LIBIA

Morning: meet up in Djerba, an island belonging to Tunisia, not far from the border with Libya

Afternoon: arrival in Djerba, transfer to hotel and relaxing

Evening: dinner and evening in Djerba

Morning and afternoon: departure from Djerba by private bus to Libya. Crossing the Libyan border and arriving at Sabratha. Visiting the ancient Roman city of Sabratha, one of the best preserved in North Africa and its magnificent theatre, one of the most valuable examples of Roman architecture of the 2nd century AD, whose colonnade, which forms the scene, was restored during the Italian possession. Today, the theatre as well as the entire ancient city of Sabratha, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continuing on towards the east, always following the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and then arriving in Tripoli, the capital of Libya

Evening: dinner in Tripoli and night at the hotel

Morning: transfer to Tripoli airport and domestic flight to Ghat, a dusty city in southwestern Libya, on the border with Algeria, at the foot of the Tadrart Acacus massif, a natural geographical continuation of the Tassili n ‘Ajjer plateau in Algeria. On board a 4×4 driven by local drivers, the expedition into the Sahara desert begins!

Afternoon: drive eastwards, along the rugged trails that climb the western slopes of the Tadrart Acacus, among wonderful desert scenery carved by ancient drained rivers, high dunes, isolated sandstone pinnacles, caves and deep canyons. Once we’ve overcome the pass of Takhkhuri, we’ll start setting up the campsite for the night

Evening: dinner and night in the campsite

Morning and afternoon: day dedicated to the 4×4 SUV exploration of the maze of wadi that crosses the Tadrart Acacus massif. The natural environment is extraordinary, the best of the immense vastness of the Sahara without any human contamination. The day entails in a succession of dunes, sandy valleys, ancient lava flows and pinnacles with bizarre shapes, as well as beautiful natural rock bridges, including the arches of Tin Khlega and Forzhaga. This last one in particular, located at the confluence of 3 wadi at the southeast end of the Acacus, is the most impressive and spectacular rock formation in the area. In the evening, we’ll move towards Wadi Mninegh, one of the few Acacus sites with access to water wells, and set up camp for the night

Evening: dinner and overnight stay in the campsite at Wadi Mninegh

Morning and afternoon: days dedicated to exploring the Wadi Tashwinat, the main valley that crosses the Acacus mountains from southwest to northeast for over 60km in length. This area has been inhabited since ancient times by nomadic populations who found refuge in the wadi’s natural caves and crevices. This can be shown by the numerous cave engravings, some of which date back to over 10000 years ago as evidence. They depict hunting scenes and animal figures, mostly camels and cows but also giraffes, which populated the region in prehistoric times. These paintings, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, can also be found in the Tin Lalan wadi and other wadi confluent to the Tashwinat, a complex system of 101 valleys and guelt (circular basins formed on the wadi bed), crossed in an era far from the many streams, now dried up

Evening: dinners and nights in the camp at Wadi Mninegh

DAY 7: 4×4 SUV trip along the Wadi Tashwinat to the Awiss region, at the northern end of the Acacus. Day dedicated to the 4×4 exploration of the Awiss, dotted with incredible rock formations and pinnacles, including Adad, which in the local Berber language means ‘finger’ for its particular tapered shape. Dinner and spend the night in the Awiss desert campsite

DAY 8: last day of the desert with us crossing through the northern regions of Awiss to Al-Awaynat, a small dusty outpost you can reach via the Ghat road. Arrival and visit of the city of Ghat, an important historical caravan center along the routes of the Sahara, equipped with a picturesque medina dominated by a fort, built by the Turks and restored by the Italians in the 20th century. Return flight to Tripoli, arrival in the capital, transfer to the hotel and night spent there

Morning: visit of Leptis Magna, probably the most important Roman ruin complex in Africa. Founded by the Phoenicians on an uncertain date (XI – VII century BC), flourished under Carthage and then fell into the hands of the Romans. Leptis Magna preserves a wonderful theatre, the forum, an exceptionally preserved market, basilicas, monumental arches and colonnades which testify the importance of the city, especially during the empire of Septimius Severus (born and raised in Leptis Magna), when it had more than 100,000 inhabitants and was one of the most important cities of the Empire and the world

Afternoon: On the way back to Tripoli, we’ll visit Villa Selene, a splendid example of a Roman villa of the second century. Its floors are enriched with fine mosaics. Return in the afternoon to Tripoli and relax in the hotel

Evening: dinner and evening in Tripoli

DAY 10: transfer to Djerba. Crossing the Libyan-Tunisian border, arrival in Djerba and relaxing

DAY 11: transfer to Djerba airport and get to say our last goodbye over a nice coffee