If you are planning to visit Libya in the near future, you might find very little information on how to visit Libya as a tourist. 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 is home to 5 UNESCO Heritage sights, Mediterranean coastlines, Berbers villages, and amazing desert landscapes.
Tripoli is the capital city and it feels more like a mixture of cities in Turkey and the Middle East. And, Libya also has some great food.
How to visit Libya – A tour agency will take care of you on the ground
Do you need a visa for Libya?
Passports and visas are required for entry into Libya for all nationalities except nationals of Algeria, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey. As Libya does not currently issue a tourist visa, the only option is to apply for a business visa.
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 simply planning a trip to Libya as a tourist, you will still need to get your business visa and for that, you need the help of an agency.
In order to apply for a Libyan visa, you will require an invitation letter from Libya and this is something the company takes care of on the ground.
It usually takes about 5-7 business days for the invitation letter to be issued and it will also be sent to the embassy where you will apply for your Libyan visa.
There are only a few Libyan Embassies, so best to check where you would apply.
Some suggestions include Rome, London, Washington, Canberra, or Dubai. Here is the full list of Libyan embassies.
Our hotel in Tripoli – How to visit Libya
How to visit Libya with a tour company?
At the moment there are two different contacts/tour agencies that 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.
Here are two local agencies that may be able to offer you assistance on how to visit 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 on a 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.
A final word on how to visit Libya
To read more about our experience here, read more about what it’s like visiting Libya, one of the least visited countries in the world.
We’ve got just one country left to visit from the entire African continent. Check out our map of where we’ve been to see what country remains.
Do you know the answer to how many countries in Africa are there? 54 or 55? Or perhaps the answer to how many countries are there in the world?
TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES
✈️ Flights: Skyscanner and Expedia are the best sites to search for the cheapest flights and great deals from your home country.
🏨 Accommodation: Booking.com, Agoda, and HotelsCombined are the top platforms to search for fantastic hotels and accommodation options at the best price.
🛌 Homestays: Airbnb is an ideal platform to book a local experience. We use Airbnb to reserve entire apartments for long-term stays.
🏥 Travel Insurance: Don’t forget travel insurance! We recommend World Nomads or SafetyWing.
🚌 Transportation: To book trains, Trainline is the best and cheapest website. To book transport in Europe, USA & Canada, we use Omio & FlixbusUS. For travel in Asia, we use 12Go. For all other countries, we use BookaWay to compare and book Bus, Ferry, or train tickets to get around.
🚘 Car Rental: Rentalcars.com, & Europcar are reliable platforms to book rental cars.
👫 Group Tours: G Adventures or Expat Explore offers the best group adventures around the world. Use our promo code VERYHUNGRYNOMADS at checkout to receive 5% off your Expat Explore Trip!
📸 Day Tours & Trips: Get Your Guide & Viator are the only platforms you will need. They offer everything at unbeatable prices.
🎒 Luggage: Osprey Farpoint 40L Backpack or any suitcase from Nomatic Travel Gear.
🛄 What to Pack: To help you get started on packing, here is our ULTIMATE Packing List for all Travellers.
🐶 Become a House Sitter: Join Trusted Housesitters and enjoy FREE accommodation around the world. Use our personal invite to receive 25% off your new membership.
📶 Stay Connected: Airalo eSIM allows you to get connected the moment you land at your destination and you can avoid those expensive data roaming charges. We LOVE this product!
✅ Check out our Travel Resources Page for more Useful Tips to Save you Money!
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.