Libya – the jewel of North Africa – 7 days
We would like to invite you to an exceptional trip to Libya which used to be completely inaccessible for tourists until not so long ago.
Because of the political situation, trips to such magnificent places as the ruins of the ancient towns of Leptis Magna and Sabrata were impossible in the past few years. During our expedition we will also visit Tripoli – we will see its Christian district as well as buildings from the Ottoman period and colonial times.
itinerary
An organisational meeting in the capital of Tunisia – Tunis – at the international airport. Flight to Tripoli. After arrival and visa formalities, transfer to the hotel. An afternoon or evening visit to the capital of Libya, depending on the time of our arrival.
L.D.
After breakfast, we will leave Tripoli and go west, to the Jabal Nafusa region inhabited mainly by Berbers. To start with, we will stop in Qasr Al-Hajj, which is a unique granary which was also a fortress where the local community could take shelter. It is an exceptional example of a combination of defensive architecture with commercial one. Then we will go to Nalut where we will visit a similar fortified castle-granary but situated in a completely different scenery, on a steep hillside. In the afternoon or early in the evening we should reach Ghadames – a town called “the jewel of Sahara”. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in view of its extraordinary architecture and history. We will stay in the local hotel for two nights.
B. L. D.
From the morning, we will be able to admire the magnificent architecture of Ghadames during a walking tour. We will have an opportunity to get lost in the labyrinth of small streets that are suddenly closed by small squares, historical mosques and madrasas. We will see ancient aqueducts and observe people at one of the oldest bazaars in northern Africa. We plan to go for lunch to a traditional house, which will give us a chance to taste the regional cuisine. In the afternoon, we will set off to Ras al-Ghoul, i.e. “the Mountain of Ghosts”. Those are the remains of Roman fortifications. Then we will drive to Grand Erg Oriental where we will have an opportunity to see marvellous picturesque landscapes of northern Sahara. It is a place where borders of Libya, Algeria and Tunisia converge. We will stay there until sunset and then return to Ghadames.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will set off for our return journey to Tripoli. En route we will stop in Jabal Nafusa where we will visit Qasr at Kabaw – fortifications whose origins date back to the beginning of civilisation and settlements in North Africa. Next we will drive to a small village of Tormisa where we will see a magnificent panorama of this area from a cliff on which the village is situated. While returning to Tripoli, we will also stop in Gharyan where we will see traditional houses and we will visit workshops of real masters of pottery art, which were mentioned also in Roman chronicles. In the evening, we will arrive in Tripoli. Dinner and night rest at the hotel.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will set off to a whole-day trip to the ruins of the ancient city of Leptis Magna. They are among the best preserved remains of Roman architecture outside Europe. We will also visit buildings erected in later Byzantine times, such as bathhouses, an amphitheatre and ancient city walls with gates. On our way back to Tripoli, we will visit the remains of Villa Silene that used to belong to a rich Roman family. In the evening, depending on the time of our arrival, we will go for a walk to the Tripoli districts with preserved buildings dating back to the 19th century, to the colonial era. Dinner and night rest in Tripoli.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we drive to the east of Tripoli to visit the Sabrata ruins. It is an exceptional place where remains of Phoenician, Roman and Byzantine buildings and structures can be seen. We will end our visit by walking through the remains of the first early Christian churches. In the afternoon, return to Tripoli. We will visit what we were unable to see on previous days. Dinner and night rest in Tripoli.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will visit a second world war cemetery where also Polish soldiers are buried. We will go for a stroll to the Christian district where we will explore the labyrinth of narrow and tortuous streets. One of the highlights of this day will be a visit under the triumphal arch erected for the Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the second century AD. Dinner and night rest at the hotel. There will be time for some final shopping. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport and flight to Tunis.
B.L.
Practical information
- the length of the tour : 7 days in Libya;
- start of the trip: Tunis – Tunisia ;
- end of the trip: Tunis – Tunisia;
- the highlights of this expedition The biggest attraction of the tour will be the visit in Tripoli and in the ruins of the ancient cities of Leptis Magna and Sabrata. The heritage sites found there – dating back mainly to the period of Roman and Byzantine Empires – are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. During our tour, we will go the western part of the country – to the town of Ghadames famous for its unique architecture. Then we will have an opportunity to meet Libyans living in this region. In fact, one of the trip highlights will be the possibility to meet the inhabitants of Libya which slowly emerges from the nightmare of civil war and many years of dictatorship that preceded it.
Because of the special nature of the visited places and of the expedition features, the travellers should be able to walk unassisted and participate in short hikes to vantage points. However, they are not physically strenuous. Accommodation is planned in hotels. As means of transport we will use passenger cars or off-road vehicles. We designed our itinerary so as to enable the travellers the best possible viewing of the places away from mass tourism routes, while meeting safety standards and ensuring comfort.
Depending on the political situation, the length of the tour and the order of visited places may change. In a situation of a serious threat to travellers’ safety, the tour may be cancelled. We will keep you updated as to whether the expedition is possible.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the planned end of the tour.
Before departure, you must obtain a Libyan visa. Currently, only business visas are issued. The cost of the invitation necessary for obtaining a visa is included in the trip price, but visa procedures in the embassy competent for the place of residence are not.
Since flights to Tripoli are only available via Tunis, you must check if you do not have to additionally obtain the Tunisian visa. For most citizens of the UK and UE there is no such obligation.
Furthermore, you should take with you for the trip a photocopy of your passport (the photo page) and an additional ID document.
- Before departure, we recommend a consultation with a family physician and a tropical medicine specialist.
- Malaria prophylaxis is recommended but an infection is rather unlikely because of the climate, the trip dates and the itinerary of the planned tour.
- Vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, viral hepatitis A and B and typhus is recommended.
- There is a risk of tuberculosis.
- We recommend visiting https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries.
- During our expedition, we will drink only bottled water. You should avoid ice in your beverages and eating raw or undercooked foods.
- At the visited places, only private healthcare exists (a visit cost is approximately USD 50).
- Because of difficult travelling and accommodation conditions and particularities of the country, good general health is necessary. Please take with you a first aid kit and a sufficient supply of your regular (prescription) medicines, if any. Some useful contents of the first aid kit:
- Tunisia and Tunis are relatively safe for tourists. The biggest threat is common crime – pickpocketing.
- Despite the recently ended civil war, Libya – Tripoli and its surroundings – is a relatively safe country, when the appropriate security measures and common sense are used. In the event of a serious threat to safety, the trip can be cancelled or shortened or its itinerary can be changed so as to enable its safe conduct.
- Despite the difficult situation, expeditions to Tripoli and its nearby archaeological sites are possible and conducted with the adequate precautions.
- Owing to the good relations we have with local contractors, we keep following the news to be aware of any potential threats and safety risks. We also recommend you to read the latest news on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
During the tour, please take seriously the instructions of our contractors, guides and the tour leader.
It is very important to respect local customs and abide by local laws, and detailed information about them will be presented as necessary by local guides and the tour leader.
It is strictly prohibited to take photos and make video recordings at military and police installations and at airports and around them. You are also not allowed to take photos where people in military/police uniforms are present!!!
Photographing people is possible only when they expressly agree to it. Taking pictures when the subjects have not allowed it may often cause their aggressive behaviours.
The legal tender in Libya is Libyan dinar. In Tunisia, the legal tender is Tunisian dinar. Currency exchange is possible only at the airport and in street bureaux de change in Tunis and Tripoli. Using payment cards is not always possible, especially in Libya. The best foreign exchange rate is for euros and US dollars. It is important that USD banknotes should be printed after 2006.
For current foreign exchange rates see www.xe.com or install xe.com on your phone.
The inhabitants of Tunisia and Libya speak mainly in Arabic. For self-guided tours, you must speak basic English or hire a local guide with a command of English.
Tunis and Tripoli are predominantly inhabited by Sunni Islam believers. Moreover, Christians of different Eastern rites of the Church live there. Women do not have to wear headscarves. The inhabitants of Tunis and Tripoli have a very liberal attitude to religious principles.
It is very important to respect local customs and abide by local laws. You will receive the relevant information from your local guide or the tour leader.
Temperatures depend on the time of year and dates of the expedition. In months in which expeditions to Libya are planned, temperatures in Tunis and Tripoli during the day oscillate between +25 and +10ºC. At night, they range from +10ºC to +5ºC. In desert regions – Gadamis, especially in December, temperatures can drop to 0ºC at night. Rainfalls may occur occasionally. Dusting and potential sandstorms may sometimes prove problematic.
For detailed information see https://www.meteoblue.com/en.
Mobile network coverage is available in most towns and villages. Purchase of a local SIM-card is possible, although probably not sensible with such a short trip. Wi-Fi is available at the hotels where we will stay. Before the trip, it is worth contacting your mobile network operator to find out whether they have a contract signed with operators in Tunisia and Libya and what the prices of call and SMS roaming are. To avoid a nasty surprise and a high telephone bill after return to your home country, we recommend disabling mobile data usage before arrival.
- Wi-Fi is available at most hotels and restaurants.
- Power sockets in Libya: types C, E, D, L, F. Voltage: 127 V or 230V , frequency 50 Hz.
- Power sockets in Tunisia: types C, E. Voltage: 230 V, frequency 50 Hz.
- Additionally, we recommend taking a capacious power bank.
For climatic and cultural reasons, loose garments will be most appropriate: long trousers, long skirts, long-sleeved shirts, which can be easily washed and will quickly dry. The most comfortable footwear for the tour will be lightweight boots. Palladium brand boots are recommended. Wearing open sandals is possible. Light hiking boots may prove useful.
The following are worth taking:
- aluminium sleeping pad or light self-inflating mat and thin summer sleeping bag; we provide a mattress during the trip but taking your own pad or mat will improve your sleeping comfort
- sachet for documents and money
- lightweight sleeping bag
- wet wipes for body cleaning and antibacterial gels
- polar fleece jacket or warmer blouse, especially useful at evening and night times in northern areas of Libya
- head cover and sunglasses – mandatory, the sun is no joke!
- comfortable summer clothes, useful during practically the whole trip
- light T-shirts/shirts
- useful odds and ends: torch, Swiss Army knife, sewing kit (usually is not needed but is not heavy and does not take much place), chargers, mug (for special occasions); inflatable neck pillow, useful on the plane and during car rides; small wallet for the local currency; books to pass the time on flights and car rides
Price
Price: £ 2590 p/p
According to the program, two international flights are planned:
- Tunis – Tripoli,
- Tripoli – Tunis,
During the expedition, we will travel by minibuses and off-road vehicles. Depending on the daily agenda in the itinerary and the current situation as regards traveller safety, we will spend 4 to 10 hours travelling every day.The speed and transfer times depend on the road surface conditions, terrain characteristics and number and length of stops.
We are not able to guarantee a uniform accommodation standard at each of the planned sites during the stay in Libya. Our priorities are your comfort, safety and appropriate location. We always place emphasis on the support of local community when selecting the sites for our accommodation. In general, rooms will be assigned on the assumption of two people sharing a twin room (rooms with individual bathrooms). The surcharges for single rooms are quoted in the “Price” section.
Our priorities are your comfort, safety and appropriate location. Overnight stays planned during the tour will take place in hotels corresponding to the 4-star standard in Tripoli and 3-star standard in Ghadames.
Meals are included in the tour price, as specified in the itinerary. B – breakfast, L – lunch, D – dinner. Breakfasts will usually be offered in hotels. We will go for lunches and dinners to local restaurants. The Turkmenistan cuisine is varied, similarly as the culture and history of this exceptional country.
For information about the local costs of living see https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/.
Local and special guides in at archaeological sites and museums
All entrance fees and permits to visit archaeological sites and museums in the itinerary
Trip preparation, visa mediation, the invitation necessary to obtain a visa
Costs of the main flight to and from Tunis
Costs of flight tickets are not covered by the tour price. BTP Adventure does not directly arrange and buy tickets for international flights. However, we may suggest the best connections and airlines. For this purpose, contact us by e-mail or call us.
Visa for Libya
Insurance is not covered by the tour price. Having valid insurance is a condition for taking part in the trip. We recommend taking out insurance that will be appropriate for the planned itinerary and for your individual state of health and needs. Please send us the proof of your insurance contract.
You can purchase insurance on your own on the website of Axa or any other insurance company: https://www.axa.co.uk/travel-insurance/.
BTP Adventure may help you obtain adequate insurance cover. If you want our help, please contact us.
The price does not includes the cost of tips and porters’ fees.
Meals other than those listed in the final itinerary.
Personal expenses and souvenirs.
Surcharge for a single room: 200 £
supplementary payment for the additional accommodation In the case of arrival or departure on a different date,
We will keep updating the detailed information on the safety and itinerary of the tour. Before you decide to submit the booking form, please learn about the current political and sanitary situation in Tunis and Tripoli on the website of our Foreign Office
The planned expedition is an exclusive proposal prepared for you on the basis of our experience and knowledge of the local peculiarities and major sightseeing attractions of West Libya.
We are committed to ensure the best possible and safe and, as far as feasible, comfortable travelling through this little-frequented and extremely interesting country with a fascinating history.
Depending on the political situation, the length of the tour and the order of visited places may change. In a situation of a serious threat to travellers’ safety, the tour may be cancelled. We will keep you updated as to whether the expedition is possible.
With any questions please contact BTP ADVENTURE
2590 £ Per Person
Due to current Libyan visa regulations, a visa to Libya can be issued on the basis of an invitation issued to a maximum of three people
