My wife and I were actually planning on visiting Libya for a week earlier this year; we ended up going to Mongolia and the Caucasus instead. Here's a summary of some of the information I found while researching the trip. It is possible to get a visa through the Libya embassy in Ottawa. You will also have to get your passport details translated into Arabic (link below). You will also need an invitation letter from a travel agent. I remember the story of the guys on the All Nations Quest (Kiwi/Aussie); all 193 countries in 180 days.. they weren't able to get a Libya visa, but they were still able to do a turnaround from TUN.

Summary of travel agents (reposted from Lonely Planet)
BEST:
www.arkno.com - very responsive to my emails including giving me the contact info of people who have done their tours. We hope to go with them. (I just need to speak with some US Citizens who they have obtained visas for... anyone out there???)

WORST:
http://www.adventurecenter.com - I have never delt with a more annoying person than the woman who answered the phone here. She did everything she could to convince me not to take the tour including telling me that it wasn't guaranteed to take place, was non-refundable regardless of if it did go, and that the group would be "guinea pigs" as they had never done this before. Total drag since they had great prices and are a stone's throw from my house.

OTHERS I'VE EMAILED BUT HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM YET:
http://www.azjar-libyatours.com/
http://www.winzrik.com/
http://www.angelfire.com/az/azartours/
http://www.almuheettours.net/service.asp
http://www.alawytours.com/index.htm
http://www.coxandkings.co.uk

INSANELY OVER PRICED FOR THOSE OF YOU TRUST FUND BABIES:
Here are some of the companies offering tours to Libya. Prices are based on double occupancy:

Mountain Travel Sobek, (888) 687-6235 or (510) 594-6000, www.mtsobek.com. Nov. 5-17, Nov. 19-Dec. 1 and Dec. 17-29, beginning at $2,890, excluding international airfare.

Archaeological Institute of America Tours, (800) 748-6262 or (603) 756- 2884, www.archaeological.org. Sept. 18-Oct. 2, $7,665, including airfare from San Francisco; Oct. 19-30, ancient lost cities of Libya (sea journey), $6,995, both excluding airfare.

Geographic Expeditions, (800) 777-8183 or (415) 922-0448, www.geoex.com. Sept. 2-18, the coast, Ghat and Ghadames, $4,575, excluding airfare.

Travcoa, (800) 992-2003 or (949) 476-2800, www.travcoa.com. Oct. 18-31, Nov. 1-14, Nov. 8-21, Nov. 15-28 and Nov. 29-Dec. 12, Dec. 20-Jan. 2. The 13- day tour is $6,995; 14-day tour, $7,495. Neither includes airfare.

Adventure Center, (800) 228-8747 or (510) 654-1879, www.adventurecenter.com. Includes Mediterranean ruins, Tripoli and cliff-top villages. Oct. 16-23 and Dec. 23-30, land only, $1,210 and $1,243, respectively; Oct. 9-23 and Nov. 13-27, $2,035; and Dec. 18-Jan. 1, $2,079.

Distant Horizons, (800) 333-1240 or (562) 983-8828, www.distant-horizons.com. Historical, cultural and contemporary tour. Oct. 11-25, includes two nights in London, $5,900, including round-trip airfare from San Francisco.

Hommes et Montagnes, 011-33-4-76-66-14-43, www.hommes-et-montagnes.com . The French Sahara Desert specialist will send treks into the Libyan Sahara in the fall, starting at $2,150, excluding airfare.

GOOD READING:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...RG627AO5A1.DTL

Good luck everyone and keep us posted if you find a great operator with a great price!

Alexandra & Joe

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For more information and advice on Visas you can contact:
PEOPLE'S BUREAU OF THE GREAT SOCIALIST PEOPLE'S LIBYAN ARAB
JAMAHIRIYA-CANADA
81 Metcalfe Street, Suit 1000
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6K7
Tel.: (613) 230-0919
Fax: (613) 230-0683
Consular Section: (613) 321-0707

Permanent Representative of the Great Socialist People's
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the United Nations
309-315 East 48th Street
New York, N.Y.
10017 USA

Telephone: +1 212 752-5775
Telefax: +1 212 593-4787

E-mail: [email protected]
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I just spoke with Ahmed Miski at the Arab American Chamber of Commerce, who informed me that they provide the service of translation of passports from English to Arabic for Americans who want to travel to Libya. Thier passport translations are approved by the Libyan Mission. Best of all, it only cost $15 and he can do it very quickly.
Details: http://www.arabchamber.org/passport/