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Independent Libya OLD Itinerary

Day1 Arrive Tripoli
Welcome to Libya. On arrival you will enjoy a walking tour in modern Tripoli including September 1 Street and Algeria Square. Overnight in Tripoli.

Day 2 Tripoli
Enjoy a full day of sightseeing in Libya's capital city. In the morning you will 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. This afternoon you can explore the warren of streets and alleyways, including the bustling souqs, each devoted to a different trade, the historic house of the 18th century governor Karamanli, the Karamanli Mosque, the Dragut Mosque, the Gorgi Mosque, the former British Consulate, the former Turkish prison which is now an infant school, St George's Orthodox Church, Ottoman clock tower and the sole surviving building of Roman Oea, the 2nd century Arch of Marcus Aurelius. Overnight in Tripoli.

Day 3 Tripoli - 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. 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. From here continue to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ghadames, known as the "Jewel of the Sahara" where we enjoy dinner on arrival. Overnight in Ghadames.   [B,L,D]

Day 4 Ghadames
Entering via the ancient gateway of Bab al-Burr, today, you will explore the labyrinthe of streets and enclosed passages of Ghadames' old town. 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. 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. Overnight in Ghadames.  [B,L]

Day 5 Ghadames - Kabow - Tormisa - Gharyan
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 overnight in a traditional Berber troglodyte house. [Please note: shared facilities] Overnight in Gharyan.  [B]

Day 6 Gharyan - Janzour - Sabratha - Tripoli
Drive from Gharyan to the Janzour Museum with its catacombs and tomb paintings. Continue to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sabratha, originally founded in the 4th Century B.C. 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. Overnight in Tripoli.   [B]

Day 7 Leptis Magna
A wonderful day visiting Leptis Magna, the largest and best-preserved Roman city in the world which came to prominence in the 2nd Century A.D. under its native son, the Emperor Septimum Severus. The vast site is truly spectacular: the sites include the triumphal Arch of Septimum 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. Overnight in Tripoli.  [B,L]

Day 8  Depart Tripoli
This morning you are transferred to the airport for your onward flight. [B]