8 DAY TOUR OF WESTERN LIBYA

Day 1 Tripoli

Meet your guide on arrival and transfer to city hotel for 2 nights. Short walking tour of modern Tripoli with its Italian influences prior to dinner.

Centre: Tripoli for 3 nights.

Day 2 Tripoli

A full day sightseeing in Libya’s capital city, known as the “White Bride of the Mediterranean”. In the morning, see the famous Green Square and visit the wonderful National (Jamahiriya) Museum, housed in the Red Castle (Al-Saraya al-Hamra), which includes one of the finest collections of statuary and mosaics in the world.

The walled old town of Tripoli encloses, arguably, the most charming medina in all of North Africa. After lunch in an old town restaurant, explore the warren of streets and alleyways, including the bustling souks, each devoted to a different trade, the historic house of the 18th century governor Karamanli, the Karamanli Mosque, the 16th century Dragut Mosque, burial place of the famous pirate of that name, the 19th century Gorgi Mosque, the 18th century former British Consulate, the former Turkish Prison, now an infant school, St. George’s Orthodox Church, the 19th century Ottoman clock tower and the sole surviving building of Roman Oea, the 2nd century Arch of Marcus Aurelius.

Day 3 Janzour – Sabrata - Tripoli

Head west from Tripoli along the coastal road to visit the Janzour Museum with its catacombs and tomb paintings. Continue to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sabrata, originally founded in the 4th century BC. It later fell under Greek influence before Rome took hold in the 1st century AD. The most spectacular monument is the Theatre, featuring 108 Corinthian columns rising to a height of twenty metres above the stage. Below the stage you will see marble friezes depicting mythological figures including the Three Graces, the Judgement of Paris and the Nine Muses.

Other sites include the Punic Mausoleum of Bes, the Temple of Antoninus, the Temple of Zeus, the Court of Justice and the great Roman Forum. The Roman Museum houses exquisite mosaics including complete wall and floor panels.

Day 4 Qasr al-Haj – Nalut – Ghadames

Today, you will drive into the Berber heartland of the Jabal Nafusa. First stop will be at Qasr al-Haj to visit the most beautiful Berber granary qasr (castle) in Libya, and it’s no wonder that Dan Cruickshank chose this imposing 13th century fortress, circular in build, as one of “The World’s 80 Greatest Treasures” in his BBC TV series.

Continue to Nalut to visit another Berber qasr situated on the edge of an escarpment. This impressive granary castle, with its narrow, winding passageways, is of a different design to that of Qasr al-Haj.

Continue to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ghadames, known as the “Jewel of the Sahara” where you will stay for two nights. Dinner at a town restaurant.

Centre: Ghadames for 2 nights.

Day 5 Ghadames

Entering via the ancient gateway of Bab al-Burr, today you will explore the labyrinthine streets and enclosed passages of Ghadames’ old town, once inhabited by the tribes of the Bani Wazid and the Bani Walid. Renowned for its distinctive architecture, you will visit the various small squares, the old mosque and a madrasa (Koranic school), see the fruit and vegetable gardens and view the ancient system of irrigation. Lunch will be taken in a richly decorated traditional house in the age-old manner, sitting on the floor eating from commmunal dishes. You can climb on to the roof of the house to see where the women, forbidden to wander the streets alone, would use the rooftops as a pedestrian thoroughfare. A visit will also be made to Ghadames museum with its historical and ethnographic displays.

Later in the afternoon, climb aboard four-wheel drive vehicles to visit Ras al-Ghoul, the remains of an ancient Roman fort, before heading for the sand dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental, bordering the countries of Libya, Algeria and Tunisia, to watch the sunset. Dinner will be taken at a town restaurant on your return to Ghadames.

Day 6 Kabow - Tormisa – Gharyan - Tripoli

Leaving Ghadames, head back into the Jabel Nafusa to visit another beautiful ancient qasr at Kabow before driving to the abandoned village of Tormisa with its stunning mountain top views. Continue to Gharyan where you will visit a Berber troglodyte house. Gharyan is also famous for its pottery, and you will see the many pottery stalls lined up along the road on the outskirts of the city. Continue to Tripoli.

Centre: Tripoli for 2 nights..

Day 7 Leptis Magna – Villa Sileen (if open) - Tripoli

Full day excursion to Leptis Magna, the largest and best-preserved Roman city in the world and came to prominence in the 2nd century AD under its native son, the Emperor Septimus Severus. Following his reign, the city fell into decline until revived by the Emperor Justinian in the 5th century AD at which time it fell under Byzantine rule.

The vast site is truly spectacular: the sites include the triumphal Arch of Septimus Severus, the Hadrianic Baths complex, the Palaestra (Athletics Ground), the Nymphaeum (Temple of Nymphs), the huge Imperial Forum, the Basilica, the Arches of Tiberius and Trajan, the Theatre with its beautiful backdrop against the Mediterranean Sea, the Sanctuary of the Divine Emperors, and the Market with its unique kiosks which, at the time of construction, were a groundbreaking design in the Roman world. In the eastern part of the city lie the Circus and the vast Amphitheatre, the most complete in the world, with seating for over 15,000 spectators. You will visit the huge arena, the terraces, gladiators’ anterooms and animal enclosures.

En route back to Tripoli, if open a visit will be made to the 2nd century Villa Sileen (if open), discovered in 1974. The wall paintings portray scenes such as gladiatorial combat and chariot racing while the mosaics display river scenes that include sea nymphs, birds and animals.

NB. Villa Sileen is currently closed and no date has been set for its re-opening.

Centre: Tripoli for 1 night.

Day 8 Tripoli – Tripoli Airport

At leisure until transfer to the airport.

FARES per person