Ghadames

Ghadames, known as the ‘Pearl of the Desert’, is a unique desert oasis town 800km (500 miles) southwest of Tripoli. The old town’s unique architecture consists of white-washed mud walls and covered labyrinthine walkways that are only lit by overhead skylights and open squares. Worth seeing are the D’jmaa al-Kabir mosque, where the minaret can be climbed for a wonderful panorama of the city; Mulberry Square, site of the old slave market; and the House Museum, that displays traditional mercantile furnishings. Nearby are the Zallaf Sand Dunes, home to the native Tuareng tribe. Saline lakes with high mineral content and palm trees surround the dunes. In this unusual environment visitors can enjoy relaxing sand baths and salt-lake bathing.