Archaeological Tour of Libya

Small Group Tours:

Unlike most tour companies we have no minimum requirement to take part in our tours.

You can come along by yourself, with a friend, or with a group of friends. However, coming with a friend nearly halves the price of your tour. We believe committing to quality is good for you, for the environment and for the local culture as well.

You can also take part in a group tour if you prefer group tours and if there are groups matching your specifications (date, destinations, etc.) which you can join.

If you are just looking for an operator to put together an itinerary for your private group, then we will be delighted to design a program to suit your needs, regardless of the number of individuals in the group. Just let us know the number of visitors in your group and the kind of services required and we will do the rest.

tripoli-cyrene tour route on Libya map

Itinerary Code: AT29
Duration: 11 Days

Customisable itinerary: all our tours are 100% customisable: dates, duration and services.
Itinerary Details: for individuals, independent travellers, and groups:

Itinerary Code: AT29 Duration: 11 Days
Day 1
Arrival at Tripoli Airport, meet your guide, complete the visa formalities, then drive towards the city centre for your hotel. Depending on time of arrival, you will begin your tour of Tripoli by visiting some of the main tourist sites of the capital, like the Arch of Marcus Aurelius, the Old Medina, and the Karamanli House, before having an evening meal in one of the local traditional restaurants.
Day 2
Tripoli: the atmosphere in Tripoli is very cosmopolitan and the architecture of the city includes styles from many periods of Libya's history. Today you will explore "The Pride of The Mediterranean", including visits to the Red Castle, Assaraya Alhamra Museum, the Gurgi Mosque, the Martyrs Square, and the actual city centre. Dinner in a traditional Libyan restaurant, before returning to the hotel for the night.
Day 3
Sabratha: morning drive to Sabratha, about 60 km west of the capital. This town was originally a Berber settlements long before the Phoenicians made it into a commercial centre. Walking along the streets of ancient Sabratha, moving from one site to another, you will see the Temple of Antoninus, the Forum, the 2nd century Colonnaded Theatre - the most complete Roman theater in the world, and Sabratha Classic or Roman Museum, housing a number of fine statues and Byzantine mosaics. Return to Tripoli in the evening.
Day 4
Leptis Magna: today you will head east of Tripoli towards the archaeological city of Leptis Magna - the best preserved Roman city in the world. The city is one of the best sites to visit in Libya, as it provides a unique travel experience: you will walk along its ancient streets, paved with blocks of stone, and lined with massive buildings and statues, as if walking back in time - real archaeological adventure. You will also see the Triumphal Arch of Septimius Severus - the Berber native of Leptis Magna who developed the city and went on to become Africa's first Roman Emperor. Among the other sites you will visit is the wonderful Museum of Leptis Magna, with its rare collection of Roman and local sculptures and statues. Return to Tripoli for the evening meal, and then back to the hotel for the night.
Day 5
Benghazi: today you take an early flight to Libya's second largest city: Benghazi, from where you will begin your exploration of the Green Mountain, else known as Cyrenaica. You will drive from the airport towards Teucheira, a small village located about 70 kilometres east of Benghazi city. The village is also known as Tokra and was one of the five cities of the Greek Pentapolis. Then you will continue your journey to Tolmeitha, also named Ptolemais after Ptolemy III, beautifully situated between the verdant hills of the Green Mountain and the blue sea, about 30 km from Almerj (Berqa). Continue to Cyrene for the night.
Days 6
Cyrene: today you will begin your day by exploring the archaeological hills of Cyrene, the ancient capital of Cyrenaica and one of Libya's five world heritage sites. The city once was very wealthy, largely due to the export of the silphium plant and other local produce. The city was also an important cultural centre in the region. In addition to the unique sculpture museum, which houses a number of fine statues and busts, you will visit the massive temple of Zeus (pictured right), the king of the Greek gods, the Temple of Apollo, the Sun-god, and the mysterious rock-cut tombs of the city’s necropolis, before continuing to Apollonia for the night.
Day 7
Apollonia: the name Apollonia comes from the Greek Sun-god Apollo, and as such the city may have been built in his honour by the Greek colonists around the 7th century BC. Since the city was built as a port to serve the capital Cyrene, then the protection of the gods to safeguard the ships laden with goods must have been of paramount importance to the governors of Cyrene. Today you will explore the main sites of Apollonia, like the ancient cisterns, the sacred sanctuaries, and the Byzantine basilicas. After lunch, you will continue the drive towards the Castle of Libya (Qasr Libya), stopping at the Berber grotto of Slontah - the site of a local, pre-Greek cult, characterised by carved sculptures and heads. After visiting the mosaic museum in Qasr Libya and the basilicas, you will continue towards Benghazi for the flight back to Tripoli.
Day 8
Nafusa Mountain: today you will leave Tripoli and head for Jebal Nafusa. Your first stop will be Qasr Al-Haj, where you will visit the traditional Berber fortified granary, before continuing to Nalut for more Berber sites. After Nalut you will begin your desert adventure by driving across a sand desert, before reaching the pearl of the desert, the Oasis of Ghadames, right at the edge of the Sahara. Transfer to the hotel.
Day 9
Full day in Ghadames: the roofed city: Ghadames, one of Libya's world heritage sites, is one of the oldest habitable towns in the whole of the Sahara, with history going back all the way to the Paleolithic period. With its beautiful mud houses, brilliantly decorated with red Tuareg designs, the old town is one of the best places to visit in Ghadames. After lunch you will explore the traditional museum, before driving to the sand dunes to watch the glowing sun set over the hazy dunes (see actual photo below). Back to the oasis for dinner before returning to the hotel for the night.
Ghadames Sand Dunes Sunset.
Day 10
Ghadames - Gharyan - Tripoli: early morning drive to Tripoli, but instead of driving through the same route, you will drive up the mountain and then continue across the top of Jabel Nafusa, towards the Berber village of Tormisa, then continue towards troglodyte Gharyan before arriving at the capital Tripoli for the night.
Day 11
Tripoli Airport: leisure time & shopping in Tripoli, transfer to the airport for departure & farewell.

How this holiday makes a difference? We are a Libyan tourism company operating from Libya, we employ local services, and all our camping staff, drivers and desert experts are locals. This means that all operational costs of our tours pour directly into the Libyan economy, and booking your holiday directly with us would make a big difference to all of us in Libya. We provide real experience holidays by arranging for our visitors to meet and mix with the local people, camp and stop anywhere they like, customise their itineraries, attend cultural events and festivals where applicable, and visit local families and try traditional foods. To help preserve and support our local culture and heritage we have provided comprehensive guides and free coverage in our website of local festivals, crafts, industries, rock art galleries, and have created Libya's first online museum of Libyan museums for the world to see and visit, free of charge. Needless to say Libya's archaeological sites are nearly empty most of the time and thus provide a unique and private touring experience. Read more about our Responsible Travel Policy here.


Accommodation
Hotels are optional. They will be included in the price if requested. Independent travellers can pick and choose their hotels as they go.	Itinerary Code: AT29 Duration: 11 Days

Hotels in Libya: If 3-star hotels were requested or included in the price then we normally use the best ones available, like Al Andalus hotel in Tripoli, Severus hotel in Leptis Magna, and Dar Germa in Germa. If 4-star hotels were requested or included in the price then we must inform you that these hotels can be found only in Tripoli, Benghazi and one in Ghadames. For example, we can use Alkendi hotel or the Grand Hotel (Alkabir) in Tripoli, or Almanara hotel in Apollonia; but we can use any hotel of your choice and calculate the price accordingly. We are not affiliated with any of these hotels, and we only recommend those hotels with proven good customer feedback. We also do like the traditional style and Berber designs employed in the construction of some hotels, like El-Khan and Zumit hotels in Tripoli and the grand Dar Ghadames hotel in Ghadames for their traditional styles that reflect the local culture as well as for their high standards and to allow our visitors to experience something different to the usual hotels. However, you are always welcome to suggest any other hotel you like, and where there are no bookings requested or confirmed in advance we do allow our visitors to pick and choose their hotels as they go, after arrival, but availability during season cannot be guaranteed without booking in advance. However, if you are not specific about a particular hotel, then there are plenty of good hotels to choose from. Camping Sites in Libya: Camping sites wherever to be found are also locally managed and provide basic services. Where camping sites cannot be found, your guide can either find a suitable and safe place for you to camp, or take you to the nearest hotel that provides camping places for a small fee. Some desert camping sites can be very expensive, up to 250 Libyan Dinar per a tent, and therefore these are often not included in our budget tours. We do however provide our own tents (small and large) and other camping equipment like mats, mattresses and blankets (all new) for free camping; but we do not recommend sharing nor do we provide sleeping bags, unless on request. Hostels in Libya: If hostels were requested in the program, then the quality of the service expected is provided as is. We cannot reserve rooms in hostels as there are no reservation services. Please refer to our guide to hostels in Libya for more information.


Prices & Services
Set Your Own Price: Generally speaking we are committed to providing good tours at reasonable price without compromising on quality. In fact our system allows you the freedom to pay for the quality level you require. There are various factors that can affect the price. For example, some visitors want 4-star hotels, others want 3-star hotels, while there are those who prefer to use hostels or camp in the open beneath the desert's stars. Some tourists want food included in the price, while others prefer to travel light. The time chosen to visit Libya will also influence the costs, as heavy demand on scarce services tends to push the price up. Travel companies that offer fixed price tours tend to impose the same services on the whole group, regardless of personal preferences. We are dedicated to offering good-quality services based on personal needs. Once you get in touch with us regarding a particular tour or itinerary, we will contact you to discuss the exact services you require and then set a price for your tour based on those preferences. This means that it is you who decides the price and not us, simply by choosing to pay only for the services you require. Basic Required Services: Libyan visa on arrival Airport/border formalities & transfers Passport registration Guide & his full costs Tourism Police (for groups of 5 or more) Advertised or agreed itinerary Private air-conditioned transport Desert transport & expert (where applicable) Internal flights (where shown in program) Extra Services: Accommodation in 3-star and/or 4-star hotels Accommodation in hostels Camping fees and fixed camping sites charges Food (full board or half board. Breakfast is included in all hotel prices) Museum & archaeological sites entrance fees Museum & archaeological guides Any other request not listed in the above basic required services list Price does not include any of the following services: Vehicle charges & taxes Travel insurance Photography fees Personal expenditure & souvenirs Anything else not specified in the above services list	Itinerary Code: AT29 Duration: 11 Days


Payment Details
Cash: full payment is required in Euro on arrival, with the option to pay in advance if preferred. If you cannot pay in Euro, then the next preferred currency is US Dollar or British Pound. The amount shown in Libyan Dinars (if any) is the amount to pay on arrival, converted to Euro currency according to the rates of exchange current at the time of paying. ATM's: if for any reason you cannot bring cash with you, then you can use your credit card to withdraw cash from ATM's, which are found only in the major cities, airports, like Tripoli and Benghazi, and a few other towns. Bank Transfer: if you prefer to pay in advance, then we can arrange for you to pay via bank transfer, where you can pay from your bank account directly into our bank account in Libya. Travellers cheques are becoming part of the past in Libya and can be very hard to find a bank that accepts them. However, when you do find a bank that accepts them, then you need to provide a document showing your name(s) and the list of the cheques' serial numbers, normally obtained from the bank that issued the cheques. If you are bringing any travellers cheques with you, please make sure you obtain this document from your bank.	Itinerary Code: AT29 Duration: 11 Days
Deposit Payment:
The amount to pay differs from one case to another. You will be notified via email during negotiations of how much deposit you need to pay, if any. Usually there is no deposit to pay. No deposit or advance payment is required from independent and private travellers as long as there are no hotel bookings required. Hotels in Libya will not confirm bookings without payment. Hostels in Libya do not accept bookings. For groups arriving together as part of one group organised by another tour operator or a travel agent, then there will be no deposit to pay. Full payment must be made on arrival by the tour leader. If hotel bookings are required, then a deposit to cover the hotel reservation may be necessary, depending on the category of hotels chosen. No deposit is required from individuals booking a place in one of our group tours if booking is made six months or more before arrival; but if booking is made within six months of travel, then we require a deposit payment to guarantee the tour for the other members of the group.
Cancellation & Refunds
Independent & private travellers: No cancellation fees will be applied to independent and private travellers if they cancel their tours at any time before the start of the visa procedure and where no hotel booking is required. Group tours: No cancellation fees will be applied to group tours organised by other tour operators and travel agents. If deposit was made for hotel bookings and for processing large number of visas, then the deposit paid to the hotel and the fees already paid to the immigration department to process the Libyan visa are not recoverable if cancellation occurs after we have applied for the visa. Why do we charge cancellation fees for those who cancel their places in group tours? Hotel rooms: the rooms we book are normally twin or double rooms and the prices are charged accordingly. But, if we book a double or twin room for two visitors, then one visitor cancels his or her tour after the arrangements were made, especially near the time of arrival, then the remaining visitor will have to take the room for him/herself, which means we have to pay the remaining balance to the hotel. Because we cannot ask the remaining visitor to pay more after we have agreed a price, the cancellation fee will be used to offset the balance. Processing visas also requires paying money to the immigration department in Tripoli, and requires administration work to collect and check the documents, drive 110 km to the capital Tripoli, hand over the documents, return to the office (in Zuwarah), then return to Tripoli ten days later to collect the visas, and then visit the Tourism Police department for the special permit required, and so on. If you cancel after this process has started, then the cancellation fee will help towards covering these costs.



Booking or Enquiring About Our Tours: If you need to book this tour or enquire about our tours in general, then please use our secure enquiry form.	Itinerary Code: AT29 Duration: 11 Days

Archaeological Tour

Small Group Tours:

Hotels in Libya:

Camping Sites in Libya:

Hostels in Libya:

Set Your Own Price:

Basic Required Services:

Extra Services:

Price does not include any of the following services: