Libya by Bike

[vangraan]

Hi,

I read through a couple of threads here about going through Libya but they don't seem to answer my questions. There seem to have been a bunch of visa regulation updates in the last months and I would like to know where to find the actual rules.

I will enter Libya from Egypt and leave to Tunisia. (I am not American)

Things I would like to know.
1. Can I get the visa on the Egypt / Libya border?
2. Do I have to use a travel agent to organize the visa or can I just pitch up and get it?
3. Does a guide need to accompany me all the way through or can I drive on my own? If I am not mistaken this was required not to long ago.

Anything else I should know?

[Eric DN]

Originally Posted by vangraan

Hi,

Things I would like to know.
1. Can I get the visa on the Egypt / Libya border?
2. Do I have to use a travel agent to organize the visa or can I just pitch up and get it?
3. Does a guide need to accompany me all the way through or can I drive on my own? If I am not mistaken this was required not to long ago.

Anything else I should know?

1 I think you cannot
2 A french guy did the same but oposite sens ( means tunisia to Egypt), he got a short time visa (5 or 7 days I beleive), he got it to the consulat here in france, passport must be translated.
3 for the north route means along the coast he didn't hire a guide, a guide is mandatory in the south

All I have read about, is that the most difficult is to ride your own bike in Egypt ( you need a carnet and lot of paperwork ect...)
Eric

[vangraan]

Thanks for the info.
I spoke with the Libya embassy here in South Africa and they said I can get the visa at the border but must organize with a travel agency. They say the travel agency makes sure the border has my name on file so when I arrive they know about me.

No guide needed if you stick to the north coastal highway.

[Kuno2]

@ Vangraan;

A) You normally get the visa at the border as a tourist. No matter where you enter to LY. But you can request the invitation to be sent to the LY embassy in the county of your residence as well. The second case ensures that you have the visa in the passport in advance. However, from the moment you have it stamped into the passport you have 45 days to enter the country (and then you can stay up to one month...)

B) The invitation has to be arranged in advance via a Libyan travel-agency.

C) Official company is mandatory. Normally it is a 'tourist policeman' for groups of 4 and more travelers & a "trave guide". Since I presume that you inted to travel alone you will only need the "travel guide". I presume that the travel agency will insist that their "guide" cannot come alone but needs a driver & car as well. Further you will most probably have to pay them not only from border to border but as well for the way from Tripoli to the Egyptian border and then back to Tripoli from the Tunisian border again. I would advise you to be very clear and careful during these negotiations to avoid 'surprises'.

[Defender200TDi]

We are looking at this at the moment too and are looking to use an agency named Temehu - see Specialist Libyan Tour Operator & travel agent, providing libya tours & visa, Sahara adventure tours, Libya prehistoric art tours..

I found a couple reviews online that seemed to recommend them, but mainly, was persuaded by the depth of information on their website. Sent them a mail querying the process / costs etc. and they were back to me in the same day, answering all my questions in impressive detail.

We're likely to go this route. They're advocating the visa on arrival (recently re-introduced I gather) - all you need is an arabic translation of your details stamped in your passport - you send them a JPEG copy of this; a couple of other details such as occupation, nationality, etc. and they send you confirmation 2 days before arrival and have someone to meet you at the border (your guide - seems inescapable) to complete the process. Granted, it's not without risk - but there appears to be little alternative.

Hope that helps... for a categoric response, I'd mail them directly at their website.

Cheers

[Sam Rutherford]

Hadi Bkai of Fessano-w-tours will arrange all your visas for you, for collection at the border.

We have worked with him for the last 5 years, without a single problem or incident (probably 20+ events/visits so far).

Email info@fessano-w-tours.com