Leptis Magna - anyone been?

[cHodAX]

After my trip to Ephesus in Turkey my interest in history has been relit and after much reading it is looking like Libya will be my foray into the acient world. They have a number of stunning sites from the Roman era best of which is Leptis Magna, I orginally saw it on the documentry 'Long Way Down' and after some research it seems there is alot more that was not shown as well as some other amazing sites within 100km.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepcis_Magna

So, has anyone been? How easy was it to get there, what is it like once you arrive and do they run tours or can you actually wander around at your own pace?

 

[Levin]

Never been, but i'd love to see it sometime! Didn't one of the governors of Leptis Magna decided to "put it on the map" and built it in the image of Rome sort of? With huge temples and amphitheaters etc.

I think i saw a documentary on some recent project to rebuild one of the temples there from the fallen pillars.. it was fascinating.

 

[soze]

I had read it was a pain to get too with the police looking on Foreigners suspiciously but i think that must have been a fiction book lol. This is well worth a read. Libya travel advice

 

[Turamber]

On my 'must visit' list. I "did" Tunisia in 2008 so I could see the easier-to-visit Roman and Carthaginian sites, plus I'd always wanted to see Carthage.

As I understand it - if you wish to visit Libya you have to visit with an official tour group, but there are quite a few that visit now. I'd certainly be very interested in going if you'd like some company .... just give me a few months to get my post-op wound sorted ... provided you could put up with my endless mentions of the Byzantine Empire

Edit: if you fancy a gander at my Tunisian pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=80121&id=593276214&l=2292549e5a

 

[cHodAX]

On my 'must visit' list. I "did" Tunisia in 2008 so I could see the easier-to-visit Roman and Carthaginian sites, plus I'd always wanted to see Carthage.

As I understand it - if you wish to visit Libya you have to visit with an official tour group, but there are quite a few that visit now. I'd certainly be very interested in going if you'd like some company .... just give me a few months to get my post-op wound sorted ... provided you could put up with my endless mentions of the Byzantine Empire

Edit: if you fancy a gander at my Tunisian pictures: Tunisia 2008 | Facebook

Is looking like it will be next year before I go, the costs are pretty high considering Libya isn't that far away. Just looking at some cheap flights with Easyjet to Athens though in November as I have always wanted to go and see The Acropolis, at £80 return for flights and maybe 2 nights in a cheap hotel it should be a cracking adventure.

Also considering going to see the Roman ruins in Trier next March but that will depend on how work holds up, at the moment it is very shakey so I can't make too many plans.

 

[Turamber]

Just looking at some cheap flights with Easyjet to Athens though in November as I have always wanted to go and see The Acropolis, at £80 return for flights and maybe 2 nights in a cheap hotel it should be a cracking adventure.

There are some very cheap hotels quite close to the Acropolis, you might well be able to sort out a cheap flight and hotel deal. As well as exploring the Acropolis you should check out the side streets and some of the old Byzantine churches on the side of the mountain, there are some cracking restaurants up there too serving genuine Byzantine dishes, not cheap but gorgeous food.

There is so much to see in Athens in addition to the Acropolis I've been twice now, just love the place. If you go for more than a long weekend you should consider taking some trips to see nearby sites like Thermopylae, Marathon and even Corinth isn't that far away.

Fabulous food, long hot days, cool nights, good beer and wine and Greek girls are exquisite. Oh yes, Athens is great.

 

[Ezteq]

I have never ever even thought of Libya as a holiday destination lol, those ruins do look rather nice though and I should imagine less of a pain in the arse than somewhere than Egypt where its so full of tourists you cannot actually see anything other than giant tourist arses blocking the views of the Nile etc