We recently had the privilege of helping a group of overlanders (who are headed from Holland to South Africa) plan their trip from the border of Tunisia to the border of Egypt. Although the driving days were quite long, they made the trip in 3 Nights/4 Days, stopping to spend the nights in Misrata, Benghazi, and Tobruk. They said it was a fantastic trip and they wish they would have spent more time in Libya because the people they encountered were so friendly! If you’d like to read a great write-up that they posted, check out their website at: http://www.africaexpedition.nl/en/2012/05/post-war-syndrome-hospitable-libya/
Libya Travel Guide
Libya’s Beauty – Ras El Hilal
As we drove along the coast of eastern Libya, we stopped at one of the most beautiful spots I’ve seen here. The area is called Ras El Hilal, which is located just past Apollonia. The coastline is called Ras El “Hilal” after the Arabic word for crescent moon. The beautiful coast is worth a visit.
As we stopped to see an ancient Bezantine church, we were in for a surprise. As we walked to the edge of the cliff, we enjoyed the amazing turquoise water and unique rock formation. I tried to capture the setting on my camera, but pictures never really do it justice. You must visit this place to enjoy the beauty.
For those who love church history, the 2 churches are worth a visit. Each of them is partially standing with crosses and marble tiles. Your guide will be able to give you the history of these churches. (Read More…)
Travel to Tobruk – WWII History
Last week I had the opportunity to visit Tobruk for the first time. Tobruk, Libya is probably most well-known for the battles in World War II. For those who are interested in this type of history, Tobruk and its surrounding areas offer some very interesting sites.
War Cemeteries
Tobruk offers 4 different war cemeteries including the Commonwealth, English, French and German. All of these sites are wonderfully kept! The local caretakers have spent years watching over these sacred sites. The beautiful flowers, amazing gravestones, and mosaic names are some of the highlights from my trip.
Rommel’s Museum
Although the actual Rommel room was locked, we enjoyed s visit to the small museum (Read More…)
Successful Libya Tourist Visa
Tourism Visas for Libya are now officially open! Yesterday we had our first visitors to Libya, since the revoultion, come on tourism visas issued through the ministry or tourism in Tripoli. We were pleased with the process and how simply everything went.
Libya Tourist Visa Process
Our visitors provided our tour company a scanned copy of their passports. We then applied directly to the ministry of tourism for their tourist visas. After a few days, we were given a copy of the granted visa letter which was emailed to the visitors. The travelers were asked to show this letter when checking in and also at the passport control. In the Tripoli Airport, they went to the right hand line and gave their passports and letter to the immigration authorities. The visas were stamped in their passport in 10 minutes…
Do you need a tourist visa to Libya?
We are glad to announce that we can officially help travelers come to the northern portions of Libya on a tourist visa. Because of the strict laws, in order to provide tourist visas, we must also arrange your hotels and transportation. We are still unsure if a guide will be required for all tourist groups.
Contact us today for your travel to Libya.
Libya Tourist Visas Reopens
Yesterday, the ministry of tourism announced in a meeting that they were reopening the tourist visas to Libya. These new Libya tourist visas will be issued only to those people looking to travel along the north coast of Libya. At this point in time, the Sahara Desert will be off limits to Libya tourists.
Libya Tourist Visa – The Procedure
It appears that the old system is returning to place! In order to get a tourist visa, you will be required to be hosted by a local Libyan travel company. Your travel company will need a scanned copy of your passport and dates of travel to present to the immigration department in the tourism ministry. Your host company will also provide them with your itinerary and hotel information which will prove that you are visiting Libya for tourism purposes. The visas are normally granted a few days before arrival in country and can be picked up upon arrival in Tripoli.
Libya Tours
In the past, tourists have been required to have a tourism guide and police escort them during their stay in Libya. At this point, we have not heard if this will remain the same or change, but we can assume they are going back to the old way of doing business. Libya Travel & Tours offers excellent services for guides, tours, and hotels for those looking to travel to Libya.
Need a Libya Tourist Visa?
Please contact us today for your Libya Tour and we will help you get your tourism visa from on the ground in Libya.
Libya Business Process – London
We just wanted to update our readers with the most current visa information from those collecting their visas in London. The fee is 100GBP for the actual visastamp; they accept passports for visas on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 10-12:30 in the morning; the passports have to be delivered in person, but it sounds like one person can take multiple in; there is a form that has to be filled out as well; and once they have the passport it’s a 48 turn around. One can either pick up the completed passport after the 48 hours or provide them with a registered mail, self addressed envelope and they will drop it in the mail when it’s completed, returned within 24 hours of posting.
For those looking to get a Libya Business Visa, please check out our page on pricing and proceedure.
Global Sports Partners Enjoys Libya
Libya Travel & Tours had the privilege of meeting with and serving the Global Sports Partners’ team when they were in Libya last week. Global Sports Partners (GSP) http://www.globalsportspartners.org/ is an internationally recognized sport consulting and development company with strategically placed representatives throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia. They were in Libya meeting with the Olympic Committee of Libya in order to develop a long-term partnership in the country. Steve DeVoss, founder of GSP, said the meetings were excellent and they were treated royally by their Libyan hosts.
On their only free day, Global Sports Partners contacted our company to facilitate a trip to Leptis Magna, Libya’s premier Roman site. The group of 3 Americans enjoyed their tour provided by Salah, a knowledgeable local guide. Global Sports Partners is excited to come back to Libya, not only to enjoy the excellent historical sites and desert, but to continue to foster the relationship with the Libyan Olympic Committee.
Contact us for your day excursion to Leptis Magna or Sabratha.
Libya Archaeology – Ready for Tours?
Libya has been closed to tourism for years, however, the government seems to be looking to tourism as a potential income generator. Libya contains some of the premier archaeology sites of north Africa, from Leptis Magna to Cyrenaica!
Are the sites ready?
Last week we went to Leptis Magna with some clients. Although the ruins were still magnificent, the museum was closed. The entrance area needs some work, the toilets need fixing, and the general area needs some attention. That said, for those interested in archaeology, this Libya site is vast and unparalleled in Africa.
Archaeology help…
When I was able to sit with one of the directors of the Leptis Magna site, he mentioned the huge need for help on developing the department of antiquities. Libya is can be compare to a raw diamond that needs to be cut and polished into a crown jewel.
Focused Archaeology Tours
For those travelers who are interested in visiting the 5 UNESCO sites (Read More…)
Great Business Hotel – Bustan Hotel
Recently we have had a number of business clients looking for long-term accommodations! These men want a place for a few weeks to months, where they can settle. “A home away from home!” For people traveling on business to Libya, let me introduce the Bustan Hotel.
Oasis in Tripoli – Bustan Hotel
Last week we saw the wonderful Bustan Hotel which could be the perfect solution. Located 30 minutes out of the city center, the Bustan is like a small Oasis. Equipped with pool, sauna, garden, tennis, and more, this hotel offers some great extras. Perhaps the most notable perk was the free dinner and laundry services included in the price.
Out of town
Although some may find the location a bit out of town, the Bustan gets you away from the busy city center. (Read More…)
World Traveler Completes Last – Libya
This past week, we hosted a client from the US who was checking off the final country – Libya. Over the past years, the man has traveled to every single country of the world including the North and South pole. Libya Travel & Tours was privileged to be his service provider for his tour of Libya.
Some of his thoughts
While we talked in his hotel, he made a few key comments:
What impressed him about his time
