Libya holiday, Explorer
| country: | Libya |
| location: | Sahara Desert |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2008: 13 Sep, 11 Oct, 8 Nov, 6 Dec 2009: 3 Jan, 31 Jan, 28 Feb, 28 Mar, 25 Apr, 23 May |
| price: | From £2085 (14 days) including domestic flights only, as per itinerary, based on twin share. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Libya is celebrated for its superb ancient cities at Sabratha, Leptis Magna, Cyrene and Apollonia. Built from marble and white sandstone, we discover theatres and public baths, fine houses decorated with frescoes and mosaics, and streets lined with porticoes to provide shade from the hot African sun. It is the desert, however, that truly captivates us on this wonderful adventure. We discover the unique mud-brick architecture at Ghadames, see ancient granaries at Nalut, explore the old trading town of Germa and lose ourselves in Ghat’s historic medina.
Deep in the Sahara we see fabulous prehistoric paintings in the Acacus Mountains and discover sparkling lakes – fringed with palm trees and glittering like precious stones. These gorgeous oases amongst the dunes are a lovely place to swim and relax before we head back to the busy bustle of Tripoli. Includes: tour leader, arrival transfer, private air-conditioned vehicles, accomodation (9 nights comfortable hotel, 2 nights camping, 2 nights hut), most meals (13 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 9 dinners), all transportation, sightseeing & entrance fees.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself. Traveling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum.
As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have traveled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
Deep in the Sahara we see fabulous prehistoric paintings in the Acacus Mountains and discover sparkling lakes – fringed with palm trees and glittering like precious stones. These gorgeous oases amongst the dunes are a lovely place to swim and relax before we head back to the busy bustle of Tripoli. Includes: tour leader, arrival transfer, private air-conditioned vehicles, accomodation (9 nights comfortable hotel, 2 nights camping, 2 nights hut), most meals (13 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 9 dinners), all transportation, sightseeing & entrance fees.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself. Traveling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum.
As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have traveled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | (Sat) Arrive in Tripoli and transfer to hotel. |
| Day 2: | Visit Jabal Nafusa (Western Mountains). The barren, rocky mountains are spectacular, with stone villages looking out over the arid planes. We also see the Qaser of Kabaw where villagers 'banked' their grain to trade with caravans heading south into the desert. |
| Day 3-4: | Full day in Ghadames, celebrated for its beautiful and inventive architecture, designed to resist the dramatic extremes of the Saharan climate. We spend the bulk of the day exploring this charming town, visiting the museum, the old town, before heading out into some beautiful desert landscape for afternoon tea in the sand dunes. Visit Nalut one of the most fascinating old towns in the region. We discover an ancient 'kasr' or fortified house which was used primarily for storing grain and oil. We spend time exploring before returning to Tripoli. |
| Day 5: | Full day at Leptis Magna, one of the greatest ancient sites in the world. It was originally a Phoenician trading port, and prospered for nearly 1000 years before Vandal invasions and sand storms brought its downfall. The vast city remained buried for some 1300 years, and it wasn't until the 1920s that a major excavation by Italian and Libyan archaeologists revealed the limestone and marble wonders that we explore today. |
| Day 6: | Visit Sabratha, a Phoencian trading post that served as an outlet for the products of the African hinterland. It is beautifully situated, overlooking the shores of the Mediterranean, and we spend the morning exploring its splendid theatre, baths, fountains and mosaics. Fly to Benghazi. |
| Day 7: | Visit Cyrene, originally a Greek city, but eventually Romanized and remaining a significant metropolis until the earthquake of AD 365. Its interest lies not only in the many splendid public buildings, but also its superb setting. Nearby is Apollonia, the ancient port of Cyrene, which played a critical role in its properity. |
| Day 8: | Visit Qasr Libya to view 6th century mosaics, fly to Tripoli and then on to Sebha. |
| Day 9: | Deep in the interior is Fezzan, home of dramatic mountains, desert lakes and the finest natural rock art in North Africa. Sebha, a modern city, is the largest oasis and the principal metropolis in the Fezzan Region. We drive south to explore Germa and Ghat, then overnight in Aweinat. |
| Day 10-11: | Visit Ghat, then spend two full days exploring the Acacus mountains, rock paintings and engravings. We camp out in the desert, underneath a spectacular blanket of stars. Hidden in the valleys and wadis of the Acacus Mountains we discover some of the most outstanding cave paintings in the world. On narrow ledges under cliff faces, we see red and black images of hunting and ritual dances. |
| Day 12: | More time to explore Acacus area in the morning. Return via Aweinat to Tikarkiba. |
| Day 13: | Explore the desert lakes of Ubari Sand Sea where salt lakes, surrounded by lush vegetation, flash like sparkling gems amongst the towering sand dunes. Fly to Tripoli. |
| Day 14: | Trip ends in Tripoli this morning (Fri). |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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See Libya through the eyes of a local, as your Libyan tour leader gives you a first-hand insight into the exotic and historically rich tapestry that makes up this amazing country. Discovering archaeological sites, seeking out Greco-Roman antiquities, exploring ancient temples, wandering around vibrant medinas and journeying out to the desert and oasis towns - all experiences that impart to travellers an awareness of these valuable natural and historical gems and the importance of them being preserved and protected, so that they can be enjoyed and appreciated by future generations. The Libyans have a rich and enduring culture, which is unveiled on this tour. Equally important, your local tour leaders help you to understand the traditions of these proud people, ensuring you don’t commit any cultural ‘faux pas’.
To support tour programs in this part of the world this operator is training their tour leaders on a variety of issues, from environmental awareness to First Aid. This not only assists in the conduct of a tour but also provides leaders with important life skills. By only employing tour leaders born and bred in the regions they visit, they are supporting local economies. This operator prefers to give their patronage to small owner-managed hotels rather than those from international chains, as they feel these places offer quality and character and also directly benefit local people. Through offering employment and steady revenue, tourism can ultimately make a real positive difference to local communities. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |