Libya is one of the undiscovered jewels of the North African continent. Its fascinating landscapes, stunning beaches, imposing Sahara Desert, and unique world heritage sites all lie within reach of Tripoli, the historic capital city and commercial oasis. Known as Tarabulus in Arabic and Oea in antiquity, Tripoli is the de facto capital of Libya, although there have been attempts in recent years to move some government departments to other areas of the country. Once known as the ''White Bride of the Mediterranean'' (whatever that's supposed to mean), Tripoli has lost much of its pristine allure, though its many historic mosques and lively medina retain a good deal of character. The Turkish and Italian colonial periods also left a distinctive mark on the city''s architecture, and best of all, Qaddaf's revolution has ensured the absence of billboards and other hallmarks of a modern commercial city.
On the southern most shores of the Mediterranean and on one of the gateways to the great Sahara, Libya is a country with a rich heritage. Since the emergence of mankind, various cultures and civilisations have flourished here.
Libya has a population of over five million, around half of whom are under the age of 15. Most Libyans are Arabs (and nearly all think of themselves as such), although ethnically there is quite a mixture of races, including Turks, Berbers, and sub-Saharan Africans. In the south, especially around Ghat, there are large Tuareg communities, most of whom now live in towns and settlements rather than pursuing a life of desert nomadism. Away from the more cosmopolitan coastal cities, tribalism remains strong, especially affecting family relationships, matrimony and social structures.
Day 1: Arrival in Tripoli
Flight to Tripoli. Warm welcome through an English speaking guide. Travel through Tripolis, capital of Libya. Transfer to the luxury hotel Corinthia (5*) and check in for two nights. Time is free of leisure. Dinnerbüffet.
Day 2: Tripolis – Sabratha – Tripolis
After breakfast visit of the national museum, located inside the fortress "As - Saray Al Hamra" at the entrance of Medina. The most important archaelogical collection shows unique treasures of the Roman antiquity. Beside the classical statues there are also prehistoric and Byzantine things of excavation.Then tour to the Turkish fortress with wood portal, clock tower place, custom house, triumphal arch of the Marcus Aurelius, Ottoman Gurji mosque, Karamanli house, St. Maria Kirche, Turkish prison as well as stroll by the lively, colorful Souks. Attaching approx. a 1-hour journey to Sabratha. Lunch in the restaurant "to the Bedouin".After the visit of the wonderfully situated excavations (UNESCO world cultural heritage) which extend to down to the sea. The theatre is regarded as one of the most beautiful and most enormous buildings of the Roman antiquity. The Romans used the port as a starting point and built a trade route, which went about Ghadames to Central Africa, were ivory, slaves and wild animals transported on her. We go among others to the Punic quarter past with grave tower, Byzantine city wall, Decumanus, the old forum, the southern of Forumstemple Serapistemple Justian basilica, curia, Hadrianstemple among others tour to the atrium villa, at the stone bridge to the again lifted theatre and façade of the fly tower. From there to the Heraklestemple, theatre thermal springs and two Christian basilicas from the 6th century. Then visit of the Roman and Punic museum. Return journey to Tripoli. Dinner buffet in the hotel .
Day 3: Tripolis - Nalut - Ghadames
Breakfast buffet-and check out. We leave Tripolitania and drive in well fully developed streets along the 200 km of mountain flank of the Djebel Nafusa to Nalut, a traditional place of the Berbers.
Here we go with houses in the traditional style to the biggest and most powerful loft castle with her honeycomb-like "Ghorfas" built about each other as well as the Berber settlement deserted where big millstones are located in the extraction of olive oil still.
Lunch will be in El on a rest station. After that we pass through the impressive landscape of the red stone desert "Hamada al Hamra" and finally in the evening reach the old oasis town of Ghadames. Two overnight stays and dinner in the hotel Al Waha (2*) or Kafila (2*).
Day 4: Ghadames – Al Tawarg
Simple breakfast buffet. Ghadames, the ancient Cydamae, was the most important caravan station on the way to Morocco and across the desert to Timbuktu once and looks back on a 4000-year story. Lanes of the old town (UNESCO world cultural heritage) partly deserted which extends herself to approx. 4000 hectares of land usually reconsidered after the museum visit stroll by the narrow ones. Picturesque houses, shady Palm groves and gardens as well as the legendary mare source, are located here where the film "Timbuktu" was shot with John Wayne and Sophia Loren. Lunch in a Berber house fitted out typically. In the late afternoon we go to the sand dunes at Al Tawarg where we will experience the imposing sundown over the Sahara over a glass of mint tea. Dinner in a Restaurant with typical Berber specialties.
Day 5: Ghadames – Kabaw- Gheryan
Breakfast buffet and check out. The journey runs through the nearly infinite distance of the Sahara with 9 million square kilometres of the biggest desert of the world in a north-easterly direction. Lunch will be in the rest station El Jwbia. Berber village of Kabaw with his loft castle for the grain and oil deserted from there to this one. We also can admire the arts and crafts of the Berbers here. A meeting with a Fata Moran is not excluded. We reach the city of Gheryan, 720 m ü. M. been, famous because of his Troglodytian cave apartments already laid out in the antiquity along the Djebel Nafusa. An olive oil pressing plant and go to a small ethnological opinion object, possible us the potteries at the roadside on the place edge. Dinner and overnight stay in the hotel Gharyan (2*)
Day 6: Gheryan – Leptis Magna – Zliten
Simple breakfast buffet and check-out. At numerous olive groves and palm plantations we past go one from Leptis Magna (UNESCO world cultural heritage) in the coastal street, to the excavations place antiquity and undoubtedly the highlight the most imposing of all of the of our journey. The most excellent and best maintained port was founded by the Phoenicia at approx. 1000 B.C. from Sidon and Tyrus.The ruins from the roman time show a 500-year occupation by the Roman Empire. Detailed tour by the plants: thermal springs, triumphal arches of the Septimus Severus, new and old forum, docks, basilica, temples, market buildings, colonnade street, basilica, temple of Romans and Augustus, triumphal arch of the Marcus Aurelius, amphitheatre and others
Have lunch in a hotel restaurant in Choms. After the visit of the archaeological museum which presents his objects into a generous frame. The life size bronze statue of the Roman emperor Septimus Severus who saw the light of the world here in 145 is built in front of the entrance to the showrooms. Continuation of the journey to the city of Zliten Dinner and overnight stay in the hotel Zliten (3*)
Day 7: Zliten – Misratah- Siirt- Medinet Sultan – Marble Arch – Benghazi
Breakfast buffet and check-out. Drive along the middle sea coast on very well fully developed road about Misratah to Siirt. Then we go to Medinet sultan, the ancient Punic Charax and trade fulcrum of the Karthago. Continuation of the journey about Adjdabiaya, the ancient Corniclanum and end of the golf of the great Syrte and thus also the old street between Tripolitanien and Kyrenaika..In the evening arrival in Benghazi, the second largest town of Libya and metropolis the Cyrenaika. The famous "gardens of the Hesperidia" also were here. Overnight stay and dinner in the hotel Tibesty or Ouzou (4*)
Day 8: Benghazi – Tokra – Tulmeitha – Susa/Al-Beidha
Breakfast buffet and check-out. Along the middle sea coast we reach the ruins of Tocra, the ancient Teucheira, a settlement of Spartan origin, this one but her heyday, in the Hellenistic Roman epoch. She became one of the most important Byzantine bases in the Cyrenaica. Later we go to the little Ottoman-Italian fortress with museum, the spacious quarries and rock tombs, the city wall with the two gates, the east basilica with three naves like the Byzantine palace plant. Continuation of the journey to the ancient town of Ptolemaic, on the place edge of today's village of Tulmeitha. A tour by the extensive excavations area leads next to us be to the museum. The rest of the triumphal arch of emperor Constantine is at the intersection of the Decumanus maxi mush and Cardo maxi mush. We reach the Byzantine baths and a fountain edging in the monument street. From there to the so-called column palace and to the Hellenistic wall under the Agora which could hold 23,000 m³ of water. Continuation of the journey along the coastal road to Al-Beidha or Susa. Dinner and overnight stay in the hotel Alloloa (2*) or Almanara (4*) for two nights.
Day 9: Al-Beidha/Susa – Shahat - Slanta
Breakfast buffet. Visit of the excavations lane by the sea of Apollonia with ancient basins, central basilica, Roman baths, palace of the Byzantine town holder, east basilica, house of the wells as well as the Hellenistic theatre. From there we got to Shahat for the excavations of the ancient Cyrene (UNESCO world cultural heritage). Detailed visit of the excavations area: Zeustemple with Dorian columns, Roman forum, Batto's street, theatre or Odeon, villa of the Jason Magnus, Agora, capitol, Prytaneion, Greek and Roman Propyleion, Apollotemple, necropolis, Greek theatre. Then visit of the archaeological museum. Return to Susa or Al-Beidha. Dinner and overnight stay in the booked hotel.
Day 10: Susa/Al Beidha – Ghasar Libia – Benghazi – Tripolis
Breakfast buffet and check-out. Go to the Asklepieion, admiration place of the Greek well-being God Asklepios and branch office cult of the Greek Epidauros and the little Asian Allianoi. Continuation to the plateau of the Akhdar massif of the Wadi al Quf, valley of the grottos to Ghasr Libia, one on a round mountain top's situated fortress which was made use of strategically in the Ottoman and Italian crew time. There are 50 impressive mosaic representations in the little museum where the only existing illustration of the lighthouse can be seen. Lunch time will be in a rest station. In the afternoon we reach Benghazi - stroll through this restored Italian districts and the Souks. Then flight to Tripoli and transfer to the hotel. Dinner at hotel.
Day 11: Departure from Tripoli
Breakfast buffet and check-out. Transfer to the airport. Flight back home.
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