HIGHLIGHTS OF LIBYA

Day 1
Fly to Tripoli.

Day 2
In the morning we take a short drive to one of the great sights of Libya, the Roman city of Sabratha. The site is so large that it needs the rest of the day to explore in full. There is a large forum surrounded by various temples, a Christian basilica of Justinian, which housed a magnificent mosaic (now in the site museum) and, best of all, the immense Roman theatre, which has been tastefully restored. From here we head to Qasr El-Haj and explore the ancient granaries there. The night is spent in a wonderful Troglodyte lodge.

Day 3
The morning is spent exploring the fascinating Berber villages of this region. Their relative isolation has meant that their language, religion and culture retains a unique quality. We will also explore the famed troglodyte dwellings of this area. Either set underground or into the cliff, as with the village of Tormisa, this is an extraordinary place to visit. In the afternoon we head back to Tripoli and board an internal flight east to Benghazi.

Day 4
A morning drive to visit the ruins of Ptolemais with its site museum, cisterns and Colonnaded Palace, this vast 240 acre site remains largely unexcavated and the amphitheatre is still visible in the hillside. In the afternoon we continue east through scenic countryside to Wadi El Kouf, where we visit the museum at Qasr Libya, containing a unique collection of beautiful Byzantine mosaics. After our visit we continue onwards to Al Beyda.

Day 5
Today we visit the superb Greek cities of Cyrene and Apollonia, these 2 sites were part of the Pentapolis in the region and Cyrene is the location of the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Zeus' temple and the recently restored Agora. We will spend around 3 hours here, before taking the short drive out of the Akhdar Mountains to Apollonia, which is the harbour for Cyrene. Return to Benghazi.

Day 6
A morning flight to Tripoli. After transferring to our hotel we visit Tripoli's museum with its Roman, Greek, and Islamic galleries. The collection of marble statues excavated from Hadrian's bathhouse form the central gallery and the museum contains the frieze from the Triumphal Arch of Septimius Severus. The rest of the day is free to explore the attractions, including the medieval mosques, hammams, and markets (souks) of this bustling Mediterranean city.

Day 7
We head east out of Tripoli to the most famous sight in Libya, the huge city of Leptis Magna, widely considered to be the best Roman site around the entire Mediterranean. Originally Phoenician and a colony of Carthage, Leptis Magna grew as the port, which brought the riches of Sudan to the Roman Empire. The emperor Septimius Severus was born here, and he lavished many fine buildings on the town, rivalling Rome itself. The huge forum and basilica and the public baths date from this period. To gain the most out of this fantastic site it is best to dedicate a whole day. This will be further enhanced by our knowledgeable local guide who will bring it all to life.

Day 8
Free morning; fly to London.