Libya has begun issuing tourist visas again after a long spell of shutting its borders to international visitors.

The country suspended its visa process for tourists in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring and the subsequent instability in the country meant visiting the North African nation was increasingly tricky.

Improved security over the past year has led to the government starting to encourage tourism once more, with Untamed Borders already helping organise multiple private trips back to Libya since the borders reopened – including a recent scuba dive excursion.

It's part of a trend over recent years of countries, affected by the Arab Spring, reopening their doors to international visitors – Syria, Egypt and Yemen have already made strides to resume their tourism sectors, after becoming more stable.

Untamed Borders has been operating in the country since 2017, managing to take visitors to Libya using business visas – a convoluted process, where guests had to visit the embassy in their home nations, rather than picking visas up on arrival, which is now the case.

Libya once had a flourishing tourism sector, thanks to its stunning Mediterranean coastline, wealth of historic sites and dramatic desert scenery.

Libya boasts an abundance of impressive Ancient Greek and Roman sites, with the UNESCO World Heritage sites at Sabratha and Leptis Magna among the most complete Roman ruins on the planet.

It also has untouched Tuareg desert towns including Ghadames and Ghat, bustling towns and cities, UNESCO word heritage rock art sites and many other natural wonders.

It's a big step for the country, which is trying to recover from the instability in recent years - at one stage, before the long period of tension, The Beatles were planning to host one of their final ever gigs in Libya, at the ruins of the amphitheatre in Sabratha.

Founder of Untamed Borders, James Willcox, says, “Libya is a truly remarkable country, which has world leading sites that deserve to be seen.

It's fantastic to see the Libyan government now welcoming tourists more freely again and we, at Untamed Borders, have lots of plans in place to shine a spotlight on the wealth of attractions that the country has to offer.

Things are now much safer in Libya and we've led a number of successful private trips to the country in recent months, with more upcoming.”

In October Untamed Borders is returning to Libya on a 7-day road trip around the country - taking in the capital Tripoli, the oasis town and UNESCO world heritage site at Ghadames, the stunning Sahara Desert, the Roman ruins at Leptis Magna and Sabratha, before returning for a second spell in Tripoli.

Extra information for editors: 

To request more information, images or interviews with Untamed Borders founder James Willcox, please contact our PR and Marketing coordinator, David Harrison, on – press@untamedborders.com

Founded in 2007, adventure travel company Untamed Borders runs bespoke trips and small group adventures to some of the world's most interesting and inaccessible places. Specialising in trips to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Middle East, East Africa, former Soviet Central Asia and the Caucasus, Untamed Borders takes over 250 guests a year to unusual and largely unvisited areas of the world.  

Originally formed by professional fixers supporting journalists wanting to access difficult areas of the world, Untamed Borders still also serves media professionals today. Travelling in small groups and using local guides, the Untamed Borders mission is to add positive benefit to the countries it visits.