Tour

Libya’s revolution is one of the seminal moments in the Arab Spring. At arms length NATO and its allies managed to support a popular movement against an unsavoury leader, and keep the Arab world onside.

While there remains a huge sense of optimism among ordinary people large questions loom over Libya’s future.  Libya is now one of the most heavily armed countries in the world.  Central government is weak and militias want a significant say in the country’s future.

Our tour explores the fallout from the conflict, and asks how best can peaceful and durable political settlement be achieved.  Leading analysts and diplomats provide briefings.  We also visit some of Libya’s historic sites, which are regarded as the most exceptional in the Mediterranean.

Although we think security has improved in Libya, we are taking safety seriously for this trip.  All participants must ensure their insurance covers Libya.  Please ask us for further details.

Visa and flight costs are not included in the trip.

Tour

Day One Arrival and Welcome Dinner  Local and international analysts give an overview of where Libya stands today.

Day Two Gaddafi’s Libya  An introduction to the inner workings of Gadaffi’s government and security apparatus, with visits to Bab Aziziya, his compound, and the notorious Abu Seleem prison.

Day Three Life in a Tripoli neighbourhood  Abu Seleem was long seen as a bastion of pro-Gaddafi support.  We meet with one family, learn about daily life, the cost of living, education, and basic local services.  Meeting with council leaders and a former judge- who joined the revolution and is among those trying to help re-establish the court system.

Day Four Misrata and the Katiba’s (militias)  Misrata is controlled by at least four main militia groups and is dominated by four large family groupings.  Its fighters were at the forefront of the conflict in Misrata, Tripoli and Sirte.  They want a significant say in the creation of any government.  We tour the city, it’s port and meet with the Katibas and local families.

Day Five Tawergha and Leptis Magna  Tawergha is a town of some 35,000 people who are the descendents of black slaves.  Accused of being Gadaffi sympathisers, they fled during the revolution.  Their plight has raised significant concern among human rights groups.  Return to Tripoli and visit Leptis Magna en route, perhaps the least known and one of the best preserved archeological sites dating from classical antiquity in the Mediterranean basin.

Day Six  Human Rights and Trade  Visit to Tawergha community in Tripoli. Briefing by human rights advocates.  Lunch followed by a visit to Tripoli’s port, briefing with Oil industry experts, and dinner with businessmen and trade officials.

Day Seven Media and Government  The day is devoted to political briefings, examining the current debate on the constitution, preparations for elections, disarmament and demobilisation of militias and federalism.

Day Eight Final Briefings and Free Time  Friday is the weekend in the Middle East.  Brunch with international representatives and diplomats.  Relaxed Friday afternoon -Hammam for Male Participants in one of Tripoli’s oldest baths. (Hammams can be separately arranged for Female participants!)

Day Nine Departures for airport

Essential information

How to make your booking.

You can make a booking by contacting Political Tours directly by phone on 0834 289 2349 or by filling the booking form on the Book Tour button.

To reserve a place on a tour please complete the booking form and send it to Political Tours Ltd together with your non-refundable deposit of 15% of the total holiday cost or £630 per person, made payable to Political Tours Limited.

If you are booking less than 8 weeks prior to departure the full cost of the tour is payable.

If you would like to contact Political Tours’ Director, Nicholas Wood, he can be reached by email at nicholaswood@politicaltours.com or by mobile phone on +44 7855 266 151.

What is included in the tour.

The price includes accommodation in 3-4 star hotels in Libya as well as all meals during the visit. All the accommodation includes private bathrooms.

Please be aware that Political Tours is a land only tour operator. Our clients travel from many countries and the costs of flights to and from the destination are not included in the price.

How to reach the destination.

There are regular daily flights into Tripoli airport, which is now fully operational.

Climate + Clothing suggestions

Libya has hot summers, with the hottest months being July/August (average hottest temperature 35°C) and cool winters, with the coldest months being January/ February (average minimum temperature 7°C). The average temperature in Libya is 20°C.  There is little rain during the summer and more frequent rainfall during winter, with the wettest month being December.

We suggest women travellers pack a headscarf.

Visa, Passports and Health

All clients are personally responsible for ensuring that they have a valid passport, relevant visa/s and conform to the health regulations required by the country/s that will be visited during the tour.

Visa: Once full payment for the trip has been made, Political Tours will provide clients with an invitation letter that will enable them to apply for a visa in their country of residence.

We also provide a service that enables clients to receive their visa at the airport. This is more expensive but enables visas to be issued with in 48 hours of application.

Health: Advice on health requirements may be obtained from your GP or Doctor, or alternatively if you live in the UK from the Department of Health leaflet Advice on Health for Travelers, which may be obtained from us, or the Department of Health. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the NaTHNaC or  NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

Personal Safety

We take security very seriously for this trip, and travel at all times with a security escort.  The security risk is assessed on a daily basis, and necessary precautions are undertaken.

For further information check the Foreign Office’s travel advice website before departure.

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/middle-east-north-africa/libya

Insurance

Appropriate and adequate travel insurance is essential and is a condition of travelling with us. Your policy must include comprehensive medical cover including the cost of evacuation and repatriation from the remote destinations included in your tour in the event of illness or accident in addition to other medical requirements.

Please provide us with confirmation of the name of your insurance company, the policy number and the insurers’ emergency contact telephone number for use in a medical emergency no later than 8 weeks prior to the tour departure. If you fail to do so, we are entitled to cancel your booking and apply the cancellation charges shown below.

You must also ensure that the policy will protect you in the event that you travel to an area against the advice of the Foreign Office.

Hazards Inherent in Our Tours

It is in the nature of the itineraries we offer that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office may have issued advice against all travel or all but essential travel in relation to the country or parts of the country we are intending to visit prior to confirmation of your booking. Where the FCO issues such advice, we may as a result cancel your tour or make changes so as to avoid the area concerned (see clauses 10 and 12 of our Terms and Booking Conditions). Alternatively, we may ask you to sign a form confirming you wish to proceed with the tour notwithstanding the FCO advice.

Our Cancellation Charges

If you feel you need to cancel a tour before departure we reserve the right to make the following charges.

On receipt of your booking form and deposit we will confirm your booking in writing, then approximately 8 weeks before departure we shall send you further information relevant to your tour together with a final invoice.

Please pay the invoice within 10 days of the invoice date otherwise we reserve the right to treat the booking as cancelled and apply the cancellation conditions as set out below. Your travel documents are dispatched about 7/10 days before the tour departs.

Booking Terms and Conditions

Full details of our terms and conditions can be viewed by clicking this link.

Further reading

LIBYA 2012

Recommended reading list

Reports:

• Ian Martins' (Special Representative to the Secretary General) address to the UN Security Council - summary below followed by full pdf of address.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=41040&Cr=libya&Cr1=

• International Crisis Group reports

Libya

1 Feb 2012

Public discontent with NTC increased further, often due to continued presence of Qadhafi-era officials. NTC Behghazi office stormed 21 Jan by armed protesters, interim President Abdul Jalil attacked. Former Qadhafi insider and current NTC deputy head Abdulhafid Ghogha resigned following attack 19 Jan at university in Benghazi. Turf wars continued throughout month: 4 killed 3 Jan in clash between rival armed groups in Tripoli; at least 2 killed, 36 wounded 14-16 Jan in battle between militias from northwestern Gharyan and al-Asabia towns. NTC supporters 23 Jan forced out of Bani Walid by local uprising. NTC 2 Jan published draft electoral law without regulations for political parties, effectively forcing candidates to run as independents; rejected 14 Jan by 12 moderate Islamist parties. President Abdul Jalil 7 Jan met with Sudanese counterpart, discussed militia disarmament.

• Comment by William Lawrence “L’après Kadhafi : un tournant crucial pour la Libye”, Rue 89, 16 Nov. 2012.
• “Why are Libyans protesting again?”, Al Jazeera, 23 Jan. 2012.
• For latest report, see Crisis Group Middle East/North Africa Report N°115, Holding Libya Together: Security Challenges after Qadhafi, 14 Dec. 2011.

Full PDF of most recent ICG report

• In War's Wake - A report by the Washington Institution on Post Ghaddafi Libya

Books :

• A History of Modern Libya  by Vanderwalle - widely regarded as the leading international expert on Libya. Published 2006

http://www.amazon.com/History-Modern-Libya-Dirk-Vandewalle/dp/0521615542/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330434658&sr=1-2

• There is also Libya Since Independence - Oil and State- Building, by the same author Vanderwalle.

http://www.amazon.com/Libya-since-Independence-Oil-State-building/dp/0801485355/ref=pd_sim_b_2

• Ronald Bruce St.John's Libya: From Colony to Independence (Oneworld Short Histories) is also popular.

http://www.amazon.com/Libya-Colony-Independence-Oneworld-Histories/dp/1851685987/ref=pd_sim_b_1

Some reports by Time Magazine:

• Why Libya Is Becoming More Dangerous After Gaddafi's Fall

By Vivienne Walt Friday, Feb. 17, 2012

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2107024,00.html

• Real Clear Politics - a website has a good selection of links to articles every now and then -http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2012/02/19/libya_job_done_273842.html

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/02/19/a_year_after_uprising_militias_hold_sway_in_libya_113181.html

• Muammar Gaddafi Is Dead, Says Libya PM; Tripoli Celebrates - TIME

www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2097367,00.html

While details remain unclear, Libya's fugitive dictator was reportedly killed as anti -Gaddafi fighters ... By Vivienne Walt / Tripoli Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011 ... Libyans exploded in excitement on Thursday afternoon at reports that Muammar Gaddafi ..

Human Rights :

• Human Rights Watch is probably the most comprehensive source of this. We highly recommend going to their Libya page and reading their regular updates.

http://www.hrw.org/middle-eastn-africa/libya