{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/algeria/ghardaia","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T17:33:14.988Z","place":{"city":"Ghardaïa","country":"Algeria","countryCode":"DZ","lat":32.49094,"lon":3.67347},"safety":{"score":65,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":65,"confidence":0.85,"caps":[],"databaseScore":64,"travellerSentiment":{"score":69,"label":"Cautiously positive with practical caveats","summary":"Travelers report Ghardaïa as 'deeply rewarding' and 'unforgettable'—a living medieval Islamic city with unique culture. However, they consistently emphasize the need for advance guide bookings, cash preparation, French-language skills, and flexibility with local pace. First-time visitors find it challenging; repeat travelers describe it as magical.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":72,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":67,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":69,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":57,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":65,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":4,"label":"Advises against all travel to parts of the country","updated":"2026-07-24T16:25:37Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/algeria"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/algeria"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":1.16107238811947,"display":"1.2 / 100k","year":"2023","score":93,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0.10540670629509087,"display":"0.11 / million","year":"2021","score":92,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":18.3,"display":"18.3 / 100k","year":"2021","score":45,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":54.0467968,"display":"54/100","year":"2024","score":54,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":44.9726847,"display":"45/100","year":"2024","score":45,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":35.843598,"display":"36/100","year":"2024","score":36,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":46.4563079,"display":"46/100","year":"2024","score":46,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":42.9924826,"display":"43/100","year":"2024","score":43,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":38.4995232,"display":"38/100","year":"2024","score":38,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":142913,"display":"143k residents","year":null,"score":85,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.16,"display":"0.16 / 100k","year":"2023","score":90,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":14,"display":"14.0%","year":"2015","score":69,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":93,"display":"US AQI 93 · Moderate","year":null,"score":69,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":16.110127432,"display":"16 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2017","score":65,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":44,"display":"July: highs ~44°C · dangerous heat","year":null,"score":45,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 1 quake ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":94,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","year":null,"score":72,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":72,"display":"72 / 100 (Cautiously positive with practical caveats)","year":null,"score":72,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Ghardaïa is moderately safe for travelers who arrange guides in advance and take standard precautions against petty crime; it is not in restricted border zones and welcomes tourists with proper arrangements.","summary":"Ghardaïa's risk profile is moderate: violent crime is low (homicide rate 1.2/100k), but petty theft, scams, and corruption are persistent concerns. The city is an inland Saharan oasis, not in border-restricted zones. Success requires using official guides (mandatory to enter the closed medina), respecting local customs, and managing practical risks like extreme heat (44°C in July) and transport safety.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Robbery/mugging risk is low in central tourist areas with proper precautions; armed robbery is rare. Transport safety is medium in town and higher on outskirts; use vetted taxis."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are persistent in crowded markets, the medina (old city), and busy tourist areas; keep bags secured and avoid carrying large sums."},"safeAreas":["Oasis Valley","Quieter residential neighborhoods away from tourist hubs"],"avoidAreas":["Border zones (30+ km from Tunisia, Libya, Mali, Niger boundaries) — FCDO advises against all travel there; NOT relevant to Ghardaïa city itself"],"scams":["Restaurant overcharges and inflated tourist prices","Taxi fraud and unlicensed 'guides' soliciting visitors","Rug and souvenir overcharging (Ghardaïa is known for rugs)","Fake ticket sales and unauthorized tour operators"],"zones":[{"name":"Medina (Old City)","level":"caution","note":"UNESCO historic center with crowds, petty theft risk; requires guide but mandatory guide system aids safety"},{"name":"Bab Sbaa district","level":"caution","note":"Commercial gateway area; moderate pickpocketing and scamming, stay alert to pricing"},{"name":"Ain Youcef neighborhood","level":"caution","note":"Modern residential area; standard urban petty-crime risk, generally okay with awareness"},{"name":"Oasis Valley","level":"safe","note":"Quieter, less touristy; lower crime, more residential character, fewer scams"},{"name":"Laghouat Road entrance","level":"caution","note":"Main entry corridor; typical transport and market-area risks, exercise standard precautions"},{"name":"Beni Isguen (adjacent settlement)","level":"caution","note":"One of the pentapolis towns; accessible but requires guide, moderate petty-theft risk"}]}}