Paul Robinson took these photos of Libya when he visited in November 2006.

The Libyan Sahara is truly one of the world's great wilderness areas.

Libyan Sahara Tour

Our journey begins on the Mediterranean coast at Libya's capital, Tripoli, then it penetrates the harsh desert interior as we travel south by 4WD to the Akakus Mountains and beyond.

By day we explore the legacy of the ancient peoples who once lived in this barren land. While at night we camp wild amidst some of North Africa's most spectacular desert scenery.

We finish with a visit to the region's best-known ancient site - the renowned Leptis Magna.

Then we head south to Gharyan where its cave houses provide a glimpse of what until recently was a traditional way of life for the Berber people.

Tea in troglodyte dwelling, Tormissa.

Deep in the Sahara - Ancient Rock Art
From Sebha we begin our exploration of the Sahara, the largest desert on earth.

At Germa, capital of the Garamantian Empire whose warriors successfully repelled the Roman invasions, we discover an ancient trading centre that once formed the link between Equatorial Africa and the Mediterranean coast.

Then heading south via the rock carvings of Wadi Methkandoush, we make for the Akakus, a mountain range known for its beautiful red sand and extraordinary rock formations.

Amongst these mountains are some of the finest rock paintings in North Africa dating back to 8000 BC, an era when this landscape was grassy savannah rather than sand desert of today.

Salt Lakes of Dawada and Leptis Magna
We continue our exploration of Libya's Sahara with a visit to the surreal sight of the Dawada Lakes.

A series of eleven lakes seemingly dropped in the middle of the desert.

Finally camping in the dunes of the Ubari Sand Sea, we enjoy for the last time the tranquillity of the desert before flying back to Tripoli.

Ubari sand sea, 4wd in the corner!

Our final day is spent at Leptis Magna, the amazing Phoenician city later developed by the Romans, where we find one of the best-preserved ancient cities anywhere.

Stunningly located on the shores of the Mediterranean, the ruins are deeply evocative and we also include a visit to Villa Sileen to see its world-renowned mosaics.

See details of our other trips to Libya