Preliminary Day by Day Itinerary

October 15      DEPART U.S.A.
Wednesday
Meet your travel companions at New York’s JFK.  Our Alitalia flight departs at 6:00 PM this evening. (Meals aloft)

October 16            MILAN – TRIPOLI
Thursday        
We arrive in Milan, Italy at 7:50 AM.  We’ll have time to stretch our legs at the airport and browse the duty-free shops before our 10:40 AM departure.  There will be great excitement aboard the jet when we touch down in Tripoli at 2:10 PM!  Welcome to Libya! 

We will be met by our guide and transferred to our centrally-located hotel.  Enroute to the hotel, we’ll enjoy a city tour followed by dinner at a local restaurant.  (Meals aloft-D)

****Alkabir Hotel

October 17            TRIPOLI
Friday              SABRATHA - BENGHAZI
After breakfast, we will visit the National Museum which houses a fine collection of the country’s archaeological heritage – antiquities, classical statuary, fine Mosaics, historic and prehistoric artifacts.  Then, depart by coach to the ancient city of Sabratha on the Mediterranean Sea (48 miles). The Phoenician merchants selected Sabratha as an Emporium, or trading post because of her position on the Mediterranean. She holds one of the most magnificent and interesting Roman Theatres and one of the most splendid mosaics of the Byzantine period.  Sabratha as we see it today is first and foremost a creation of the Roman genius for building cities. The Romans developed the commercial potential of Sabratha by using the port as an outlet for a trade route running through Ghadames to Central Africa. Ivory, slaves and wild animals constituted the bulk of this traffic.

Our visit will include the Mausoleum of Bes.  Discovered by the Italian Antonio di Vita as late as 1962, the Mausoleum dates back to the 2nd Century B.C.  We’ll then proceed to the South Forum Temple that dates back to 160 A.D. and to the Basilica of Apoleius, known as the Forum Basilica that was later transformed to a Christian church. We’ll travel on to the Forum, the center of the social life.  Our next stop will be the Antonine Temple built in 90-95 A.D. and dedicated to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Touring on, we’ll see the Basilica of Justinian, the Curia, the Baths and the Temple of Isis.

We’ll finish our visit with the impressive Sabratha Theatre.  Modern-day performances are still held here.  The restored theater dates to 175-200 A.D.  The semi-circular triple-tiered auditorium was reconstructed by the Italians in the 20th century. The theater stands 82 feet high and is composed of 108 Corinthian columns,  arranged in three stories that follow the gentle curves of the free apses and contain three doorways, similar to Roman Theatres all over the Empire.

After a fascinating day of exploration, we’ll return by coach to Tripoli. After dinner, we’ll transfer by coach to the airport for our flight to Benghazi.  A coach will be waiting to deliver us to our hotel for a restful night before tomorrow’s explorations. (B-L-D)

*****Tibesti Hotel

October 18            BENGHAZI
Saturday            CYRENE - APOLLONIA - ALBYDA   
After breakfast, we depart by coach on today’s excursion, driving a total distance today of 158 miles.  First, we visit the city of Cyrene.  Its history of being founded by Greek immigrants from the modern-day island of Santorini has been handed to us as a mixture of legend and historical tradition. The legend says that the town of Cyrene was founded in 631 B.C. by emigrants from the crowded town of Thera, when they were commanded by the oracle at Delphi to seek a new home in North Africa.  Cyrene became one of the greatest intellectual and artistic centers of the Greek world, famous for its medical school, learned academics, and architecture, which included some of the finest examples of the Hellenistic style. Cyrene has been through different eras from the Republican era in 414 B.C. to Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic rulers of 332 B.C., to the Romans in 96 B.C., the Byzantines in late 324 A.D., and finally the Arab invasion in 635 A.D.

Our visit to Cyrene will include the Forum and Agora.  The Forum of Proculus or Caesarean is a great rectangular enclosure with internal porticoes.  The original function of this building is still a matter of dispute. We’ll visit the Agora, which hosts many Cyrene remains, the Naval Monument, the Capitulum and most important the Tomb of Battus, the founder of the City. We’ll see the Acropolis Hill, which still has yet to be excavated and continue downhill to visit the Fountain and the Sanctuary of Apollo.

The Fountain of Apollo is a site of much legend.  The legend tells us that Apollo wooed the nymph Kura or Kurana, a Greek maiden, and brought her to this site as his bride.  The site is marked by the fountain, a torrent of water emerging from a cavernous mouth on the upper terrace. The true spring lies at the end of a 300-yard tunnel in the heart of the hillside.  On the left side of the fountain, are five circular Byzantine lime-kilns that consumed many of the pagan statues.

Continuing on, we find the Sanctuary of Apollo, with its Greek and Roman propylaea. Inside the sanctuary we find the Temple of Apollo, the most important monument that incorporates the remains of three buildings. The sanctuary also includes the temple of Jason Magnus; the fountain of Cyrene, a semi-circular construction surmounted by a statue of the nymph strangling a lion; the Temple of Isis in which a statue of the Egyptian goddess has been found; and the Grotto of the Priests.  In the same area there is also a Greek Theatre that was transformed by the Romans to an Amphitheater.

Next, we move to the Great Temple of Zeus, alongside the Necropolis of Cyrene, one of the most extensive cemeteries in the ancient world and covering many square miles. The visible multiple of grave tombs number over 1,200 and there are also several thousand sarcophagi. The largest temple of Cyrene is an Octostyle building of gigantic dimension slightly larger than the Parthenon of Athens and the temple of Zeus at Olympia.  It was constructed in an archaic Doric style around the 6th century B.C.

After lunch in the Sousa Village restaurant, we’ll have an afternoon excursion to Apollonia.  Ancient Apollonia was Cyrene’s port for a thousand years.  Today, its ruins form an essential part of the whole archaeological complex. Originally constructed by the Greeks when they began to develop their naval merchant fleets, modern Sousa was founded in 1897 as a colony of Muslim refugees from Crete. There is a decidedly non-African strain apparent in its population. It was extensively rebuilt in the Italian occupation as a port for coastal shipping.

The first important monument to be encountered in Apollonia is the Extra-Mural Church; only a corner of the outer walls of this church is visible. The church is remarkable for the traces of a triple apse – Triconchos – surviving in the cactus garden at its east end.  Notice the Hellenistic City Walls of Apollonia that are well preserved today through their landward course.  We’ll continue toward the Theatre that lies immediately outside the eastern rampart.  The Theatre is of a Greek type and of a Hellenistic date but was remodeled under the Emperor Domitian, 92-96 A.D.  Other monuments are the three churches – Western, Eastern and Central – built around the 6th century. We conclude our visit with the Museum, and learn about the history and heritage of this area. (B-L-D)

***Almanara Hotel

October 19            ALBYDA
Sunday            QASER LIBYA-PTOLEMAIS-BENGHAZI-TRIPOLI
After breakfast, we drive to Qaser Libya, known as the Old Olbia as it had been referred to in the Sinesio (Bishop of Cyrene) letters in the 5th century A.D. and was the residence of the bishop.

Qaser Libya has two Churches of great religious interest. The Western Church is known for its extraordinary architecture and the Eastern Church for its splendid 50 mosaics.  The mosaic pieces originally came from the floor of the western Basilica and depict a wide and interesting range of subjects.  The panels are in beautiful condition and one of them depicts the only existing representation of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the seven a wonders of the Ancient World.  Later in the Turkish period, the Eastern Church was transformed into a fort.

We leave Qaser Libya and continue to Ptolemais.  Founded in the 3rd century B.C., Ptolemais was a port for the city of Barce.  Ptolemais became the capital of the province of Libya Superior in the time of Diocletian and capital of the Pentapolis around the 5th century A.D.  The Site presents itself in a very modest way, however, upon closer examination, it is very interesting and romantic.

We start our visit with the Museum which hosts some of Ptolemais monuments, including the four seasons mosaic and the fountain of the eight dancing Menadi.  We continue to the site where we find the remains of the Arch of Constantine, 311-312 A.D.  Next we’ll see the Columns Palace, the most famous building in Ptolemais.  Dating between the 2nd and 1st century B.C., the Columns Palace occupies an area of 121 feet by 538 feet, from which we already admired the mosaic of the Medusa during our visit to the museum.

We then continue to the great underground cisterns, a large complex of 15 cisterns – four to the north, four to the south, three on the west, three to the east and one central.  The central cistern is the largest at 19.5 feet deep. Once 17,716,500 cubic feet of water arrived through a channel 15.5 miles away from the city.  We’ll finish our visit with lunch at the site restaurant.

We will return to Benghazi and to the airport for our flight to Tripoli.  A coach will be waiting at the airport to deliver us back to the Alkabir Hotel then to dinner at a local restaurant.  We’ll have a good rest tonight for tomorrow is an exciting day – we’ll venture into the great Libyan desert!  (B-L-D)

****Alkabir Hotel

October 20            TRIPOLI
Monday            NALUT - GHADAMES
We’ll fortify ourselves with an especially hearty breakfast to prepare us for a very full day and a journey of 358 miles.  Our drive takes us through several villages interesting for their traditional Berber mud architecture and fortified granaries. This region, known as Jabal Nafusa, is known for its spectacular arid landscapes and troglodyte homes, similar to those seen in Tunisia. We shall make several stops along the way, including Nalut. Looking at the old town from down below, Nalut seems as if it was built on the roof of the world. Its strategic position was chosen by the Turks as a defense against the invasion(at that time, 1850) of the Arabs. Nalut’s town centre has moved three times over a period of four centuries higher and higher up the plateau where today the modern town can be found. What seems to be a castle (the Ksar), is in fact a reinforced granary, where the people of Nalut kept all the food stuff in a safe and secure place when they left the town to take their cattle to graze and during the harvest time when they transferred themselves to the caves built in the rock face. We continue southwest entering the great dune region, the Great Erg Ubari, a 75,000 square mile sand sea which extends from here into Tunisia and Algeria. We enter Ghadames’ labyrinth of narrow streets late in the day.  We’ll rest from our journey this evening; there will be plenty of time for exploring this fascinating city tomorrow.  Overnight in Ghadames.  (B-L-D)

***Dar Ghadamis

October 21      GHADAMES
Tuesday
After breakfast we’ll devote our whole day to exploring Ghadames. Situated at the beginning of the Sahara, Ghadames is an ancient caravanning center.  These traditional settlements in Libya reflect man’s response to harsh environmental conditions and our need to sustain the social organization and to respect social and cultural traditions.  The old town of Ghadames is the best Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.  This city is still a living bridge between traditional and contemporary architecture.  It has a total area of 185 acres, including buildings, palm groves and gardens.  Ghadames’ oasis forms a part of the sub region of Gharyan, one of the five sub regions of the Tripoli region. Moreover, it is one of the most important trade routes, connecting central Africa with the Mediterranean Sea coast.

One story records that a party of travelers from Yemen passed through the valley where Ghadames is located. They stayed overnight and when they moved on in the morning, they forgot their food container. Later they remembered the container and recalled that they had left it behind where they had eaten their lunch the previous day. A horseman of the party came back to the place to find the container.  When his horse dug with his leg in the earth,  water came out.  For this reason, the source of the existing spring is called “horse spring” or “Eyn El- Faras.”  This story explains the origin of the name Ghadames, which means “lunch of yesterday.” The Arabic name contains two words Ghada, which means lunch or food, and Ames, which means yesterday. The Ghadames oasis has been colonized by many countries, as have other parts of Libya.

Under the Libyan-born emperor Septimius Severus, Romans colonized all of the country.  General Cornelius Balbus camped in the oasis, which the Roman called the third advanced military post, 124 miles to the southwest of the Roman line. In the Byzantine times, Ghadames had a church and a bishop. The oasis was later conquered by the Arab army sent by Omar Ben El-Ass in 47 AH (A.D. 667) after which Islam became the predominant religion. UNESCO has inscribed it on the world Heritage list of historic monuments since 1987. Ghadames offers the traveler the unique hospitality of the Berber people and a glimpse at a lifestyle that time has not been able to change.  We’ll enjoy lunch in the old city in one of its traditional decorated houses.

After a short rest, we depart in jeeps to the great dunes. Here you’ll have a chance to watch the spectacular desert sunset and taste green tea with mint. Be sure to bring your cameras for the spectacular scenery.  Return to Ghadames for dinner at our hotel. Overnight in Ghadames.  (B-L-D) 

***Dar Ghadamis

October 22            GHADAMES
Wednesday            SEBHA
After breakfast, we’ll depart for our full day journey to Sebha by way of Algharyat-Ashweref-Brak. Arrive in Sebha, the gateway to the great desert plains.  Overnight in Sebha. (B-L-D) 

***Hotel Aljabal

October 23            SEBHA - GERMA
Thursday             ERG UBARI (Great Sand Sea)
The ancient town of Sebha – all but disappeared today – in ancient times was divided into two districts:  white noble people inhabited one district, and the black descendents of the slaves inhabited the other.  To the latter it was illegal to frequent the “white” side of town.  Sebha of today features a camel market that attracts caravans from all over the region to barter for the best camels! We depart Sebha aboard 4x4 vehicles for our 84 mile drive through the Great Sand Sea. We’ll drive to some amazing scenery (a total of 93 miles).  We’ll visit Germa Museum and learn about the rock drawings found to the southwest.

A highlight of the trip will be an overnight stay at the deluxe Magic Camp in the Erg Ubari or the Great Sand Sea. Our accommodations this evening will be the Magic Camp where we will have all comforts, including deluxe spacious tents with beds, sheets and quilts, toilet/showers facilities and a restaurant.  A satellite telephone is even available. The tents are built in a half circle around a central campfire and Bedouin tent.  The tent entrances face the center of the camp and small windows at the rear of the tents look out over the great desert sea.  (B-L-D)

Magic Camp

October 24            ERG UBARI 
Friday              SEBHA - TRIPOLI
We’ll awaken to sunrise in the great desert.  After a delicious breakfast buffet at the Magic Camp, we’ll begin our drive back to Sebha.  Today will be a memorable day as we drive over the sand dunes in our 4x4’s. A series of lakes appear in the middle of the great sand dunes. No, this is not a mirage! There are approximately 21 lakes surrounded by palm trees in this region. We’ll visit the largest, lakes Mafo, Gaberoun, Ummelmaa and Mandara.  Perhaps we’ll have time for a glimpse of Sebha’s old Italian fort, Fort Margherita, or the zoo in Sebha.  Our flight to Tripoli departs late this evening. Overnight Tripoli. (B-L-D) 

****Alkabir Hotel

October 25 TRIPOLI
Saturday            LEPTIS MAGNA - VILLA SILIN - TRIPOLI
After breakfast, we’ll depart on another remarkable journey, today an easy 137 miles.  Our first stop is Leptis Magna, one of the best-preserved cities of antiquity. It was founded by Phoenician merchants around the beginning of the first millennium B.C. The great Emperor Severus, born in Leptis in 145 A.D., turned his attention to his native city making substantial changes.

Our visit starts with the Arch of Septimius Severus. Standing at the beginning of the main north-south street, the Cardo Maximus, where it intersects the east west street, the Decumanus Maximus, the Arch of Septimius Severus was built in 203 A.D. to celebrate the arrival of the Great Emperor.

We’ll continue to the Palaestra, a place for sports and games (parallel to the Baths of Hadrian) built in 126-127 A.D. and remodeled in the time of the Emperor Commodus 180-192 A.D.  We continue to the Nymphaeum and the Street of Colonnades, built under Severus and dedicated to the nymphs, it is a semicircular construction containing a pool and fountain, and surrounded by walls.  Next, we visit the Severus Forum and the adjoining Basilica, which are the major extant large-scale buildings in Leptis.

We’ll continue to the Harbor that was originally the natural mouth of the Leptis valley, sheltered from the sea by rocks to the north and east. Proceed to the Old Forum, which dates to the beginning of the imperial era.  In the northern corner of the forum are the remains of tiles from the time of the Emperor Augustus 30 B.C. to 14 A.D., during the governorship of Calpurnius. Stop for lunch in a local restaurant, Addiafa, near the site.

After lunch, we’ll visit the Museum and lastly the Amphitheater, which was built in the period of Nero around the year 56 A.D. on a natural slope of soft sandstone. It was renovated and enlarged in the 2nd century A.D. and again under Severus. Near the Amphitheater was a small temple of Artemis, or Diana, or Ephesus in Western Asia.

We’ll return by coach to Tripoli and enjoy a relaxing dinner in Ashira, a local restaurant.  Overnight in Tripoli. (B-L-D)

****Alkabir Hotel

October 26            TRIPOLI
Sunday 
After breakfast, begin this day with a visit to a local school in Tripoli where we’ll have the opportunity to meet the students and teachers.  The school visit has been a favorite feature of our past tours to Libya and we know you’ll enjoy this rare opportunity for person-to-person contact with the citizens of Libya.

Then, we’ll proceed to a local seafood restaurant for lunch.  We’ll devote the afternoon to exploring the old section of Tripoli.  Old Oea was founded by the Phoenicians in the second Millennium B.C. and transformed by the Romans in 146 B.C., after the destruction of Carthage.  We’ll visit the Ahmed Karamalli Pasha Mosque built in 1783 by the founder of the Karamalli Dynasty (1754 - 1793).  This is a rectangular complex that has an area of 164 x 148 feet, with 25 domes and a geometric floral motive, which was a characteristic of that period.  Continue with old Medina and its maze of narrow alleyways, elegant mosques and the animated souk.  We’ll visit the Gurji Mosque, built in 1832 in the same style as Ahmed Karamalli Pasha by Yusef Gurji Pasha, admiral of the Turkish navy and son-in-law of the then Governor of Tripoli, Mustafa Pasha.  Our tour will finish with the Arch of Marcus Aurelius.  Built in the honor of the great Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 163 A.D., it is the only evidence left of the Romans in Tripoli.  There also may be time to revisit the excellent National Museum this afternoon or to explore the bazaars in search of last-minute bargains to bring home. Overnight in Tripoli. (B-L-D)  

****Alkabir Hotel

October 27            TRIPOLI
Monday            U.S.A.
Say goodbye to the new friends you have made. Our homeward flight depart Tripoli at 6:00 AM, arriving in Milan at 8:30 AM. We depart Milan at 10:00 AM, arriving back in New York at 1:00 PM, with plenty of time to catch connecting flights. Welcome home!  (Meals aloft)

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner

Please note, flight schedules and order of sightseeing are subject to change.