Itinerary No. 05 AAT – Ghadames

Program

1. Day 1 Day 1: Arrival in Tripoli

   On arrival in Tripoli, you will be met by your local guide. You will be transferred to your hotel to check in and relax. Depending on your arrival time, you may wish to visit the city centre before enjoying your evening meal at one of Tripoli’s lively restaurants.

2. Day 2 Day 2: Sabratha ruins and Qasr Al-Haj

   After breakfast, you will set off for Sabratha, which is situated on the coast, about an hour’s drive west of Tripoli. Sabratha is said to be one of the best-preserved ancient Roman sites in the world today, and boasts one of the finest theatres of antiquity. After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll head south-west towards the Jabal Nafusa mountain range to visit Qasr al-Hajj: an unusual circular fortified granary. In the early evening, you’ll make your way up a cliff to a sprawling Berber village called Yafrin to spend the night.

3. Day 3 Day 3: Berber culture in the Nafusa Mountains

   You will set off early in the morning and travel through the Nafusa Mountains, a landscape of arid mountains and rocky cliffs, home to the Libyan Berber community (also known as the Amazigh). Your first stop will be Tormisa – an abandoned stone village situated on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Jafara Plain. There are numerous tunnels, oil-pressing passages and exploration chambers, as well as a mosque. You will then drive on to Kabao; a charming Berber community situated on the slope of a hill, with a magnificent grain store forming the focal point of the village. Lunch will be served nearby, and the journey will continue southwards in the afternoon as the mountainous terrain begins to give way to the epic harshness of the desert, which stretches from northern Libya to the heart of the African continent. Upon arrival in Ghadames in the early evening, you will be transferred to your hotel for a two-night stay.

4. Day 4 Day 4: Ghadames, jewel of the desert (B, D)

   Ghadames is one of the most prominent caravan trading towns anywhere in the desert and is the highlight of this tour. On the morning of the first day of your stay, you’ll be taken on a guided tour of the now-abandoned old town, wandering through the labyrinthine alleyways, tropical gardens and ancient squares. The women of Ghadames lived a secluded life. Their domain was the home, which they decorated intricately with red paint, and they only ventured down to street level at prayer times. Only a network of interconnected rooftops allowed them to move freely from house to house. A traditional lunch will be cooked in one of the old houses. Relax or browse the shops in the afternoon, and in the early evening, drive out into the desert to visit the ruined remains of Ras al-Ghul, surrounded by sand dunes and overlooked by the sand dunes of Tunisia and Algeria.

5. Day 5 Day 5: Nalut

   You will return to Tripoli via a different route through the Nafusa Mountains, stopping at Nalut. Nalut is the largest Berber community and is home to an exceptional Berber granary perched on the edge of a mountain, offering magnificent views over the plains below. The palace is the focal point of the village; the houses, the oil press and the mosque were left empty in 1960 when New Nalut was built around them. The local community has worked hard to keep local traditions alive through handicrafts, and several rooms are open to the public, displaying the earthenware storage jars that once held barley, dates and oil. It is a long journey, and you will arrive in Tripoli in the early evening in time for dinner at a local restaurant or at your hotel.

6. Day 6 Day 6: Leptis Magna

   He will spend the whole day in Libda Magna, an hour’s drive from Tripoli. The site is extensive, and after a guided tour, there will be time to explore it at your own pace. Benefiting from the patronage of the founder of the African Roman imperial dynasty, Emperor Septimius Severus (born 146), Leptis Magna Magna was a city of extraordinary imperial splendour – and remains a place of immense magnificence. The sand that engulfed the site in the early modern period prevented looting and preserved its splendour. The day will also include a visit to the stunning amphitheatre – a wonderful spot for a stroll. You will drive to a hotel not far from the site for dinner and an overnight stay

7. Day 7 Day 7: Leptis Magna revisited

   You can visit Leptis Magna again in the morning and then drive a short distance to see the magnificent mosaics at Villa Sileen (if it’s open – it’s currently undergoing restoration). You’ll then be taken back to Tripoli, stopping, if you wish, at one of the many stalls selling honey, olive oil and rose water along the way. If there’s time, you can take a stroll through the old town to explore the mosques, markets and charming narrow streets, and stop for a mint tea at Green Square, the central meeting place for Tripoli’s residents and the gateway to the market. A farewell dinner will be served at the Tripoli Al-Jee restaurant.

8. Day 8 Day 8: Tripoli Museum and departure (B)

   The Museum of Opportunities in Tripoli. It houses a wide range of artefacts from all periods of Libya’s rich history, including one of the world’s most famous collections of classical art. The numerous exhibition galleries feature mosaics, sculptures and works of art from each of the sites visited during the week. Return home