Twelve Day Historical & Cultural Discovery Tour Of Libya

Arrive in Tripoli and check-in at hotel.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)

The largest city and Libya’s capital, Tripoli was founded by the Phoenicians traders in the 5th century BC. It was later absorbed and shaped by the Roman Empire, the Muslim world from the East, the Ottoman Empire and the Italian occupation. Today, the local Libyan and historic Turkish cultures merge to create Tripoli’s rich and colourful heritage. This morning we’ll take a walking tour in Tripoli along the narrow dusty streets of the old walled Medina and through its covered souks. We’ll visit the Gurgi mosque and the beautifully restored Karmanly house before heading to the Castle or ‘Red Fort’, built on the ruins of a Roman building dating back to the 1st century AD. In the afternoon we head south across the Jifarah Plain and make a visit to the first of several ancient fortified Berber granaries at Qasr al Haj. Later we ascend into the Nafusa Mountains and arrive at our nightstop, a troglodyte guesthouse, carved out of the rock.

Overnight Troglodyte House (H) Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we stop to admire another curious Berber granary at Nalut before entering the semi-desert fringes of the Sahara. Passing several small oasis towns en-route, we head further south into the Sahara until we arrive at Ghadames, one of the most ancient towns in the Libyan Desert.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Ghadames was an important stopping off point in the trans-Saharan caravan routes between Timbuktu and the Mediterranean coastal cities of Libya. It is old Ghadames town that will be the focus of our guided tour this morning. Old Ghadames was surrounded by a semi-circular wall accessed by several gates that were closed each day at sunset. Buildings are constructed of sun-baked clay bricks, clustered around seven main streets. Each street ending at a small square that was used for public gatherings. Narrow roofed alleyways connect the main streets and houses are joined thus providing ‘streets’ running along the rooftops. Men travelled along the lower streets whilst women had to walk along the upper streets between sunrise and sunset. The Old Town, though now deserted, is still very atmospheric with this unique style of Saharan architecture. During our walking tour we hope to visit a traditional house and several interesting mosques. Later in the day it is usually possible to take an excursion into the steep sand dunes close to Ghadames to enjoy a sunset over the mountains of Algeria and enjoy some green tea and traditional mella bread.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Leaving the Sahara behind, we retrace our steps towards Tripoli. Today we drive to Jwaybia via Darj and on to Tormisa, a stunningly located cliff-top village famous for it's caves structures. We then continue on to our night stop at Yefren, where we have the opportunity to explore more of this interesting town.

Overnight Troglodyte House (H) Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive toward the ancient city of Sabratha, founded by the Canaanites in the 6th century BC. Following a guided introduction to the site, we’ll spend time exploring the extensive remnants from the city’s Roman period. Sabratha was under the domination of Carthage (in present day Tunisia) beofre its defeat by the Romans. It particularly prospered during the 3rd century AD and became famous as a trading place for gold, ivory, leather and slaves brought north from central Africa through the Saharan trade posts of Ghadames and Fezzan. Of particular interest are its splendid theatre, marble clad public baths and many temples, streets and well-preserved mosaics. Later today we fly east to Benghazi, the second capital of Libya. Most of Benghazi is modern buildings but the Old City with its covered alleyways and extensive souk is well worth visiting.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

En route to Susa we visit Ptolemais, one of the great Pentapolis cities, much of which is yet to be excavated, our guided tour will reveal the main monuments that have been unearthed on this vast site. The huge cisterns, without doubt the most important visible attraction, were the largest in North Africa. We then arrive at Qasr Libya also known as the Libya Palace. Set on a hillside surrounded by pine trees we have the opportunity to view some remarkably well preserved Byzantine mosaic panels which were discovered inside its eastern church. Finally crossing scenic Wadi Kuf we arrive at Susa/Al Beyda, the gateway to the ancient cities of Cyrenaica. Depending on the season, there may be time to enjoy a Libyan Mediterranean sunset from the superbly located ruins at Apollonia. Originally Cyrene’s harbour, it is impressively located on the edge of the sea. The city became the capital of Upper Libya as Cyrene declined.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

A long but rewarding day takes along Libya’s most scenic coastal road squeezed between the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean & the towering mountains of the Jebel Akhdar, or Green Mountains. We’ll pass the headland of Ras al Hillal as we head towards Tobruk, a town synonymous with WW2 suffering & an essential visit when in Eastern Libya. Nothing much remains of old Tobruk as it was mostly reduced to rubble during the famous battle of WW2 and was part of the campaign that changed the course of the war for the British Forces. Still today, more than 60 years after the end of the war, veterans continue to come to Tobruk to pay respects to their fallen friends & comrades. Their comments in the visitors’ books are poignant reminders of Libya’s more recent turbulent history. We’ll visit the two haunting Commonwealth war cemeteries as well as those to the French and German fallen. After a sobering journey, we return tonight to Susa/Al Beyda.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Today we explore the magnificent archaeological remains of Cyrene (Shah’hat) one of the five ‘Pentapolis’ cities. We start with a guided tour of Cyrene, the second most important site in Libya after Leptis Magna. Surrounded by pine forest, the site dates back to the 7th century BC. It was founded by Greek adventurers who came from Santorini Island. By the 5th century BC it was one of the largest cities in Africa. Following the fall of the Greek Empire, the city was ruled by Ptolemy from Egypt and then passed into Roman hands and incorporated into the Roman Empire. Cyrene’s cultural influences and historical events are reflected in the ruins of the Temples of Zeus and Apollo, the Gymnasium, the Great Baths, the vast area of the Agora, the Greek Theatre and the Acropolis. Depending on the season, we may also visit Apollonia today, if there was not sufficient time on Day 7. Tonight we return to Benghazi via the small but unique site of Slonta.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

We fly to Tripoli and drive to Leptis Magna. Leptis Magna has the greatest and most extensive remains of a Roman city and archaeological site in Africa and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. The Phoenicians founded Leptis Magna in the 5th century BC in an attempt to secure their eastern borders in the face of Greek expansion. The city came under the domination of the Roman Empire in the 2nd century BC with its prosperity peaking during the reign of Septimis Severus in the 3rd century AD. Unlike many other ancient cities, Leptis Magna is largely intact and its remains make it is easy to imagine what a complete Roman city would have looked like in those heady days. Over our two days here, we include a guided tour of the main site and visit the excellent museum and almost completely intact structure of the gladiators ‘Circus’ during our visits. Make sure you see the most impressive remains of the theatre, the amphitheatre, the mostly intact market, its many forums, baths and numerous paved streets and triumphal arches before you leave. Perhaps also visit the race track, a wrestling arena, marvel at the remains of the decorated mosaic floors or simply wander and enjoy the proximity of the site to the sea. We base ourselves at a simple hotel in Al- Khoms, a small town right next to the site.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

We have most of the day to further explore this fascinating site before returning for our final night in the capital.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Included meals: Breakfast