I’m starting to think about a trip that’s really close to my heart: Algeria by motorcycle, specifically the southern part of the country. It’d be for January 2025, and I’ve got two main questions:
Is it possible for an individual on a motorcycle to travel freely, outside of any organized tour, or does the regulation require some kind of supervision in the Algerian Sahara region?
Is the Hoggar massif accessible by road or by (rideable) tracks?
Beyond the official recommendations, I’m really looking for your firsthand experiences.
Thanks so much for your answers, and sorry if my questions are a bit newbie!
Hi Preludenrem. From Ghardaïa, you’ll need to be accompanied by a "guide"—more like an escort. You might pass a few checkpoints, but the gendarmerie will quickly ask for your permit and which agency is guaranteeing your itinerary. The Hoggar Mountains are mainly accessible via rough tracks, and if you're thinking of Assekrem, that’s proper off-road. One of the tracks (Hermitage/Hirkafok) is in particularly bad condition. Also, your Tadrah isn’t recommended without assistance and a Tuareg guide.
Watch your fuel range—fill up at every station. Algeria is huge. I met two bikers on BMW GSAs, but they were dual nationals. I was there in 2023 from October 15th to November 20th, solo in a 4x4 without any organization. This trip was one of the most heavily controlled I’ve ever done—Algeria is a very harsh dictatorship. Cheers, Thierry
Thanks for your quick reply. Based on what I’ve heard, it seems the southern Algerian region is opening up to travelers again, and I was hoping for a bit more freedom to move around. A post on Routard confirms your experience, especially around Tamanrasset.
I don’t think I’ll have enough time to go in January, but I’m already working on planning this trip—I’m really excited about it.
Yes, you’ll need a guide for the south—unless things have changed in the meantime, of course! We were there two years ago with a great Tuareg guide for about two weeks exploring the desert. We were never stopped, but there were gendarmes around pretty much everywhere.
I’ll pass along the guide’s contact in case you want to check prices and logistics with him. He’s flexible, speaks French well, and is really friendly—basically a great companion. His name’s Habib: . He replies quickly unless he’s in the desert where the connection isn’t always reliable.
Hello and thanks for the info—the movie is really nice!
For my part, I’m thinking of traveling by motorcycle solo, but I’m starting to realize it’s gonna be tricky. Still thinking it over…
Cheers,
Didier
Hi, it's true that since 2022 the south has opened up, but a recent event might change everything.
In Djanet on October 11th, a Swiss tourist was tragically killed in the village center. The Algerian government isn't communicating about this incident, and very little information is getting out.
We're supposed to leave at the end of November, but even our local agency isn't mentioning it.
If they respond, it’ll just give them bad publicity. Tourism is a vital lifeline for the economies of “developing” countries. I think it’s a shame there’s no transparency! On the French side, they waited eight days to release the info.
Hi there, I don’t think tourism is essential for them. Of course, the Djanet area is very touristy. But traveling alone in southern Algeria is a real adventure. The massive influx of migrants is a real border-control issue. A few days after leaving Tam, the city was closed to foreigners. Fuel deliveries to Tamanrasset, for example, are made in convoys and escorted by the gendarmerie. But it’s one of the most beautiful deserts in the world, that’s for sure!
So you traveled alone in southern Algeria—I’m guessing by motorcycle—without a guide or escort?
Could you share some insights, please? Thanks in advance!
Another Swiss tourist had her throat slit at a café terrace in the south.
These isolated cases shouldn’t make us forget that it’s not entirely reasonable to go there.
Good evening Preludenren,
Re-read my reply above—no, this time it was in a Land Cruiser. I have a fitted 4x4. I was accompanied by an Algerian from Ghardaïa to Tam. In Tamanrasset, I was taken care of by a Tuareg guide. Since my trip was solo, I had to negotiate for 6 months to get my 40-day visa. Algeria isn’t like Pakistan or Iran—it’s more complicated.
Thanks Thierry, well noted! I gather my guide will sit behind me on the bike. That’s not gonna be easy!
In any case, thanks to each and every one of you for your input.
Best,
Didier
Do we know each other? The motorcycle travel community isn't that big. Try to find a motorcycle guide—there are some (I know one by name but not their reliability). Some bikers show off quite a bit without mentioning the requirement to be checked and accompanied.
Despite proven experience, I still had to "fight" to continue on a submitted route, but nothing is impossible.
Here’s my travel site: www.lesroutesdailleurs.fr
If anyone has off-road travel experience, the
Good evening Didier! Do we know each other? The motorcycle travel community isn’t that big. Try to find a motorcycle guide—there are some (I know a name but not their reliability, so I won’t mention it here). Some bikers have made quite a show without mentioning the requirement to be supervised and accompanied.
Despite proven experience, I still had to "fight" to continue on a route I’d filed with their authorities, but nothing’s impossible.
Here’s my travel site: www.lesroutesdailleurs.fr
If you have off-road travel experience, the Assekrem isn’t too difficult, except for the track mentioned in the first post.
Another Swiss tourist had her throat slit on a café terrace in the south.
These isolated cases shouldn’t make us lose sight of the fact that it’s not entirely reasonable to go there.
In that case, we’d stop going to Germany, France, Spain, Morocco, etc...
Hi Didier,
I’ve just returned from a 3-week trip through the Tassili N'Ajjer desert—Algiers to Ghardaïa by motorcycle in three stages, including Bou Saada, Laghouat, and Laghouat to Ghardaïa, all escorted by the gendarmerie. After that, we flew to Djanet, where we explored the Tassili N'Ajjer by 4x4 for 7 days. Then we headed back to Ghardaïa to pick up our motorcycles and made our way to Oran, Chlef, Tipaza, and Bouira for a tour of Kabylie before returning to Algiers.
Hi there
Do you always have to be escorted by the police?! Is this just for Ghardaïa or everywhere in Algeria? Can’t you go to Djanet with your own vehicle without an escort? Same for Kabylie?😕
Hi there,
I traveled to Algeria in 2023 with my Land Cruiser, and an escort became mandatory starting from Ghardaïa. There were checkpoints afterward (roughly at every fuel stop).
I had an escort in Tamanrasset.
Then, with a Tuareg guide for Assekrem and to reach Djanet, and at times, we were grouped together and under escort.
There were controls and tracking at every police station—my guide helped me skip some, but he got scolded afterward.
The Tadrart Desert is controlled at the entrance (if you're in a small group, a satellite phone is required). It's impossible to do by motorcycle without a 4x4 escort for fuel.
That’s it—it’s the worst dictatorship I’ve ever crossed (Iran, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, etc.). Even the escorts in Pakistan were more fun.
Hi Jean-Michel,
As soon as you head down toward the Sahara, you’re escorted. On our first day, we went to BouSaada without an escort, but on the second day, we were stopped at a checkpoint and then escorted for the next two days all the way to Ghardaïa. On the way back, we had an escort from Laghouat to Tiaret, and for the rest of the route, we were free to take whatever roads we wanted without an escort.
Best regards,
Richard
Good evening,
I’m really happy I was able to do several crossings without an escort:
Bechar, Adrar, Reggane, Gao, Timbuktu, Mopti, Bamako...
Algiers, Ghardaïa, Ain Salah, Tamanrasset, In Guezzam, Agadez, Niamey, Lomé.
Hi Jean-Michel,
Escorts start roughly from a line between Tlemcen, Bou Saâda, Batna, and Tebessa. If you go further south, you’ll be stopped at the first checkpoint and accompanied by a gendarmerie vehicle—this happened to us this year from Bou Saâda to Ghardaia and back to Tiaret, where we had a gendarmerie escort.
Hello everyone.
I'm looking for campsites around BOLZANO (South Tyrol) for early September.
I'll be on my motorcycle with a small tent.
I've noticed that some campsites have exorbitant prices.
If you've traveled through the Dolomites by motorcycle or otherwise and camped there, I'd love any tips on places and prices where I can stay for one night or several.
Thanks to all of you, and happy travels.
I just realized I’ve been registered on VoyageForum since... March 28, 2012 😊. Yet, I’ve barely participated until now.
August 1, 2026, will mark a somewhat special milestone: 5 years on the road.
We left Switzerland on August 1, 2021 with a simple idea: let chance decide our direction. We placed a bottle of wine on a world map, spun it... and it chose our first destination.
A year later, when we arrived in Morocco, we faced a new choice: continue toward Africa or head to Asia. This time, a tarot card game made the decision. Since then, we’ve tried to keep this journey as open to the unexpected as possible.
Today, that adds up to about 120,000 km, 46 countries, and over 1,800 days on the road—mostly by motorcycle, but also by sailboat, train, bus, hitchhiking, or on foot when adventure calls.
Our guiding thread isn’t just the motorcycle, but service exchanges. Instead of simply passing through countries, we try to stop regularly to lend a hand to the people we meet. So far, that’s about 600 days of volunteering.
Over the years, we’ve:
renovated a house in Croatia
made earth bricks in the Moroccan desert
helped sail a boat through the Greek islands
looked after houses, dogs, horses, a camel... and lots of other animals
worked at a street art festival in Morocco
created videos for local associations and projects
worked the grape harvest on the Tibetan plateau
been accredited as "media" for the World Nomad Games in Central Asia
Some of the moments that have stuck with us the most include six months in China, a night spent on the Great Wall, the Pamir Highway, the Silk Road, three months in Taiwan, and the incredible encounters in the mountains of Central Asia.
We travel on Falkor, our lucky dragon—a 2014 BMW F800GS that’s been with us since the start and is starting to have some great stories of its own.
While we share our adventure on Instagram, Polarsteps, and YouTube, that’s not why we’re here. The forum’s rules about promotion are clear, and I totally get them. If I’m finally taking the time to write, it’s mostly because after five years on the road, I thought our experience might be useful to other travelers.
Happy to chat about:
preparing for a long motorcycle trip
visas and borders
the Silk Road and Central Asia
riding in China (with or without a motorcycle)
volunteering and service exchanges while traveling
gear, daily life on the road... or just the unexpected moments that make long-term travel so special
Looking forward to swapping stories and hearing about your adventures too! 😊 Greetings from Thailand, and happy to chat! ✌️
Hi there! My daughter and I are heading to Malta and I’d love to rent a scooter. Does anyone know any good places to rent from and what the budget would be for a week?
Hello, I’m retired and planning a roughly 3-week motorcycle trip (1200gs). The dates aren’t set in stone yet, and everything’s open to discussion—I’m pretty flexible with the planning.
I’d like to ride from Mahajanga to Morondava, sticking as close to the coast as possible—using roads and tracks—in September 2026. If you’ve got any suggestions, let me know! 😉
hi
planning to ride through Rajasthan on a motorcycle in January 2027 and I’d love to hear about the road conditions.
I’ll be riding with a buddy on a Royal Enfield that I’ll rent in Delhi.
Thanks for your tips!
hi there
I’m planning a 3-week motorcycle road trip in Rajasthan, renting a Royal Enfield in Delhi in January 2027.
I’d love to get some tips on a fun itinerary and hear your thoughts on the roads up north.
I’ve ridden a motorcycle in southern India—Kochi to Madurai—about 10 years ago.
Thanks for sharing your experience, and I’m all ears for any great tips you’ve got!
Best regards
hi there
I’d like to ride the RN 12 by motorcycle in September.
I’d love to know the main challenges—I ride a 300cc and do enduro in France.
Thanks for your tips!
I’m planning a motorcycle road trip to Armenia and Georgia in September 2026 or May 2027. I’m looking for one or more riders (male or female) who’d like to explore these countries with me.
Along the way, we’ll visit Cappadocia, the capitals Yerevan, Tbilisi, Sofia, Skopje, and other cities—we can finalize the route and roadbook later.
This trip requires experience with long motorcycle journeys, as we’ll cover around 7,000 km over 5 or 6 weeks (or more, depending on sightseeing and time spent).
I don’t expect dozens of applicants, since motorcycle riders are few and far between on this forum, but I’m putting this out there anyway.
Hi, I’d like to take a 15-day "break" to get away from the surrounding hustle and bustle.
Why not explore the Peloponnese!
I’m not particularly drawn to museums, ruins, or monuments.
I want to experience local life—small villages, seaside spots, beaches, and the interior if the landscapes are extraordinary.
Ideally, coming from Athens, I’d take a bus or train to get as close as possible to a starting point, then rent a scooter (125cc) to explore by taking secondary roads or even coastal paths. I’d stay in 2-3 places for a few days each to discover their surroundings.
Do a loop.
What do you think would be the ideal itinerary?
From Athens, the best option would be to take either a flight or a bus to Kalamata. Rent a scooter and head either west or east. Is there a tertiary road (very lightly trafficked) or a path where I can ride slowly, take it easy, and enjoy the scenery without being bothered by traffic? I’d like to go all the way to Monemvasia, still hugging the coast. I need to find a way to avoid returning to Kalamata to drop off the scooter and catch a flight—maybe a small town where the train stops so I can head back to Athens.
Thanks in advance for your tips.
I want to rent an off-road style motorcycle to get around the coast during my trip to Ecuador. I’m only finding options in Quito. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Hi there,
I’m planning a sidecar trip to South America for 4 or 5 months at the end of this year.
I’m looking for info on shipping my vehicle by sea—possibly to Uruguay or another destination, as I haven’t finalized anything yet.
How do you get visas for the countries I’ll be crossing: Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and Chile? Are they e-Visas, obtained at the border, or through embassies?
Where can I get vehicle insurance?
Lastly, if any bikers want to join us (my partner and me), we’re open to that possibility too.
Patrick
I’ve got 15 days off in June and I’m pretty undecided about where to go for a motorcycle road trip. Two strong desires are pulling me in different directions: Corsica or Norway.
Corsica has been a dream of mine for a long time: legendary roads, stunning landscapes, a unique vibe, and the perfect mix of sea and mountains. At the same time, I’m wondering if 2 weeks might be *too much* for Corsica—risking feeling like I’ve seen it all too quickly, especially on a bike.
Since I also have an extra week free in May, I could use that specifically for Corsica. Maybe splitting it into two trips would make more sense? If so, which routes or regions would be the most interesting to plan for a 7-day trip?
On the other hand, Norway is *super* appealing. The landscapes look incredible, totally different from anything I’ve experienced, and it’d be a real “wow” trip. I know 15 days is still short for such a vast country. Getting all the way to the North Cape seems pretty much impossible in that time, but I’m curious about what realistic routes could be planned.
So I’m wondering:
Is it better to save Norway for next year, take 3 weeks off, and do it *properly*?
Or are 15 days enough for a first amazing taste of the country?
I’d love to hear about your experiences—whether it’s Corsica (ideal duration, routes) or Norway (what’s realistic in 2 weeks on a bike).
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Hello,
I'm thinking of buying a used small motorcycle to travel around the country for a month and a half.
I've done this in other countries without putting the registration in my name—is that possible in Guinea given the apparently frequent checks, or do I have to go through the paperwork?
Thanks.
Hello,
My dream is to ride Route 66 by motorcycle. I have a disability—while I’m not in a wheelchair, my walking mobility is reduced.
The ideal scenario would be to have a motorcycle driver and ride as their passenger on an organized trip.
Are there any guides or services like this offered by travel agencies?
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Hello,
I’ve got a plan with a friend to go on a motorcycle road trip in 2028 or 2029, starting in Santiago de Chile and ending in Ushuaia, for about a month.
Has anyone done a trip like this before, and what’s the best time of year?
I’ve heard there can be quite a bit of wind depending on the season.
Thanks for any tips!
Cheers,
PA
I'm seriously considering heading to Nepal to do some nice motorcycle loops... my goal is also to do the Kailash Yatra round trip from Kathmandu, in a small group with a guide, in May '26... but here's the thing—I'm solo! So if you're up for sharing a similar adventure, hit me up... Cheers, Frankoys
It's all in the title: I'm heading to Krabi soon and want to rent a scooter for a few weeks, but after reading comments about all kinds of scams, I'm reaching out to ask where and how (read: *the right way*) to rent one.
Thanks for your tips and advice.
Hello everyone! Like every year, a winter migration is on the horizon (revised plan): this time, it’ll be Dakar, or even Abidjan, via Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal.
Looking for an experienced motorcyclist or pillion rider—small build preferred—on a GSA 1250 with a comfy seat and luggage setup, available from early November to late December 2025. I’d like to plan the trip together (important to me) to make sure we’re on the same wavelength.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Didier
Looking for travel companions to ride from France to Senegal by motorcycle.
I’m Paul, 37, and I’ve already done a bit of riding in Morocco.
For now, I’m solo, riding a 1998 SUZUKI DR 650 with some basic gear to keep things smooth. I’ll have a tent so we can do a few nights under the stars.
We’ll need to coordinate departure dates—"ideally in November."
I’m currently checking out routes to take. Any tips would be welcome! :)
I’m heading to Vietnam and Laos with a buddy next week for a month.
We’re thinking of renting motorbikes, especially to do the Ha Giang Loop. We don’t have an international license, just our Belgian one. Is that enough? If not, is it risky?
In November, we’re planning to do the Ha Giang loop and the RC4 by motorbike without a guide. 😎
We’re looking for a decent place to stay/rent in Ha Giang.
If anyone has any info, we’d be really interested.
Hello! We’re planning a motorcycle trip that will include a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau in June 2026.
We’re unsure (still debating) whether we should stay at a hotel on-site and get to the memorial with an Uber (leaving our bikes at the hotel) and book a guided tour, or base ourselves in Kraków and take a tour that includes transport.
One thing’s for sure—we’d prefer a guide in French since we don’t speak English 😅.
Could you share your experiences or advice?
I understand we need to book online rather than on-site.
Thanks in advance for your replies!
Hello,
Next October we’re planning to ride the Ruta de la Plata by motorcycle—a historic Spanish route that runs from Gijón to Seville, also known as the N630.
Has anyone here already ridden it?
Unfortunately, I’m worried that parts of the N630 may have disappeared or merged with the A66 motorway, forcing us to ride long stretches of highway, which we’d rather avoid.
Thanks in advance for any tips or details about this route!
