Libya's capital, Tripoli, may be more modern than the rest of the country, but it has yet retained much of its historical character. Narrow, winding alleyways, traditional mosques and bathhouses, ancient fortresses and architecture influenced by a host of civilizations since its foundation in the 7th century BC - among others, the Turks, the Spanish, the Maltese, the Greeks, the Romans and the Italians - make Tripoli one of the most fascinating destinations even for those with only a passing interest in history.
We travel through quaint mountaintop villages and towns with a unique African flavor; where buildings are constructed from mud, lime, palm-tree trunks and leaves - the only available materials - and are made specifically to deal with the harsh climes of the Sahara region. Exploring UNESCO Heritage Site-designated ancient town walls, fortified granaries, historical cities made infamous by the Second World War and the still-standing legacies of the mighty Greek and Roman Empires that lie strewn across the land - such as the Greek temples and tombs in Cyrene and the massive forums and Hadrianic Baths in Leptis Magna, once one of the greatest cities of Roman Africa - we leave no stone unturned as we learn about Libya’s fascinating past and discover for ourselves its contemporary face.
Crossing into Tunisia, we travel to see a plethora of ancient Roman sites in Carthage, once a Phoenician settlement and one of Rome’s greatest rivals, and then head through the cork-forests of northwest Tunisia and rural scenic routes en route to Sufetula, an extensive Roman city famous for its restored temples of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. We travel to seemingly deserted landscapes of Matmata, where we explore underground Troglodyte homes carved into the sandstone, and to the port town of Djerba, wherein is to be found one of the oldest synagogues in the world, today a pilgrimage site and the location of an 8th century Torah.
Along with touring museums to give ourselves a comprehensive overview of the evolution of Tunisian society and past civilizations, we clamber over massive stone blocks in amphitheaters similar to the famous Coliseum of Rome, admire grand forums and great temples in the legendary Thuburbo Maius and enjoy the rich diversity of culture and beautiful landscape to be found in this unique country. For the remaining six days of our adventure, we enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and experiences of Malta in the heart of the Mediterranean. We cruise historically significant routes once sailed by the Knights of St John and the Ottoman fleet, visit the ‘Three Cities’, saunter through the Barracca Gardens in the capital, Valletta, and see underground caves that were once the dwelling-places of the first Neolithic settlers over 6,000 years ago.
Ferrying to Gozo, an island of lush green hills and quaint hillside villages, we spend time touring the citadel and the beautiful cathedral, and gazing out over spectacular panoramas of the island. Back in Malta, we marvel at a church with the third largest unsupported dome in the world and cast off for a boat ride in the Blue Grotto, an incredible cavern whose fluorescent blue waters evoke a mystical atmosphere.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Breakfast and dinner (hotels & local restaurants) daily
- All sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as ‘visited’ in the detailed itinerary
- Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, porters
- Domestic flights via local scheduled carriers as per the itinerary
- Airport transfers for land / air customers arriving / departing on tour dates.
Price Excludes:
- Tour Leader gratuities, lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), international (if applicable) and domestic air taxes, visa fees, excursions referenced as ‘optional’
- Airport transfers for early / late arrivals / departures or Land Only customers
- Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on optional meal costs, shopping and visas.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Libya
Tunisia
Malta
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
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