Libya 2006 eclipse trip

On the ecliptomaniacs 2006 eclipse trip, there are currently available:

0 places on the 10 day trip - booked out@ Euro1,330
0 places on the 15 day trip - booked out@ Euro1,950

The price for the two itineraries above is inclusive of Airport transfers in Tripoli, private transportation by car, minibus or coach depending on number of clients, 4WD in desert, English-speaking guide throughout, accommodation on a twin share basis, breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout, sightseeing and entrance fees (ex. camera fees), visa invitation letter, tourist registration in Libya.

Important notes.

You must add your return airfare to this. As far as I know at this early stage, our letter of invitation to visit Libya will be issued as a group under my name. So we all have to arrive together on the same day. So if you are traveling separate to the group from Ireland you will have to meet up with us and fly into Libya with the group. At the moment we are planning to travel through Heathrow airport in London and fly direct to Tripoli. This arrangement may be flexible. I am meeting the Libyans in London this weekend and will discuss this matter with them. It is impossible to get a quote from the airlines this far in advance for the dates we are flying but British Airways quoted me Euro550 return from Dublin in December. I have since got a cheaper quote for March this year of Euro440 from Alitalia. Both of these are return fares from Dublin. If you know a cheaper way of getting there let me know!

Your visa and Arabic passport( if needed as there is a change on the way) must be also added to the cost given above. You will have to get a copy of your passport in Arabic issued at your closest Libyan embassy. You must not have an Israeli or Bulgarian visa stamp on your passport as the Libyans will not allow you into the country if you do. Cost approx Euro28 although you may have to pay for some translation in advance (I know it's confusing me as well!). Your passport must be a full passport with at least three months left on it.

You must have comprehensive travel insurance and we will need a copy of it beforehand. The insurance must cover you for medical evacuation by air from Libya.

We will have to do some camping, (sorry in advance to those who hate camping) two nights back to back around the eclipse date and one night later on for those on the 10 day. Those on the 15 day trip may look forward to even more camping after the first group return home! There are just not enough hotels in Libya once you leave the coastal areas. The good news on this is that all camping equipment is supplied and there will be drivers and local guides who will put up the tents,cook breakfast, dinner and tea for us. The 4WD's are equipped with a satellite phone and GPS in case of emergency. We will also have security with us.

The eclipse site is near an extinct volcano and two salt lakes which we can swim and wash in. 4 mins. of totality folks and almost 100% possibility of clear skies as well. Weather prospects for Turkey are nowhere near as good.

Libya is an Islamic state - there is strictly no alcohol in the country. We are going to have to celebrate the eclipse "dry".

A detailed copy of the itinerary is below. Please read carefully. The arrival date is set according to this years flights and may change when the flights for 2005 are announced in October / November this year.

Regards,
Brian Seales
ecliptomaniacs.com

If you are interested, it is important that you reply as soon as possible.

Itinerary

		Eclipse Tour March 26 - April 4, 2006 (10 days) March 26 - April 9 (15 days) Brian Seales Group
Day	Site	Itinerary	Overnight
BOTH GROUPS
Day 1 SUN Mar 26	Tripoli	Arrive Tripoli. Meet guide and transfer to city centre hotel. Dinner with guide at outside restaurant.	Al-Kabir Hotel
Day 2 MON Mar 27	Sabha	Day's drive to Sabha, capital of the Fezzan.	Jabal Hotel
Day 3 TUE Mar 28	Waw al-Namus - Eclipse point	Drive by 4WD through the desert to the eclipse point via Waw al-Namus. (Possible short drive on Day 4 to exact eclipse location)	Camping
Day 4 WED Mar 29	Eclipse point	Witness eclipse. Return to Waw al-Namus to visit volcanic crater. Continue to Waw al-Kabir for o/n.	Camping
Day 5 THU Mar 30	Murzuk - Germa	Visit castle at Murzuk. Continue to Germa.	Camping or New Germa Hotel
10 DAY GROUP
Day 6 FRI Mar 31	Ubari Sand Sea - Sabha	Exciting drive through the stupendous sand dunes of the Ubari Sand Sea to visit the oasis lakes of Gabraoun, Umm al-Maa and Mandara and enjoy a swim. Continue to Sabha.	Jabal Hotel
Day 7 SAT Apr 1	Misrata	Drive north to Misrata on the Mediterranean Coast.	Koz al-Teek Hotel
Day 8 SUN Apr 2	Leptis Magna - Villa Celine - Tripoli	Excursion to the magnificent Roman city of Leptis Magna. Also visit Villa Celine, home of a Roman nobleman. Continue to Tripoli.	Al-Kabir Hotel
Day 9 MON Apr 3	Tripoli - Sabrata	Morning sightseeing tour of Tripoli medina with its National Museum, mosques and souks. Afternoon excursion to the Roman city of Sabrata. Return to Tripoli.	Al-Kabir Hotel
Day 10 TUE Apr 4	Tripoli Airport	At leisure until transfer to airport for flight home.
15 DAY GROUP
Day 6 FRI Mar 31	Ubari Sand Sea - Germa	Enter the Ubari Sand Sea to visit the oasis lakes of Gabraoun, Umm al-Maa and Mandara and enjoy a swim. Return to Germa.	Camping or New Germa Hotel
Day 7 SAT Apr 1	Wadi Matkhandoush	Visit the ancient spiritual site of Wadi Matkhandoush to see petroglyphs. Continue towards the Acacus.	Camping
Day 8 SUN Apr 2	Acacus	Explore the stunning scenery and fascinating millennia-old rock paintings of the Acacus.	Camping
Day 9 MON Apr 3	Acacus	Continue exploring the Acacus.	Camping
Day 10 TUE Apr 4	Acacus - Al-Awainat	Continue exploring the Acacus. Continue to Al-Awainat.	Al-Faw Campsite
Day 11 WEDApr 5	Sabha	Drive to Sabha.	Jabal Hotel
Day 12 THU Apr 6	Misrata	Drive north to Misrata on the Mediterranean Coast.	Koz al-Teek Hotel
Day 13 FRI Apr 7	Leptis Magna - Villa Celine - Tripoli	Excursion to the magnificent Roman city of Leptis Magna. Also visit Villa Celine, home of a Roman nobleman. Continue to Tripoli.	Al-Kabir Hotel
Day 14 SAT Apr 8	Tripoli - Sabrata	Morning sightseeing tour of Tripoli old town with its National Museum, mosques and souks. Afternoon excursion to the Roman city of Sabrata. Return to Tripoli.	Al-Kabir Hotel
Day 15 SUN Apr 9	Tripoli Airport	At leisure until transfer to airport for flight home.

Included in price: Airport transfers, transportation by minibus and/or coach (4WD in desert), English-speaking guide, twin or double room accommodation, all camping facilities (ex. sleeping bags), breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout, sightseeing and entrance fees, visa invitation letter, tourist registration in Libya.

Not included in price: International flights, visa acquisition costs, travel insurance, personal items such as telephone calls, laundry and room service, gratuities and all items not specifically mentioned as included.

All hotels shown are listed on an "if available" basis. Other hotels may be used.

Libya 2006 eclipse trip

Important notes.

Itinerary

Day

Site

Itinerary

Overnight

BOTH GROUPS

10 DAY GROUP

15 DAY GROUP