A weekend with a difference! We discover the sun-drenched Mediterranean coastline of Libya, home to Sabratha, Oea and Leptis Magna - the three great cities of Roman Tripolitania. This southern outpost of the Roman Empire was a strategic and prosperous trading gateway into Africa. Olives and grain were shipped from Tripolitania throughout the Mediterranean, and wild animals from the sub-Sahara passed through en route to the Colisseum in Rome.

Tripoli & Sabratha
We start in Tripoli, whose old town was built on the ancient site of Oea. With its exotic mix of Levantine, Italian and North African influences, Tripoli is a city whose long history is in evidence at every turn. We take a walk into the medina at the heart of the old town, then visit the excellent museum, housed in a castle that was once HQ for Arabs, the Knights of Malta, Ottomans and Italians. Later we visit Sabratha, an ancient Carthaginian trading post. The theatre here is vast and imposing: the largest in Roman Africa.

Leptis Magna
The third - and easily the most impressive - city of ancient Tripolitania is Leptis Magna. We enjoy the best part of two full days at this magnificent site, considered to be one of the best preserved Roman cities anywhere. We explore on foot, the only way to appreciate fully the sheer scale and grandeur of Leptis Magna. No trouble or expense was spared in constructing North Africa's most famous city: pink granite columns were shipped from southern Egypt, while sculptors were brought from Pergamum to work on the finest Italian marble. Today the sprawling site is a deeply evocative place: looking out across the ruins to the blue waters of the Mediterranean it is easy to imagine the thriving scene of 2,000 years ago.

Itinerary:

Day 1 Join Tripoli. 2 Morning walking tour of Tripoli old town, including the medina and castle museum; afternoon visit ancient Sabratha and return to Tripoli. 3 Short drive to Leptis Magna, guided walking tour of site; stay overnight at Al-Khoms. 4 Return to Leptis Magna and visit the museum and the circus; afternoon return to Tripoli for final evening. 5 End Tripoli.

Accommodation: 4nts hotel; 4 breakfasts included.
Transport: Coach/On Foot.
Comment: A short but rewarding cultural journey into Libya's colourful past, combining exotic Tripoli with the evocative and magnificent ruins of Leptis Magna and Sabratha.
Group: Approx. 12 to 16.
Staff: Explore Tour Leader/drivers/guides.
Trip Reference: ALY