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Important Points
You Ought-to Know Before Visiting Libya

We have created this web page to clarify some important issues which are rarely addressed by tour operators, and which we found to be a source of confusion and disappointment to tourists  when they arrive in Libya. We strongly recommend reading the following points before making any decisions regarding  your visit to Libya, and if you are in doubt of anything, please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

List of Places to Visit

If you are designing your own tour, you cannot visit any places in Libya other than those specified during your booking or enquiry. According to Libyan law, the visa is granted to visit the sites specified before arrival. Therefore, in order to avoid disappointment, it is important that tourists specify the exact cities and sites they would like to visit before arrival. Once a tourist chooses the right destinations, then she or he  cannot visit other destinations when they arrive in Libya. Some Libyan Tour Operators were ordered to close down by the Libyan government because they deviated from the planned route.  Please study your destinations carefully and plan your route accordingly before you send us your list of chosen sites and cities, as we cannot, and no one can, change this. Stopping at  other places in your route is, of course, a different matter. What is not allowed is changing the actual planned route.

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Travelling Alone in LIbya

Another problem we encountered is that some of our visitors wanted to travel alone in Libya. According to Libyan law, a tourist must be accompanied, at all times, by a Libyan representative of the chosen tour operator, from entry to exit. However, individual visitors (or a couple) can travel alone only in the capital Tripoli. If you are planning to spend the whole of your holiday in Tripoli, or just a few days exploring the city, then please confirm with your tour operator that you can do this before arrival. This does not mean that your freedom is restricted, as you can go anywhere within your specified destinations. For example, if you say you want to visit Zwara, then once you are in Zwara you can go anywhere you like, and think of your escort (or guide) as a friend whom you can ask for directions while driving. It is suicidal to drive into the Sahara without these guys (or guides). This is one of those things that makes Libya unique, and most Libyan tour operators hope this will not be necessary in the near future when tourism establishes itself in Libya. Moreover, in groups of more than four, the Libyan Tourism Police will also join the convoy, in their own vehicle, of course. This was said to protect tourists.

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Tour Guide Versus Tour Escort

This representative, who must accompany you, is always referred to as "guide" by all tour operators, when the correct word to use is in fact "an escort" or "companion", which is مرافق in Arabic, literally translates as "accompanier" (he who accompanies you). These "companions" are not necessarily experts in tourism and most of them have no professional qualifications as Guides. They are employees of the tour operator who must accompany their visitors during their tour or stay in Libya. Some visitors confuse these companions with proper guides, and express dissatisfaction when they arrive in Libya and realise that their official escort knows nothing about Leptis Magna, Cyrene or Mori's mummy. Therefore if you need a qualified archaeological or museum guide, then you need to specify this clearly in your enquiry. Most museums and sites have guides whom tourists can hire for about 40 Libyan dinar (currently = 22.14 Euro) a day. But even then these guides may not speak perfect English, German, Italian, French or any other major foreign language, and may not impress you as other guides might do in other countries where tourism is an established business. Please bear in mind that Libya was a closed country for a long time and it is only recently that her doors were conditionally opened to the outside world.

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Passport Translation

A recent Libyan Law (passed on the 11th of November 2007) requires all visitors to have an Arabic transcript of their passport’s details page printed in their passports. This is the bio data page which contains biographical information about the passport holder. If you live in the UK, the Identity & Passport Service (IPS: http://www.ips.gov.uk./passport/travel-libya.asp) can add a stamp providing blank fields in Arabic that will need to be completed in Arabic. Visitors should contact the Libyan Embassy to enquire about acceptable (or approved) translation service providers for the inclusion of the passport holder’s bio details within these blank fields. Please remember that only embassy approved translators are acceptable. Please bear in mind that hundreds of tourists were refused entry to Libya despite having Libyan visa, because their passports did not carry an Arabic translation ( full article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7092589.stm).

Passport Validity: the passport must be valid for at least six months when you leave Libya, which means that if you intend to stay two months in Libya, then your passport must be valid for at least eight months when you arrive in Libya.

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Passport Registration

All tourists and visitors have to register their passports with the Libyan police no later than one week after  arrival. Your Libyan tour operator or travel agency will automatically arrange this for you. The fee for this service is normally about €10 (10 Euro). If your operator or agent fails to do this for you, you might be fined upon departure, an amount which can vary depending on circumstances. If you, some how, succeeded in travelling alone in Libya, then you must remember to register as soon as you enter the country.

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Israeli Visa In Your Passport

You must make sure you do not have an Israeli stamp in your passport, including those obtained at the Egyptian-Israeli and Jordanian borders. If you do have one, then you need to obtain a new passport, in order to visit Libya.

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Prohibited Items

The following products and items are only a selection from a long list of items not allowed to be imported into Libya, and therefore visitors are advised to check that they have none of these items in their possession when entering the country. This list does not list all the prohibited items and it changes according to regulations. If you are in doubt regarding other items that are not mentioned here, please contact the Libyan embassy for their latest list of prohibited items. The list includes: products manufactured in Israel, alcohol & alcoholic products, drugs, pork & pork products, preserved meat, food (including tinned food) prepared with preserved meats and animal fats, peanuts, poultry, green vegetables, fruit juices, natural and fizzy mineral water, some types of coffee & tea, cucumber seeds, olive oil, soaps, obscene literature, toy guns and animal furs. The import of dogs and cats requires veterinary health certificate and a rabies inoculation card. 

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Respectful Travel

• Use common sense.
• Avoid kissing in public.
• Never talk about politics.
• Always remain calm in difficult situations.
• Always respect other's religious practices.
• Always kindly ask permission before taking photographs.
• Never point the soles of your shoes directly at other people.
• If invited to a house, please do leave your shoes outside (or do what everyone else does)
• Avoid smoking in people's homes, unless they are smoking.
• Always use your right hand when offering or receiving things, eating or shaking hands.
• Always dress modestly: (you can wear swim suit away from traditional families' beaches).
• Avoid refusing offers of food or drink, if you can. Do not eat in public in Ramadan (the fasting month).

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American Nationals

American tourist need to confirm with the embassy or their tour operator if they could obtain a visa or not, long before booking any holidays, and they also need to do this at least 3 or 4 weeks before arrival, instead of the usual 2 weeks that apply to other tourists. For the time being, American nationals visiting Libya as tourists are seldom granted visas. Businessmen and investors need to apply and wait for reply. Tourists, however, must apply for the visa as a group of four or more, as visas will not be granted for Americans travelling individually.

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Journalists

We have recently attempted to secure visa for two journalists, but unfortunately we have been informed by the immigration authorities in Libya that Libyan tour operators are not allowed to issue visas for journalists, and that if journalists want to visit Libya, then they need to secure an entry visa directly from the Libyan embassy in their country of residence. It is then up to the embassy to grant or refuse the visa. However, as pointed out by Reporters Without Borders, foreign journalists can now get a visa more easily than before and that the department of relations with the foreign press claimed to have issued between 1000 and 1500 visas in 2005. Visiting journalists need a permit, obtained from the information ministry’s foreign media department. Even with a visa at  hand you must have confirmation from Libya that your visit is expected, and, once inside, do not interview any official unless you have a prior authorisation from the department of relations with the foreign press.

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Money

Visitors must be in possession of a minimum amount of foreign currency equivalent to $500 when they enter Libya - rumours has it that this may increase to $1000, but there is no official confirmation yet. According to the Libyan embassy in the USA, the following are exempt from providing the above sum:

1. Tourists arriving as part of a group via a tour operator where their living expenses are included in the package.
2. Visitors on official missions; and holders of student visa with expenses paid for by the Libyan government.
3. Visitors planning to join a resident of Libya providing that the resident guarantees to cover all the expenses including medical costs if necessary.

Bring cash with you. Credit cards are hardly accepted in Libya, except Visa and Master card which are accepted only in one or two large hotels and few other places. Cash machines (ATMs) can be found in Tripoli, but are very rare anywhere else. Travellers cheques are not generally accepted. Branches of Western Union are widely available. According to Libyan law you must not leave Libya with more money in your possession than the money you had when you first arrived. The Libyan financial infrastructure is still way behind the rest of the world and has a lot to learn and do, especially if Libya's call for foreign investors to invest in Libya is to be taken seriously.

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Prices

Hotels: 5-star hotels are rarely found in Libya, and most top Libyan hotels are considered as 3-star hotels by European standards. These cost, on average about €35 of a single room and between €45 and €50 for a double; the price however varies from 40 to 120 Libyan dinars.. Food in Libya is generally cheap and a meal in an ordinary restaurant will cost you between €3 and €5, and buying food from shops is even cheaper. You should expect to pay twice or thrice that price in top of the range restaurants. Petrol is very cheap in Libya: one of the cheapest in the world: 10 litres of petrol cost about one single Euro. Museum fees: about €3, camera fee: €3, and about €3 museum guide. Acacus entrance fees: Lorry (€15); 4x4 (€12); and €5 per a person. Camping: thatched hut: €6 per a person, setting up own tent: €3, parking vehicle & connecting it to electricity source: €6. Vehicles: insurance: usually €7, license plate: about €56 (see our price page for a full details). See Our Prices page for more on this.

Gadgets

GPS systems, gadgets and satellite phones are allowed into Libya, and therefore there will be no problem bringing them into the country. In fact GPS systems may become a requirement, by law, for tour operators to have, especially in the desert regions where one might get lost, though unlikely these days.

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Health Insurance

Travelling to foreign countries without taking up insurance at home is a risky business that no one will recommend. Insured travellers need to confirm with their insurers prior to departure whether payment will be made to the foreign clinics by the insurer, or  the tourist will be reimbursed later (after returning to  their country of origin).

Health care in Libya is still way behind, and advanced treatments and serious conditions are normally transferred to Europe. If your intend to visit mountain and desert regions, and in fact anywhere outside the major cities, then you need to know  that medical assistance, beyond the basic, may not be easily available. Therefore prevention is better than cure and take care. If you are really worried and you are British, then you might like to consider registering with LOCATE. If you tell them when and where you are travelling, their crisis staff can provide better assistance in an emergency.  Other similar services may exist in other countries, so please check with your embassy.

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Ramadan

Ramadan 2008: September 1 - September 29. The Islamic month of  Ramadan is the month of fasting from sunrise to sunset. Tourists of other faiths are not expected to follow this, of course, but it would be better for all if they do not  eat, drink or smoke in public. Many businesses and many services will be either closed, or will run at a much slower pace, making travel during this period a different kind of experience.

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Terrorism

Libya is the only country in North Africa where terrorists do not, practically, exist. Muslim fundamentals have no voice whatsoever in Libya. Not a single terror-incident has been recorded in Libya. The Libyan government has only one way to deal with these People. In a report published by the insurance broker Aon, Libya and Greenland were the world’s safest destinations in 2004.  The Libyan Government’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism was rescinded on the 30th of June 2006.

In your travels across the Sahara desert you will be accompanied by the Libyan Tourism Police, in their own vehicle, of course, to make sure of your safety and well being. However, travellers are advised to avoid areas bordering Chad and Sudan, as these areas are difficult to fully patrol owing to their harsh terrain and size. Your tour operator will make sure this does not happen, and there are no tourist sites along these points. Check this British Foreign & Commonwealth Office web site for regular updates, warnings and news about terrorism abroad.

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Politics

Do not discuss Libyan politics and stay away from any military sites. Do not take photos of border points or any military installations. Do not even use your camera close to any military or official site. Leave politics alone and do not get involved with political gatherings or demonstrators, and always avoid areas where oil extraction is taking place.  If you can, and if you have the time, you should be alert to developments in the Middle East while travelling, as some events can easily trigger public unrest across the Middle East, but rarely in North Africa. Never mention "journalists"; if you are one, never say so to anyone.

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Crime

Care while travelling must be taken wherever you are. Crime, and poverty-and-drug-related crimes, are a growing problem worldwide and Libya is no exception. But, generally speaking, conditions in Libya are much better than most countries and one should feel and be safe, given basic precautions were taken. Insurance. Do not leave valuable items in your car or van, and if you do , do not leave them easily visible. Do not leave your purse laying around on the beach unattended while swimming. Do not leave important and valuable things in your hotel room, no matter how expensive the hotel is. Secure your wallet and never put it in your back pocket, as pick pocketing in busy markets and crowded public transport is becoming more frequent.

Passport loss should be reported immediately to the Libyan police; do not leave it "for later" no matter what the circumstances are (your tour operator can take care of this once they know). According to the Libyan Tourist Board, most of the 16,000 UK visits in 2006 were trouble-free, and that the main type of incidents encountered by the British in 2007 was replacing lost or stolen passports. You are warned to keep your passport safe with you at all times and never leave it in your hotel room,  in your tour operator's car, or anywhere else.

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Alcohol, Dress & Code of Conduct

It is forbidden to possess, drink or traffic in alcohol in Libya. Please make sure you have no alcoholic drinks in your possession, and preferably do not drink before entering Libya. If alcoholic drinks were found in your possession at the entry point, then they will be taken away, logged in, and returned to you on exit. Dressing modestly will not deprive you of your rights, but will certainly make things easier. :-)   Foreign women in Libya can wear jeans and other ordinary European clothes, and they can keep their heads uncovered, except when in religious places. Narcotics may lead to long sentences and even life imprisonment in some cases. Use your common sense and respect other people's practices whenever you can.

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Women Swimming In Libya

Western women can swim in swim-suits and in bikinis too; just avoid crowded areas and find a good secluded spot and you would be fine. This has been always the case in Libya. It is generally safe to do so and hassling tourists or foreign visitors can carry severe punishments in most tourist countries. Ask your tour operator to find a good place for you.

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Land Mines

Anti-personnel mines are only dangerous if you step on them, and driving over them would only harm your vehicle. Land mines in Libya are mostly found in the eastern parts of the country, like Tobruk, and even as far south as Kufra. These were left over from World War Two. The second danger zone is located by the southern borders with Chad, and between Serir Tibesti and the Rebiana Erg. Tourists are generally advised to avoid the regions bordering Chad and Sudan, not only because of land minds but also the risk of being kidnapped by terrorists coming from Chad and Sudan is always there.

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Road Hazards

In Europe driving is an advanced aspect of European society. In Libya, likewise many similar countries, driving is still way behind. The following are general guidelines a driver needs to bear in mind when driving or riding in Libya:

• Lack of total availability of road signs, and if found, they would be mostly in Arabic and therefore of no use to tourists and foreign visitors. If Libya truly needs to open its doors to international investors, then English needs to be incorporated across Libya.
• The inability of the police to enforce traffic laws across thousands of miles of roads prevents some drivers from observing basic driving regulations.
• The occasional Libyan wind-blown sand can render visibility very poor, and in many respects it is like driving in thick fog.
• Stray animals, like camels, especially at night, can be dangerous.
• The impossibility to anticipate the foolishness of some drivers, regardless of whether you are in Europe or Africa, always calls for vigilance.
• Driving to desert areas like Ghadames, at night, is also risky owing to the sudden build-up of sand mounds in the middle of the road; during the day, these can be easily spotted from a safe distance.

Car accidents in Libya are rapidly changing the lives of many Libyans and also leading to social and psychological consequences among the great majority of the Libyan population.   Disturbing news reported recently by the Libyan Ministry of Public Security states that   "60 People Dead, 123 Seriously Injured in 263 Car Accidents in Libya in One Week", between the 19th and the 26th of July 2008. The causes of   the accidents were said to include high speed, recluse driving, using cell phones while driving, and breaking traffic laws and regulations. These figures become more disturbing when one considers the small number of the Libyan population. So, take care, watch out, good luck:)

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Marine Hazards

Swimming in Libya is generally safe and everyone does it. But nonetheless one should know that pollution-related hazards do exist, as in most beaches around the world, caused mainly by seaport industrial activity, unauthorised dumping, and chemical plants. Oil tankers roaming the Mediterranean are also a source of black, soft, asphalt-like lumps which collect on some beaches. These are easily spotted, and the locals have accustomed to them. Jelly fish, some of which can be big, are also a source of nuisance and can be very painful.

Farwa: the Farwa peninsula, 20 km east of Tunisian border, has been proposed for cage/pen culture activities in the past, but trial mussel rearing failed in 1988; probable causes include shallow water, poor flushing times by currents, and pollution hazard potential from the nearby chemical plant of Abu-Kammash, which was reported to have developed problems with its cooling system that may have leaked mercury-contaminated water into the sea. Local natives, however, continue to swim and eat fish caught in the region, with no problems reported (or associated with Farwa).

Abu-Kammash Sabkha : extensive salt marsh straddling Libyan-Tunisian border area, rich in natural Artemia population. Artemia is a fairy shrimp of the genus of Phyllopod Crustacea, typically found in salt lakes and brines. Walking across the Sabkha is very risky, and there were several cases of people sinking to their death. So if you happened to be exploring these lakes, bear in mind that what appears to be an ordinary crusty salt on the surface may hide a blackhole beneath :o)

Sabratha - Tripoli - Musrata : stretch of coastline with relatively high rainfall and developed agriculture; alternating between low rocky areas, cliffs, and sandy beaches. Extreme environmental degradation due to quarrying between Sabratha and Janzour, and to pollution and shoreline destruction from Janzour to Tajura.

Mina Qasr Ahmed :   deep water harbour for medium size boats, 210 km east of Tripoli. Localised pollution hazards.

Benghazi: Libya's second largest city, major deep sea harbour and industrial centre. Pollution hazards.

Abu Dzira Lake Complex : a complex of small freshwater lakes located southeast of Benghazi, the largest of which is Abou Dzira, about 10 km along the main highway to al Bayda. Pollution problems and threats from sewage, rubbish, and disease outbreaks in cultured fish.

Marsa Eshoush (Echouch) : 2 km east of Tobruk police gate: excellent sheltered anchorage with several good beaches and wadi mouths; with potential pollution hazards from oil terminal.

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Diseases & Vaccinations

For full details, please consult your doctor or clinic about the necessary vaccinations needed. Generally speaking vaccinations against tetanus, rabies, polio, typhoid and "hepatitis A" and "B" are needed, and if you are coming from a country affected by yellow fever, then a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required. Yellow fever is considered to be endemic in 32 African and 11 Central and South American countries. The World Health Organisation provides a list of yellow-fever-endemic countries. However, it is generally recommended to avoid drinking tap water; wash your hands well before eating; and avoid swimming in fresh water; swimming in salty lakes, as those of the Sahara, is internationally considered safe.

• Hepatitis A & typhoid:: from direct contact, water, ice, fruits, vegetables. Use bottled water, cook your food, avoid salads.
• Hepatitis B: from coming in direct contact with body fluids, like surgery, sexual intercourse, etc. 

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Things To Take With You To Libya

• Visa, or visa confirmation from your Libyan tour operator (optional)
• Cash: banking system in Libya is catching up
• If you have car, driving licence and vehicle papers
• If you are taking medicines, make sure you bring enough with you
• $500, required by law for all visitors to have when they enter LIbya
• Mosquito repellent
• Warm clothes for cold desert nights
• Health insurance (not essential, but strongly recommended)
• MP3 player, GPS or/and an e-Book would come handy

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