• Overall

  Libya holds one of the greatest concentrations of ancient ruins in the world. UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Roman cities that rival Pompeii in their scale and state of preservation. Greek temples older than the Parthenon. A desert oasis whose mud-brick architecture has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years.

  And almost no tourists.

  This thirteen-day itinerary combines two distinct but equally unique areas of Libya. 

  WESTERN LIBYA

  We start the trip taking in the Roman cities of Sabratha and Leptis Magna, the Berber mountains of Jebel Nafusa, and the Saharan oasis of Ghadames.

  
  Take a full-day excursion west along the Mediterranean coast to Sabratha, one of three ancient cities that gave the region its name; Tripolis, meaning 'three cities’, and home to the incredible Roman Theatre.
  
  We also spend a night near the desert, where Libya meets both Algeria and Tunisia. Here we’ll visit Ghadames and another of Libya’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as being invited to an exclusive women’s-only event & music event (for the men).
  
  We then visit Leptis Magna, one of the greatest Roman sites in the world – and one where you’ll likely be the only tourist around. It’s truly a spectacular site to experience.
  
  Before heading east, we enjoy a city tour of Tripoli, including the old city and its multiple sites and souqs, as well as the newly opened Libya National Museum*.

  
  EASTERN LIBYA

  Only recently opened to tourism, the east of Libya offers a journey through Cyrenaica. If western Libya is the Roman story, eastern Libya is the Greek one.
  
  Beginning in Benghazi and moving along the Mediterranean coast through a succession of ancient Greek and Roman sites culminating at Cyrene itself, one of the most important cities of the classical world.
  
  This region is almost entirely off the tourist map, which means the sites are effectively yours alone. The coastal route from Benghazi west through Tocra, Tolmeita, and Qasr Libya to Cyrene and its port of Apollonia passes through a succession of Greek and Roman ruins in various states of preservation – many of them dramatically positioned above the Mediterranean.
  
  Together, visiting both east and west gives a complete picture of Libya's extraordinary layered history. From Phoenician trading posts to Greek colonies to Roman imperial ambition to Berber desert ingenuity.

  Please note: The National Museum's opening in December 2025 is still currently delayed. We anticipate the museum being open for the trip, but participants should note this may not be possible on the day.

  Highlights

  • Explore world-class ancient Roman ruins along the Mediterranean
  • Journey into deep Saharan dunes and Berber oasis towns
  • Discover East Libya, newly reopened for tourism since 2024

  click image to expand

• Itinerary

  Day 1 of 13

  1. December 1 | Tuesday

     Arrival in Tripoli

     Independent travel to Tripoli

     • Fly into Tripoli Mitiga International Airport (MJI) in the morning from Istanbul or Cairo.
        
     • You will be met by your guide at the airport and then transferred to the hotel in Tripoli to check in and settle in.

     
     First Impressions of Tripoli

     • Tripoli Old Medina | A dense, atmospheric maze of souqs, mosques, and Ottoman-era architecture hugging the Mediterranean shore. Wander through souqs where craftspeople and traders have been selling their wares for centuries.
        
     • The Arch of Marcus Aurelius | The only surviving Roman monument in the old city centre, standing improbably in the middle of the medina, still largely intact after nearly 2,000 years.

     Accommodation | Hotel in Tripoli

     Included Meals | Dinner

  2. December 2 | Wednesday

     Sabratha

     Excursion west along the Mediterranean coast to Sabratha, one of three ancient cities that gave the region its name – Tripolis, meaning 'three cities'.

     • Departure | Early morning departure for a full-day excursion west along the Mediterranean coast to Sabratha (ca. 2-hour drive).

     Exploration of Sabratha

     • Sabratha Archaeological Complex | Began as a Phoenician trading post around 500 BCE, serving as a coastal outlet for goods flowing north from the African interior: ivory, gold, exotic animals. It passed through Numidian and then Roman control, flourishing most spectacularly in the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries CE during the reign of the Severan dynasty, before earthquakes in the late 4^th century caused its eventual decline. The entire archaeological complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
        
     • The Roman Theatre | Sabratha’s theatre is the crown jewel of the site and one of the most breathtaking Roman monuments in Africa. Built between approximately 175 and 200 CE, its three-storey stage wall was largely reconstructed by Italian archaeologists in the 1930s and soars almost intact against the blue Mediterranean sky. It could seat between 5,200 and 6,450 spectators through its 25 entrances. It remains the largest theatre in Roman Africa.
        
     • Ancient Ruins and On-site Museum | Beyond the theatre, the site includes temples dedicated to Liber Pater, Serapis, and Isis; the Byzantine-era Basilica of Justinian; well-preserved mosaic floors in the Forum Baths; and an on-site museum housing statuary and mosaics recovered from the ruins.

     Return to Tripoli

     •  Return to Tripoli in the evening for dinner and rest.

     Accommodation | Hotel in Tripoli

     Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  3. December 3 | Thursday

     Jebel Nafusa & Gaser Alhaj

     Tripoli to Ghadames via Jebel Nafusa

     • An early departure from Tripoli heading southwest into the Jebel Nafusa, a long escarpment of mountains rising above the Jeffara Plain, the traditional heartland of Libya's Berber population. The route takes in several remarkable stops before arriving in Ghadames for the night.

     Journey Through the Berber Heartland

     • Qasr Alhaj | A 13^th-century fortified granary, or qasr, built by the Berber communities of the Nafusa mountains as a communal storage facility and place of refuge. The structure is arranged around a central courtyard, with storage cells stacked on multiple levels, connected by external staircases; each cell belongs to a different family and is lockable independently.
        
     • Turmesa and Kabaw | Continue through the mountain villages of Turmesa and Kabaw, ancient Berber settlements perched on the edge of the escarpment with sweeping views across the plains below. These communities have maintained their distinct language, culture and building traditions for centuries.
        
     • Arrive in the oasis town of Ghadames in the evening for dinner and rest.

     Accommodation | Hotel in Ghadames

     Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  4. December 4 | Friday

     Ghadames

     • A full day in Ghadames, the most extraordinary desert town in Libya and one of the most remarkable in the Sahara. Ghadames sits roughly 462 km southwest of Tripoli, near the point where Libya meets both Algeria and Tunisia, in an oasis fed by the Ain al-Faras spring.
        
     • Ghadames Old Town | Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. Its architecture is unlike anything else in North Africa—a labyrinth of covered alleys and interconnected passageways creates what amounts to an underground network through the city, shielding inhabitants from the ferocious summer heat.
        
     • Vertical Desert Homes | Houses are arranged vertically, with storage on the ground floor, family rooms above, and open-air rooftop terraces reserved for the women of the household, who had their own separate network of routes across the rooftops. Whitewashed interiors are decorated with geometric patterns and traditional motifs in rich colours, each family's distinctive designs marking their space.

     Sahara Sunset

     • The Great Sand Sea | In the late afternoon, we visit the edge of the great sand sea of the Sahara for sunset over the dunes.
        
     • Tuareg Performance | In the evening, a Tuareg music performance accompanies traditional bread baked under the sand, known as khobz al-jamar, alongside a 4x4 desert safari experience.
        
     • Al-Mourin | For the women, Al-Mourin, a special traditional women’s cultural performance unique to Ghadames, is also arranged here. (Women-only event).

     Accommodation | Hotel in Ghadames

     Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  5. December 5 | Saturday

     Ghadames, Nalut & Return to Tripoli

     • Today we depart Ghadames in the morning and head back northeast towards Tripoli, with a stop in Nalut.

     Exploration of Nalut

     • Nalut Ancient Berber Town | An ancient Berber town perched on the edge of the Nafusa escarpment, with commanding views across the desert plains. Like Ghadames and Gaser Alhaj, it is built around a fortified granary.
        
     • Qasr Nalut | The Nalut granary, or Qasr Nalut, is one of the finest surviving examples of Berber defensive architecture in Libya. A multi-storey structure of mud brick and stone, it contains over 400 individual storage cells arranged around a courtyard, each belonging to a different local family.
        
     • Cave House Lunch Experience | Lunch nearby Qasr Nalut. Enjoy a traditional fattat meal inside one of the historic cave houses, known locally as a damous.
        
     • Continue the journey back to Tripoli in the afternoon for an overnight stay.

     Accommodation | Hotel in Tripoli
     
     Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  6. December 6 | Sunday

     Leptis Magna

     • A full day excursion east along the coast to Leptis Magna, 130 km from Tripoli. There is no hyperbole in saying this is one of the greatest Roman sites in the world.
        
     • Morning departure for a full-day excursion travelling east along the coast to Leptis Magna (ca. 130 km from Tripoli).

     Leptis Magna Archaeological Site

     • Imperial Roman Legacy | Founded by Phoenician colonists from Tyre in the 7th century BCE. Its golden age came when a local boy, Septimius Severus, became Roman emperor in 193 CE and transformed his hometown into one of the most magnificent cities in the Roman Empire. The city was buried by sand after its eventual abandonment, preserving it until 20th-century excavations. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
        
     • The Triumphal Arch of Septimius Severus | This stands at the intersection of the city's two main roads, a four-sided tetrapylon richly decorated with carved reliefs celebrating the emperor's victories.
        
     • The Hadrianic Baths | Among the largest and best-preserved bath complexes in the Roman world, covering an area comparable to the Baths of Caracalla in Rome.
        
     • The Amphitheatre | Partially cut into the hillside, this massive venue once hosted gladiatorial contests and public spectacles for the city's substantial population.
        
     • The Severan Basilica | A vast collonaded hall with pilasters intricately carved with scenes from the Twelve Labours of Hercules and the Life of Dionysus.
        
     • The Severan Forum | A marble-clad statement of imperial power, featuring the old forum at the heart of the original city, along with temples and original market buildings.
        
     • Enjoy an exclusive performance arranged on-site by a Zokra traditional band during the visit.

     Accommodation | Hotel in Tripoli

     Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  7. December 7 | Monday

     Gharyan & Yafren

     • A day exploring two more facets of Libya’s extraordinary cultural landscape: underground cave architecture and Berber mountain towns.
        
     • Morning departure south toward the Nafusa mountain region to explore Gharyan and Yafren.

     Cultural Treasures of Gharyan

     • Troglodyte Houses | Gharyan is famous for its troglodyte houses, known locally as hosh. These are underground pit dwellings excavated vertically into the soft rock, with rooms cut horizontally around a central courtyard open to the sky above. They offer remarkable natural insulation against the summer heat. A visit to Hosh Gharyan Damos reveals how ingeniously human beings adapt to extreme climates.
        
     • Gharyan Ceramics | The town has been a vibrant centre of pottery production for centuries. Its active kilns and local workshops continue to produce handmade earthenware using artisanal techniques passed down through generations.

     Heritage of Yafren

     • Ancient Berber Mountain Town | An ancient town in the Nafusa mountains featuring a well-preserved old city of stone architecture. It holds deep historical significance as a prominent centre of Ibadi Islam, the distinctive form of Islam practised by the Berber communities of this region.
        
     • The Old City | Offers a quieter, less-touristed, and deeply authentic version of the Nafusa mountain experience.
        
     • Return to Tripoli in the evening for the final night before heading into eastern Libya.

     Accommodation | Hotel in Tripoli

     Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  8. December 8 | Tuesday

     Tripoli City Tour

     • A day in Tripoli for a proper exploration of the capital and surrounding areas before we leave for Benghazi the following day.

     Tripoli Old Medina

     • Historical Old Town | Explore the historic quarters, including the Arch of Marcus Aurelius, Al-Nakah Mosque, Gurgi Mosque, the Old British Consulate, Karamanli House, the fish market, and the dense network of interconnected souqs.
        
     • Architectural Fusion | The Italian Tripoli Church of Santa Maria and the Abu Lila tower round out the picture of a city that has absorbed and adapted every layer of its complex history without losing its essential Libyan character.

     Afternoon Cultural Highlights

     • Red Castle (Assaraya al-Hamra) | The great red castle rising above the harbour has guarded this coastline for over 2,000 years. It began as a Roman fort, was expanded under the Byzantines, transformed by the Ottomans, and further developed under Karamanli rule in the 18th and 19th centuries.
        
     • Libya National Museum | Located inside the castle, it houses an extensive collection of prehistoric, Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic artefacts, making it an excellent stop for understanding the profound depth of local history.
        
       • Please note: The National Museum's opening in December 2025 is still currently delayed. We anticipate the museum being open for the trip, but participants should note this may not be possible on the day.
          
     • Cooking Workshop | A cooking workshop hosted inside a traditional old house in the Old City, where you will learn to prepare a traditional Tripolitanian dish.
        
     • Dinner at a local scenic restaurant overlooking the Arch of Marcus Aurelius, accompanied by a live traditional music performance.

     Accommodation | Hotel in Tripoli

     Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  9. December 9 | Wednesday

     Travel to Benghazi

     • Transfer from the capital to Libya's second city, a historic Mediterranean port with a long and layered past.

     Morning Flight

     • Domestic flight to Benghazi | Morning departure from Tripoli to Benghazi.

     Afternoon Cultural Highlights

     • Arrival & Transfer | Arrival in Benghazi and transfer to the hotel to settle in before exploring.
        
     • Benghazi Lighthouse | An iconic landmark on the seafront. The lighthouse overlooks the harbour and offers the first views of the Mediterranean on this half of the trip.
        
     • Omar al-Mukhtar Shrine | A place of deep national significance. Dedicated to the great Libyan resistance leader, the "Lion of the Desert," who fought Italian colonial occupation until his execution in 1931. His image appears on the Libyan ten-dinar banknote.
        
     • The Corniche | An evening stroll along Benghazi's storefront Corniche, the vibrant heart of the city's social life.

     Accommodation | Hotel in Benghazi

     Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  10. December 10 | Thursday

      The Coast and the Mosaics

      • A day moving west along the coast through a remarkable sequence of ancient sites.

      Tocra Exploration

      • Ancient Taucheira | Tocra was one of the five cities of the ancient Greek Pentapolis of Cyrenaica.
         
      • Founded in the 5^th century BCE, the city later fell under Ptolemaic and then Roman rule.

      Tolmeita Highlights

      • Ancient Ptolemais | Another of the Pentapolis cities, it was founded under Ptolemaic Egypt and later grew into a major Roman settlement.
         
      • Palace of Columns & Cisterns | Its most striking remains are a grand civic structure with impressive standing columns, alongside massive underground cisterns built to supply the whole city during a siege.

      Qasr Libya Museum

      • A small museum housing one of the most extraordinary collections of Byzantine mosaics in the world. Fifty panels, discovered in the ruins of two 6th-century Byzantine churches, depict an astonishing variety of subjects, including the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Nile's flooding, mythological figures, fantastical animals, and personifications of seasons and cities.

      Accommodation | Local accommodation

      Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  11. December 11 | Friday

      Cyrene

      • A full day at Cyrene, the greatest city of ancient Cyrenaica and one of the most important Greek sites anywhere in the world.

      An Ancient Greek City

      • Cyrene was founded in 631 BCE by Greek colonists from the island of Thera, led by their king, Battus, who established the Battiad dynasty. The city sits on the edge of the Jebel Akhdar, the Green Mountain, in a lush upland valley quite unlike the desert Libya of the popular imagination.
         
      • It grew to become one of the principal cities of the ancient Greek world, with close ties to Athens, a reputation as an intellectual centre, a celebrated school of philosophy founded by the Socratic thinker Aristippus, and a medical school that trained physicians across the Mediterranean.
         
      • It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, described as one of the most impressive ruin complexes in the world.

      Archaeological Site Exploration

      • Sanctuary of Apollo | The spiritual heart of the city and the oldest part of the site. Named after the spring Kyre, which the Greek settlers consecrated to Apollo, the sanctuary contains temples, altars, and baths dating from the 7^th century BCE onwards.
         
      • Agora and Forum | The civic centre of the city. Built above the original Greek agora and surrounded by temples and monuments. Here you can see the base of the Greek Ship Monument, erected to commemorate a naval victory, with the winged goddess Nike on the bow of a stone ship.
         
      • Temple of Zeus | An architectural marvel larger than the Parthenon in Athens, dating from the 6^th century BCE and later expanded and modified during the Roman period. The temple was largely destroyed in a Jewish revolt in 115 CE and subsequently rebuilt under Hadrian.
         
      • Cyrene Sculpture Museum | Located on-site, the museum contains an outstanding collection of marble statuary recovered from the ruins, including the famous Venus of Cyrene, a headless Roman copy of a Greek original Aphrodite discovered by Italian soldiers in 1913 and returned from Rome to Libya in 2008.

      Accommodation | Local accommodation near Cyrene

      Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  12. December 12 | Saturday

      Apollonia, Lathrun & Ras al-Helal

      • A full day of further exploration of Cyrene's coastal surroundings and natural landscapes.

      Apollonia Port Exploration

      • Ancient Port of Cyrene | Apollonia (Susha) serves as the ancient harbour town sitting directly on the coast below the main mountain city.
         
      • Submerged History | Founded in the 6^th century BCE, it became the capital of the Byzantine province of Libya Superior. Sections of the ancient harbour and breakwater are now partially submerged and visible from the shore.
         
      • Coastal Ruins | On land, the deeply atmospheric site features a seaside theatre, several historic churches, and the grand Byzantine Palace of the Duke.

      Lathrun

      • Clifftop Ruins | Two distinct Byzantine basilicas overlook the open sea from the high cliffs at Lathrun.
         
      • Isolated Mosaics | These relatively little-visited structures sit in dramatic isolation with their original mosaic floors and stone walls still largely intact.

      Ras al-Helal

      • A beautiful headland on the Mediterranean coast where a boat trip explores sea caves carved into the limestone cliffs by centuries of wave action. The turquoise water offers a gentler end to an intense program of ancient sites.
         
      • Group Farewell Dinner | Final group farewell dinner to celebrate the end of the journey.

      Accommodation | Benghazi hotel

      Included Meals | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  13. December 13 | Sunday

      Departure

      • A relaxed morning with time for a final coffee on the Corniche or last-minute souvenir shopping, depending on flight time.
         
      • Departure from Benghazi Benina International Airport (BEN) | Your dedicated driver will meet you in the hotel lobby to facilitate your transfer back to the airport. The best outbound routes offering worldwide connections include Turkish Airlines to Istanbul and EgyptAir to Cairo.

      End of Tour

      Included Meals | Breakfast

• Extras

  • Upgrade to your own room (international tours)

• What is / is not included?

  INCLUDED

  • All accommodation 
  • All meals
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off, as well as all ground transportation
  • All travel permits and entry fees to tourist sites, including the Benghazi entry permit fee
  • E-Visa support letter
  • Licensed local English-speaking tour guide
  • Koryo Tours tour leader
  • Security guard

  NOT INCLUDED

  • Flights to and from Tripoli
  • Libya eVisa fee ($63 USD)
  • Single room supplement ($tbc USD per night)
  • Travel insurance (mandatory)
  • Tips for the local guide and driver ($20 USD per day per traveller)

• Notes

  Visa for Libya

  You must apply for an electronic visa through the official government website. Koryo Tours will provide you with the necessary sponsor documents. The eVisa fee is $63 USD. Further details will be provided upon booking the tour with us.

  Flights to Tripoli and from Benghazi

  Tripoli is served by Tripoli Mitiga International Airport (MJI).

  Benghazi is served by Benghazi Benina International Airport (BEN).

  The most reliable ways to fly there are currently through Istanbul with Turkish Airlines or through Cairo with Egyptair.

  ITA Airways also plans to resume its flights to Tripoli from Rome-Fiumicino starting in September 2026. However, tickets for these upcoming ITA Airways flights are not yet available for booking.

  Visa

  Koryo Tours requires all participants to maintain comprehensive travel insurance for Libya. We recommend International Medical Group (IMG), as their policies cover our specific destinations.

  Got any questions about Koryo's Libya travels?

  Please email Zoe Stephens, the tour manager for this tour.

Please apply by 15th November, 2026.