Ghadamis

Ghadamis is an oasis town, 460 km southwest of Tripoli. It lies close to the point where the borders of Algeria, Tunisia and Libya meet. The town is one the best examples of a traditional desert oasis. In the 1950's it used to be a popular spot to spend the weekend for the locals and in these days it earned the sobriquet 'Pearl of the Desert'. The town has grown a lot since, but it is still quite interesting.

The old town has a labyrinth of narrow, covered walkways and the whitewashed houses are build with mud-bricks. There are some open squares and overhead skylights that lit the dark streets. This is the traditional way of building in this part of the Sahara. It is best to bring a flashlight when walking around in town.

An old merchant's house complete with its original furnishings and decorations is kept intact near the western entrance of the old town in the House Museum. Many of the town's inhabitants are descendents of slaves and the square of the Mulberry is where the old slave market used to be. The nearby D'jmaa al-Kabir mosque is also worth a visit. Its minaret can be climbed and the view over Ghadamis is fantastic.

Ras al-Ghoul is the 'Haunted Hill' about 15 km (10 miles) out of town. It features some Roman Ruins but they are of little interest. The views from the hill over the surrounding desert make it well worth the effort. You can go swimming in the nearby lake.

Accommodation and restaurants are available in Ghadamis. The town has public transport connections with Tripoli.