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Ancient Egypt and Libya’s Remarkable Heritage
offered by supplier M15964 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 11
day(s)
Group Size: 6
- 18
people
Destination(s):
Egypt
Libya
Specialty Categories:
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
Season: January - December
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 2250 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 2250 US Dollar (USD)
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Egypt is a 'treasure trove' of antiquity, where we’ll only visit the mighty pyramids of Gizah. We will travel along the Mediterranean Sea coast to Alexandria - a buzzing town with many attractions - and continue west, crossing into Libya - an exciting, little-visited country, but extremely rich in Historical and Cultural relics.
We’ll stop at the WWII site at Tobruk, followed by the ancient Greek cities of Cyrene and Apollonia, equally impressive in their own way, and then Leptis Magna - certainly the finest ancient Roman city in the Mediterranean. Also see Benghazi - a great little town with a lively 'souk', and finally Tripoli - a cosmopolitan fusion of African, Arabic and European influences.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Cairo
Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, we are welcome by our guide and transferred to hotel. No activities are planned for today, so we may arrive at any time and have the rest of the day free. Overnight: Hotel Cataract Pyramids Resort, Cairo (2 nights), (Dinner)
Day 2: Cairo & the Pyramids
With a population of around 16 million people, Cairo is one of the world’s biggest cities and there’s a lot to see and do. We will first visit the Pyramids and the Sphinx and also see the wonderful Valley Temple of King Khephren.
In the afternoon we’ll go see the Egyptian Museum, containing the treasures of Tutankhamen and the remainder of the day is free to explore the city further and many will want to check out the famous Khan el Khalili bazaar. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 3: Cairo / Alexandria (drive 280 km)
In the morning we depart by bus/van to Alexandria, a buzzing Mediterranean town with many attractions founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great. Here we will first visit the Greco-Roman Museum, and then we go to the Pompey’s Pillar and the Seraphim, the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa.
An ancient circular staircase leads down into these tombs that were tunneled into the bedrock during the age of the Antonine Emperors (2nd century AD). Overnight: Hotel Metropole, Alexandria (1 night). (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 4: Alexandria / Alamein / Sollum (Libya) / Tobruk (drive 650 km)
Early in the morning we leave Alexandria and we drive along the North African Coastline, all the way to El Alamein. Here we stop for a short time and visit the War Memorial and the War Cemetery. From here we proceed to the Egyptian-Libyan border station at Sollum, cross the border and meet with our Libyan guide and escort, continuing on to Tobruk. Overnight: Hotel El Masirah, Tobruk. (1 night), (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 5: Tobruk / Ras el Hilal / Athrun / Apollonia (drive 230 km)
After breakfast and a city tour of Tobruk, where the highlights are the World War II cemeteries, we will drive along the coastal road towards Al Bayda. En route we will also visit the churches in Ras Al-Hilal and Al-Athrun.
The picturesque area with an oriental ambience, the Ras Al-Hilal and its Byzantin church with its white Marble columns, then Al-Athrun, an old ecclesiastic metropolis dating back to the 6th century with its two churches, and finally Suluntha, with its surprising portraits sculpted on the rocks, are all reasons for us to admire these fabulous ruins and imagine what life must have been like in its glory days. We continue our tour to Al-Bayda and then to Apollonia. Overnight: Hotel El Manara, Apollonia. (2 nights), (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 6: Apollonia / Cyrene / Apollonia (drive)
In the morning we drive to Apollonia, en route we also stop & visit the town of ‘Marsa Susa’. Apollonia was founded in the 7th century BC, during the Greco-Roman period and it is situated on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea as a harbour for Cyrene. During the 5th century Apollonia was the most influential town in the Cyrenaica. After the Arab conquest the town lost its importance.
In the afternoon we visit Cyrene, one of the oldest and most important Greek towns in Eastern Libya, founded in the 7th century BC by Greek colonists from Thera (known today as Santorini). It soon expanded with more settlers coming from other parts of Greece, enticed by the promise of prime farming land. By the 4th Century BC, it had become a major cultural center and a place of great wealth.
Ensuing rulers ranging from Alexander the Great to the Ptolemais and the Romans held sway over the city, but it suffered from devastating earthquakes, and by 643 AD it had lost all power and significance and was taken over by Islamic armies. We will return to Apollonia for dinner and overnight stay. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 7: Apollonia / Qasr Libya / Ptolemais / Benghazi (drive 215 km)
The day starts with a visit to Qasr Libya, formerly a bishopric with two churches. Qasr Libya has a small, but fascinating, museum in the Eastern Church that houses an impressive collection of Byzantine mosaics dating back to the 6th Century. Then we continue drive onto Ptolemais. The town was founded in the 3rd century BC as a harbor for Barka. Ptolemais has not yet been fully excavated because the site is very extensive.
Here we visit the remains of the Basilica and the Amphitheater as well as the Museum, the Cisterns and the Triumphal Arch. From here we continue our tour and drive to Libya's second largest city, Benghazi, where we have a chance to wander the narrow streets and explore the souk in an evocative old part of the town. Overnight: Hotel Tibesti, Benghazi. (1 night), (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 8: Benghazi / Tripoli (fly) & Tripoli / Sabratha / Tripoli (drive)
After breakfast we are transferred to Benghazi airport and fly to Tripoli. Once here, we meet our local guide, who will take us to tour Sabratha. Sabratha is located on the Mediterranean Coast, west of Tripoli and was founded in the 6th century BC.
The town was famous for the ivory trade and belonged originally to Massinissa’s Numidian Kingdom. Here we’ll visit the Roman Theatre and the well-preserved mosaics. For our dinner and overnight stay, we return to Tripoli. Overnight: Hotel Bab el Bahr, Tripoli. (3 nights), (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 9: Tripoli
Tripoli is Libya’s capital and it is also the most important harbour city in Libya. It started out as a Phoenician settlement named Oea in the 7th century BC and fell to the Romans after they destroyed the Punic Empire. From 533 until the middle of the 7th century Tripoli belonged to Byzantine Empire. On year 645 AD the Arabs conquered the city.
The Turkish construction style is predominant, while the city-centre it is dominated by Italian style buildings with arches and piazzas. After breakfast we visit the National Museum, the Mosque of Ahmed Karamalli and the old town with its narrow alleys, elegant mosques and lively bazaars. After we return to our hotel, we’ll have some time free at leisure. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 10: Tripoli / Leptis Magna / Tripoli (drive 240 km)
Today we visit outstanding Leptis Magna, one of the greatest ancient sites in the World. Dating back to the 7th Century BC, it was originally a Phoenician trading port and prospered for nearly 1000 years, before Vandal invasions and sand storms brought its downfall. In its heyday during the reign of Libyan Emperor Septimus Severus, it was second only to Rome and was home to over 100,000 people.
This vast city remained buried for some 1300 years, and it wasn’t seen until the 1920s; a major excavation by Italian and Libyan archaeologists revealed the limestone and marble wonders that we explore today. We spend most of the day wandering around this amazing place and visit the excellent Leptis Museum and impressive Amphitheatre, before returning to the Libyan capital, Tripoli. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 11: Departure from Tripoli
After breakfast we are transferred to Tripoli International Airport, in time for our departure. After what was an unparalleled journey through the World’s mostly admired historical sites, we leave northern Africa as we return home. (Breakfast)
- End of our tour and services -
Price includes:
- Entry visa support to Egypt and Libya for non-Americans
- Meals as mentioned (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- Passport registration in Libya
- All transfers and sightseeing according to itinerary
- Local English-speaking guides on each site
- Permanent English speaking escort
- Entrance fees to the sites mentioned
- All hotels as mentioned, including hotel taxes
- Domestic flight ticket for Benghazi / Tripoli sector
- Portage
Price does not include:
- International flights and all airport taxes
- Photo and video tickets on sites (Video USD: 10, Photography USD: 4, per site)
- Lunches and meals not specified
- Drinks / beverages with meals
- Any kind of insurance and visa fees
- Departure taxes in Egypt or Libya (if any)
- Tips and other such costs for guides and drivers
- Any other expenses not mentioned above
Tour highlights & World Heritage Sites (WHS)
- The pyramids and the Sphinx at Gizah (WHS)
- The Egyptian Museum, Cairo
- The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, Alexandria
- Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (WHS)
- Archaeological Site of Sabratha (WHS)
- Archaeological Site of Cyrene (WHS)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Tour price for 2008
USD: 2,250.00 / CAD: 2,365.00 per person in double occupancy. Single supplement: USD: 295.00 / CAD: 310
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Egypt
Libya
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
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