Solar Eclipse 2027: Libya in Totality

Start
Jul 28, 2027
Tripoli
End
Aug 4, 2027
Benghazi
Duration
8 days
Price
EUR3495.00


TOUR OVERVIEW

Perfect for eclipse chasers, avid travelers, and anyone seeking a truly unique adventure, this all-Libya tour is designed around witnessing the rare and spectacular total solar eclipse on August 2nd, 2027 — a genuine once-in-a-lifetime celestial event. Dubbed “the eclipse of the century”, it will feature one of the longest totality durations in recent history at 6 minutes and 10 seconds, with the path crossing directly through Eastern Libya and Benghazi. We’ve chosen an optimal viewing location in this remote and beautiful region, where clear skies give us the best chances in the world (literally) for perfect viewing conditions.

This remarkable journey allows you to experience all of Libya in a single unforgettable trip — from the historic cities and Roman ruins of the west to the dramatic landscapes and ancient pentapolis of the east. Few travelers ever get the chance to see the entire country this way, making it an extraordinary achievement and a true adventure of a lifetime.

The tour begins in Libya’s vibrant capital, Tripoli. We’ll explore its revitalized landmarks, including the newly reopened Red Castle and bustling Martyrs’ Square, where locals enjoy their days. You’ll savor excellent gelato and strong espresso while soaking in the city’s energy and recent changes.

From Tripoli we head west to the magnificent Roman ruins of Sabratha, home to one of the most majestic and best-preserved Roman theatres in the world. After returning to Tripoli, we visit the undisputed highlight of any trip to Libya — Leptis Magna. One of the largest and most impressive ancient Roman cities outside Italy, we’ll often have this vast site almost entirely to ourselves.

We then fly from Tripoli to Benghazi to continue our exploration of Eastern Libya and the historic region of Cyrenaica. Here we’ll discover the five ancient Greek and Roman cities of the magnificent Pentapolis, many dramatically situated on cliffsides overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. We’ll also visit the Italian fortress of Qasr Libya and enjoy stunning local viewpoints.

The climax of the tour comes on August 2nd, 2027, when we dedicate the entire day to witnessing the total solar eclipse from our carefully selected prime spot directly in the path of totality. This will be an awe-inspiring, bucket-list experience you will never forget.

In Benghazi, the de facto capital of Eastern Libya, we’ll also explore the city’s living history — from the sites where the 2012 revolution began (still showing traces of the conflict) to the everyday resilience and warmth of daily life: families strolling along the corniche, friends gathering in coffee shops, and the vibrant pulse of a city moving forward.

Starting in Tripoli and ending in Benghazi, this comprehensive tour offers the rare opportunity to traverse and truly experience all of Libya while centering on one of the most extraordinary astronomical events of our time. It is the ultimate once-in-a-lifetime adventure — combining ancient wonders, dramatic deserts, rich culture, and the breathtaking beauty of a total solar eclipse in a country few travelers ever fully explore.

View the full itinerary



Ptolemais, Benghazi, Eastern Libya
Total solar eclipse, Eastern Libya, Benghazi 2027


If you like the look of this tour but the dates don't work for you, or you'd like to do part of the tour, please get in touch and let us know. All our tours are able to be split into smaller sections, we're always scheduling new tours and your dates might work for one of them, or we can always organise an independent tour.


Note: All foreigners must be accompanied by tourist police at all times while travelling in Libya, as required by the government. Even if you're just running from the hotel to the corner store, you must be accompanied by a security escort. This will be arranged by SAIGA Tours.


If you'd like to see the eclipse but have already been to Western Libya, or don't have the time for this whole tour, check out our Solar Eclipse 2027: Eastern Libya Tour , or if you'd like to visit Tripoli and surrounds without the Benghazi section, have a look at our Libya Summer Budget Tour .

INCLUSIONS:

Eastern Libya tourism permit ($600)

Accommodation in twin share rooms, breakfast included

Transport, beginning and ending in Benghazi

Entrance fees to all sites mentioned in the itinerary

Western and local guides, and all required security requirements


SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: EUR 600

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

Flights to Tripoli and from Benghazi

Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities



Haftar billboard, Benghazi, Eastern Libya
Sabratha amphitheatre, Libya

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS


Experience the awe of being directly in the path of a full solar eclipse lasting 6 minutes and 10 seconds

Explore the rarely-visited Eastern Libya, including Apollonia, Cyrenaica, Cyrene and Ptolemais

Explore Tripoli , and the nearby ancient sites of Leptis Magna and Sabratha

*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 1Wed Jul 28
Tripoli
  • Martyrs' Square, Tripoli, Libya Arrive in Tripoli in the morning. There are several flight options for arriving in Tripoli, but arriving in the morning is best so you can make the most of the day. We can speak to you directly about your options if you're unsure about this.
  • After clearing immigration, we'll head out for a tour of Libya's capital city.
  • Our first stop will be Martyrs' Square, named in honor of the 14 Libyan resistance fighters who were hanged here during the Italian occupation. It was renamed Green Square under Gaddafi, and many more public executions would take place in this square during his time. It was one of the main rallying centres during the 2011 revolution, and took back the name Martyrs' square following the uprising. Today, it's a social hub of the city. It's a place for families to enjoy the sunshine, celebrate weddings and graduations, and it happens to have a surprisingly big rollerblading scene.
  • Right on the square is the recently reopened National Museum. Even those who aren't typically museum fans will be impressed by how spectacularly the museum has been designed and curated. Arch of Marcus Aurelius, Tripoli, Libya
  • Next we'll wander through the old souk, where we'll see architecture from the city's Ottoman past. One of the key differences between the souk in Tripoli compared to other Medinas in North Africa is the attitude of the people. No one is shouting or beckoning for you to come buy their wares. The area is often bustling, but the feeling is relaxed. As there isn't much of a tourist presence in Libya, the souk is still mostly geared towards local shoppers.
  • We'll visit the Arch of Marcus Aurelius, which is the most prominent remaining relic from the city's Roman history. This massive ancient marble arch is set in the middle of the modern shops and restaurants that have been built around it.
  • After sunset, we'll have dinner at one of our favourite restaurants in the old city, and now we'll really begin to see the city come to life.
  • Overnight in Tripoli.
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Day 2Thu Jul 29
Leptis Magna, Tripoli
  • Leptis Magna, Libya This morning we'll drive east to Leptis Magna, where we'll be able to say that we've visited all three cities of ancient Tripolitania (Sabratha, Oya (now Tripoli), and Leptis Magna). This massive UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most impressive ancient Roman cities you can visit in the world today. Not only is the site sprawling, but the temples, arches, baths, forum, theatre, and amphiteatre themselves are gargantuan. Nightlife in Tripoli, Libya Here we will walk down ancient colonnaded streets, see impressive arches, and learn about the uniqueness of this ancient marvel. And unlike most other sites of this scale, we'll almost certainly have the entire place to ourselves.
  • Following our visit, we'll head back to Tripoli where you can have a rest, or take a walk around the city to grab any last-minute souvenirs.
  • After our final dinner, we can head to a 100 year old café in Algeria square to drink almond tea and smoke shisha with the locals. It's a great place to people watch (though of course, we'll be the main people being watched!).
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Day 3Fri Jul 30
Sabratha, Tripoli, Benghazi
  • Sabratha Amphitheatre, Libya We'll check out of our hotel in the morning and head west to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sabratha. This well-preserved Roman city is set right on the Meditteranean Sea and has absolutely spectacular views throughout. The site still contains some original mosaics, baths, a stunning mausoleum, a basilica, and more, but the highlight will surely be the absolutely magnificently preserved and restored amphitheatre. Sabratha, Libya This three-story columned theatre is in incredible condition, with Bas-Reliefs and a large portion of the seating still in tact.
  • We'll spend several hours exploring this magnificent site, before returning to Tripoli for something to eat.
  • Then in the evening we will head to the airport for our evening flight to Benghazi, getting one step closer to the exciting main event of this tour - the Solar Eclipse!
  • Overnight in Benghazi.
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Day 4Sat Jul 31
Benghazi, Tocra, Ptolemais, Shahat
  • This morning, you’ll arrive into Benghazi as most international flights arrive before noon. Once the group is assembled, we’ll make our way East to Shahat where we’ll spend the night.
  • As we drive, we’ll start seeing billboards depicting Khalifa Haftar, who currently controls Eastern Libya.
  • On the way, we’ll stop at Tocra, which will be our first glimpse of the ancient Pentapolis of Cyrenaica. Like many of the sites we’ll visit, this fortress is set next to the sea with beautiful views. There is also a small museum where you can get up close and personal with artifacts from the site.
  • A little further along we’ll make a stop at the historic city of Ptolemais, which was also once a part of the five major cities that formed the Pentapolis of Cyrenaica. The ruins are fairly well-preserved and feature a Hellenistic mausoleum.
  • We’ll continue our journey to Shahat, where we’ll spend the night.
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Day 5Sun Aug 1
Cyrene, Apollonia, Qasr Libya, Benghazi
  • We’ll start our morning by visiting one of the biggest highlights of Cyrene, the Temple of Zeus. This massive temple is one of the most important sites in Eastern Libya. We’ll continue exploring the ruins of ancient Cyrene, which is absolutely massive. Of course we’ll have the whole place to ourselves! The complex city of ruins is set on a hill, with a gorgeous view over the valley below.
  • In the afternoon, we’ll drive east to Apollonia to see the furthest reaches of the ancient Pentapolis of Cyrenaica. This site houses an impressive rock-cut theatre. We’ll also stop at Ras Al-Hilal, where we’ll see incredible rock formations jutting out from the sea.
  • On the way back to Benghazi we will also make a stop at Qasr Libya to see some amazing mosaics.
  • We will then return back to Benghazi where we will stay overnight.
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Day 6Mon Aug 2
Solar Eclipse Day, Benghazi
  • Today is the big day - a total solar eclipse!
  • We will be heading to our special eclipse viewing location near Benghazi which will be one of the best places in the world to see it. We will experience just over 6 minutes of totality with this being one of the longest times you can experience a full eclipse.
  • Once the solar spectacle is over we will be spending the day debriefing about what we just saw. This will be a life changing event for most people and you will want nothing more than to chat about it.
  • In the evening, we will have a special Libyan feast for everyone to celebrate the amazing solar event.
  • Overnight in Benghazi.
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Day 7Tue Aug 3
Benghazi
  • Starting the morning in Benghazi, we’ll begin our city tour. This city was where the Libyan Revolution began in 2011, and as we travel around the city, we’ll see plenty of evidence of the fighting that took place here. We’ll visit the tomb of Omar Mukhtar, who led the Libyan revolt against the Italian occupation, the Al-Kish military camp, the Benghazi lighthouse, and more.
  • Overnight Benghazi.
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Day 8Wed Aug 4
Benghazi, End of Tour
  • Today is our departure day. You’ll be transferred to the airport before your flight. Most international flights leave in the morning. Let us know if you need help figuring out your flight plan.
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