bilboburgler

So getting a visa was very difficult for a Brit to get to Libya. However if we just ignore that problem we found the Alnowras tourist company and, via the internet, arranged for a 2 person tour for ten days including rooms, transport and staff for ten days. Normally this company takes tours of 10 people at a time but at the end of the season and with the credit crunch in full swing they took us 2 for £2k. We normally organise our own tours but the laws of the country drive us down this route. The trip started in Tripoli, flew to Benghazi, toured the eastern end of Libya and then flew back for a few free days. Having a guide all the time has its benefits for instance we never had to check in luggage for any flights we had the guide do it. 

Alnowras arranged the formal invite that we needed to get into the country and from the moment we arrived to the moment we left their staff were there to sort out the few (or one major) issue that came up. The Libyan government like tourists to be controlled and so a strong pressure is placed on you to be guided, though we managed to have 2 days in Tripoli on our own.

The trip from Manchester via Libya Air to Tripoli was one of the nicest flights I’d been on. The very obvious, over weight, security officer took the nicest seat on the aircraft and all the single men were seated at the back but other than that it was a normal flight.

The tour basically went as

Arrived at the airport to the confusion of visa clearance, our solution to no guidance was to find the most European looking passengers and follow them. After a long wait for forms to filled in we passed through and were picked up by Mr Moktar who took us to the Safeer hotel. Really nice staff and roughly 3 star European standard.

We are 10 minutes walk to Green Square, the Kasbah and better restaurants. Even so the 4 season’s café is just by the hotel and proves a good place for alcohol free cocktails and burgers. There are plenty of good restaurants in Tripoli; they seem to follow the East coast but about one road back from the main road. Vegetarian does not seem to be much of an option. Wine can be seen in bottles on tables just never opened. Zero Alcohol beer is readily available

Ancient sites visited
Leptis Magna
Sabratha
Berenice
Cyrene
Apollonia
Qasr Libya
Tocra
Ras al-Hillal
L’Atrun
Slonta

Tripoli Museum very impressive with some of the finest Roman statues I’ve seen while the floor to the glorious leader defies description

Photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/4615385...7624504119344/

Hotels and Museums, see tripadvisor.com

bilboburgler

The Museum

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...m-Tripoli.html

The Green Square restaurant

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...a-Tripoli.html

Safeer Hotel

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...ECK_RATES_CONT

Light house hotel Apollonia

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...ECK_RATES_CONT

thursdaysd

Thanks for the report! And congratulations on getting the visa. I have UK and US passports, and figured I would be out of luck with either.

bilboburgler

Mrs Bilbo has a long description of what to do if you are intrested

thursdaysd

Thanks, but I won't be trying for a visa for a while yet - maybe Tunisia next year at the end of my RTW, not Libya.

impacked

Hi,
I'm very intersted in reading what Mrs. Bilbo has to say! We are considering a trip in Decemeber. We are US citizens but will be in England for Christmas. Thanks!