Can anyone give me advice on Libya / Tunisia. Visa, getting M/Cs in etc. Planning on sept oct riding down to Genova and then across to Tunis on the ferry. I have done a search on here but can't find much.

Thanks
Pete

PS I would like to travel around Libya without a guide.

I am in the same boat as you, but alas, I do not know any other way than having a guide. I know a person whom we will travel with in a few weeks, who knows a lybian policeman who will act as guide and help in optaining all the nessesary paperwork and formalities, as well as accompanying us whilst we are in lybia itself. best of luck stephan

Are you talking about the whole Libya or only the coast road?

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Nick and his 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré

Hi - getting a bike into Tunisia on the ferry is no problem at all. I did this with a car in 2007 but a bike is not much different. At the Tun/Lib border - not sure with a bike, but again a car was OK. I had a carnet which the Libyans used, but unsure whether it was required or just accepted.

Tunisian visa - unsure re your nationality, but if it's EU you will just get a stamp on entry - you don't need a visa. For Libya - yes you will need one. There's plenty of discussion re this on the HUBB and there was also talk a month or 2 ago of people entering Libya needing to be in a group of 5.

Guide - for the north coast road, you don't need one. For anywhere south of this, yes you do.

overlandcruiser.net

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www.overlandcruiser.wordpress.com

Thanks for the reply s. I was hoping to go south and not have to stay on the coast road. Is it a big problem if you wonder south after saying you will stay on the cost?

Where can I get bike insurance, do I need to buy it in Libya?

Any places you recommend seeing?

Ta for the help
Pete

PS Just called the Embassy they say If I book through a travel agency to get the visa I will not need a guide anywhere in Libya! Number in case anyone else needs it 0207 589 6120 They do take a long time to answer.

That's an interesting piece of information you were told by the Embassy about not needing a guide! Do any other members have any experience of this?

Libya is full of police checkpoints, so you would not get far from the coast road before being stopped at one.

Places recommend seeing - the attractions of Libya are mainly either along the coast, or a looooooong way south into the desert. Do you plan to go into the desert? You will pretty much have to to see the best scenery.

Insurance - unsure on that one. We used a guide, so it was already arranged at the border when we arrived. I suspect - and am willing to be corrected on this by others if I am wrong - that there is a booth at the border where you can buy it. It won't be expensive, but bear in mind it will only be 3rd party.

Mark

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www.overlandcruiser.wordpress.com

Hi
we do plan to ride in the desert so bring on the places :O) This web site has some info Homepage Looks like if we head south as we get over the Tunisian boarder we will find some good places
I have asked a couple of agency's for info and will keep you informed
Thanks for the info

Pete

You'll need a tour guide anywhere in Libya away from the transit route to Egypt.

The guide will meet you at the border and you'll follow in your car/bike. If you're going to the desert, then the first guide will hand you over to the desert guide at the start of your first piste - eg in Ghadames. The desert guide will be in a Land Cruiser. Desert guides are more expensive than "city" guides.

The desert guide then takes you round the desert and hands you back to the first guide when he's done with you.

If you're on your own on a bike the cost may be prohibitive. If you're a group of more than four then I think a tourist Policeman must accompany the group at all times (usually in the guides vehicle). You'll have to pay extra for this.

You get your insurance and arabic number plates at the border. You will have paid for all of this in advance to your tour company. You then change money at a booth on the right 100m inside the border. However, your guide handles everything for you.

We went as a group of seven people in four vehicles. This really made it affordable.

You have to really want to go to Libya to go through all the routines regarding Arabic translations of your passport, thumb prints, visas, organising guides etc.....

....but it is an amazingly beautiful country and the people there are warm and friendly. We loved it and would go back in a minute.

Good luck!

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Fraser

So, one more time. Is it possible to go alone at your own into Lybia riding the main coast road going to Egypt?

That is what I need. Going into Lybia from Tunisia and ending up in Egypt. Is that possible without guide?

Thanks.

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www.miquelsilvestre.com

Well - quite pushy considering it's not your thread

If you have a transit visa and complete the journey in 5 days, then I believe the answer to be "YES"

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Fraser

Thanks for the info Fraser.
I'm going to go to Libya and I really want to ride the desert not just the north road. Just got to work out how, I think it will be down to the people, police etc I meet when I'm there.

Life's for adventures.

Pete

Passports have to have a translation in them in Arabic. This can be got from Arab British chamber of commerce London Arab British Chamber of Commerce - ABCC Tel 02076594861 Costs £30

Hope this helps others

Pete

Hi BMWBiggles

Glad to hear your plans are progressing. Places to see in Libya - have a look at my website - overlandcruiser.net

I think you will probably need the services of an agency to get all the paperwork sorted out, even if you CAN travel around the south without a guide. Would be too easy to miss something out if you were doing it on your own.

For the desert bit of the tour, whether or not you need a guide I would strongly suggest either using one or teaming up with a tour group purely for safety.

Which agency are you using? PLEASE don't tell me it's Arkno!

Mark

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www.overlandcruiser.wordpress.com

Hi
So far I have e mailed two, one was Libtra tours the other I can't remember their name but neither have yet got back to me. Can you recommend one?
Thanks for the link.
Ta

Pete

YES too, you're right ( both points)

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Eric
http://two400xrinmorocco.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CJbEWCb_wk