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.
January 29th to February 4th, 2026
$2490 US dollars
7 days
Tour leader to be confirmed
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 – Nalut and back to Tripoli
Day 6 – Sabratha
Day 7 – Departure
On day 1, we will be meeting early in the morning at Tunis Carthage International Airport. Upon arrival in Tripoli, 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.
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 visit them on a day trip from Tripoli, taking our time to visit the site, around 3 hours.
Overnight in Libya.
On day 3, we will be driving 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.
Overnight in 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.
There’s going to be a long ride ahead of us but we will stop in a ruined, ancient Berber city named Nalut.
Overnight in Tripoli.
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 one of Libya’s finest beaches, made of white sand and the most crystalline water ever. Possibility of swimming (only men, though).
Overnight in Tripoli
After breakfast, transfer to the airport.
End of the tour
e-visa and fees
6 nights of accommodation (twin shared) with breakfast
Clearance for all checkpoints
Private transportation and driver around Libya
English-speaking knowledgeable local guide
Entrance fees to all sites listed in the itinerary
Airport transfers in Tripoli
International flights Tunis-Tripoli, with Libyan Wings or similar ($230 – $250)
Meals (except for breakfast)
Travel insurance (from €36)
Single supplement ($195).
January 29th to February 4th, 2026
$2490 US dollars
7 days
Tour leader to be confirmed
For security reasons, the name of the hotels we stay will only be shared upon booking your spot.
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 $195.
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.
This is included in the full price, including the visa fees.
No, not anymore.
We can accept almost any nationality, including US citizens.
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.
We limit our tours to a maximum of 12 people.
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.
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.
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
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.