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Day
1: Arrive Tripoli
Ahlaan wasahlaan “Welcome” to Libya – we
are warmly welcomed and after clearing Custom and Immigration,
we are met at the exit gate and transferred to our hotel.
The drive gives us our first glimpse into the life of
the people
who live in the capital city.
Overnight: Kabir Hotel, Tripoli (1 night) (D)
Day 2: Tripoli / Benghazi (Flight)
Our Libyan experience starts with a tour of Tripoli, founded
by the Phoenicians in 1000 B.C. and later conquered by the
Romans. Our tour of this beautiful metropolis covers the huge
fortress, the National Museum, the old souq and the Islamic
quarters. Later in the day we are transferred to the airport
for our short flight to the second largest and most beautiful
city of Libya, Benghazi. Upon arrival in Benghazi we are met
and transferred to our hotel. Evening we enjoy a typical dinner
at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Uzo Hotel, Benghazi (1 night) (B, L, D)
Day 3: Benghazi/El Beyda (Drive 210kms/130miles)
Our day starts with a tour of this beautiful resort city of
Libya. The second largest city of the Jamariya houses a spectacularly
maintained War cemetery (Libya played a major role in the North
African Korps). We see the old town with its artistically designed
buildings, and colourful souq. Benghazi also offers us the
opportunity to meet the Libyan folks and enjoy tea with very
friendly people who have lived history in the making for several
thousand years. An interesting drive along the eastern coast
gets us to the small town of El Beyda. 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. The religious importance of El Beyda
harks back to the Sanussiyy movement that has had a formative
impact on modern Libya.
Overnight: Loloat Jabel Hotel, El Beyda (2 nights) (B, L, D)
Day 4: Cyrene & Apollonia
Our journey today starts 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 visit 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 visit
includes a detailed visit of the majestic Theatre, the Roman
baths as well as the Byzantine palace. (B, L, D)
Day 5: El Beyda / Qasr Libya / Benghazi (Drive 210kms / 130miles)
/ Tripoli (Flight)
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 today remains of palaces, theatres,
Bouleterion and a 3rd century bridge. Lunch at a local restaurant
and then we have some free time in Benghazi before we are transferred
to the airport for our flight to Tripoli. At Tripoli we are
met and transferred to our hotel.
Overnight: Kabir Hotel, Tripoli (3 nights) (B, L, D)
Day 6: Leptis Magna
The highlight of any journey to Libya is visiting the renowned
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, huge Basilica,
Forum, Public Baths, Hippodrome, and Amphitheater etc. Lunch
will be at the local restaurant at the site before returning
to Tripoli. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Sabratha
Amongst all the coastal sites, Sabratha stands out as the
most beautiful. A World Heritage Site, Sabratha was founded
by the
Canaanites (6th c. 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. Tripoli “ Oea“ (the bride)
of the Mediterranean is the capital of Libya. (B, L, D)
Day 8: Tripoli / Nalut / Ghadames (Drive 630kms /
389miles)
An exciting day today as we head south to 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 – the prevalent style of life until the Libyans
found the oil wealth providing them with the resources
to afford more concrete structures than the caves at Nalut.
Lunch is
at an oasis in the open desert. After a tour of Nalut,
we
head further south towards the arid Saharan Desert.
Overnight: Waha Hotel, Ghadames (2 nights) (B, L, D)
Day 9: Ghadames
This oasis was settled 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, mud bricked and gaily decorated
streets. Our tour will cover both the old ghost town and the
mysterious desert. Evening we witness sunset in the desert.
This can be an intense site, but it is very much weather dependent.
Lunch will be a typical meal served in the old city. (B, L,
D)
Day 10: Ghadames/Tripoli (Drive 630kms / 389 miles)
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 ghurfas, the grain store built by the local
Berbers, and 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 visit the pottery
market at Gharian before returning to Tripoli.
Overnight: Kabir Hotel, Tripoli (1 night) (B, L, D)
Day 11: Depart Tripoli
Morning transfer to the airport for our flight back home. (B)
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