Libya Eclipse / Visiting Libya

Getting in

Entry takes planning. Start early.

Libya welcomes visitors, but tourist travel is organised through a licensed Libyan tour operator, who handles most of the paperwork with you.

  • A licensed operator

    Tourist e-visas are issued on a support letter from a licensed Libyan operator or a local sponsor.

  • The e-visa

    You apply online before you travel. Visa on arrival is not generally available.

  • Your passport

    It must be valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates.

  • Benghazi permit

    Travel to the east needs its own permit, arranged with your programme.

  • Tourist police

    Visitors are accompanied by the tourist police. This is a normal part of any trip.

  • Timing

    Start months ahead, and keep flights flexible until your visa is approved.

Requirements differ by nationality. Ask us about yours.

Libya, explained by Libyans

What no guidebook tells you

Most of what you will find about Libya online is out of date or written from outside. Here is how things work, from the people who live it.

How does a day in Libya run?

Friday is the main day of rest, and many shops close around Friday prayers. In summer, life moves to the evening, when cafés and the seafront fill up after sunset.

How should I behave with people?

Greet first and take your time. If someone invites you for tea or a meal, accepting is a compliment. Libyans are proud hosts, and a guest is treated like family.

What happens at checkpoints?

Checkpoints are a normal part of road travel. With a Libyan companion and your papers in order, they are routine stops.

Why not just trust what’s online?

Rules, roads and opening hours change quickly. We check everything on the ground before you arrive, so your plan works on the day.

Before you pack

Practical notes

August heat

Hot, dry days. Wear light, loose, long clothing and a wide hat, and carry plenty of water.

Bring cash

Libya runs largely on cash in dinars. Foreign cards are rarely accepted, so bring US dollars or euros.

Local SIM

Libyana and Al-Madar cover the cities. We can help you set one up on arrival.

Photographing the eclipse

Keep a solar filter on your lens during the partial phases and remove it only for totality. Rehearse your settings.

Ask first

Ask before photographing people, and never photograph checkpoints or official sites.

FAQ

Questions visitors ask

Can I travel to Libya on my own?

Not as a tourist. Tourist visas and travel inside the country are arranged through a licensed Libyan tour operator, either as a private trip or in a group.

Is it safe?

Conditions vary by region and can change. Check your government’s travel advice, and travel with people who know the ground. We plan every route with current local knowledge.

What if it’s cloudy?

That is very unlikely. Eastern Libya in early August has one of the best cloud records anywhere on the path.

Is Tripoli good enough?

Tripoli sees a deep partial eclipse. The corona and the darkness happen only inside the path of totality, so go east.

When should I start planning?

Now. Visa processing takes time, and hotel rooms in Benghazi are limited around the eclipse date.

I’m filming a documentary. Can you help?

Yes. We support crews with filming and press permits, location scouting and local production.