Located in north Africa, Libya borders Egypt and has a Mediterranean Sea coast, although 90 per cent of the nation is desert or semi-desert.

It is home to the iconic Sahara desert and is ruled by the notorious Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, who has led the country since the de facto coup in 1969. The colonel has performed many acts on the international stage to draw attention to Libya, such as rename all the months and entirely rework the traditional calendar.

Although there are some travel warnings for those going to regions of the nation which border with Chad, Niger and Sudan, which are subject to military activity, the northern coast of the country is not party to such problems.

Traditions and culture in Libya

Those travelling to Libya will need to secure a visa, unless they are from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, Syria or Tunisia. However, those whose passports show any indication that they have plans to travel to Israel after Libya will not be granted entrance.

Furthermore, getting around Libya compared to many Western countries may prove to be a bit of a culture shock. There are no significant train links in the country and while travelling overland by car is possible, it may not be comfortable. Libya is lacking sign posts and there are even fewer border posts open to foreign travellers entering the country with a car.

Things to do in Libya

Libyan beaches are well worth a visit. Far less commercialised than many other Mediterranean coasts, Libya's golden strips are characterised by their varied landscape. From palm tree-lined white sandy stretches to rocky beaches, the coastline is a treat. Furthermore, Libyan beaches are thought to the some of the longest Arab and African coastlines on the Mediterranean in the world.

For those wanting to soak up some of Libya's culture, Cyrene is not only a Unesco World Heritage sight but a must-see for all fans of fabulous architecture. Dating back to ancient Greek times, Cyrene is one of the best preserved of this era's cities, with temples tombs and a theatre all brilliantly preserved.

A trip to Libya, however, would not be complete without a journey into the desert. Jebel Acacus is a World Heritage-listed area. The mountains are home to prehistoric rock paintings and carvings, which in some places date back 12,000 years. It should be noted that the region can only be visited with a guide.

Weather in Libya

October and November tend to be Libya's most manageable months, when the temperatures are reasonably moderate and the summer rains have dried up.

From December to February, temperatures can become a little to cool for comfort, with some parts of the Sahara plummeting to below zero degrees Centigrade.

March through to May is a popular time for tourists as temperatures are picking up. However, Summer (May to September) can unbearably hot and not a pleasant experience for the faint hearted.

Destination checklist for Libya

Cheap flights are available to Libya with good-quality carriers and hotel rooms are available for a fraction of the price for comparable accommodation in Western countries.

The official currency is the Libyan Dinar, the nation is two hours ahead of GMT and the international dialling code is +218.