Invitation with your visa application in order to obtain your visa. Explore will obtain this Letter of Invitation and forward to you within 8 weeks of the departure date. If you require this earlier then please contact us to discuss.

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All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.

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Vaccinations & Protection

We recommend protection against diphtheria; tetanus; poliomyelitis; hepatitis A; typhoid. The risk of malaria is limited to Ihrir and antimalarial tablets are not normally recommended. Yellow fever certificate required if over 1 year old and entering from an infected area.

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The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.

Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.

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Know before you go

We strongly recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs, including advice re: the legality of and local attitudes towards same-sex relationships. For UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice follow the link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/

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Preparing for your tour

Preparing for your Tour

Clothing: Clothing should be lightweight but a warm sweater or fleece is also advisable, as nights can be cold. A waterproof is advisable at any time of the year. A scarf is also recommended as protection against dust whilst driving in the drier areas. Please note: Some areas we travel through have strong Muslim influences and people may be offended by shorts or revealing dresses, therefore you should dress with respect for local sensibilities. Women should also cover their heads when entering a sanctuary, though in general, mosques are forbidden to non-Muslim.

Footwear: Lightweight walking/hiking boots with good ankle support, plus trainers or sandals for relaxing and travelling in.

Equipment: A torch, sunhat, suncream, insect repellent and a personal water bottle are all essential.

Please do not attempt to take binoculars into Algeria as they will be confiscated by Customs for security reasons.

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Climate

Algeria has a semiarid to arid climate with mild, wet winters and hot dry summers. In Algiers the warmest temperatures occur during August, when the thermometer can reach up to 30°C, whilst January, its coldest month sees temperatures dropping as low as 10°C. Algiers has relatively high humidity (around 60%), with much of its rainfall occurring during the winter months.

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Seasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable. For up-to-date information on the weather worldwide please visit www.bbc.co.uk/weather.

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Packing for your tour

To assist with packing for your tour, we have detailed some of the essential items you should take with you. 

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Luggage

Unfortunately it does occasionally happen that luggage does not always reach its destination on the same flight as its owner, or possibly it may be damaged in transit. If you are unlucky enough for this to occur, it is important that you file a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) with the airline before leaving the airport. This is essential when you come to make a claim either against the airline or from your travel insurance company

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Luggage: A tough soft bag or holdall is preferable for main luggage. Total allowance: 33lbs/15kg maximum. Also take a day sack for items needed during any short walks (20- 30 litre). The limit does not include your camera equipment.

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Need help on Clothing or Equipment?

Then we suggest you contact Nomad Travel, our equipment partner, who specialise in kitting people out for adventurous travel. You receive a special 10% discount in-store or online. Visit one of their stores, phone 0845 260 0044, or visit their website www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore for further information.

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General Information

Please note:

Due to the relative infancy of tourism in Algeria, the local authorities insist on all groups being accompanied by a Police Escort outside Algiers. This is not a reflection of the safety and security within the country, but considered to be a mark of respect and higher level of care for visitors to Algeria. This may have a minor impact on the day to day running of the itinerary.

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EID AL ADHR 2013 - 15th to 17th October

The 'Festival of Sacrifice' or Greater Eid is the 2nd most important celebration in the Muslim calendar and is a public holiday. This means that many shops and restaurants may be closed during this period so that families may join together to enjoy the festival. There may also be some restrictions to services and minor amendments to the itinerary.

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Country info

Area: 2,381,740 sq km.
Population: 32,930,091.
Language: Arabic, French and Berber dialects.
Religion: Sunni Muslim (99%), Christian and Jewish (1%).
Local Time: GMT.
Electric Supply & Plugs: 220v, 50 AC.European two-pin sockets.
Recommended Maps: Michelin: Algeria and Tunisia.
Recommended Books:  Fergus Fleming: The Sword and the Cross, Anthony Wilkin: Among the Berbers of Algeria, Alastair Horne: A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962, Stanley Lane-Poole: The Barbary Corsairs

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