Traveling to Libya is currently the easiest it’s been in many years! But there are still some restrictions and extra steps in place that can leave travelers feeling confused or unsure if they are even able to travel to Libya. Whether you’re planning to join a group tour or travel solo, in this blog I’ll break down how you can visit Libya for yourself!
For a time following the revolution, visiting Libya was extremely difficult for foreigners and there was a collapse in the country’s tourism. Now, efforts are being made to redevelop tourism in this beautiful and fascinating country. However, there are still a few hurdles visitors need to jump through. You cannot just book a flight to Tripoli and show up, and you cannot travel around freely on your own, you must be accompanied by tourist police. That being said, once you understand what traveling in Libya looks like, it’s all very simple and easy to enjoy.
Getting a Libya Visa
Libya has made travel easier by adding a new eVisa system! Travellers don’t need to visit an embassy, submit tons of paperwork, or mail their passport anywhere. But, in order to qualify for the Libya eVisa, your trip must be organized through a tour agency, like Saiga. Even if you plan to travel solo, all of your plans need to be arranged through a tour company. Once your plans are arranged, you’ll receive a letter of invitation which you’ll upload to the eVisa portal, along with your passport information and a visa portrait photo of yourself. We’ve received word back about visa approvals in as little as 24 hours, but we still recommend applying at least a few weeks in advance of your travel.
You can read more about the eVisa, such as who can qualify,
here
. (https://www.saigatours.com/article/Libya-evisa-udpate)
Flights to Libya
Flying in and out of Libya is getting easier as more international flights are being added. For western Libya, you will fly into Mitiga airport in Tripoli. This is the former military airport, but is now used as the main airport due to Tripoli International Airport being heavily damaged in 2014. Efforts to reopen Tripoli International have been underway for several years and we keep hearing the classic North African answer of “soon, insh’allah” when we ask when it might reopen. Luckily Mitiga services the public just fine for now and the airport is conveniently about a 15-20 minute drive from the city center. On our Libya group tours, most of us typically arrive from Tunis, but there are also international flights connecting Mitiga airport to Rome, Malta, Istanbul, Dubai, Jeddah, Amman, Cairo, Alexendria, and Sfax in Tunisia.
There are several Libyan airlines: Medsky, Libyan Wings, Afriqiyah, Buraq Air, and Berniq, which operates out of Benghazi. Tickets for many of these airlines can only be purchased through a third party site, or from someone on the ground in Libya. If you’re visiting Libya with us, we can help you arrange flights with a Libyan airline.
Tours In Libya
One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to visit Libya is by joining a group tour. This alleviates the cost of transportation, guides, and tourist police as you share these costs with several other people. Group tours are also a great way to connect with other people who love traveling to off-the-beaten path destinations. It’s a great way to see a lot of the country in a week, spending what you would have spent for just a couple of days on your own. On our tours, we cover the epic Roman ruins of Leptis Magna and Sabratha, as well as several lesser-known but super cool Berber ruins. We’ll visit the fascinating Old Town of Ghadames and learn about their Saharan technology and social structure. We’ll have some fun in the dunes of the south, and even bake bread in the sand. Of course, we’ll also explore the capital of Tripoli and eat lots of tasty Libyan dishes along the way.
If you’re determined to travel by yourself, you can always arrange a private tour, just know, you’ll never truly be by yourself. Independent travel is not currently allowed in Libya, and you are required to have an escort with you at all times the moment you step outside of your hotel. Even traveling privately, all of your plans will need to be arranged by a tour company, like Saiga. You will even need to be met at the airport by your Libyan sponsor in order to enter the country, so don’t book that flight without having your plans in place.
While Libya is currently in a period of relative stability, occasional skirmishes do happen. It is unlikely that you would be caught in one during your visit, but Saiga does have plans in place as well as an exit strategy, if any violence were to erupt. Once you are on the ground in Libya, you will be surprised by the calm feeling in the air, compared to the images you’ve mostly seen of the country in the media. It does not feel like a country caught in turmoil. People are living their everyday lives, and there is a sense of normalcy and calmness as people go to work, hang out in coffee shops, and spend time with their families.
Can you visit Eastern Libya?
Many travelers want to visit Eastern Libya as well, to visit places like Benghazi and the ancient Greco-Roman ruins of Cyrenaica. This is totally possible! But it comes with a hefty price tag. Even if you’re already visiting the western side of Libya, to travel east involves completely different permits issued by a completely different government. Currently, the permits are issued individually and there is no group permit option, so even if you are traveling with a partner, friend, or group, you will each need to pay a fee of between €500 and €1000 for the permits alone. Again, you will be required to hire a tourist police escort, which adds to the cost. This can make even a one or two day visit well over €1000. However, there is not an additional visa required ahead of time for Eastern Libya.
You can fly into Benghazi from Tripoli, or internationally from Istanbul, Dubai, Rome, Amman, Tunis, Cairo, and Alexandria. Currently the land border with Egypt is open to foreigners, as well as crossing from western Libya, but be warned that you will go through many checkpoints.
We offer a Benghazi extension on all of our group and private tours, which you can check out
here
!
Book That Trip!
There is no better time than right now to visit Libya! You’ll be in awe of this incredible country. If you’re planning a trip to Libya, check out our handy
Destination Guide
! Of course, the easiest and most cost-effective way to explore Libya is by joining a group tour. You can check out our Libya group tours
here
! Most of our Libya tours link with our Algeria and Mauritania tours, for those wanting to visit even more of North Africa while they’re in the region. If you have any questions about our group and private tours, send us an email at [email protected].