World Heritage Sites

A visit to Libya's ancient past

Visit a land full of secrets and beautiful sandy beaches. Discover the ancient ruins of Romans, Greeks and Phoenicians in sites like Leptus Magna, Sabratha , Apollonia, etc. After all, Libya consists not only of deserts!

Tours start any day.

ITINERARY:

(subject to change without prior notice)

Sabratha, seaward baths

Day 1: Tripoli

After your arrival at Tripoli airport, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 2: Sabratha

Drive in the morning to the World Heritage Site of Sabratha that stands out as the most beautiful. It was founded by the Canaanites (6th century B.C.), ruled by Carthage, Phoenicia, Numedia and then Rome in 46 B.C.  The site offers a majestic collection of public buildings, arenas, temples of Liber Peter, Srapis, Isis, and Hercules. Lunch at the site and then back to Tripoli airport for your flight to the second largest city of Libya, Benghazi (1,000 km). Riding: approx. 70 km 

 
Day 3: El Beyda

Our day starts with a tour of this beautiful resort city to see the old town with its artistically designed buildings. An interesting drive along the eastern coast gets us to the small town of El Beyda, where lunch takes place. El Beyda might not be much in terms of tourism, but it is the best base for those exploring the great ruins of Cyrene, Apollonia, and Slonta. It also has a number of colonial-style buildings, as well as an Islamic university. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.  Driving: approx. 210 km

Cyrene

Day 4: Cyrene - Apollonia

Continue your journey with a visit to the World Heritage Site of Cyrene. The city was part of the 1st century, five-city state of Pentapolis and was second in size only to Athens. Cyrene was founded by the Greeks in 631 B.C. and was later occupied by the Romans, and then the Arabs. We also see the famous temples of Zeus and Apollo, and after lunch we visit incredible Apollonia (Sousa), which was the port of Cyrene and is located 20 kms/12 miles to the north. Here, our stay includes a detailed visit of the majestic theatre, the Roman baths as well as the Byzantine palace. 

Day 5: Qasr Libya - Ptolemais

A morning drive through Jabel Akhdar gets us to Qasr Libya, where we visit an interesting museum that houses more than 50 pieces of mosaic artifact fragments dating back to the 6th century AD. Our next stop is Ptolemais, the former capital of Pentapolis, offering remains of palaces, theatres, the Bouleterion and a 3rd century bridge. Lunch at a local restaurant. Then we have some free time in Benghazi before we are transferred to the airport for the flight back to Tripoli. You are met and transferred to the hotel. Driving : approx. 210 km    

Day 6: Ghadames

An exciting day at the Saharan oasis of Ghadames. En route, we stop at the "ghost town" of Nalut, which is located high in the Nafusa Mountains. Nalut offers an insight into the traditional living styles of the locals. Lunch is at an oasis in the open desert. After a tour of Nalut, continue driving towards Ghadames. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Driving: approx. 630 km

Day 7: Ghadames

Ghadamas was inhabited from prehistoric times and was a major port of call for traders and pilgrims en route to Mecca. Ghadames is a beautiful sleepy desert town that has preserved its original culture, most visibly in the architecture of the town with its labyrinthine passages as well as mud bricked and gaily decorated streets. Our tour will cover both the old "ghost town" and the mysterious desert. Lunch will be a typical meal served in the old city. In the evening, we witness the sunset in the desert and enjoy the evening tea served by Touareg people. Then we drive back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Kabaw - Tormisa - Gharian

After an interesting experience of the Sahara, we proceed to Kabaw village with the old houses mostly in shambles, and all of the inhabitants living in rather anonymous structures. We also visit the grain store built by the local Berbers, located at the very summit of the village. This is followed by a visit to Tormisa to see the incredible, and intact, cave structures there. From here we drive on to visit the pottery market at Gharian before returning to Tripoli. Overnight at the hotel.  Driving: approx. 630 km

Leptis Magna

Day 9: Leptis Magna

Full excursion day to the World Heritage Site of Leptis Magna, located east of Tripoli. From a Berber settlement it became an important community when it was established as a city by the Canaanites and reached its climax under the rule of Roman Emperor Septimus Severus. We visit the vast site including the Triumphal Arch, the huge Basilica, the Forum, public baths, the hippodrome, the amphitheatre etc. Lunch will be at a local restaurant, before returning to Tripoli. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Driving: approx. 120 km

Day 10: Tripoli

The morning is at your free disposal for some shopping in the old city souk (market), before you are being transferred to the airport for your departure flight to your home destination.