West Libya Round 3 – Against the Compass Expeditions

From world-class Roman ruins to mystical caravan cities built in staggering, massive deserts, Libya is a real off-the-beaten-track country filled with wonderful sites which have been barely explored by travelers.

In 2011, however, a series of peaceful protests against dictator Gaddafi escalated into a civil war that has been going on ever since, isolating the country even more from the rest of the world.

Today, nevertheless, the situation in some parts of Libya is improving, a peace agreement has been signed between the parties involved and it looks like travelers are beginning to be welcomed again.

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January 30th to February 5th, 2025

2190€

7 days

Lead by Oriol López

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Itinerary

Note that we always keep the itinerary flexible, and it may be subject to change, depending on the political situation.

Day 1 – Arrival + Tripoli

Day 2 – Leptis Magna (overnight in Tripoli)

Day 3 – Tarmisah & Gasr Al-Hajj (overnight in Ghadames)

Day 4 – Ghadhames

Day 5 – Gharyan and back to Tripoli

Day 6 – Sabratha and west coast

Day 7 – Departure

Day 1 – Arrival in Tripoli

Meet early morning at Tunis Carthage International Airport
After going through a lengthy immigration process, check-in at the hotel and go for a hearty, Libyan meal.
Old city of Tripoli: The Arch of Marcus Aurelius, Gurgi Mosque, Al Nakah Mosque, the gold bazaar, the Martyr’s square, and Italian colonial buildings.
Overnight in Tripoli.

Day 2 – Leptis Magna (overnight in Tripoli)

Day trip to Leptis Magna.
Founded in the 7th century BC by the Phoenicians and later expanded by Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, the ruins of Leptis Magna are absolutely outstanding, first league Roman ruins built on the shore of the Mediterranean.
We will take our time to visit the site – around 3 hours – followed by a good Libyan meal.
Evening and overnight in Libya.

Day 3 – Tarmisah & Gasr Al-Hajj (overnight in Ghadames)

Drive to Ghadames, a 600-kilometer ride, but we will break the journey by visiting several highlights along the way.
Berbers compose around 5% of the total Libyan population and Jebel Nafusa is their heartland. As you may know, Berbers are the indigenous ethnic group, in North Africa before the Arabs came.
Visit Qasr al-Hajj, one of the finest examples of Berber architecture, a giant granary from the 12th century.
Visit Tarmisah, an ancient village with stunning views of the valley.
After lunch, continue to Ghadames.

Day 4 – Ghadames

Visit the Old City of Ghadames, a UNESCO World Heritage site, a giant Saharan city composed of hundreds of entangled lanes, packed with mosques and historical houses.
Lunch in a traditional house and then, deep into the desert, climbing the sand dunes from where you can see the Algerian border.
A group of real Tuaregs will make us tea while waiting for the sunset.
Overnight in Ghadames.

Day 5 – Gharyan and back to Tripoli

There’s going to be a long ride ahead of us but we are going to stop in an area named Gharyan, famous for pottery and also for some very authentic troglodyte caves.
We will have some snacks along the way, but the main meal will be in Tripoli.
Overnight in Tripoli.

Day 6 – Sabratha and west coast

Sabratha is smaller than Leptis Magna but most travelers prefer Sabratha because you can see the Mediterranean from anywhere in the ruins, plus it features the best Roman theater.
On the other hand, Sabratha was also taken by ISIS, the heritage of which can still be seen in some of the damaged buildings.
After visiting Sabratha, we will check out some of Libya’s finest beaches, made of white sand and the most crystaline water ever.
Evening and overnight in Tripoli

Day 7 – Departure

After breakfast, transfer to the aiport.
End of the tour

Gallery of photos

What’s Included

6 nights of accommodation (twin shared)

Clearance for all checkpoints

Private transportation and driver around Libya

Breakfast and main meal

English-speaking knowledgeable local guide

Entrance fees to all sites listed in the itinerary

Airport transfers in Tripoli

Not Included

International flights Tunis-Tripoli, with Libyan Wings or similar (around €220)

Visa fees + Visa application 63 USD + 45 USD

Dinner

Travel insurance (from €36)

Single supplement (€110).

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January 30th to February 5th, 202

2190€

7 days

Lead by Oriol López

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FAQ

Which hotels do we stay?

For security reasons, the name of the hotels we stay will only be shared upon booking your spot.

How does the room distribution work?

The price of the tour includes accommodation in a twin room.

If you are a solo traveler, you will share the room with another like-minded traveler from the group. Please note: we always try to group people of same gender and age but this can’t be always the case.

If you want a single room, you will have to pay an additional €110.

How to get a visa?

Today, it’s possible to apply for an e-visa, you don’t need to visit the embassy.

However, the e-visa portal is full of bugs, and doesn’t work properly. It always presents a lot of difficulties so, since we don’t want to miss any deadlines, we’ll apply for you.

The cost of this service is 45 USD on top of the visa fees, which cost 63 USD.

Do I need to go to the embassy?

No, not anymore.

Which nationalities can join?

We can accept almost any nationality, including US citizens.

How to get to Libya?

The best way to get to get to Tripoli is via Tunis.

Flights to Tripoli are not included in the final price but we’ll book them for you and fly all together on the same flight.

This means that you only need to worry about booking your flight to Tunis.

There are daily flights to Tunis from many destinations in Europe, especially Paris, London, Madrid, and Frankfurt.

How many people will attend this tour?

We limit our tours to a maximum of 12 people.

How does payment work?

To secure your spot on the tour, we require a deposit. We accept payments in both Euros and US dollars. All details will be shared upon booking your spot.

DISCLAIMER: Is it safe?

Information about the risks and dangers of the trip:

The traveler is expressly informed that the activities included in the travel itinerary are adventurous and/or take place in conflict zones, which entail dangers and imply the risk of physical, and psychological injuries, and/or death for the traveler.

Due to the characteristics of the destination and/or activities, the specific risks and dangers of the trip are, by way of example but not limited to, those listed below:

War; terrorism; political instability; arbitrary detentions, gunfire in the activity area; and/or violent crime.

Regarding the potential dangers of the destination, travelers are advised to consult the travel recommendations for the destination country provided by their country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For example, in the case of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), these recommendations can be accessed on the following link: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/libya

FCDO has advised against all travel to Libya since 2014. The local security situation is fragile and can quickly deteriorate, with intense fighting starting without warning.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, if you want to join any of our expeditions, you must purchase travel insurance, this is non-negotiable, and it must be with IATI.

Why do we have to book it with IATI?

Against the Compass has been a partner with IATI for a very long time. We know their CEO, the marketing team and we do a lot of collaborations together so in the unlikely case something happened, we’d know what to do.

Moreover, IATI Insurance covers all the countries where the FCDO advises against all travel.

You may also benefit from a 5% discount if purchasing it from the below link.

Get a quote here to claim your discount

What’s the cancellation policy?

Please check our General Conditions.

However, specific conditions might apply depending on the destination. Example: when the trip includes airfare.

Full details will be shared upon booking your spot.