Steel crafting street in the old town of tripoli
To most people, Libya remains a black box, one of those places you only see on the news, and more often than not, it is portrayed negatively. What if I told you there is more to the country than meets the eye? Libya is the least explored country along the Mediterranean. Due to years of instability and a policy of not prioritizing tourism that spanned over 40 years, very little is known globally about the 16th-largest country in the world.
On the other hand, Libya boasts a plethora of untouched archaeological sites spanning the Roman, Greek, Ottoman, and Islamic eras, as well as 90% of the Sahara Desert, which is home to its oases. It has maintained its raw, authentic character.
Only recently has Libya launched an online e-visa system designed to make the lives of potential visitors easier. However, guided tours are still mandatory. This isn’t a backpacking destination. It’s one where you’re greeted and guided through the country with a team of experts taking care of your every need, so you can focus on the unique experience Libya has to offer.
First Impressions in Tripoli
Landing at Mitiga International Airport, you’ll be greeted by your tour guide alongside one or two members of the security team. From there, you’ll be driven into the city, where you’ll get a distinct Mediterranean feeling, driving past Martyrs Square, where the Libyan flag flies high.
Arch of Marcus Aurelius
In the old town, you’ll see Roman arches holding up Ottoman-era mosques in the narrow streets of the medina. Culturally similar to Algiers’ Casbah, you’ll see the locals who still live there, alongside a currency exchange market, traditional clothing on sale, and just about anything else you can imagine in a city centre.
The refurbished Saraya museum, which holds the country’s heirlooms, is just around the corner. Inside, you’ll find the history of Libya, from the third-oldest mummy ever found to the stories of how Omar el Mukhtar fought off the Italian colonizers, leading to Libya gaining its independence and forming a monarchy.
Coffee is another big thing in Tripoli, with Italian influence comes good coffee and food. You’ll find the city centre littered with coffee shops with every type of coffee you can imagine. Both men and women fuel up on caffeine before taking on the day, whether that be work or just hanging out with friends in the limited seating space available.
A historic shop in the old town of Tripoli
In terms of food, lamb is the most consumed meat around. Ask any Libyan and they’ll tell you lamb raised in Libya has a distinct taste, even with the rise in imported lamb from Spain and Romania, local lamb remains more expensive for a reason.
Along the coast, you’ll also find a fish market, a place where you can pick your meal out from the catch of the day and have it either BBQ’d or cooked in a traditional Libyan style pasta called “Makroona Imbakabk”. Baby shark fried is also a delicacy that we recommend visitors try, even if it is available elsewhere along the Mediterranean coast.
Beyond that, Tripoli serves as a gateway to both Leptis Magna, Sabratha, and the mountain villages I highly recommend experiencing.
Leptis Magna Baths
Leptis Magna
Labelled as one of the best preserved Roman cities in the world, missing Leptis Magna would be a huge mistake. From the amphitheatre to the baths and the famous Arch of Septimius Severus, who is originally from the city and served as consul in Rome, there’s a lot to see.
We recommend at least 4 hours of exploring the main portion of Leptis Magna before driving 5 minutes down the road to see the gladiatorial arena. A place where blood was spilled for sport, similar to the Colosseum in Rome. Walking down the stairs where people once cheered as a gladiator fought off the infamous North African lion and other exotic animals, you get a feeling of just how small you are & how big the city once was.
All of the space between the centre of the city and the gladiators’ arena once housed a lively population, and it’s all sitting under your feet.
The main square of Leptis Magna
Around the corner, there’s a traditional dinner spot where you’ll find the foods served throughout Libya. However, eating the foods that have evolved over time in the geographical area they originally came from tastes different. You must visit.
If you’re lucky, you’ll visit around the time of a high-profile wedding or community event. It’s not uncommon for the people of modern-day Khoms (the area you’re in) to hold all-night horse races with traditional clothing for both the riders and horses. It’s a sight to behold.
Sabratha ancient theater
Sabratha
Modern-day Sabratha is built on top of the Phoenician-established town of Tsabratan, which translates to “grain market.” During the Phoenician reign, Tsabratan was part of the Carthaginian empire, and its people would have taken part in the infamous general Hannibal’s conquest of Rome.
The Phoenician history of Tsabratan ties modern-day Tunisia and Libya together historically. Later, the Greeks would rename it Sabratha, and it would comprise one-third of what they would call “the three cities”: Oea (modern-day Tripoli), Leptis Magna, and Sabratha.
Roman and Byzantine-era floor mosaics
Today, the historic sights of Sabratha offer a glimpse into the past through the maintained mosaics, temples, and beautiful ocean views. It’s important to note that a significant portion of historic Sabratha is currently underwater, with studies estimating that as much as 15% of the site is submerged.
For locals of Tripoli, Sabratha is renowned for having some of the best beaches in the area. Flocks of families drive down every weekend to enjoy the crystal clear waters. The same waters were once enjoyed by their ancient ancestors.
Qaser Jadu another granary in the mountains
Nalut & Amazighy Towns
Only a few hours’ drive south from Tripoli, you’ll find a mountain range famous for its culture and preserved heritage. Nalut and the neighbouring towns belong to an indigenous group of people called the Amazigh. Rich in history, the people in these mountains have endured for as long as history has been recorded in Libya.
You’ll find castles, granary storage sites (the first banks in the world), and some unique homes created by digging into the mountain for shelter. Unique architecture design, quality food, and some of the most hospitable people in Libya.
A cafe and courtyard connected to a traditional Ghadames house
Ghadames
From the sea to the depths of the desert, Ghadames was labelled by UNESCO as the “Pearl of the Desert” due to its unique customs and traditions, considered by many to be a melting pot of cultures and people due to its unique location and role as a transitional hub of trade.
Built on top of an oasis, Ghadames thrived as a trading hub for caravaners from the north, west, east, and south. An ancient trading route stretching as far as modern-day Nigeria, Mauritania, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia. You’ll find a unique blend of people in a unique city.
A street view of old town Ghadames
From Ghadames leather to peacock feathers, gold, salt, spices, and more, all these goods passed through Ghadames, making their way as far north as Europe via the coastal trading hubs that the three cities provided.
Today you can visit the old medina with its beautiful winding streets, old castles that have passed through a dozen hands, the point where 3 borders line up Tunisia, Algeria & Libya, to some amazing sunsets.
Gaberoun Oasis
Ubari Sand Dunes & Oasis’
From the desert trading hub, to down south, where the same caravaners would have stopped along the way. In the Ubari sand dunes, you’ll really feel the desert environment, arid and dry, and only camels roam freely without a real purpose.
Every step out here is calculated, from petrol consumption of the 4×4 to which route to take. One wrong move and you can be left helpless in the middle of the hot Sahara Desert.
Um el Ma & Gaberoun are the two most famous oases, which offer the only signs of life for miles on end. The aerial view of these two lakes against the unforgiving sand dunes is spectacular.
Visitors are offered the opportunity to camp out in the open in the desert or retreat back to desert camp sites where you’ll find basic amenities in traditional desert housing made of mud & clay.
A day or two of driving around and exploring is enough to cover the main spaces before heading even further down south.
Make sure you don’t miss the ancient pyramids in the town of Germa nearby. These pyramids are yet to be excavated or studied, but offer a glimpse into an untouched past of the region.
Forzhaga Arch, a natural formation in the Libyan Desert
Acacus Mountains
Further down south towards Ghat, on the border of Algeria, you’ll find a natural stretch of desert mountains, shaped by time.
This area was once part of an entire ecosystem that included giraffes, alligators, and other wildlife during the prehistoric period, as confirmed by the artwork on some of the rock formations.
Prehistoric drawings found miles from where a mummy was excavated
It’s hard to imagine, but these towering rock formations and rugged landscape were once as lush as the Congo jungles, with prehistoric people hunting and living lives we would now call primitive.
It’s rare, but even today, you can find fennec foxes, gazelles, jackals, wildcats, striped hyenas, as well as common desert rodents and reptiles.
Having scorpion antivenom on hand is a must in the Acacus Mountains due to its remoteness.
A Typical Itinerary
For the average visitor understanding where to go and what to do can be a hassle, below we’ve set out some sample itineraries that the IntoLibya team have guided people through a number of times.
Algeria Square in Tripoli
3 Days Along the Coast
One of the most popular tours for people simply passing through Libya during their North Africa trip is the Tripoli → Leptis Magna → Sabratha route. It allows you to get a taste of Libya, seeing the main sights while not hindering the pace of your trip, popular for people aiming to go from Tunis to Cairo, but not miss anything in between.
7 Days Deep Dive (2 options)
This tour includes everything from the 3-day tour along the coast, but just a little more relaxed and less rushed. For the other 4 days, you’ll be given the option to extend and visit either Nalut & Ghadames or the Ubari Sand Dunes & Oasis.
For Ghadames, you can expect a 4-hour drive to the Amazighy mountains with a stop in Nalut for lunch, some quick sightseeing, and another 4-hour drive to Ghadames. In Ghadames, you can expect to spend the night at a hotel and enjoy the old town as well as other heritage sites.
As for the oasis’s option, you would be hopping onto a flight to Sebha before being collected by desert guides for your trip through the sand dunes to the Oasis. In terms of accommodation, you’ll be staying at a 3-star hotel in the desert, which we’ll call home base.
Entrance into an old Ottoman courtyard in the old town of tripoli
14 Days Expedition
This option is typically reserved for individuals who truly want to experience everything Libya has to offer, from the coast to the depths of the desert.
We cover absolutely everything there is to offer on the western side of Libya, right down to the southern border of Algeria. You don’t have to pick between the options in the 7-day trip; we cover both on this one with the addition of the Acacus Mountains. With the addition of the Acacus Mountains, you can expect to be camping under the stars, as that is the only option for some parts of the tour.
Custom Tours
Libya has plenty more to offer than just the usual travel destinations. The wealth of history in the Eastern portion of the country remains untapped, with very few tour operators scheduling consistent tours to Benghazi.
From Benghazi, a common route would take you through Tocra, Tolmeta & finish in Shahat. All places are full of Greek and Roman history waiting to be uncovered, from the temple of Zeus to the baths of Cleopatra. Custom trips to the east are possible, but expect to be on a private tour.
Italian arches across from Algeris Square
Visit Libya Today
With all of the above in mind, would you visit Libya today? Visas are hard to come by, but with the recent evisa system going live & tour agencies like IntoLibya offering full-service tours of some of the most remote places in the world. Discovery is literally at your fingertips.
Explore these places, support the local communities that continue to live there, and take a break from your usual, overly crowded travel destinations.
Trace the routes of humanity from prehistoric times to the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans right up to modern-day Libya.
