Libya Tour: Gaddafi’s Legacy

5 days / 9 days 28 Jul, 2027 – 1 Aug / 5 Aug, 2027

Start Date

28 Jul, 2027

End Date

1 Aug / 5 Aug, 2027

Duration

5 days / 9 days

Price

1745 / 3490

Since the fall of Colonel Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has for many years been completely off limits to tourists. Now that the country is finally experiencing some relative stability, and with a new tourist eVisa scheme, we here at YPT are very excited to introduce our Libya Tour: Gaddafi's Legacy.

The absolute highlight being one of the rarest astronomical events of the century: a total solar eclipse over Benghazi. The duration of the totality will be approximately 6 minutes and 20 seconds, making it one of the longest total solar eclipses easily accessible on land for decades – the next longest one will be in the year 2114!

Your tour with us begins in Tripoli, the iconic capital city of the State of Libya. Here you’ll explore the old city (Medina), where the old city’s labyrinthine streets are filled with old treasures such as the Banco di Roma building, Ottoman-era mansions, and an ancient Roman arch. We’ll drop by the Old British Consulate, Othman Clock Tower, the Red Fort, and also Martyrs’ Square – previously known as Independence Square under Gaddafi, where the Battle of Tripoli took place.

You’ll then head out to the former seaport of Sabratha. Here we’ll explore the Sabratha Theatre – one of the most important historical sites in Libya – dating back to 175CE and could hold up to 5,000 spectators.

Your journey continues onwards to Leptis Magna. During the reign of Libyan Emperor Septimius Severus, this was second only to Rome with a population of over 100,000. The city remained buried for some 1300 years and it was not until the 1920s when a major excavation by Italian and Libyan archaeologists revealed the limestone and marble traces that you’ll explore with us.

We’ll visit Jebel Nafusa, this mountain rises abruptly from the desert of Jefara to a height of over 968 meters. This is the heartland of the Berber people who claim descendancy from the original inhabitants of Libya and maintain a strong cultural and linguistic identity in this rugged part of the country.

Extend your journey or meet us in Tripoli for our Group B Eastern Libya tour, venturing into the lesser-visited eastern reaches of the country, once off-limits, to explore its rich tapestry of history, archaeology, and modern significance. We’ll board our Libyan domestic flight to Benghazi – Libya’s second largest city.

Eastern Libya offers a very different perspective from Tripoli. The region remains under the influence of Khalifa Haftar, whose portraits and presence are visible throughout, giving a deeper glimpse into the local political landscape.

Shaped by Italian colonial ambitions and the 2011 uprising against Gaddafi, to the archaeological marvels of the ancient Greek and Roman cities of Ptolemais, Qasr Libya, Cyrene, and Apollonia, this extension provides a unique opportunity to experience the many layers of Libya’s past and present.

Either Group A or B can be taken as a standalone tour, or you can join the full itinerary to complete your visit to Libya. The country has been through a lot of changes, but this is your chance to experience the legacy of Gaddafi that very much still overshadows the nation.

Tour Highlight

See both the old and the new in Tripoli including the labyrinth streets of Medina to Martyrs’ Square where the Battle of Tripoli took place.
Visit Benghazi - Libya’s second largest city, from its Italian colonial architecture to the sites of the 2011 uprising against Gaddafi
Explore Leptis Magna – it was originally a Phoenician trading port and prospered for over 1000 years before the Vandal invasions and sandstorms brought its downfall.

Included

Twin-shared accommodation
Libyan eVisa support
All meals
Private transport to complete the tour including airport transfers
Domestic flight Tripoli to Benghazi
Entrance fees & travel permits
Security clearances
Police Escort
YPT guide and local guides

Excluded

Libya eVisa fee $63 USD
Single Supplement
YPT can arrange your Tunis \\ Tripoli or Benghazi flights return flights for €350
Personal expenses such as souvenirs
Travel Insurance

Group	Start date	End date	Duration	Price	Single Supplement
Group A: Gaddafi’s Legacy	28 Jul, 2027	1 Aug, 2027	5 days	1745	300
Group B: Eastern Libya	1 Aug, 2027	5 Aug, 2027	5 days	1745	300
Full tour	28 Jul, 2027	5 Aug, 2027	9 days	3490	600

Print Itinerary

Full Itinerary

Wednesday 28th July – Tunis, Tunisia – Tripoli, Libya

Morning

Arrive at your convenience into Tunis – the capital city of Tunisia which is well connected with flights from Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Group members will meet at Tunis–Carthage International Airport at 7:00am to check into Libyan Wings YL801 departing Tunis at 9:20am and arriving at Tripoli 11:30am. YPT can arrange return tickets for €350. All group members must arrive into Tripoli on this flight according to tourist regulations set by the Libyan ministry.
Arrive and go through immigration. Meet with local tourist police and guide to be transferred to hotel centrally located in the city

Afternoon

We’ll have lunch at one our favourite spots in the city and begin our walking tour of Tripoli.
We’ll first explore around Martyrs’ Square – previously known as Independence Square under Gaddafi, built by the Italians during the colonial rule, on the evening of the 21^st August the Libyan rebel groups took control of the area during the 2011 Battle of Tripoli and started referring to it as Martyrs’ Square to dissociate the square from the Gaddafi government.
Visit the newly reopened and highly anticipated National Museum of Libya, home to collections spanning more than 5,000 years of North African history, making it one of the richest archaeological museums on the continent. The museum showcases artifacts from Libya’s Phoenician, Greek, Roman, and Islamic past, reflecting the country’s role as a crossroads of civilizations. Closed for 14 years following the uprising against Gaddafi, the museum reopened symbolising both cultural preservation and Libya’s gradual return to the world stage.
Visit Jamal Abdul Nasser Mosque – it was first constructed as a cathedral in the 1920s during the Italian Libya colonial era, and converted into a mosque during the 1970s under Gaddafi’s instructions.
See the former Italian built post office which is now converted to the Municipality of Tripoli and a nearby outdoor cafe with a stunning courtyard.
Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Tripoli

Thursday 29th July – Tripoli – Sabratha – Tripoli

Morning

Breakfast at hotel
We’ll begin by exploring the Red Castle of Tripoli – the most famous landmark of the city. It dates back to the Phoenicians; the fort was later painted red after the Spanish invasions in 1510. The total area is about 13,000 square meters and there are several buildings and courtyards inside the castle’s walls. You’ll also be shown the exact spot where Gaddafi stood to give public speeches to the crowds on Green Square.
Wander through Medina, where the old city’s labyrinthine streets are filled with treasures such as the Banco di Roma building, Ottoman-era mansions, an ancient Roman arch, and among other more contemporary Tripoli attractions.
Visit the Othman Clock Tower – this 19th century Ottoman Clock Tower which shares a resemblance of to the Dolmabahce Clock Tower in Istanbul
Drop by the Karamanli house – built in the second half of the 18th century, during the reign of Ali Pasha Karamanli, and was used by Yousuf Pasha until his death. The house was restored during the early 1990s and became known as Tripoli Historical Exhibition.
Arch of Marcus Aurelius – built in 163 AD, the triumphal arch of Marcus Aurelius is Tripoli’s most impressive ancient monument. It stands at the intersection of the Cardo and Decumanus and marks the exact centre of the Roman city.
Explore many of the souqs that are hidden in old town – these souqs were previously a connection between the trans-Sahara trading routes within Tripoli vilayet and southern European Merchants ships.
This will be your chance to buy some unique souvenirs, such as local handicrafts, as well as things related to the former Gaddafi regime, such as the Green Book and various propaganda.
Visit the Old British Consulate – originally built in 1744 as a residence for Ahmad al Karamanli, the ruler of Tripoli. He donated it to the British Consulate, and it continued to serve that function until 1940. Since the 1990s it has housed a scientific library.

Afternoon

Lunch in Tripoli and begin making our way towards 2 hours northwest to Sabratha – one of the most important historical sites in Libya. The city dates back to 500BC and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Phoenicians and Romans previously used Sabratha as a seaport.
Visit the Sabratha Theatre – dated back to 175CE and could hold up to 5,000 spectators.
Return to Tripoli for a traditional Libyan feast for dinner.
Overnight in Tripoli

Friday 30th July – Tripoli – Jebel Nafusa – Gharyan – Tripoli

Morning

Breakfast at hotel
Drive 2 and a half hours southwest of Tripoli to Jebel Nafusa – this mountain rises abruptly from the desert of Jefara to a height of over 968 meters. This is the heartland of the Berber people of Libya.
Meet and greet with a local family and be invited into their centuries-old troglodyte home.
Drive onwards to explore Tarmeisa – an ancient stone village which clings off a narrow rocky outcrop overlooking a spectacular view of the Sahel Al Jefara.

Afternoon

Arrive in Gharyan and lunch in town
Gharyan was considered the centre of Libyan resistance against the Italian invasion in the early 20th century. The locals here protested strongly against Gaddafi where they suffered heavy bombardment by the Gaddafi forces. As of May 2011, the Gaddafi’s forces had shut down the water system and blocked food supply to the town. Rebels stood their ground and continued fighting against any resistance which finally led them to victory against countless tanks, artillery guns and snipers.
Today Gharyan has a population of over 85,000 and produces olive oil, flour, carpet weaving, and pottery. The locally famous Troglodyte caves were dug vertically down into the rocky ground.
Visit the 12th century fortified granary of Qasr al-Haj – an impressive place to explore.
Return to Tripoli with dinner on arrival
Overnight in Tripoli.

Saturday 31st July – Tripoli – Leptis Magna – Tripoli

Morning

Breakfast at hotel
Drive two hours east to Leptis Magna – it was originally a Phoenician trading port and prospered for over 1000 years before the Vandal invasions and sandstorms brought its downfall. During the reign of Libyan Emperor Septimius Severus, it was second only to Rome with a population of over 100,000. The city remained buried for some 1300 years and it was not until the 1920s when a major excavation by Italian and Libyan archaeologists revealed the limestone and marble traces we’ll explore.
We’ll visit various parts of the former glory city such as the Grand Arch entrance, saunas and baths, a track ‘n field, markets, the famous Ampitheatre that could sit up to 10,000 spectators, and what YPT considers the most impressive colosseum you’ll ever come across built along the sea with hidden tunnels to completely discover. Gladiators battling panthers, and public executions took place in this very spot.

Afternoon

Lunch at a local Libyan restaurant.
Return to Tripoli stopping at Villa Sileen which belonged to an ancient wealthy Roman family.
Dinner at a local restaurant in the city where we will get a chance to converse with our local guide over shisha about what life in Libya is actually like since the call of Gaddafi, and what it was like before.
Overnight in Tripoli

Sunday 1st August – Tripoli – Benghazi

Morning

Breakfast in the hotel
Group A members: check out and transfer to Tripoli-Mitiga International Airport to depart at 8:10am on Libyan Wings YL800 arriving back into Tunis at 8:20am.
Group B members: arrive at your convenience into Benghazi, meet our local team and transfer to hotel to meet group members
Full tour members: Morning stroll through the district built during the Italian occupation to admire the distinct 1920s–30s architecture that still defines parts of Tripoli today.
Visit the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Al Mansura, the resting place of 1,369 soldiers from WWII.

Afternoon

Lunch in the heart of the city
Transfer to airport and board our flight to Benghazi – Libya’s second largest city. During WWII, Benghazi was a key military supply base and the headquarters of Italian forces from 1911 to 1943. More recently, Benghazi was the epicentre of the 2011 uprising against Gaddafi, playing a decisive role in shaping modern Libya.
We’ll transfer to our hotel to meet with group B members and for a pre-tour meeting on Eastern Libya
Head out for a hearty Libyan dinner at one of the city’s top restaurants.
Overnight in Benghazi

Monday 2nd August – Benghazi: Solar Eclipse – Ptolemais – Qasr Libya – Cyrene

Morning

Breakfast at hotel and checkout
Explore Sahat Al-Hurriya, also known as Freedom Square – often called the “heart of Benghazi,” served as a key gathering point during the Libyan revolution.
Snap a photo in front of the #Benghazi sign
We’ll take a stroll along Benghazi Corniche – the coastal promenade offers views of the Mediterranean, a great spot for locals to meet, and decent fishing activity too.
Visit Benghazi Lighthouse – built in 1922 by the Italians, standing 22 metres tall and still very much active, this iconic lighthouse is a symbol of the city.
We will then position ourselves for the solar eclipse of 2 August 2027. The eclipse will begin around 11:40am, and the totality will happen between 1:02pm and 1:08pm. The duration of the totality will be approximately 6 minutes and 20 seconds, making it one of the longest total solar eclipses easily accessible on land for decades (second-longest of the 21st century, with no longer one until 2114).

Afternoon

We’ll have lunch in Benghazi before we head off to Cyrene via some stops on the way. We continue our drive south to Ptolemais – the former capital of the ancient Greek Pentapolis and today one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in Africa. Founded in the 3rd century BC under Ptolemy III, it started as a bustling Hellenistic trading hub before flourishing under Roman rule following their acquisition of Cyrenaica in 96 AD.
After our excursion to Ptolemais and its museum with stunning artefacts
We will continue our journey towards Cyrene, stopping at the Museum Qasr Libya – where over 50 ancient mosaic panels are displayed depicting animals, mythological figures, and everyday life. The most impressive piece being one illustrating the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Here you will also see the ruins of two churches which were completely filled with illustrative mosaics
We will stop for a short break at Wadi Alkouf Bridge. This bridge is the largest in Libya and the second highest bridge in Africa. It overlooks the stunning Kouf valley.
In the evening we will arrive to Cyrene and head out for dinner at our favourite Turkish restaurants in town and explore the local shisha cafe of Cyrene
Overnight in Cyrene

Tuesday 3rd August – Cyrene – Apollonia – Cyrene

Morning

Breakfast at hotel
We’ll begin one of the absolute highlights of the tour: the spectacular, partially excavated ruins of Cyrene. Here, the atmosphere is very different from the arid desert ruins of Western Libya. Perched on terraced hills, keep your eyes open for mosaics and statues that occasionally emerge from the sand. We’ll spend the day walking around the grassy ruins and exploring its hillside necropolis.
Explore and hear the history behind the Agora quarter – includes the gymnasium, forum, Roman basilica, Temple of Demetra, and the Bathos Tomb.
You’ll have an opportunity to descend along a narrow path to the Temple of Apollo and the principal building of Cyrene – originally built in the 7th century BC.
Visit the Great Baths – exceptionally well-preserved with the original pipes from the Fountain of Apollo still visible inside the Grand Hall.
Explore the Amphitheatre – which blends Roman construction with Greek foundations and architectural style.

Afternoon

We will have lunch and head onwards to Apollonia– the ancient port of the Cyrenaica civilisation. Once a vital hub for trade and maritime activity, Apollonia flourished for over a millennium and features impressive ruins including the Greek Theatre, Roman baths, and the Byzantine Palace, all set against a picturesque coastal backdrop. Our personal favourite is the Dux Palace, particularly its underground cellar.
After our excursion, enjoy a swim in the Mediterranean sea and explore the ruins underneath the waves and sand!
Return to our hotel in Cyrene to freshen up and head out for dinner
Overnight in Cyrene

Wednesday 4th August – Cyrene – Benghazi

Morning

Breakfast at hotel
Embark on our long drive back to Benghazi stopping for refreshments and photo opportunities along the way
After around 40 minutes of driving, we’ll stop for a short hike up the hill to a local cave. Measuring around 30 metres high and 80 metres wide, this enormous cavern is rumoured to have once been used to store military helicopters.
On the way we will stop for some local tea and freshly made Libyan bread for a snack!

Afternoon

We will have a lunch in one of the small cities on the way to Benghazi
We’ll visit military remnants of WWII and the 2011 Libyan uprising with leftover tanks and artillery scattered in various spots.
Visit the outside of the Badri Mosque, recently restored through a revitalisation fund owned by the government, it is one of the most impressive mosques of the region.
Check into our hotel to freshen up and head out to explore Benghazi’s nightlife and for our grand farewell feast
Overnight in Benghazi

Thursday 5th August – Benghazi

Morning

Breakfast in the hotel, check out of hotel and transfer to Benghazi – Benina International Airport for your departure. Turkish Airlines and EgyptAir operate flights out of Benghazi to Istanbul and Cairo, or we can arrange your return flight directly back to Tunis on Buraq Air flight UZ0315 departing at 1:30pm and arriving back into Tunis at 2:15pm

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