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Much as tourism in Libya is still in its infancy, the country offers a great destination for adventure and holiday making. Libya, if not only one, is among the few countries to go for those who want to expertise a rare opportunities of travel and adventure. It allures tourists from all parts of the world with its unique tourism experiences. Records show that Libya received 180,000 tourists in 2007. Libya tourism ministry has projected the number of foreign tourists arrival in Libya to rise 5 million by 2011. This positive tourist’s trend in Libya has had an impact on the hospitality industry too. Presently, there are about 13,000 hotel rooms in Libya, a number the government hopes to increase to 50,000. The country offers precise opportunities to stroll along the halls of its history through its numerous ruins. This incredible desert land is famed for its ancient Greek and Roman ruins and Sahara desert landscapes. The best options for Libya tourism entail visiting to the following places;

Libyan Desert

LIBYAN SAHARA DESERT

The Libyan Desert is located in the northern and eastern part of the Sahara Desert. It represents over 85% of the Libya territories. Despite the fact that it’s described as a barren wasteland, its fascinating ecosystem plays host to different of plant varieties and animal species. Desert adapted animals such as elephants, wildcats, and giraffes have easily managed to survive under its harsh climates. They are popular around oases and desert lakes. It is the only place for Libya safaris.

TRIPOLI

Tripoli is the de facto capital of Libya and was once nicknamed the “White Bride of the Mediterranean”. It remains to be the most beautiful sites on Mediterranean Sea. It has retained much of its historical heritage. Some of the city attractions include;

The Gurgi Mosque:

 

Situated in the centre of city of Medina, Gurgi Mosque is a historic complex in Tripoli. It was built by Mustafa Gurgi in 1834 and stands out as one of the most attractive and a MUST visit during Libya tours in Tripoli.

Museum : This is one of the most visited tourist sites in Tripoli. The museum is magnificently nestled in a castle. It houses a collection of several archaeological artifacts from the Neolithic period to the present times such as the marble and stone statues and busts, glass, pottery, mosaic panels, grave covers, funerary monuments, oil lamps, coins, fossilized and stuffed animals, dinosaur bones as well as colour photos of numerous archaeological sites. It is a perfect spot for photography.

Red Castle

Red Castle: Constructed during ancient Roman era, the Red Castle is a large castle located in an area stretching to about 13,000 square meters. It houses several other museums as well as the National Department of Antiquities. Its architectural supreme has made it one of the most significant strongholds for Libya tourism.

GREEK SITES

Greek sites in Libya are awe-inspiring and magical. They include Cyrene, Libya; Al Athrun; Libya, Apollonia, Cyrenaica and Tripolis. The oldest and most important of the five Greek cities in the region is Cyrene. Originally founded in 630 BC as a colony of the Greeks from the Greek island of Thera, Cyrene is an ancient settlement of the Greeks and one of the most important and electrifying archaeological sites. It has a long history.

Temple of Apollo

Some of the hottest temples here are the Temple of Apollo (dated back to the 7th century BC); the Temples of Demeter; and the Temple of Zeus. Tourists who want to know more to do with these sites can visit the Cyrene Museum that is nearby.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

For traveller interested in history or archaeology, Libya is the place to visit. The country is full of things to explore. There are several archaeological sites and ancient places to see. There are five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country, three of which are classical ruins. The Roman cities of Sabratha and Leptis Magna in Western Libya

Roman City of Sabratha

and the Greek ruins of Cyrene in the East are big tourist attractions.

• Roman city of Sabratha: The Roman city of Sabratha is nestled 64 km west of Tripoli. The port was established as a Phoenician trading-post around 500 BC. It later became part of the short-lived Numidian Kingdom of Massinissa before being Romanised and rebuilt in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. Sabratha has temples dedicated to Liber Pater, Serapis and Isis. Adjacent is a basilica of the Justinian times and remnants of some of the mosaic floors that enriched elite dwellings of Roman North Africa. The Villa Sileen near Al-Khoms is a case in point. There is also
  Leptis Magna

  a museum adjacent to the site which contains some excavated artifacts, whilst others are displayed at the National Museum in Tripoli.

• Leptis Magna: Leptis Magna is the greatest Roman city in Libya, and its ruins are a few of the most complete and finest preserved inside the Mediterranean. The city is perhaps Libya’s most sought after tourist attraction. Leptis Magna was originally founded during the Phoenicians period in the 10th Century BC. It survived the attention of Spartan colonists, grew into a Punic city and ultimately part of the new Roman province of Africa about 23 BC. As a Roman city it flourished, with leaders such as Emperor Septimius Severus as one of its emperors. The city was sacked by a Berber tribe in 523 AD, and later abandoned and reclaimed by the desert. Even though it supplied the building materials to many looters throughout history, it was not excavated till the 1920s. Presently the site has several monuments still intact. The theatre is the most apparent, and has excellent panoramic views from the city from its upper tiers. Numerous statues as well as other ornaments still stay within the theatre. Other sites of interest at Leptis Magna are the Arch of Trajan, the Palaestra, the Nymphaeum, the Hadrianic Baths, the Colonnaded Street, the Harbour, the Circus, the Temple of Rome and Augustus, the Temple of Liber Pater, the Arch of Tiberius and the Market. Libya tours to Leptis Magna offer maximum enjoyment particularly for historical and pilgrimage tours.