Libya, a land of historical and scenic contrast offers the opportunity to time travel through Roman World Heritage sites and spectacular desert scenery. With LIVE follow in the footsteps of the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Ottomans through the hauntingly beautiful desert visiting the ruins of their civilisations- notably Leptis Magna and Apollonia. Libya is a special country with a fascinating history and off the map for many years. LIVE; however, can take you there.

Libya, the Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah, is Africa’s 4th largest country with only 5 million people. It’s once fertile fields helped feed the Roman Empire, with the encroaching Sahara 90% land is now sand-sea or rock-strewn plain.

The magnificent remnants of Classical Greece and Rome remind us of a long history. The Phoenicians founded coastal colonies that were conquered by Carthage in the 6th century BC. In the 5th century the Greek historian Herodotus described the Garamantes- whose civilisation controlled the interior for centuries- as sedentary farmers with horse drawn chariots. After the Greeks the Romans developed the prosperous province and Leptis Magna, birthplace of Emperor Septimius Severus, said to rival Rome itself and nowadays considered the finest of their sites around the Mediterranean. The Vandals and Byzantines followed until the region fell under Arab control in 643AD. Ruled by Umayyids, Fatamids and Berbers, partly conquered by the Normans in 1146AD, control frequently changed hands until the Ottoman Empire extended its Eastern boundary in the 16th century. Libya was even a haunt of the notorious Barbary pirates, resulting in a bombardment of Tripoli in 1804 by the infant US Navy. Although resisted by the Senussi sect until 1939 the Italians, entering the tail end of the struggle to gain colonies took power in 1911- ceded by the Ottomans in 1912. The scene of fierce fighting during World War 2, notably Tobruk, it was placed under UN trusteeship until 1951 when it became independent under King Idris, the Senussi monarch. King Idris was deposed in 1969 and Muammar Gadaffi took power. Fuelled by oil money and pledged to the equitable distribution of the enormous revenues Colonel Gadaffi brought relative prosperity to the average Libyan but over the years he distanced his land from the West. With relations improving it is opportune to discover the fascinating past and present of Libya.

1. Depart London Heathrow 0930h arriving 1500h at Tripoli and continue by plane to Benghazi.
2. Visit Ancient Greek Ptolemais’ palace & underground water system, Qasr Libya’s 6thC mosaics museum, to Al-Bayda.
3. Visit the ancient Greek city of Cyrene: the gymnasium, forums, agora and temple of Apollo. To the old port of Apollonia, beautifully located by a beach beside the azur Mediterranean- stopping for a swim. Tour of the museum, baths, palace, churches, theatre and acropolis. Return to Benghazi.
4. Flight to Tripoli and drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Roman ruin of Sabratha: its temples, Christian basilica of Justinian and massive restored amphitheatre. Drive through the desert to Gheryan and the Jebel Nabusa mountains.
5. South 650km via Nalut, dominated by a Qasr or grain store, to Ghadames, near the borders with Algeria
   & Tunisia, formerly the Southern outpost of the Roman Empire and a major town on the Saharan trading routes.
6. Wander the cool, covered, labyrinthine old streets of Ghadames amongst the Berber and Tuareg populace. Lunch in a traditional house and visit the huge sand dunes by the borders for a memorable colourful desert sunset.
7. Return to Tripoli via Qasr al-Haj, this 12th C store is perhaps Libya’s most impressive example of Berber architecture.
8. Drive to the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage site of Leptis Magna. Originally Phoenician, its huge Forum, Basilica and Public Baths date from the rule of Emperor Septimius Severus who was born here.  Return to Tripoli.
9. Tour the Citadel, ancient medina, souk, Roman arch of Marcus Aurelius & Jamahiriya Museum. Depart to London.

COSTS £1400 includes: BA flights, transport, transfers, English-speaking guide and full-board hotels, single supplement £125. The air holiday and flight is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 6151.

Excludes:  £50 visa fee, obtained on arrival, an Arabic passport translation is required (e.g. Arab-British Chamber of Commerce 020 7235 4363, £25), insurance (available through LIVE Travel  £30), tips, drinks, and other personal items.