Algeria: the 60-second guide :
Is it safe?
Last month, the Foreign Office downgraded its advice against all but essential travel to Algeria. However, it does note that Tizi-Ouzou has been "the focus of sustained terrorist activity over the past three years" and still advises against travelling there and to the districts of Boumerdès, Bouira, Béjaia and Blida, Medéa, Chlef and Ain Defla. More information at fco.gov.uk.Getting there
British Airways (ba.com)
has daily flights from Heathrow to Algiers, with fares from £259
return. A visa costs £28 from the embassy in London (020 7589 6885) and
takes five working days to process if you apply in person, or 10 days by
post.
Getting around
Tourism is not well
developed and is centred on the Mediterranean coastline. Easy to reach,
especially by bus from Algiers, Zéralda and Tipasa have notable Roman,
Punic and Christian ruins. To the east of Algiers, the Turquoise Coast
has resorts on sandy beaches and rocky coves. The El Djazair hotel (hoteleldjazair.dz) in Algiers (formerly the Saint George) has doubles from £179 a night. Find more tourist information at ont-dz.org.
Tour operators
The Traveller (020 7269 2770; the-traveller.co.uk)
has several tours to Algeria. A seven-day walking tour, taking in
Djémila, Constantine and Timgad, costs from £1,875. Other operators
include Wild Frontiers (020 7736 3968; wildfrontiers.co.uk).
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