hi all,
we now stuck in dahab und wondering whether to try syria or rather try to apply for lybian visa and take the ferry from tunis to palermo.
anyone has a very recent info if the border from lybia to tunesia is open and if its possible to get the lybian transit visa in cairo?
many thanks

darius

News from Libya is pretty thin at the moment but this is what I am told - I can't vouch for its accuracy.

The Tuni border is open, and for visas there is a sort of black market in supplying the business invitation required, but they are easily available and will get you in.

See this: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...yan-visa-59535

But even with a visa, as I understand it the problem could still be security in transiting from one side to the other. Various factions/militias control their patches (including the Tuni border) and occasionally have it out with each other, as we read in the news.

I have yet to hear of any tourist crossing Libya, even though many are in the same boat as you. It may have happened but I've not even heard of anyone trying and getting turned back, while others tell me of huge price rises in Tripoli hotels to capitalise on foreign businessmen + the requirement (or perhaps just opportunity) for $500/day security. Regular tourism is a long way off, it seems.

So it could still be too soon, but one day someone will manage. You would think regular transit convoys, like they used to have in Western Sahara, would not be a bad idea.

Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 pre-order for Xmas • Trans Morocco Trail

Mate, others travellers told me they are getting a transit visa in Cairo soon to cross. Apparently 7 or 10 day transit issued in Cairo easily, starts the day they give it to you....

Email and I will put you in touch with them to see if it is real or pie in the sky....

Darrin

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Kiwi, 7 years around Africa. Overlanding channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/roamingyak

We returned yesterday from another successful DIY Gilf trip from UK in 2 Landcruisers,

We entered Libya mid Jan from Tunsia at the Dehiba / Waziin border crossing, NOT the usual Ras Adir route, using business visas obtained by a Libyan friend
We then crossed Libya to the egyptian border joining the coastal route on the east side of Tripoli.

When returning we then spent 9 days in Libya transiting again & going further south in the desert to the border crossing at Wazzin (Near Nalut), and generally touring about in libya.

There are many many checkpoints throughout the country, manned by mostly young soldiers who were all very friendly & seemed genuinely pleased to see us, in Ajdabya we felt like celebrities with the local people continually welcoming us & stopping us to say hello & thankyou!!!

There are dozens & dozens of bombed tanks, cars & buildings all over the place & many of the towns (especially Sirte) are littered with discarded bullets, shells, & missiles of all sorts, just laying in the streets.
Many roads are potholed due to shell fire but the larger bomb craters (Nato) have been filled in

Sometimes we could hear occasional bursts of gunfire, but felt completely safe all of the time, the local peoples are pleased that they are now 'free' as they kept telling us, all of the gadaffi pictures, everywhere, have gone & been replaced with the new libyan flag & slogans.

We actually only met one young man (at the drain where gadaffi was captured) who told us that he was a gadaffi supporter, every one else was ecstatic that he was gone & continually holding up thier hands with the V for victory sign.
We were told that there were some instances of family / tribal conflict, but did not see any of this, or have any issues with security & were able to go where we wanted with no problems.

The biggest aggravations we had were with the police & customs etc in Tunisia who were very surly!
The notorious egyptian border was also completed in about 3 hours, again easily done, but there is a big refugee camp at the border here (mostly black africans that have been thrown out of libya & refused entry to Egypt), and the childeren are constantly trying to get into your cars, the egyptian police warned us to keep the cars locked & not leave them unattended while at the border here because of this.

I would certainly return to Libya tomorrow if I had the time!!!

Andy

Hi Andy

thanks a lot for this useful and first hand information & experiences

though a couple of more questions ...

How much did you pay for the buisness visa ?

Still no tourist visa issued, right ?

Did you have a guide and had to pay for him ?

Why choosing another border crossing and not the usual one ?

Where did you stay the night when transiting the coastal route, Hotel or bush camping ?

Thanks Thomas & Andrea

We are riding 2 motorcycles and normally do bush/desert camping ....

Tom,

Paid 150 GBP at the libyan embassy in London each for the business visas, plus a payment of 150 (I think) euros to the company in Libya that sorted out that end of things (for all 4 of the visas)

still no tourist visas available,

yes we had a guide that we have used before, but I dont think that this is essential now when using business visas (not sure on that point).
But certainly advisable as there are so many checkpoints etc & for dealing with the border formalities, number plates etc which was very very smooth thanks to him.

He suggested using the Dehiba / wazin border crossing as it is much smaller & easier, its just the Tunisian customs that were a pain!

We used hotels (only 2 nights) & bush camped the rest, the hotels were useful especially after a long days driving after crossing the borders into libya and driving after dark

Hope this helps a bit!

Andy

Well done Andy and thanks for the update.
Do I take it those prices were for a double entry Libyan visa.
I saw a UK visa agency charging $450 pp for the 'business voucher' alone...

Where did you get to in the Gilf?

Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 pre-order for Xmas • Trans Morocco Trail

Multiple entry business visa, valid for 3 months. Went as far as 8 Bells and all the other usual places. All was good no problems. Still as beautiful as ever.

Hey Andy

many thanks for the update, now it`s much more clear

Thomas

Thanks

Anyone passing through Misurata is welcome to stop by for a night, hot showers and english spoken. I'm not always in town but happy to oblige.
CJ.

Great info here, need to keep this thread active and updated as things change.

CJ, I will take you up on your offer about next January if I can get visa.

I am going to be in Washington DC in a couple of weeks and plan on checking at Libyan Embassy to see if a tourest visa will be a posiblity by January.

Just came back from Libya. Was there to report for Dutch media. Travelled on journalist visa. Entered by public transport from Tunisia. After two weeks in tripoli and Nafusa took public transport to Sebha. Than continued to Murzuk. It seems safe. Everywhere militias. They sometimes fight each other, but not many bandits I heard. No problem to continue to Chad the Tubu in Murzuk told me. Now a direct route from Katrun to Wour, which was not allowed during the last years of Khaddafi. On my way back to Tunisia experienced problems between Libyan and Tunisians at the border. Libyans stopped export of gasoline for a while, and confiscated it from Tunisian smugglers. Cars of Libyan in Ben Guerdane werd damaged by angry mob. Also Tunisian border guard were looking for bribes. A friend had to pay 50 dinars beacuse he had a voice recorder! Also Thuraya is not allowed, customs say. Not true, I think. To avoid problems you should get permission at Tunisan embassy before travelling, I hear, like journalist with tv camera's.

Interesting! Would you attempt to go to south Libya with your own vehicle now after what you have seen this trip?
Sounds like Ras Adir and Ben Guardane is best avoided at this time. Is Dehiba/Wasin the best option?

I planned to drive my own vehicle to Chad. To visit the coronation in Zouar. Tubu in Chad, including the sousprefet of Tibesti west, said it was is no problem with a good guide. I was afraid my car would be stolen. Also the guide would be rather expensive. I now think the risk is not big. But Niger is another story. Also the piste from Ghadames to Ghat seems not totally safe. Crossing at Ben Guerdane involves a lot of waiting in a car. But not less corrupt than Wasin, I hear.