Getting There By Road
Libya’s land borders with Algeria, Sudan, Niger and Chad are frequently closed to non-Africans; therefore foreigners tend to enter Libya at the Ras Ajdir (169km or 105 miles west of Tripoli) border with Tunisia or the Al-Burdi with Egypt. From either of these borders, Tripoli can be reached by following the National Coast road, which stretches 1,822km (1,132 miles) and links Tunisia with Egypt. To enter Libya with a private vehicle, registration papers and adequate insurance are required. You will also need a national driving licence, an International Driving Permit and a Carnet de Passage en Douane, which guarantees that the car will be removed from the country within a specified time limit and exempts it from import duties. You will also have to purchase temporary Libyan licence plates and liability insurance as you cross the border.
Long distance buses link Tripoli to Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia, as well as Syria, Iraq and Jordan. Routes and operators change frequently and standards are inconsistent. For up-to-date information, check at the Tunis Garage – the departure point for international services, or seek advice from locals. Another option is to take shared taxis (minibuses), changing vehicles as you change country. Air-conditioned buses run from Tripoli to destinations throughout Libya, these can be caught at the Tunis Garage or the Dhara Bus Station. Recent years have seen the construction of more tarmac roads in Libya and the country’s main roads are generally in a good condition.
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