Benghazi Extension

Name: Benghazi Extension
Location: Tripoli

Duration

3 days

Price

EUR1160.00

TOUR OVERVIEW

This is a two day-extension that can be done at the end of any of our Libya tours, however it could also be arranged at the beginning of a tour. It begins in Tripoli on the final day of the standard tour, and ends in Benghazi. It is perfect for those who want to get a glimpse of the other half of divided Libya, while they're already in North Africa.

Libya is currently torn into two main sections: The Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli, and the Government of National Stability (GNS) in Benghazi. The GNU is backed by the UN, but the GNS controls most of the country's wealth in oil reserves, and has the power of the Libyan National Army, controlled by Khalifar Haftar, whose image we will see all over Benghazi. We'll have visited the West, but now it's time to venture East!

In addition to seeing the real Benghazi outside of its media portrayal, we'll be able to see ancient Cyrenaica, once a thriving Pentapolis of the ancient Greek empire. The five cities making up Cyrenaica then went through control by Ptolmaic Egypt and ancient Rome. The ruins here are not only well preserved, but are surrounded by lush green mountains and pine forests not seen in western Libya.

View the full itinerary

We have designed this as a two-night tour, as we think this is a good amount of time to see everything in this area, however it is possible to do this as a one-night extension if your time is tight. Please note though that the permit just to enter Benghazi is EUR 600 (included in the tour cost), regardless of how long you spend there.

INCLUSIONS:

✓	EUR 600 Eastern Libya permit fee
✓	Accommodation in twin share at roughly 3 star hotels/guesthouses, breakfast included
✓	Flight from Tripoli to Benghazi (or reverse)
✓	Transport, beginning in Tripoli and ending in Benghazi
✓	Entrance fees to all sites mentioned in the itinerary
✓	Guiding and all required security precautions

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: EUR 80

What is the single supplement? This is paid to guarantee a single room. If you are travelling alone and would like to be roomed with another single traveller, you do not need to pay this.

EXCLUSIONS:

⨯	Meals other than breakfast
⨯	Transport to and from Libya
⨯	Accommodation and any other services before or after the tour
⨯	Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities
⨯	Any additional flights in Libya that may be necessary due to security concerns

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Experience modern life in the other half of Libya firsthand

Visit the beautiful green forested parks of Apollonia

See ancient ruins of Cyrenaica at the well-preserved sites of Cyrene and Ptolemais

*A note about pricing: whilst most of our tours are priced and paid for in USD, EUR is king in North Africa, so it makes much more logical sense to price everything in and receive Euros for our North Africa tours.

Itinerary

Day 1

Tripoli, Cyrene, Benghazi

Morning transport to Mitiga airport as we fly from Tripoli to Al Albraq Airport in Benghazi. If you are doing this extension at the start of your tour, you can arrive into Benghazi however you would like, and you will fly to Tripoli at the end of your extension.
City tour of Benghazi, including Souk al-Jarid, The Old Lighthouse, the old Italian-built Town Hall, the Atiq and Osman mosques, and, of course, many posters of Khalifa Haftar, Eastern Libya’s man in charge.
In the afternoon we’ll drive east to Shahat to visit the ancient ruins of Cyrene, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cyrene was originally a Greek settlement in 631 BCE, and was later a part of Ptolemaic Egypt, and the Roman Republic. The highlights will be the Temple of Zuess, the Theatre and the Agora.
Afterwards, we’ll walk through the beautiful lush grounds of Apollonia. The green pine-forest hills of this area will be a stark contrast to the dry desert conditions of the south and west of Libya.
Upon returning to Benghazi, we’ll continue exploring the city.
Overnight in Benghazi.

Day 2

Ptolemais, Qasr Libya, Benghazi

In the morning after breakfast, we’ll visit the historic city of Ptolemais, once a part of the five major cities that formed the Pentapolis of Cyrenaica. We’ll see what’s left of all five of these legendary cities on this extension, the others being Cyrene, Apollonia, Euesperides (now Benghazi), and Tauchira, now the city of Tocra, which we’ll visit on the way to Ptolemais. The ruins are fairly well-preserved and feature a Hellenistic mausoleum.
In the afternoon, we’ll visit Qasr Libya, known for its exquisite ancient mosaics.
Upon returning to Benghazi, we’ll explore any sites in the city we didn’t get to yesterday.
Overnight in Benghazi.

Day 3

Benghazi, End of Tour

Departure Day. For those doing this extension at the end of your Libya tour, you can fly out of Benghazi however you wish. For those doing this extension at the beginning of your tour, you will fly back to Tripoli this morning and meet the rest of the group.