To whoever rode Libya (and visited Leptis Magna)

[Knight of the Holy Graal]

I and my girlfriend are planning our summer trip for 2010, which is Samarkand and the Stans overland from Italy.
But if we won't have enough days allowance from our boss, we will be forced to direct our interest to closer places: I mean Tunisia and Libya, which are only 1-day sail from Italy.
Two Countries that we mean to visit in 14 days (9 for Tunisia and 5 for Libya).

My question is: how do you guys succeeded in riding Libya and in finding the places to see if road signs are only in Arabic?
I ask you this because we'd mean to visit Leptis Magna, which is not on the main coast road... How did you get there?
On the other side, we would prefer not to hire a guide cuz we wanna reduce the expenses (it also seems that there's no guide mandatory if you remain on the coast road).
Another question: is it possible to visit Leptis in one day or is it necessary to reserve two full days?
Are female tourists required to cover their hair?

Thanks to whoever can bring me his experience.

[Piotr]

Hi,
For the first :5 days is not enough to go to Libya!
To comunicate is not so bad but hard anyway
Leptis Magna ( Lebdah) you will find 120 km to the east from Tripol on the straight road (don't remember any problems).
Visit also Sabratah on the road to Tripoli.
As I remember it was not necessary for women to cover their hair.

br.
Piotr

[Hannes]

Hello !

Entering Libia a Tourist guide is obligatory - no other way !
The guide is around 120 EU/day selfdriving or around 50 EU/day in your car , depending on your agreement with the libian touroperator .
You have to translate your passport to ARABIC language from professional lic.translator .
Libian registration for your car at the border and libian insurance (CdP not accepted ).
Nearly no checks of cars and persons at the border - the Touroperator does all formalities .
My last entry last around 20 (!)min fixing the new signs - but its to expensive for 5 days , because the basecosts are the same : for 5 days as for 5 weeks .

So the questions about finding locations are selfanswering : GUIDE !

Remember that there are absolutely NO camping facilities along the coastline and its not recommended to do so !

Women hairs need not to be covered , for sure !

Think about this when you plan the journey .

Regards Hannes

[Piotr]

We've spent there 3 weeks so we had the guide especialy that we traveled upto the south border. It was one year ago, maybe it is possible now to travel alone without guide for a very short time but I think it is not.

Regarding to the hair covers for women there was NO such a need at all except mosques of course. It is not Saudi Arabia.

What is realy prohibited ?! Alcohol and any kind of erotic pictures, magazines etc.

br,
Piotr

[Knight of the Holy Graal]

Thanks for all your replies.

If it comes to the guide, it's the usual mess of Africa and Asia as concerns regulations.
I found this http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-by-bike-45708 and it seems that the coast road don't require any guide.
I already e-mailed the Libyan embassy in Rome, Italy but no replies so far.
But I have many months ahead, I'll get informed better.

To Piotr: we will visit only Tripoli and Leptis Magna (+ Sabratah as you suggest), so I hope that 5 days on Libyan territory will be enough for us.
In any case, we may reserve 6 days to Libya and 8 to Tunisia, because the dates of ferries are fixed.