Sahara Pre -Eclipse Tour Itinerary ........................
 
Day 1 - March 17   Tripoli - Sebha  Arrive Tripoli and transfer from the Tripoli Domestic airport to board an evening flight to Sabha. We’ll arrive at our hotel to prepare for tomorrow’s journey into the desert.
Overnight: Hotel al-Jebel, Sebha		  
 

Day 2 - March 18   Ghat   After an early breakfast we’ll meet our drivers, load our specially outfitted 4x4 Toyota Land Cruisers, and begin our long day’s journey southwest to Sebha. With only 3 passengers to a 4x4, each traveler will have their own window, with room for gear. Our first stop will be at a huge grove of date palms and the ruins of Germa, a city founded by the Germantes in the first century AD. The Germantes were an ancient Libyan tribe, well- known as the first people to use chariots drawn by horses, as shown by prehistoric rock art in the caves of Akakus.We’ll continue to the small village of Ubari, to buy everyone a traditional Tuareg head wrap, before we depart into the dune studded Libyan Sahara. After 200 km (124 mile) of driving, we’ll stop in the small village oasis of Al-Alwenait for a short break with tea and coffee. We’ll then continue our journey, enjoying spectacular views of the Akakus Mountains, before reaching our camp outside of the town of Ghat. Together with our local guide and the drivers, we’ll set up our camp in the dunes for our first night of camping under the stars. Overnight: tent camps  
 

  Day 3 - March 19   Akakus Mountains   After breakfast and breaking camp, join us on a short walk among the dunes before departing to the oasis town of Ghat. This ancient trading center is one of the most attractive towns of all Libyan oases, surrounded by the Akakus Mountains. Ghat’s particular beauty is the well-preserved mud-brick medina (walled city) in the heart of the town. Later this morning we’ll we start our journey to the Akakus Mountains, stopping for lunch along the way, very near the Algerian border. This afternoon, we’ll assemble our camp not far from the spectacular Natural Arch, which towers over 150m high. Overnight: tent camps  
 
  Day 4 - March 20   Akakus Mountains   Today we’ll begin our journey through the ‘Louvre of the Desert’, an area of beautiful red sand and rock, with canyon walls of each wadi (dry river bed) lined with an amazing collection of ancient rock art. Bizarre landscapes and extraordinary rock formations show the way on our first full-day excursion to the abundant prehistoric rock art and engravings of Wadi Anshal and Tanshal. Entering Wadi Tashwinat, we’ll set up camp by the beautiful Tankaniga Arch. Overnight: tent camps  
 
  Day 5 - March 21   Akakus - Wan Caza Dunes - Massak - Idehan Murzuq Dunes   Today, we’ll leave the Akakus behind, driving through different terrains of the Sahara - mountains, dunes, and rocky flatlands - over rough stone roads of Massak (Ocean of Stone) offering stunning views of the giant Murzuq dunes, a perfect vision of the vast Saraha. In this remote, magnificent place, we will set up our camp surrounded by moonlit sand dunes. Overnight: tent camps  
 


  Day 6 - March 22   Dhane Merzique - Wadi Methandouche - Oubari Dunes Join us for a stunning desert sunrise amid incredibly high golden dunes. Later, we’ll travel over a stretch of the Ocean of Stone, a plain of sharp black rocks, before arriving at Wadi Methkandoush, which contains an amazing number of rock carvings. These carvings, dating back 12,000 years, depict animals from when the region was still verdant - giraffe, elephants, ostrich, and hippopotamus. Our afternoon will include a dusty drive to Germa and the Dhan Ubari dunes. Tonight’s camp will be in view of nearby Mandara and Umalma lakes. Overnight: tent camps  
 
  Day 7 - March 23   Ubri Lakes - Tripoli   Our last day in the desert will begin with a visit to the Ubari Mandara Lakes to see this picturesque lake amidst massive dunes. Drive over the dunes to Gebraoun Lake for a memorable swim in the salty water. After rinsing off, we’ll continue on to Sebah arriving early this evening at Sebah airport where we will bid farewell to the desert and fly to Tripoli to revel in all the comforts of civilization! Overnight: in Tripoli.  
 
  Day 8 - March 24  Today you will meet with your other fellow eclipse viewers to start the rest of your journey through the beautiful country of Libya.  
 
 

Trip Includes:

  • 2 nights accommodations at best-available hotels.
  • 5 nights Desert Camp accommodations which include tents, sleeping bags.
  • All meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on last Day.
  • Private 4X4 Toyota Land Cruiser transportation throughout the trip.
  • Services of local English-speaking guide.
  • All entrance fees to include museums and archaeological sites.
  • Domestic flight from Tripoli to Sebha and back to Tripoli.
     * Itinerary subject to change

Trip Cost:

$1195 per person, double occupancy. Add $190 for single occupancy.

Not Included:

Camera/video fees at archaeological sites; beverages; gratuities to Libyan guides and drivers; and items of a personal nature.