9-day Libya Tour » Classic + East Libya + Ghadames + Jabel Nafusa (Visa Included!)

Arrival is scheduled at 10:05 at Tripoli Mitiga International Airport via Turkish Airlines. After meet & greet assistance and visa formalities, you’ll be transferred to your hotel by noon, with time to rest before the afternoon program.

At 14:00, the walking tour begins at Martyr’s Square, formerly Green Square, an open plaza surrounded by colonial-era buildings. Nearby stands the Arch of Marcus Aurelius, a Roman triumphal arch dating to 165 CE, the last visible remnant of Roman Oea. Entering the medina through Bab Al-Menshia, you’ll follow narrow lanes to the Saraya Market, pass the Red Castle (Saraya al-Hamra), and visit the 19th-century Gurgi Mosque, known for its octagonal minaret and Andalusian-Ottoman features. The tour ends at the House of Yusuf Karamanli, a preserved Ottoman mansion from the early 1800s.

This introduction to Tripoli highlights how Roman, Ottoman, and local traditions remain physically layered in the urban fabric of the old city.

Travel Distance & Time:
Approx. 35 km – 1 hour total drive

Historical Context:

• Arch of Marcus Aurelius: Built 165 CE under Roman rule in Oea
• Gurgi Mosque: Founded 1834 by Mustafa Gurgi, naval commander under Ottoman Tripoli
• Karamanli Dynasty ruled Tripoli 1711–1835

Curiosities & Local Facts:

• Gurgi Mosque features marble columns repurposed from Roman ruins
• House of Yusuf Karamanli includes original hand-painted wooden ceilings

5 Key Highlights:

• Explore Martyr’s Square and the surviving Roman arch
• Visit Ottoman mosques and 19th-century elite homes
• Discover the role of the Karamanli family in Tripoli’s history
• Walk through Bab Al-Menshia and traditional medina routes
• Learn about how Roman Oea transformed into Islamic Tripoli

Important for You:
Tripoli medina, Ottoman Tripoli, Marcus Aurelius Arch

Depart Tripoli at 08:00 for a full-day excursion to Leptis Magna, located 120 km east along the coast. Upon arrival, you’ll enter the site through the Arch of Septimius Severus, built in 203 CE to honor the emperor born here. The tour includes the Severan Forum, Basilica, and Market, all reflecting the city’s peak under Roman rule. The Amphitheater, located near the Wadi Lebda, and the adjacent Hippodrome, illustrate the city’s civic and entertainment life.

After exploring Leptis Magna’s core structures, you’ll return to Tripoli by 16:00 for a short drive along the Tripoli Corniche. This route passes the coastal road, Algiers Square, and colonial-era facades that show the influence of Italian urban planning in the 20th century.

This visit gives context to how ancient trade shaped the region and how Leptis Magna connected Africa to the wider Roman world.

Travel Distance & Time:
Approx. 260 km – 4.5 hours total drive

Historical Context:

• Leptis Magna: Founded by Phoenicians, expanded under Augustus and Septimius Severus
• Amphitheater: Built 56 CE, seated 16,000 people
• Forum and Basilica: Rebuilt 216 CE under Severan dynasty

Curiosities & Local Facts:

• The Severan Forum columns were shipped from Egypt
• The amphitheater is carved partly into a natural depression near the sea

5 Key Highlights:

• Walk through one of the best-preserved Roman cities in Africa
• See the imperial architecture of the Severan dynasty
• Visit the amphitheater and hippodrome of Leptis Magna
• Drive the Tripoli Corniche and view Italian-era structures
• Observe how Roman North Africa integrated into Mediterranean trade

Important for you:
Leptis Magna ruins, Roman North Africa, Tripoli Corniche

Departing Tripoli at 08:00, the journey enters the Jebel Nafusa, a mountainous region that has long been home to Libya’s Amazigh (Berber) communities. The first major stop at 11:30 is Qasr al-Hajj, a circular fortified granary from the 12th century, known for its distinctive stone compartments and stacked architecture. At 14:30, you’ll stop at Kabaw, another Amazigh settlement with a communal granary and cave homes adapted to the rocky terrain.

By late afternoon, the route continues southwest to reach Ghadames around 19:00. Upon arrival, you’ll check in and rest in preparation for the full city tour the following day.

This day reveals how rural Amazigh communities engineered sustainable living in difficult landscapes.

Travel Distance & Time:
Approx. 630 km – 8.5 hours total drive

Historical Context:

• Qasr al-Hajj: Built in the 12th century for grain storage and tribal management
• Kabaw: Features defensive granaries used well into the 20th century

Curiosities & Local Facts:

• Qasr al-Hajj’s granary system uses no mortar—only dry-stacked stones
• Kabaw’s ancient dwellings are still occasionally used for seasonal storage

5 Key Highlights:

• Visit Amazigh granaries unique to Jebel Nafusa
• Explore the highland villages of Qasr al-Hajj and Kabaw
• Learn about communal resource management in Berber society
• Witness local architecture adapted to arid mountain life
• Arrive in Ghadames, Libya’s famed Saharan town

Important for You:
Qasr al-Hajj, Amazigh architecture, Jebel Nafusa

Begin at 08:30 with a walking tour through Ghadames Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known as the “pearl of the desert,” the old town features interconnected homes, rooftop walkways, and a layout designed to mitigate extreme heat. Highlights include covered alleys, the traditional mosque, and preserved Saharan architecture with gypsum and palm wood.

At 17:00, shift to 4WD vehicles for a desert safari through the dunes surrounding Ghadames. Stops include the Ras Al-Ghoul Fort, now a ruin with views of the Tunisian border, and a short trek on foot into the sand dunes. The day ends with a Touareg fire camp, where a simple dinner is served in the open desert.

This experience connects modern visitors to traditional desert life and regional trade history.

Travel Distance & Time:
Local movements only – Approx. 25 km by 4WD

Historical Context:

• Ghadames: Inhabited since Roman times (Cydamus), rebuilt as a caravan post by the 6th century CE
• Ras Al-Ghoul: A Saharan outpost once linked to the Trans-Saharan trade

Curiosities & Local Facts:

• Ghadames homes have separate circulation for women via rooftop paths
• The city’s water comes from underground springs feeding a centuries-old irrigation system

5 Key Highlights:

• Walk through the fully preserved old city of Ghadames
• Learn about Saharan climate-adapted housing
• Drive out to Ras Al-Ghoul for desert views
• Trek across dunes in 4WD
• Enjoy a traditional Touareg campfire experience

Important for You:
Ghadames old city, Saharan caravan town, Touareg camp

Departing Ghadames at 07:30, the route retraces toward Tripoli with new stops en route. At 10:30, you’ll follow the Al Majabrah road, passing scattered desert villages and camel-herding zones. By 14:30, you’ll visit Bu Gheilan, a remote site known for troglodyte houses—dwellings dug into hillsides for temperature control.

Arrive in Tripoli around 17:00 for rest and dinner at the hotel.

This route highlights traditional Libyan desert life and adaptations to harsh terrain.

Travel Distance & Time:
Approx. 630 km – 8.5 hours drive

Historical Context:

• Troglodyte housing is common in both Libya and Tunisia’s southern zones
• Bu Gheilan’s cave homes date from medieval times and are still occasionally used

Curiosities & Local Facts:

• Cave homes maintain a steady internal temperature year-round
• Local Berber families still visit Bu Gheilan seasonally

5 Key Highlights:

• Drive through desert roads linking Ghadames to Tripoli
• Observe nomadic settlement patterns
• Visit historic troglodyte homes in Bu Gheilan
• Experience Saharan-Libyan desert transition zones
• Return to urban Tripoli from remote southwest

Important for You:
Bu Gheilan cave homes, Libyan desert life, troglodyte dwellings

Depart Tripoli at 07:30 for the short drive westward to Sabratha, one of the key cities of the Roman Tripolitania region. By 08:30, you’ll arrive and begin your visit at the Sabratha Theatre, built in the 2nd century CE and restored during Italian rule. The walk continues through the Temple of Liber Pater, the Forum, baths, and mosaic-covered villas, many overlooking the sea.

Following the site visit, you’ll return to Tripoli for an afternoon airport transfer and domestic flight to Al Abraq Airport, located in Libya’s eastern Cyrenaica region. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in Al Bayda, arriving in the evening.

This day contrasts Tripolitania’s coastal Roman heritage with Cyrenaica’s upcoming Greek foundations.

Travel Distance & Time:
Tripoli to Sabratha: Approx. 70 km – 1.5 hours drive
Flight Tripoli to Al Abraq: Approx. 1 hour
Al Abraq to Al Bayda: Approx. 20 km – 30 min drive

Historical Context:

• Sabratha: Founded by Phoenicians, became a Roman city in the 1st century BCE
• Theatre: Built under Emperor Commodus around 190 CE
• Liber Pater Temple: A syncretic deity blending Roman and Punic traditions

Curiosities & Local Facts:

• The Sabratha theatre facade is reconstructed from original fragments
• Many floor mosaics were removed to Tripoli’s museum for conservation

5 Key Highlights:

• Visit the well-preserved Roman theatre of Sabratha
• Explore temples, baths, and sea-facing Roman villas
• Understand the Tripolitanian model of Roman urbanism
• Take a domestic flight from west to east Libya
• Arrive in Cyrenaica’s modern capital, Al Bayda

Important for You:
Sabratha theatre, Roman Tripolitania, Al Bayda city

Depart Al Bayda in the morning toward Susah, site of the ancient port of Apollonia. Once Cyrene’s harbor, Apollonia includes a Roman-era theatre, Byzantine basilicas, and baths. After a coastal visit, you’ll ascend inland to the plateau where Cyrene lies—one of North Africa’s most important Greek cities. Founded in 631 BCE by settlers from Thera, the site includes the Temple of Zeus, Sanctuary of Apollo, Agora, and necropolis.

In the afternoon, continue east to visit the Qsar Libya Museum, home to the famous floor mosaics discovered in Byzantine churches nearby. The museum holds 50 panels of geometric and symbolic themes that illustrate early Christian Libyan art. Return to Al Bayda by evening.

This day offers deep insight into the Greek and Byzantine history of eastern Libya.

Travel Distance & Time:
Approx. 170 km – 4.5 hours total drive

Historical Context:

• Apollonia: Founded in 7th century BCE as Cyrene’s port
• Cyrene: Major Hellenic city-state in Libya’s Pentapolis; Romanized in 74 BCE
• Qsar Libya mosaics: Dated to 6th century CE, from nearby Byzantine churches

Curiosities & Local Facts:

• The Temple of Zeus at Cyrene is larger than the Parthenon in Athens
• Apollonia’s theater has a rare seaside backdrop, used through the Byzantine period

5 Key Highlights:

• Walk through the Greek city of Cyrene and its sanctuaries
• Visit Apollonia’s harbor ruins and early Christian basilicas
• View rare Byzantine floor mosaics at Qsar Libya
• Understand Greek, Roman, and Christian overlaps in Cyrenaica
• Enjoy scenic drives through the Green Mountains region

Important for You:
Cyrene archaeology, Apollonia Libya, Qsar Libya mosaics

Leaving Al Bayda in the morning, you’ll head southeast along the coastal plain. The first stop is Tolmeita, the ancient city of Ptolemais, another of the Pentapolis cities. Once the regional capital in late antiquity, it features ruins of a vast cistern system, a theater, and remains of Roman streets. The next visit is to Tokra, a lesser-known but strategically located hilltop site. Originally named Taucheira, it has Hellenistic walls, Byzantine churches, and Roman-era domestic remains.

Continue along the road to Benghazi, arriving in the late afternoon. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and rest for the evening.

This stop gives context to how urban life evolved in Cyrenaica from Greek colonies to late Roman fortresses.

Travel Distance & Time:
Approx. 270 km – 5 hours drive

Historical Context:

• Ptolemais: Named after Ptolemy III; became regional capital in 3rd century CE
• Tokra (Taucheira): Founded by Greek settlers in 6th century BCE
• Both cities were fortified during Byzantine rule

Curiosities & Local Facts:

• Tolmeita’s cisterns could store up to 20,000 cubic meters of water
• The site of Tokra is rarely visited, despite excellent visibility of wall structures

5 Key Highlights:

• Explore the ancient city of Ptolemais with its unique urban infrastructure
• Visit the little-known Greek site of Tokra on the Mediterranean
• Trace how Greek colonies transformed under Roman and Byzantine rule
• Travel through coastal Cyrenaica to Benghazi
• End the eastern section of the tour in Libya’s second city

Important for You
Ptolemais ruins, Tokra ancient site, Greek Pentapolis Libya

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred from your hotel to Benghazi Benina Airport for your Turkish Airlines departure at 10:15. Airport procedures will be handled in coordination with your guide or driver.

This final morning marks the conclusion of your journey across Libya’s historical and geographical regions.

Travel Distance & Time:
Approx. 25 km – 45 minutes drive

Historical Context:

• Benghazi (ancient Berenice): Another of Libya’s Pentapolis cities, though little remains of the classical core

Curiosities & Local Facts:

• Benghazi was rebuilt after WWII and functions today as a commercial and educational hub

5 Key Highlights:

• End of services and airport transfer
• Final reflections on Cyrenaica’s legacy
• Morning logistics managed with local staff
• Departure from Libya’s eastern gateway
• Close of 9-day historical circuit

Important for You:
Benghazi airport, Cyrenaica travel, Libya departure logistics