Ghadamès, or Ghadamis, is an oasis town in the northwest of Libya, 460 km southwest of Tripoli. It sits close to the point where the borders of Algeria, Tunisia and Libya meet. Ghadamès is one of the oldest pre-Saharan towns, as well as one the best examples of a traditional desert oasis. In the 1950s, Ghadamès used to be a popular spot for locals to spend the weekend and in those 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. The walkways are covered because of the way most buildings are constructed. The ground floor is used for storage, the first floor usually overhangs, completely covering the alleyways below. The first floor contains the living quarters for the family. The terrace on the roof is reserved for the women. 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. The old town was inscribed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1986. Since the 1990s, the old town has been slowly depopulating and the buildings are falling into disrepair.

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 Ghadamès is fantastic.

Ras al-Ghoul is the 'Haunted Hill' about 15 km (10 mi) 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 Ghadamès. The town has public transport connections with Tripoli.

Ghadamès ©Roberto D'Angelo

Covered walkways ©Libyan Studies

Covered walkways ©Roberto D'Angelo

Covered walkways ©Motohiro Sunouchi

Covered walkways ©Roberto D'Angelo

Ghadamès ©Motohiro Sunouchi

Ghadamès ©Motohiro Sunouchi

Mosque at Ghadames ©David Stanley