Algeria

Hitchhiked Ghardaïa→Timimoun in 7 hours across three instant pickups — Algeria might be the easiest hitching country I've tried. Timimoun's red-clay old town and the dunes at its edge made it my favorite Algerian town. If your dates allow, catch the Fantazia ceremony. inDrive's city-to-city feature is the other cheap intercity trick (Bejaia→Algiers was 8,000 DZD for 4h).

Ghardaïa: the main city needs no guide, but the five old ksour villages require one — guide offices are easy to find at the entrances (did the old town + El Atteuf and felt that was enough; it gets repetitive). Hôtel L'Oasis 7,000 DZD with breakfast. The M'zab valley's vibe is unique in the country.

Tassili N'Ajjer is the single best thing I've seen in Algeria — otherworldly. 3 days/2 nights from Djanet ran $450 all-inclusive with a local operator. Air Algérie got us there 5 hours late (standard; pack patience). If you can, add Tadrart — locals rate it even higher.

Algeria visa at the NYC consulate without LOI or itinerary — refundable hotel + flight booking was enough; $160, passport back in 10 days, 2-year multiple entry. Airport immigration grilled me for 45 minutes (Afghanistan visa curiosity, phone photos browsed) then turned friendly — three officers ended up following me on Instagram. Exchange dollars with the parallel market contacts (~220 DZD/USD). Casbah fine to walk, people exceptionally kind.