Middle East Tours (Australia) has designed this ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS 23 DAY "PRIVATE JOURNEY" WITH AN ADD-ON TO DUBAI & MUSANDAM - OMAN for the discerning traveller who wishes to visit the amazing destinations of LIBYA, TUNISIA, DUBAI & MUSANDAM - OMAN.

Our small group exclusive tour (max 10 clients) is personally escorted by Photo Journalist, Sandra Veness of Middle East Tours (Australia) in conjunction with our full time, expert English speaking local teams.

The price of the tour includes International Economy Class airfares, all meals, visas, relevant documentation, entrance fees, gratuities, ground transport and Economy Class Domestic airfares in countries where indicated. Transport is in our own air-conditioned bus and 4wd vehicles and accommodation is 4 and 5 star category.

Our tour of LIBYA commences in the capital city Tripoli, where we explore the Old City and the best museum in Northern Africa. We drive south for a stay in the unique Saharan oasis desert town of Ghadames, close to the Algerian border, which was once a slave trading centre. In the old town we see the unique rooftop 'streets' set aside for women only. With our expert Libyan guide we wander through the world renowned archaeological ruins of Leptis Magna, the great Roman city founded 1000 years B.C., where we explore the great Amphitheatre and the much photographed Arch of Septimus Severus. Our itinerary takes us to the Phoenician trading post Sabratha established about 500 years B.C. We fly to Benghazi on the Mediterranean Sea and have a guided tour of the ancient Greek city of Cyrene. We drive to Tobruk, made famous in Australian World War II history by the 'Rats of Tobruk'. There's also a unique visit to the actual 'Fig Tree' Regimental Field Hospital used during the War. The original fig tree is still alive.

In TUNISIA, a country filled with history, we visit Berber villages in the desert, stop for a cup of 'chai' in a "troglodyte" or cave home in Matmata, still lived in today and drive across the salt lake to stay for two nights in the oasis desert town of Tozeur. Our guide takes us on a tour of El-Djem, one of the great preserved Roman Colosseums. Later stroll through the ancient ruins of the Phoenician city Carthage, destroyed and its fields supposedly salted by the Romans, in the 2nd century B.C. In the capital Tunis you can browse through one of the oldest covered souks/bazaars in Northern Africa a great place to purchase locally made silverware and jewellery. We also see the best collection of mosaics in the world housed in the Bardo Museum of Tunis.

Our ADD-ON tour includes a short stay in DUBAI. We have time to visit the old and modern parts of this growing city. Our itinerary includes dinner on an arab dhow while cruising the Dubai Creek and a visit to the famous 'Gold Souk' where we can find some real jewellery bargains.

We transfer by road to Khasab which is a small town on the beautiful Musandam Peninsular in Northern Oman. We board a dhow for our cruise into the magnificient 'Musandam Fjords' where we sail through incredibly steep rocky terrain with tiny villages built on the shores. Most times our dhow is escorted by pods of friendly dolphin.

BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 1. Depart Australia.
Day 2. Arrive in Tripoli. O/N Tripoli
Day 3. City Tour, Museum. O/N Tripoli
Day 4. Drive to Ghadames. O/N Ghadames
Day 5. Visit of Ghadames. Sunset in the Sahara. O/N Ghadames.
Day 6. Retirn to Tripoli via Jabal Nafusa. O/N Tripoli.
Day 7. Visit Leptis Magna. O/N Tripoli
Day 8. Fly to Benghazi. City tour. O/N Benghazi.
Day 9. Tour Tolmeda etc. O/N Al Beida.
Day 10. Visit Cyrene & Apollonia. O/N Tobruk.
Day 11. Visit to Allied War Cemetery. O/N Benghazi.
Day 12. Return to Tripoli and visit Sabratha. O/N Tripoli.
Day 13. Cross border to Tunisia. Explore Tataouine. O/N Tataouine.
Day 14. Drive including visit to Chenini and Matmata. O/N Tozeur.
Day 15. Tamerza, Chebika, Mides & Ougna Jamel. O/N Tozeur.
Day 16. Visit Roman Sbeitla and later Kairouan. O/N Kairouan.
Day 17. Walk through the Colosseum of El Djem. Later drive to Mahdia. O/N Mahdia.
Day 18. Drive to Sousse on the Mediterranean Sea and later on to Tunis. O/N Tunis.
Day 19. National Museum and Roman Carthage. Afternoon visit to Sidi Bou Said. O/N Tunis.
Day 20. Full day tour to Dougga and Bulla Regia. O/N Tunis.
Day 21. Fly Tunis to Dubai. O/N Dubai.
Day 22. Depart Dubai to Australia.
Day 23. Arrive in Australia.

OPTIONAL DUBAI & MUSANDAM - OMAN ADD-ON
Day 22. City tour of Dubai with Museum, Fort & Gold Souk. Evening dinner cruise on traditional Arab Dhow. O/N Dubai.
Day 23. Drive from Dubai to Khasab, Oman. Afternoon Mountain Safari. O/N Khasab
Day 24. Dhow cruise on Khor Sham with lunch on Telegraph Island. O/N Khasab.
Day 25. Transfer from Khasab to Dubai. O/N Dubai.
Day 26. Airport transfer for flight to Australia.
Day 27. Arrive in Australia.

CLICK HERE TO READ A RECENT ARTICLE RELATING TO A BUSINESS LUNCHEON WITH MR HESHAM YOUSSEF, CHIEF OF STAFF AND ADVISOR TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ARAB LEAGUE.