Libya, how to get visas and cross...

[Cam Johnson]

Hi,
I think that most Libyan embassy's are operating these days. At least the one in London one is because that is where we are getting ours done. It might be worthwhile to pop into Knightsbridge if possible and see what they have to say in regards to getting a tourist visa or 3 days transit.

I have definitely seen overlanders here in Misurata (2 guys in an Isuzu with roof tent 2 days ago) throughout the last 6 months so it is doable.

Forget about banks for money changing, everybody uses the gold shops, of which there are many. We use $US and are getting approx 130 LYD for new $100 bills, you will get a less rate for small bills. Euros/Sterling may also be possible to change but I haven't done so.

Best of luck,
CJ.

[roro]

Originally Posted by Roman

Hello guys,

Full payment to US office? Never heard of a Libyan agency requiring that, nor a letter of indeminity. That's the American, not the Libyan way of doing business. My advice is to contact Alarbi Suleiman on:

info [at} saharastars /dot\ com
+21 8914191652

I have travelled with him many times. He can arrange for you a business visa, meet you at the border, sort out the paperwork, get you through the road checkpoints and look after you all the way. Great guy!

But what is the last time you have travelled with him?
Do you think he can arrange the paperwork at Tunisian border and at Egyptian border?

RR.

[Roman]

Hi roro

I and Trumpton travelled with him in February 2012. He will wait for you with the paperwork on the Libyan side of the Tunisian border and leave you before you enter Egypt.

[Arch]

The latest i have got is from Ben at Tidwa (http://www.tidwa.com/):

Well, in the present time, tourist visas has been suspended by the new Libyan government

Recently we are able to provide a Single-entry business visa upon arrival only, this visa is valid for 45 days from the date of issue, and allows the holder to stay one month in Libya. We are able to provide Libyan visas on arrival for American nationalities and for most Europeans, including Eastern Europeans, Australians, Russians, Japanese, New Zealanders, South Africans and Canadians can all apply directly to us for visa on arrival.

The way we normally provide Libyan visas: is that we apply for the visa approval to secure the visa for you on arrival at Libyan Tunisian border. After we apply, the visa approval will be released to us about 3 or 4 days before arrival, then we will send you a scanned copy of the visa approval. You need to keep a copy with you while you are travelling, when you arrive safely to the border you will have a stamped business visa on your passport.

The cost is 350 Euro for each . Full payment in advance is required. Please note that you need to pay an extra amount of 100 LYD at the immigration office in the border to have your visa stamp. No refund if your visa has been in process. Full amount will be refund if your visa has been denied.

If you decide to go ahead with us, then please

Make sure your passport(s) does not have an Israeli stamp (or visa).
Contains at least two blank pages
Must be valid for at least six months when you leave the country.
Email us .jpg colour copies of your passport bio page(s) at least ten days before arrival.
Transfer via ''Western Union'' the full amount of the visa cost.

A bit more expensive than what has been previously found with Libya Travel and Tours, but still cheaper than going via turkey and taking the ferry!

Has anyone had any previous experience with Tidwa before?

[Chris Scott]

That's one of the clearest and most complete explanations of the current Libya visa app process I've read so far.

I wonder if they are actually doing tours in the south as the web page suggests.

Ch

[roro]

Thanks Arch for these infos.
So, it seems it's possible to get this this visa and cross the borders with Tunisia and Egypt with our own cars... Just waiting reports from some traveller's experience about that.
RR.

[baluchiman]

Cheers Arch,

As someone has already said, one of the clearest answers yet. I have repeatedly tried ringing the Libyan Embassy for advice but line it is permantly engaged.

[roro]

Sorry, I didn't read the report by
aimlessinafrica



Now in Cairo

posted above, on October, 21th... (I was in Algeria at this time...)

About travelling overland and return, it seems that only the return direction will (may be) tricky.

RR.

[Arch]

Originally Posted by Chris Scott

I wonder if they are actually doing tours in the south as the web page suggests.

Ch

I asked about the south, and this was Bens reply:

Southern destinations are still closed and therefore Ghadames remains unavailable for the time being. But Nafusa Mountain will be okay as long as you will drive back to Tripoli region and not to continue towards Tarhona or Bani Walid.

[asiaonbikes]

We crossed Libya Last week, coming from Tunis. We got our visa from Libya Tour and Travels. All emails were answered by Jill and she was really helpful. We paid the agency 400$ each. We paid it on an US account by credit card. After a few days we got the confirmation. We went to the Libyan embassy in Switzerland, filled out another application form and paid 60€ each. The sent us our passports with visa the next day.

Border crossing Tunisia-Libya was fast. They took our passports, stamped the visa and let us through. It took max. 5 minutes. No carnet, no custom, no extra charges. We changed money in Tripolis. There is an ATM on Wheels, parked just at the Martyrs square (former Green square). Stayed in Teba hotel for 50$ for 2.

Libya was amazing. Beautiful cities (Tripolis, Benghazi), great sights (Leptis Magna, Tobruk 2nd WW remains), extremely friendly people. We never felt unsafe. We stayed the nights in hotels (Tripolis, Misrata, Sirte, Benghazi, Appolonia and Tobruk). Even Sirte, where the heaviest fightings took place, was safe, had two hotels and really nice people.

In Benghazi we met a old guy at the supermarket. He was happy to see European tourists and thanked us for the intervention (I felt bad, since Switzerland did not much to end the Gadaffi regime). He insisted to pay for our groceries. Imagine that in Europe: seeing a foreigner at the supermarket and paying him his food! Anyway, shows how kind some people are.

We posted some pictures, the blog is in German, sorry:
Crossing East Africa

@cam johnson: seems like you saw us in Misrata. We have an Opel, but it's an Isuzu inside. Would have been nice meeting you...

Border To Egypt:
5 minutes and one stamp on the Libyan side.
3 hours, 20 stamps, 150€ and long walks on the Egyptian side.

We're now on the way to the White desert and we will catch the Aswan ferry on December 24 to Wadi Halfa.

Greetings

[roro]

Great infos, thanks...
3 hours it's not so long for an Egyptian border!

RR.

[Cam Johnson]

Hey asiaonbikes guys,

I drove past you going in the other direction, we turned around but lost you in traffic. Glad you enjoyed Libya, it's not as bad as the news makes out.

CJ.

[Chris Scott]

BBC News - Libya orders borders in south closed

Not really relevant to us yet but like the report says '... it is unclear what this latest decree means in practice because - in the continued absence of a conventional national army - most provinces and cities effectively rule themselves.'

Ch

[frankie boy]

very interested in this thread as I to am looking to travel this way from Ireland to Zambia, hoping to make the boat at genova Italy for Tunisia around 27 mar 2013 would be great to meet up with other travellers on this part of the journey to help each other iron out problems at Libya Egypt borders

[Tom-Traveller]

Originally Posted by asiaonbikes

We crossed Libya Last week, coming from Tunis. We got our visa from Libya Tour and Travels. All emails were answered by Jill and she was really helpful. We paid the agency 400$ each. We paid it on an US account by credit card. After a few days we got the confirmation. We went to the Libyan embassy in Switzerland, filled out another application form and paid 60€ each. The sent us our passports with visa the next day.

Border crossing Tunisia-Libya was fast. They took our passports, stamped the visa and let us through. It took max. 5 minutes. No carnet, no custom, no extra charges. We changed money in Tripolis. There is an ATM on Wheels, parked just at the Martyrs square (former Green square). Stayed in Teba hotel for 50$ for 2.

Libya was amazing. Beautiful cities (Tripolis, Benghazi), great sights (Leptis Magna, Tobruk 2nd WW remains), extremely friendly people. We never felt unsafe. We stayed the nights in hotels (Tripolis, Misrata, Sirte, Benghazi, Appolonia and Tobruk). Even Sirte, where the heaviest fightings took place, was safe, had two hotels and really nice people.

In Benghazi we met a old guy at the supermarket. He was happy to see European tourists and thanked us for the intervention (I felt bad, since Switzerland did not much to end the Gadaffi regime). He insisted to pay for our groceries. Imagine that in Europe: seeing a foreigner at the supermarket and paying him his food! Anyway, shows how kind some people are.

We posted some pictures, the blog is in German, sorry:
Crossing East Africa

@cam johnson: seems like you saw us in Misrata. We have an Opel, but it's an Isuzu inside. Would have been nice meeting you...

Border To Egypt:
5 minutes and one stamp on the Libyan side.
3 hours, 20 stamps, 150€ and long walks on the Egyptian side.

We're now on the way to the White desert and we will catch the Aswan ferry on December 24 to Wadi Halfa.

Greetings

Hey

just read your complete blog and I wish we would have been with you .... but we will follow next year and hopefully everything still works so easy

Take care and have fun in the white desert

Greets from the BlackForest
Thomas & Andrea

</title> <meta name="description" content="" ></meta> <meta name="keywords" content="" ></meta> <base href="http://miles-to-ride.com/formvista/site_local/themes/miles-to-ride/"></base> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8