Miscellaneous Information About Libya:

 

• Capital: Tripoli
• Area: 1.759.540 sq. km..
• Coastline: 1,770 km
• Official holiday: Friday
• Population: 6,036,914
• Literacy 82.6%.
• Independence: 24/12/1951.
  Revolution: 01/09/1969.
• GDP per capita $16,000.
• Telephone: country code is 218.
• Mobile: GMS 900 & 1800 networks.
• Internet domain name: .ly
• Workweek: Sunday to Thursday.
• Driving: on the right-hand-side of the road.
• Local Time: Greenwich Mean Time + 2 hours
• Religion: Sunni Muslim, Abadite Muslim .
• Alcohol: all alcoholic drinks are prohibited.
• Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum.
• Weights: kilograms, measurements: meter.
• Life expectancy: 77 years (women), 72 years (men).
• Monetary unit: 1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams.
• Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry desert in the interior.
• Official name: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.
• Ethnic groups: Arab and Berber (97%); Africans, Asians, Europeans (3%).
• ATM (cash machines): only in big hotels, airport, and some restaurants.
• Post:   ordinary and express mail; international DHL available in large cities.
• Electricity:   220 volts -50 Hz (plugs: two round pins, and tree square pins).
• Industries:petroleum, textiles, handicrafts, cement and food processing.
• Working hours Summer: 7:30 am to 2:30 pm; Winter: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.
• Natural Hazards: sand storms; hot, dry, dust-laden wind (gibli) in Spring and Autumn.
• Emergency telephone line: 193 - equivalent to 999 (UK), or 911 (USA).
• Major Exports: (US$37 billion, mostly from crude oil and refined petroleum products): Italy (38%), Germany (15%), Spain (9%), France (6%), Turkey (6%), U.S. (5%).
• Major Imports: (US$14.47 billion, mostly of machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods): Italy (21.2%), Germany (10%), Tunisia (6%), UK (5%), Turkey (5%), France (5%), South Korea (5%), China (4%).
• Terrorism: Libya is the only country in North Africa where terrorists do not exist. Muslim fundamentals have no voice whatsoever. Not a single terror-incident has been recorded in Libya.
• Location: North Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria, southern border with Niger, Chad and Sudan.
• Administrative divisions: 31 municipalities ( " sha'biyyat " ): Butnan, Darnah, Gubba, al-Jabal al-Akhdar, Marj, Green Belt, Benghazi, Ajdabiya, Wahat, Kufra, Surt, al-Jufrah, Musratha, Murgub, Bani-waleed, Tarhuna and Msallata, Tripoli, Jfara, Zawiya, Subrata & Surman, an-Niqat al-Khamsah, Gharyan, Mezda, Nalut, Ghadames, Yefren and Jadu, Wadi Alhayat, Ghat, Sabha, Wadi Shati, Murzuq.

 

 

 

Entry Points (Airports & Borders):

 

Land Entries:

• Ras Jdeer (Tunisian-Libyan Border), also spelt as: Ras Ejdir, Ras Jdayr (Google maps).
• Emsaa'ed (Egyptian-Libyan Border), also spelt as Amsa'ad (Google map).
• Ghat (Algerian Border)
• Ethoom
• Elawenat
• Wazn
• Elsara

 

Civilian Airports:

• Tripoli International Airport
• Beneen International Airport
• Sirt International Airport
• Sabha International Airport
• Ghat International Airport
• Matega International Airport.
• Zwara National Airport (under devleopment to become International)

 

Seaports:

 

• Tripoli Harbour
• Benghazi Harbour
• Zwara Harbour
• Casar Ahmed Harbour (Musratha)
• Tobruk Harbour
• Khoms Harbour

 

 

 

The Internet:

The Libyans enjoy unrestricted access to the world wide web and satellite TV. Internet cafes are widely available and provide free access to the Internet that is not free (of charge). Yahoo and hotmail emails are the most popular among Libyans. The speed, however, is still mostly dial-up. Some new companies started to provide high speed DSL Internet connection (which is only 256 kbps download, costing 50 LD per month). The Phoenicia Group (in partnership with other companies) have recently agreed to provide VSAT connectivity solutions to selected Libyan institutions. VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) is a satellite Internet system without cable-based infrastructure (wireless), which is ideal for companies operating in the desert like oil and gas companies, as well as for the government, military and corporate clients. The Group also provides a 3G-based satellite Internet service launched by Inmarsat (about 428 Kbps), using a mobile lap-top sized terminal which can be set up almost anywhere worldwide. This services is known as BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network).

 

 

 

Getting There:

Air Malta, British Airways and Lufthansa all fly direct to Tripoli. You can also fly to Djerba in Tunisia and then continue your journey by bus or taxi; we will meet you at the border to complete all the paper work for you. We will also meet you at the Egyptian border if you are coming from Egypt. You can also take a boat from Malta or Italy to Tripoli, and experience a lifetime trip across the Mediterranean.

Afriqya Airlines (Geneva, Brussels, Paris to Tripoli)
Air Malta (Malta to Tripoli)
Alitalia (Rome to Tripoli and Benghazi)
Austrian Airline (Vienna to Tripoli)
British Airways (London to Tripoli)
Egypt Air (Cairo to Benghazi)
KlM (Amsterdam to Tripoli)
Lufthansa (Frankfurt to Tripoli)
Swiss Air (Zurich to Tripoli and Benghazi)
Syrian Airline (Damascus to Benghazi)
Tunis Air (Tunis to Benghazi)
Turkish Airline (Istanbul to Tripoli)

 

 

Internal Flight Information:

Tripoli International Airport is located about 30km south of the capital. The airport has only one terminal, a duty-free shopping and a business lounge. Transfer from the airport to the city is normally arranged by your tour operator, whose representative(s) will be waiting for you on arrival; taxis are also available, if the need arises to travel without the representative. Visitors are allowed to bring 200 cigarettes or 250g cigars or 250g tobacco, and 250ml perfume. The following products are in the prohibited items list and therefore are not allowed into the country: Israeli products, alcohol, drugs, pork products, preserved meat and obscene literature. See our Travel Guide for more prohibited items.  

 

*   BA = (Buraq Airline)   ;     ** LA (Libyan Airways)

 

 

Libyan Airways:

Head Office
Address: Libyan Airways
P.O.Box 2555, Ibn Fernas Building
Tripoli World Airport
Telephone: +218-22-630030/630049
Telex : 20845
SITA : TIPZZLN
Fax : +218-21-3614815

 

Buraq Air:

Buraq Air is the first private airline in Libya, with its headquarters located at Mittiga International Airport in Tripoli. The company was founded in 2000. Tickets can be booked through any of the following offices, or can be bought directly at   the listed airports.

Main Office:

Mitiga International Airport
Tripoli, Libya
P.O. Box 93149
Tel: +218 21 3500821 / 3510016
Fax: +218 21 3500949 / 3510017
SITA Code: MJIOCXH

Benghazi Office:

Benghazi, Libya
El Fatih Street
Tel: +218 61 2234469
Fax: +218 61 2239160

Domestic flight information and ticket reservation:

Mittiga Airport: +218 21 3504521
Benin Airport: +218 61 9081983
Sabha Airport: +218 71 635362

El Megarief: +218 21 4443828
Benghazi: +218 61 9081982
Sabha: +218 71 635991
Tobruk: +218 87 623395
Beida: +218 84 636957

 

 

 

 

Food & Drinks:

Food in Libya is of good standard, which includes a wide variety of local and foreign dishes, like European, Indian and Chinese. At the top of the list of traditional dishes are couscous and bazin. Most restaurants and cafes provide a menu very similar to the menus found elsewhere in North Africa and Europe, like steak, scallop, burgers, roast chicken, rice, pasta, soups, sandwiches, etc. Food during desert and camping tours will be prepared by our specialist chefs who will accompany us on their own kitchen-vehicle. They will be more than happy to prepare special meals for vegetarians and vegans. Couscous is originally a local North African dish, made of wheat or barley semolina, rolled into tiny balls (the size of half rice grain) and then steamed on top of a sauce made of tomato puree, mild spices, garlic, olive oil, chick peas, vegetable and meat (or fish), depending on type.The Bazin is also made of wheat or barley, boiled in water until forms a hard doughy lump, which then is knead several times to achieve a certain consistency and then placed in the middle of a large bowl, with the sauce around it, and eaten with fingers: driving the fingers in the dough, breaking a small bit, mixing it with the sauce several times until it becomes soft, and then thrown into the mouth to be further chewed and swallowed. It is really the hard way to eat. Tea and coffee are served without milk, and Green tea is normally served after a meal to aid digestion. All other types of drinks are also available, with the exception of alcoholic drinks, which are illegal.

 

 

Banks & Currency:

Libya is relatively cheap, compared to other tourist destinations in North Africa.   If you are going by car, then petrol prices are among the cheapest in the world (15 qirsh, or 11 American cents, per litre). The unit currency is the Libyan dinar (LYD), which comes in notes of ¼ . ½ , 1, 5, 10 and 20.

• One Libyan dinar (1LYD) = 100 qirsh = 1000 dirhams
• One European euro ( € 1) = 1.40 to 1.80 LYD
• One American dollar ($1) = 1.25 to 1.40 LYD
• One English pound ( £ 1) = 2.20 t0 2.30 LYD

There are about ten major banks in Libya: the Central Bank of Libya,   the Agriculture Bank, the National Commercial Bank, the Commerce & Development Bank, the Arab Foreign Bank, the Savings and Real Estate Investment Bank, the Sahara Bank, al-Jamahiriya Bank, the Umma Bank, and the Wahda Bank.   Although all the above banks are state-controlled banks, the Libyan government passed a law in 1993 which allows the public to establish private sector banks in Libya. The Libyan Arab Foreign Bank implements the international functions of the Central Bank of Libya through subsidiaries in some 20 foreign countries.

Credit Cards & Travellers Cheques: credit cards are not widely accepted; limited acceptance of Diners Club and Visa; Travellers Cheques are not currently accepted. Please check with your credit card company for more details or for recent changes which we might not be aware of. Generally speaking, cash is normally used by most tourists. If you are coming from Tunisia, then you might would like to know that in a joint conference with the Tunisian Prime Minister, the Secretary of the Libyan GPS has announced that from the 15^th of January 2007 the Libyan and Tunisian dinars will be accepted in all Tunisian and Libyan banks and shops, without any reservation.

 

 

 

Hotels:

5-star hotels are rarely found in Libya, apart from a few in Tripoli and Benghazi and one in Ghadames. 1-star and 2-star hotels, if found, are not recommended. Most top Libyan hotels are considered as 3-star hotels by European standards, and they are easily found almost everywhere. The unique 5-star hotel at Ghadames is one of the best hotels in Libya, as it incorporates local architecture and culture and therefore is a good way of introducing Berber or Tuareg traditions.

The actual prices for 3-star hotels range from 40 to 120 Libyan dinars. Most visitors choose to pay around 90 Libyan dinars for the hotels of their choice and refused to stay in those hotels that charge less than that. Similarly the 5-star hotels range from 140 to 700 Libyan dinars for a single night. So please, if you want us to book a hotel for you, be as specific as possible about the kind of services you prefer, or best wait until arrival and have a look around for yourself. We will show you around and let you decide on a suitable place to suit your needs.

 

 

 

The Climate:

If you are a Sun lover, then the weather in Libya is normally good for most of the year. The highest temperature in the world was recorded in Libya on the 13th of September 1922, in el-Azizia, close to Tripoli, in Libya: a staggering 136.4 degree Fahrenheit. During the period between May and October the coastal temperature can rise to 38 C (100F), while in the southern parts of the country it can sore to a staggering 50C.

 

In our view, we recommend that the best time to visit Libya is between late October and late April, when the temperature is generally mellow.   However, be prepared as winter temperatures, especially at night, can drop to below 0C. Snow does fall sometimes in Libya, but only in the mountains, just like in Algeria or Morocco ’ s Jebel Toubkal – North Africa ’ s highest peak (4167 km). If you visit Libya in the spring, then you may encounter the massive Gibli winds – a dry, hot, sand-blasting wind and blizzards, most often rendering visibility very poor, and dizzying at times. Another bizarre feature of the Sahara is the sand seas, which are formation of shifting sand dunes, some of which are several hundred meters high. It is common to find archaeological artifacts, like flints, stone tools, pottery shreds and bones, scattered across the surface of the Sahara, many of which were looted by tourists and other visitors. By the beaches of Libya, especially those west and east of Zwara city, one can expect a friendly cool breeze, breaking from the sea.

 

• Best Time to Visit Libya: October to November: warm, clear sky.
• Good Time to Visit Libya: Early March to Late April: hot, clear sky, with slight occasional wind
• Cool Time to Visit Libya: December to February: cool period, with cold temperatures at night.
• Libyan Time to Visit Libya: May to October: really hot temperature, with some dusty winds. Good for tan lovers and beach holidays only. Desert not recommended.

 

 

 

 

 

Energy & Oil:

The oil industry in Libya is run by the state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC), with several smaller subsidiaries and some foreign firms. Libya's high quality crude oil   is low in sulphur and produced at a very low cost, which makes it very valuable to foreign investors. Libya's oil reserves are estimated at 14 billion barrels. About 90 percent of Libya's oil is sold to Western Europe. Owing to the imposed international sanctions Libya has more oil than its aging equipment can process. It has now, after the recent lifting of the sanctions, resumed the purchase of parts and equipment to upgrade its refining and producing capacities.  

Although most of Libya's current power plants are oil-generated, several stations have been converted to natural gas. Libya's gas reserves were estimated at about 70 trillion cubic feet (tcf), and it is thought that there are substantial reserves both onshore and offshore.   Projects to utilize natural gas include the 800-megawatt power plant in Zwara (Zuwarah), a 600-megawatt Western Mountain Power Project, a 1,400-megawatt power plant to be located on the coast between Benghazi and Tripoli, and the 1,200-megawatt Gulf Stream combined power and desalination complex in Sirt. Libya currently possesses an electric power production capacity of about 5 gigawatts, with plans to more than double the capacity by 2010.     There are rumours that Libya's state-owned General Electricity Company (GEC) may allow private companies to invest in the Libya's power generation and distribution sectors. The GEC's largest current project is to expand the country's network of power substations, concentrated mainly in Benghazi, Sabha and Tripoli.

Crude oil prices: the recent $20 or $30 dollar a barrel is now worth anywhere between $120 and $140, and most experts predict the cost of a single barrel to reach $200 in the coming months. The world's oil reserves will run out very soon, and some countries like Dubai, according to experts, has only 8 more years of oil production. Hence the leaders of the western powers have been urging other countries for sometime now to invest in renewable energy and nuclear power as a long term solution for the energy crisis. This means that once the earth's resources are used up, focus will be shifted towards the sky and the rest of the solar system for energy, like wind, light and planetary mining. The sun is the best example there is about nuclear energy: extremely efficient, free, and clean. Britain, the most advanced country in utilising wind power, has pledged to free Britain from its dependence on oil and continues to invest in renewable and nuclear energy.

 

 

 

Vaccinations

You need to check with your GP or local clinic for the necessary vaccinations needed. Food or water-borne diseases: bacterial diarrhoea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever. Vector-borne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through October). There is no malaria in Libya and therefore you do not need to worry about this; bottled water is available everywhere and often provided for free by most tour operators.   However, vaccinations against tetanus, polio, typhoid and hepatitis A are needed.

Generally speaking vaccinations against tetanus, rabies, polio, typhoid and " hepatitis A " and " B " are needed, and if you are coming from a country affected by yellow fever, then a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required. However, it is generally recommended to avoid drinking tap water; wash your hands well before eating; and avoid swimming in fresh water; swimming in salty lakes, as those of the Sahara, is internationally considered safe.

• Hepatitis A & typhoid:: from direct contact, water, ice, fruits, vegetables. Use bottled water, cook your food, avoid salads.
• Hepatitis B: from coming in direct contact with body fluids, like surgery, sexual intercourse, etc. 

 

 

 

Taxes:

 

• Immigration tax.
• Tourism cities and sites access tax. For instance, entering Acacus requires a permit, available from your tour operator, and some entrance fees: Lorry (€15); 4x4 (€12); and €5 per a person.  
• Camera tax: using a photo camera in an archaeological site carries a five Libyan dinars(5 LYD) tax per a person, and a video camera ten Libyan dinars (10 LYD).
• Car insurance: usually € 7
• license plate: about €56, of which about €49 are refundable when you leave the country.
• Carnet de Passage:
• free if you have an International Carnet de Passage, otherwise
• € 20 for a motorcycle
• € 34 for an ordinary car
• € 68 for a camper
• € 101 for a lorry

 

 

 

 

Agriculture:

Although only   about 2 percent of Libya's land is arable and agricultural production is limited, agriculture in Libya is a growing business. Before the discovery of oil in 1950s agriculture supplied about 26% of GDP, some of which was exported; by 1978 this figure was reduced to a mere 2%. Analysts blame the advent of oil industries which enticed many peasants to migrate to the wealthy cities. However, the value of food imports was more than 37% greater than it had been in 1950s.

Currently, agriculture employs about 14 % of Libya's workforce. Several projects and initiatives were established after the September revolution. The largest project to come out of the 1981-85 agricultural development was the Great Man-Made River (GMMR) - a massive water pipeline planned to transport water to urban and some arid desert areas. Agricultural credit and substantial amounts of funds were made available to the Libyan people by the National Agricultural Bank, thereby encouraging nearly 20% of the labor force to remain in the agricultural sector. Despite this massive development, agriculture accounted for about 3.5% of GDP.

Today, a pproximately 80% of Libya's food is imported. Libya's Food Buying Agency NASCO buys about 400 thousand metric tons (400 TMT) of durum, 350 TMT of bread wheat, and 400-800 TMT of flour and semolina per year. Most of Libya's bread-wheat comes from the EU, while Canada and Syria are major suppliers of durum. The main crops produced in Libya include wheat, barley, palm dates, olives, figs, grapes, apples, oranges, watermelons, tomatoes, cucumber, almonds, apricots, peaches, truffles, vegetables, peanuts and soybeans.

 

 

 

 

Road Hazards:

 

The following are general guidelines a driver needs to bear in mind when driving or riding in Libya:

• Lack of total availability of road signs, and if found, they would be mostly in Arabic and therefore of no use to tourists and foreign visitors. .
• The inability of the police to enforce traffic laws across thousands of miles of roads prevents some drivers from observing basic driving regulations.
• The occasional Libyan wind-blown sand can render visibility very poor, and in many respects it is like driving in thick fog.
• Stray animals, like camels, especially at night, can be dangerous.
• Driving to desert areas like Ghadames, at night, is also risky owing to the sudden build-up of sand mounds in the middle of the road; during the day, these can be easily spotted from a safe distance.