If you plan to visit Libya in the near future, you might find very little information on how to visit Libya as a tourist.
This is the reason for why we wrote this blog.
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This country has some incredible sights to offer, especially the Roman Cities of Sabratha and Leptis Magna, but it remains one of the least visited countries for tourism.
Tourism was limited during the time of Gaddafi, but after the Arab Spring in 2011, it has been paralyzed by the ongoing conflict.
How to visit Libya? Here are a few points to consider first:
Libya and “Do Not Travel Warning”
First of all, almost every government has a warning in place to not visit Libya.
This means in most cases your travel insurance will be invalid and your embassy won’t be able to assist you on the ground in case of emergency.
The ongoing conflict in Libya and the instability of the government means Libya is really only suitable for experienced travellers.
Why go to Libya?
Libya has 5 UNESCO Heritage sights, Mediterranean coastlines, Berber villages, and unique desert landscapes.
Tripoli is the capital city and feels more like a mixture of Turkey and the Middle East cities.
And Libya also has some great food.
Do you need a visa for Libya?
Passports and visas are required to enter Libya for all nationalities except nationals of Algeria, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey.
If you are maybe working in the construction industry, oil and gas, or are a diplomat, you might be able to visit Libya for work and add a few days to your itinerary to see some sights.
However, if you are planning a trip to Libya as a tourist, read more about the process below.
UPDATE: Since March 2024, there has been a new eVisa for tourists who wish to visit Libya for tourism purposes. You can find all the information you need to apply for a Libyan visa here. From travellers’ experiences with this new process in 2024, it still seems to be quite challenging.
To apply for a Libyan visa, you will likely still require an invitation letter from a tour agency in Libya, which the company handles on the ground.
The invitation letter usually takes 5-7 business days to issue. It will also be sent to the embassy, where you will apply for your Libyan visa.
There are only a few Libyan Embassies, so it is best to check where you would apply.
Some suggestions include Rome, London, Washington, Canberra, or Dubai.
Here is the full list of Libyan embassies.
How to visit Libya with a tour company?
Currently, two different contacts/tour agencies organise tours in Libya.
Most travellers visit for 3-5 days as you are limited to what you can visit in Libya.
Your tour will most likely include Tripoli and Tripoli Medina and a visit to the Roman City of Leptis Magna.
You can add a visit to the other Roman city of Sabratha as well as the Berber villages in the Nafusa Mountains plus a visit to the ancient granary Qasr al-hajj.
Finally, you might choose a trip to the desert town of Ghadames.
Five local agencies may be able to assist you with visiting Libya.
These five companies are certified by the government:
- Sherwes (this is the company we used; more contact details are listed below)
- Wadi Smalos (another company that friends have used to visit Libya)
- Wadi Tidwa
- Momizon
- Soqor Libya
Offers 3-5 days packages to Libya.
Contact: Ibrahim Usta Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Overseas Customer Service: +46708454361 (WhatsApp)
Offers 3-5 days packages to Libya but can also arrange a visit to the desert town of Ghadames
Contact: Abubaker Abusahmen Email: [email protected]
+218913633082 (WhatsApp)
How to visit Libya from Tunis
The best way to get to Libya is by flight from Tunis to Tripoli.
Tunis Air as well as Libyan Wings fly this route daily.
As you have to book Libyan wings through an agency, your contact on the ground will organise your flights and e-tickets.
Recommended posts about Libya
A final word about how to visit Libya
Read more about what it’s like visiting Libya, one of the least visited countries in the world. We visited Libya in November 2021.
You may also be interested to discover the 10 most popular foods from Libya.
Travel Tips for Africa
We have many travel guides and tips for Africa – what a massive continent!
Have you ever wondered how many countries in Africa there are? 54 or 55? We cover them in depth in our ultimate Africa bucket list.
There is some delicious cuisine to be enjoyed across Africa, and these ten best African countries for food will inspire your food journey.
Check out how many of these 15 most popular foods you can taste.
If you’re wondering what they eat for breakfast in Africa, check out these 20 popular breakfast foods.
For food lovers, our Food Map of AFRICA lists the quintessential dish you need to eat in every nation!
It’s worth reading these 17 ESSENTIAL Things to know before travelling to West Africa, and our packing list for Africa may be helpful to you.
Don’t miss our recap of our travels across West Africa for even more helpful tips, and try these popular West African dishes; they’re fantastic!
You’ll need to stay connected while travelling in Africa. We recommend eSIM. It’s easy, reliable and affordable. View eSIMs for individual countries in Africa, or consider a regional eSIM for Africa (which covers 36 countries)
If your travels in Africa are part of a much larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries, offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text Global eSIM. This eSIM has been a game-changer for us, and we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.
If you want to travel with like-minded travellers, consider joining a group tour. Check out our Group Tours first for any upcoming departures in Africa, or view Tourradar for deals on group tours in Africa.
Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.
Travel Planning Resources
✈️ Flights: We use Skyscanner to book cheap flights worldwide.
🏨 Accommodation: Booking.com is our preferred platform for booking hotels and accommodation. We use Vrbo to book apartments and long-term stays.
🏥 Travel Insurance: We recommend Heymondo (Get 15% off Heymondo) & SafetyWing
🚌 Transportation: Trainline is the best website to reserve trains. We use Omio to book transport worldwide. For travel in Asia, we use 12Go.
🚘 Car Rental: We use DiscoverCars to book rental cars worldwide.
👫 Group Tours: We now offer Group Trips; view them here! Alternatively, we recommend searching the Tourradar website. For Europe, Expat Explore is a good choice. *Get 5% off when you quote code VERYHUNGRYNOMADS to your Expat reservations agent. (*Valid for new clients only).
📸 Day Tours & Trips: GetYourGuide & Viator are the only two platforms you need.
📚 Lonely Planet: The Best Range of Travel Guides & Ebooks, and FREE Shipping! (use code RACHELDAVEY10 for a 10% discount)
🎒 Luggage: Osprey Farpoint 40L Backpack or Samsonite Luggage Range.
🛄 What to Pack: Don’t forget your Universal charger and a good power bank. To help you pack the essentials, here is our ULTIMATE Packing List for all Travellers.
🐶 Become a House Sitter: Join Trusted Housesitters and enjoy FREE accommodation worldwide. Use our invite to receive 25% off your new membership.
💰 Send Money Anywhere: WISE & Revolut are the best online accounts that let you send money, get paid, and spend money internationally. Both are so easy to use and way cheaper than any bank transfer.
📶 Stay Connected: Airalo eSIM lets you get connected when you land at your destination. We LOVE this product! Use code MARTIN9009 to get $3 off your first Airalo eSIM (new users only) OR click here to SAVE 15% off your eSIM(valid till 31/12/2025).
✅ Check out our Travel Gear and Travel Resources for more valuable tips to save you money!
3 Comments. Leave new
Great blog!
Looking to plan a trip to Libya and wondering what is the ideal amount of time to spend in Libya? Is it possible to travel the Ghadames?
Thank you, Karen. Yes, it might be possible to travel to Ghadames. Get in touch with one of the travel agencies to find out if they could organise a trip there as it depends on the current situation. You might need 5 days to see everything in Libya that is currently accessible for visitors.
I would like to visit Libya, if possible for me to go there.