Excursions: Benghazi Old Town
Highlights: Benghazi Old Town, Souk al-Jareed and historic sites connected to the 2011 uprising
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Upon arrival at Benghazi Airport our team will welcome you to Libya’s capital of Eastern Libya. Depending on your arrival time, we start with a walk through the historic centre of Benghazi, where many historic buildings and landmarks were destroyed or heavily damaged during World War II.
Our visit includes Souk al-Jareed, one of Benghazi’s traditional markets, as well as important locations connected to the city’s recent history such as; Old Egyptian consulate, Old lighthouse, Old Berenice, Freedom Square.
Benghazi played a central role during the 2011 Libyan uprising, and the conflict that followed left significant damage to parts of the city.
Today, Benghazi is rapidly developing into a modern city, with major construction projects, infrastructure improvements and urban developments reshaping parts of the city.
Overnight in Cyrene area
Tokra is the first stop of the day that is located 70 km northeast of Benghazi. It was one of the five cities of the Greek Pentapolis. It was founded around 510 BC, and it was the first ports settled from Cyrene. Tokra was build using soft sandstone. Inside the walls you find Greek and Roman Columns and the excavated remains of Roman tombs cut into the rock wall of a sunken pit.
The fort’s current structure dates from the Turkish and Italian eras. Outside the gates to the west a small archeological railway runs west to the eastern basilica, within which what remains of the main sanctuary, apse and baptistry are visible along with some ancient greek inscription. A small museum contains a site map of Tokra with some very interesting tomb artifacts.
Afterwards we drive to the Greco-Roman city of Ptolemais and Tolmeita. The sight is located 37km northeast along the coast from Tokra. It was founded in the 4th century BC and the excavated areas of the city mostly date from the 1st and 2nd centuries BC, when Tolmeita covered 3sq km and was a thriving Hellenistic city. The sites include the Villa of the Four Seasons, the Odeon Theatre, Villa of Columns, Agora (market area), Colonnaded Palace and the great underground Cisterns, once the largest in North Africa.
There is also a fine museum which houses the Four Seasons mosaic taken from the villa of the same name. There is a wonderful Medusa head mosaic from the villa of columns. And also three statues from Odeon.
Overnight in Cyrene area.
Today we begin the day with an excursion to the magnificent ancient Greek city of Cyrene, founded in the 6th century BC by settlers from the Greek island of Thera. The city reached its height during the 4th century BC and came under Ptolemaic rule in the 3rd century BC before becoming part of the Roman world in the 1st century BC. Two devastating earthquakes in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD contributed to the city’s decline.
In Cyrene, we visit some of the site’s most important monuments, including the colossal Temple of Zeus, the hillside Necropolis with more than 2,000 tombs, the Forum, the monumental passageway of Hermes and Hercules, the House of the High Priest Jason Magnus, the House of the Christian Hesychius and the Agora, featuring the Tomb of Battus, Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore and Naval Monument. We also explore the Sanctuary of Apollo, including the Temple of Apollo and Roman Baths, as well as the ancient Amphitheatre.
We then explore ancient Apollonia, which served as the port of Cyrene for almost a thousand years. Set along the Mediterranean coast, Apollonia is known for its atmospheric ruins, Byzantine churches, Roman baths, the ancient Palace and its spectacular Greek theatre overlooking a picturesque cove.
Afterwards, we follow the scenic coastal road along of Eastern Libya, continuing to the Byzantine churches at Al-Atrun. Before reaching Al-Atrun we will stop at Ras al-Hilal, a dramatic coastal area where the rugged Green Mountains meet the Mediterranean Sea. This is the southwest endpoint of the Levantine Sea in the eastern Mediterranean. It is located in Cyrenaica 55 km to the north-east of Al Bayda, Libya. This site explores the plunging hillsides dropping down off the Jebel a Akhdar into the Mediterranean. A spectacular dramatic scenery panorama view along the Libyan coast.
Next stop of the day the the small town of Atrun is located in northern Libya, about 40 km east of Cyrene, 9 km east of Ras al Hilal, and 29 km west of Derna. One of the town’s main attractions are its two Byzantine basilicas, beautifully situated by the sea and adorned with white marble from Proconnesus. The Western Church stands on a bluff above the Meditettanean and must have been a spectacular place for worship. The walls of the Church are still intact. The sanctuary is strewn with marble pillars, some of which are marked with a carved crosses, snakes and other motifs. The Eastern Church is located over the hill about 150m to the East.
Overnight in Cyrene area.
Early morning we will start driving to Tobruk. After arriving in the Tobruk area you will visit a number sites related to the war.
One of the historic places we visit is El Burdi Bay, a Mediterranean seaport in eastern Libya. During World War II, El Burdi was an important military location and the site of a major Italian fortification, which was attacked by the British XXIII Corps during the North African Campaign.
Furthermore you will start exploring some of Tobruk’s numerous highlight such as: Commonwealth Cemetery, the lady Be Good Plane, various war cemetery, followed by a drive to the position of the Fig Tree hospital. The Australian or the Fig Tree Hospital was used as a base to treat the wounded. The name comes from the actual fig tree. According to some reports, a cutting from the tree was taken to Australia, where it was planted at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance by Tobruk veterans. Before returning to Tobruk’s city centre we will visit the Ras Alawda Castle.
Overnight in Tobruk.
Excursions: Qasr Libya, Slontah
Highlights: Qasr Libya’s mosaics and archaeological museum. Slontah carvings.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & diner
In the morning we continue to Qasr Libya sites in eastern Libya. The site includes archaeological museum famous for its exceptional collection of Byzantine mosaics that you will find in North Africa. Around 50 mosaic panels depict river gods, nymphs, wildlife and scenes from the ancient world. One particularly rare mosaic represents the Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The mosaics were laid in AD 529-40, during the reign of Justinian I, in the village of Olbia, which lay in the hinterland of Cyrene.
From Qasr Libya, we travel through the scenic Green Mountains of eastern Libya towards the village of Slontah. The city is located about 24km south of Al-Bayda, and is home to the only significant pre-Greek Libyan artefact discoverd in Northeast Libya. Of more historic than aesthetic appeal, the remains of a stone temple cover a mere five sq meter. Its an atmospheric archaeological site known for its unusual rock carvings of human faces and animals. The purpose and exact date of the carvings remain uncertain, with some interpretations suggesting a possible funerary connection. Omar al Mukhtar was captured by the Italians close by Slontah.
After visiting Slontah, we continue to Benghazi, Libya’s second-largest city, for our overnight stay.
Overnight in Benghazi
Excursions: None
Highlights: Free time for shopping and leisure in Benghazi
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & diner
Enjoy your final morning in Benghazi, Libya, with free time for shopping, relaxation and personal activities before your departure. After breakfast, you can enjoy some final moments in the city before we collect your luggage and arrange your airport transfer from Benghazi to Benghazi Airport.
Our team will accompany you and assist with the departure process at the airport before you begin your journey home, marking the end of your Libya tour.
Thank you for traveling with us!
This trip is available
Don’t forget to apply for your visa.
More information
These accommodations have been visited by our travel specialists and give an impression of where you will stay during this trip. Because we can deliver 100% customization, it is always possible to adjust it to your wishes!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Libya Travel Agent department:
1. Deposit for Tours
A 25% deposit of the total tour price is required once you confirm your tour and wish us to proceed with the necessary reservations and arrangements.
Any additional services or arrangements that require advance payment must be paid in full.
2. Final Payment
The remaining 75% balance must be paid no later than 30 days before the start of your tour.
If the tour is booked within 30 days of departure, full payment is required at the time of booking.
3. Bank Transfer
Payments can be made by bank transfer. Any bank or transfer fees are the responsibility of the client.
Please note that international bank transfers may take approximately 5–7 working days to reach our account. We therefore recommend making payments well in advance of the applicable payment deadline.
Libya is undergoing a gradual process of stabilisation, and conditions may vary between regions and change over time. We continuously monitor the local situation and may adjust the itinerary where necessary based on current conditions.
Our guides and local team prioritise the safety and well-being of our clients and avoid areas considered unsuitable or unsafe at the time of travel.
Travellers are strongly advised to check the latest official travel advice before departure and to obtain comprehensive travel insurance, including medical, emergency evacuation and repatriation coverage.
Our organisation cannot be held responsible for circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including changes in security conditions, safety-related incidents, government restrictions, border closures, flight disruptions, or other unforeseen events.
Yes, a visa is required to enter East Libya.
To arrange the necessary travel documentation, please provide us with a clear copy of your passport and a copy of your flight tickets. Once we have received these documents, we can proceed with the required visa arrangements.
Each group is accompanied throughout the tour by an English-speaking tour leader who coordinates the daily program and assists you throughout your journey.
At the highlights Cyrene, you will be accompanied by an English-speaking local site expert who provides detailed historical and cultural information about the monuments and archaeological sites.
The tour leader is responsible for coordinating the overall program, while the site experts provide in-depth knowledge and specialist interpretation at each major site.
Four-star hotels are included wherever available; otherwise, we use carefully selected three-star hotels.
Our hotel partners are carefully selected based on several important quality criteria, including service, location, hygiene, available facilities and parking options. We work with trusted accommodation partners to ensure a comfortable and pleasant stay throughout your tour.
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+31 6 57 54 12 05
info@tourslibya.com
Abu Kamash road, Zuwarah, Libya
