One of the least visited countries in the world
Gaddafi’s Tripoli. Roman ruins. The Libyan Sahara.
Libya is safe again and the visas are possible once more. I ran a group trip here in 2025 and it was an epic ride, so I’m doing it one more time in February 2027.
Amazing ancient history, brutal recent history. We’ll walk the streets of Tripoli, hear about life under Gaddafi from Libyans themselves, and step where only a handful of foreigners have stepped in the last 15 years.
Then we road trip to the edge of the Sahara and ancient Ghadames, and finish at two of the greatest Roman cities on earth. I CANNOT WAIT.
Tour highlights
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Tripoli Old Town
Souqs, castles and Gaddafi stories
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Jebel Nafusa
Heartland of Libya’s Berbers
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Ghadames
Ancient Saharan caravan town
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Leptis Magna & Sabratha
Two UNESCO Roman cities
Trip facts
- Dates
- Trip length
- Rooms
- Twin share, single $700 extra
- Visa
- eVisa, we supply the documents
- Guides
- Johnny + local guide
- Escort
- Tourist police the whole trip
Day by day
The Itinerary
Day 1: Tripoli City Tour
· Tripoli
We all arrive on the same flight (I’ll send it to you when you book, from Tunis or Amman) and dive straight into Tripoli Old Town, hearing about life under Gaddafi and since. Plus the Assaraya Al-Hamra red castle, the Ottoman Clock Tower and the Arch of Marcus Aurelius.
Snacks in the souq, then 20th-century Tripoli and its Italian architecture, finishing at Martyrs’ Square before dinner.
Day 2: Road Trip to the Libyan Sahara
Ghadames
Big Libyan road trip today, team! We leave Tripoli for the cusp of the inner Sahara, right on the border with Algeria. En route we hit a wall of rock: Jebel Nafusa, rising abruptly over 750 metres from the Jefara plain, heartland of Libya’s Berber people.
Then down the other side and south into the desert to Ghadames, one of the most ancient towns in the Libyan Sahara and home for the next two nights.
Day 3: Ghadames & the Algerian Mountains
Ghadames
Ghadames was a key stop on the trans-Saharan caravan routes between Timbuktu and the Mediterranean. On today’s walking tour we drop into traditional houses and mosques.
Later it’s usually possible to head into the steep dunes nearby for sunset over the mountains of Algeria, with green tea and traditional Mella bread.
Day 4: Gharyan & the Nafusa Mountains
Tripoli
We leave the Sahara behind and retrace our steps towards Tripoli. The main stops are Kabaw and Gharyan, at the foot of the Nafusa plateau.
Gharyan was the centre of Libyan resistance against the Italian invasion in the early 20th century. Then it’s back to Tripoli for the night.
Day 5: Leptis Magna
Tripoli
History buffs, this is your day. Leptis Magna is a UNESCO site and one of the most important ancient sites on the planet. Muad took me here back in 2016 and I couldn’t wait to go back.
It started as a Phoenician trading port and prospered for nearly 1,000 years before Vandal invasions and sandstorms brought it down. Back to Tripoli for dinner.
Day 6: Sabratha & Home
· Fly home from Tripoli
After breakfast we drive to Sabratha, another UNESCO site and one of the most visited historical sites in Libya, dating back to 500BC (!).
We’ll aim to be back in Tripoli for a late lunch and airport transfers for flights home. You’ll leave having seen a country almost nobody gets to see.
Your host
Johnny Ward
Irish guy, been to every country in the world. On that journey, back in 2016, I took one of the biggest leaps of faith of my life and visited Libya while it was still a failed state. Muad, a lovely lovely guy, ‘helped’ (ahem) with my visa and showed me Misrata and Leptis Magna.
I never made it to Tripoli back then. In 2025 I finally saw it properly with a group, then made it to Ghadames. It was a dream. That trip I did blind. This one will be easier.
It’s a true adventure. And that’s what makes life worth living.
For hardcore travellers
Why Libya?
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Almost nobody goes
Only a handful of foreigners have made it here in the last 15 years. Now the visas are possible again, and we’ll have a tourist police escort all the way.
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Roman cities to ourselves
Leptis Magna is one of the best-preserved Roman ruins on the planet, and Sabratha dates back to 500BC.
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History you’ve heard about
A country you’ve heard about your whole life. Hear about Gaddafi, and how it was under him, from Libyans themselves.
Before you book
Good to Know
What about the visa?
Libya has opened up eVisas, hence me running the trip, and I’ll support you with the documents and invitations. If the eVisa system fails (it might!), Plan B is my fixer doing it in Rome for about $300, and Plan C is your local Libyan embassy with our documents. Only sign up if you’re OK with that possible extra cost.
Is Libya safe?
It’s not safe like Thailand or Ireland, but it’s as safe as it’s been in over a decade. We’ll have a Libyan tourist police escort for the whole trip, and we stick to the safest spots in the country.
Can any nationality join?
Yes, everyone and anyone is welcome. My groups are normally around 16 people from 10+ countries.
How do I get there?
Fly in via Amman, Cairo or Tunis. We all arrive together, so I’ll send you the flight I’m on and you book the same one. I’ll sort it all out in a WhatsApp group well in advance.
Can I arrive early or leave late?
Sadly not. We must all fly in together, and a day early or a day late isn’t possible. We can land within an hour or so of each other, though.
Can I come solo?
Yes! 90% of people on my trips come solo. I’ll pair you with another traveller of the same gender, or you can have your own room for $700.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes, it’s mandatory. I use SafetyWing or HeyMondo.
Price and what’s included
What’s included
- All accommodation
- All breakfasts
- A Western ‘guide’ (term used loosely!) throughout: me!
- A local English-speaking guide throughout
- All supporting documents for the Libyan visa
- All entrance fees and tourist site tickets
- All transport
- Airport transfers
What’s not included
- International airfare
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Some lunches and dinners
- Visa fees (about $70 if the eVisa works, up to $300–400+ if not)
- Tips for the local team ($100–150 per person recommended, not mandatory)
Tour price
$2,299
Per person sharing · 6 days
- $230 non-refundable deposit secures your spot
- Full payment due December 1, 2026 (2 months before departure)
- Single room supplement $700
- Pay by card through WeTravel, or message me for another method
One more time
See you in Tripoli.
Libya is open again and the visas are possible once more. Book online in a couple of minutes, or message me with any questions.
Rather pay by bank transfer? Email johnny@onestep4ward.com
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