libya guide recommendations
 

i am making preparations for a drive thru libya this coming november and have been in contact with both Shati Zuara and Arkno Tours. does anyone have any firsthand experience with the guides from either of these companies? before i decide which company to work with, i figured the quality of the guide should be a big part of the decision. considering that we'll be spending day and night with him for 3 weeks.

thanks,
tom

Especially in Libya it may be more realistic to regard you agency guide as an 'escort' rather than a knowledgeable guide.
He will almost certainly take on local guides down south (in the Lakes and the Akakus) but they too will just show the way and sites rather than impart information (and they are unlikely to speak much English).

You could get lucky, but if it's education about the local environment you are looking for, you would probably be better off reading about it.

Ch

thanks, chris. good info to keep in mind.

i noticed on the Libya country info page that there is talk of needing to also take along a policeman in Libya, in addition to the guide. however, neither Arkno nor Shati Zuara mentioned that to me in their emails. do you have any more information on this new requirement?

Its not a new requirement but as with so many things in Libya, they seem to make it up as they go along (though it is possible the policemen is included in your quote if they are all in their own car.) As you may have read, sometimes people get left by their escort/guides or policemen after a few days, anyway.

Ch