Libya

Adventures in Libya

There's political unrest in the country so currently our trips to Libya are suspended. As a responsible tour operator we are led by The Foreign Office’s advice and we never sell or send people to destinations where it is not recommended to travel. 

Generally speaking though, if you are looking for a cultural adventure holiday with some of the most amazing classical ruins in the world but without the hordes of tourists then we at The Adventure Company believe Libya is the place to travel. 

For most, the two principal sites of Sabratha and Leptis Magna are the main draw, and it is easy to see why. At Sabratha, the most famous element is the vast theatre, as you stand on the stage you have to crane your neck to look up at the backdrop soaring three storeys above you, while in the surrounding area there is a large forum and various temples all sweeping down to the ocean.

Moving on however, nothing quite prepares you for the magnitude of Leptis Magna – an entire Roman city spread out along the coast. Miles of roadways, arches and colonnades; a theatre an amphitheatre and a hippodrome; baths, pools, forums and temples – the scale and completeness is incredible. Exploration of Leptis Magna alone makes a Libya travel extraordinary. There is even a preserved harbour including the giant stone rings where the ships would have been tied up on the quayside to unload into the storerooms beyond – truly unforgettable.

But don’t think that Libya holidays only has Roman ruins on offer. The Greeks were here too and left their own indelible mark. It is well worth visiting the sites of Ptolemais, Cyrene, and Apollonia while here. The Berbers built ancient fortified granaries in the mountains and the Italians left their stamp of the appearance of Tripoli. The capital itself has a few ancient remnants but its appeal today lies in its low key souk, old medina and interesting museum – complete with Colonel Gaddafi’s VW beetle!