Ghat Festival

          

Ghat Festival and Sahara Libya

Ghat Festival and Sahara Grade A-B  Fully vehicle supported This programme combines some of the best destinations with a visit to the colourful annual Ghat Festival famous for its music, dancing friendliness and the Tuareg Camel Races. There are several days involving driving long distances over wild terrain but also on most days there are plenty of opportunities for a few hours walking from campsites or during lunch stops. You will almost never camp within sight of other people and often in pristine countryside. All meals are cooked for you and evenings are spent round campfires under a starry sky. Itinerary Day 1 Arrive in Tripoli, (no later than 3pm) then take the evening flight to Sebha. Night in campsite. Day 2 Drive to the beautiful Ubari dunes and to the beautiful Gabroun Oasis with palms and lake. Nearby magnificent dunes offer a fine walk during the lunch break. Now a short drive takes us towards the second of the Ubari Lakes, Umm al Maa, and a refreshing swim. Night in dunes not far from Germa. Day 3 Visit Germa museum and the ruins of Garama. Continue with a stop for lunch to a campsite in dunes just short of Ghat offering excellent views of the Acacus. Day 4Camel trekking in the pleasant Wadi Tannezoft near Ghat. Camp in the dunes. Day 5 and 6 We drive to Ghat where we take have plenty of time to see the now mainly abandoned medina (old town) and fort. We then will watch one of the most colourful and major events in this part of the Sahara - the Tuareg camel races. The Tuareg are sometimes known as the knights of the desert. In the evening we will join in the festivities, with the dancing, singing and story telling. The nights will be spent in our dune camp. Day 7 to 9 We drive a short way to enter into the Acacus mountains. We now have three days to drive through this magnificent wilderness with plenty of time to explore the wadis with their magnificent rock formations and superb cave paintings. The most famous of these is Wadi Tashwinet is almost 60 kilometers long. Day 10 We leave the Acacus and reach the beautiful Wan Caza dunes then on past Tinifarfar mountain to the Murzuq Dunes. Camp. Day 11 Cross a short section of sand then a stone desert to Wadi Methkandoush. There will be plenty of time to explore the wadi and see many of the innumerable prehistoric animal carvings for which it is famous. After lunch drive to a camp further east in the Murzuq Dunes. Day 12 We visit part of the great wadi Barjuj irrigation scheme then a short drive through the deserts and we are soon back on tarmac. We pass Murzuq town and so on to Sebha for a shower and traditional lunch with a bedouin family (men in one room, women in another). In the afternoon there is time to see a local farm with a variety of animals and crops - an insight into what can be achieved in the desert given water. Evening meal, fly back to Tripoli. Day 13 After breakfast we drive along the coast to Leptis Magna, birth place of Roman emperor Septimus Severus and arguably the best-preserved Roman town on the Mediterranean. After lunch at Leptis we visit the museum then drive back to Tripoli. Farewell meal in an atmospheric restaurant. Day 14 Drive to airport, fly home. For those who will fly in the afternoon, there is a possibility to visit the National Museum in the old castle at the green square in the morning.

GhatFestival Tuareg Trader Ghat Castle Ubari Lakes

cave painting   camp in the dunes   evening by fire

Important Information As you will be travelling through Ghat in Libya, which lies near to the border of Algeria, you should be advised that this area is currently on the Foreign Office website as 'Essential Travel' only. Our insurance conditions require you to be advised of this formally prior to taking your trip.   Please check their website http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/middle-east-north-africa/libya   Please be advised that the current situation in the area is considered to be safe by our Guides. Should this situation change prior to your departure date you will be advised accordingly.  Trip cost The trip costing basis is for a minimum group size of four people. If you have a group of four you could have this trip run at any date to suite you as a private trip. Included in Cost: All transfers, transport, food and accommodation, internal flights, guides and entry fees to museums etc. Camp equipment, tents, mattress, blanket. Cook and catering equipment. Not Included: Visas, tips, international flights (unless requested from UK), personal spending, personal insurance and photography fees in museums etc. Book Now | Dates and Prices