Further south, the horizon melts into the immense desert of dunes and mirages. The breathtaking scenery is enough to thrill any explorer.
The great Libyan Sahara desert is one of the last real wildernesses on the planet earth. In the 19th century, when explorers first began to cross the Sahara, no journey was considered more hazardous. Today with the benefit of modern vehicles, it is comparatively safe but just as exciting, and destinations that used to take days to reach now take only a few hours. The oases are havens of calm and tranquility where you can enjoy an abundance of water and shade amongst the palms, in a gorgeous setting. They are the islands in the great sand sea. Stay at the beautiful oasis town of Ghadames - the southernmost outpost of Roman times - famed for its unique desert architecture and its social structure, beyond which the dunes stretch for thousands of miles. Follow the ancient Saharan trade route to Ghat - a Tuareg city deep in the south of Libya - and explore the stunning landscapes of the Tadrart and Akakus mountains, where hidden in the valleys and wadis you will find one of the richest and most extraordinary "collections" of cave paintings in the world. Continue trekking overland to Germa, the site of Libya's ancient capital, where the earliest finds date back to the 1st millennium BC. The Garamantes were renowned as warriors, who drove chariots drawn by four horses, and masters of the desert routes. Head north across the sand sea and take the opportunity to camp at the oasis of Gabraoun. Although the original occupants, the Dawada - otherwise known as the "worm-eaters" - have now moved on, the area has been beautifully restored to accommodate travelers. The Libyan desert is full of character, culture and simple pleasures. It is a wonderful and unique world. Vast horizons, variety and adventure are the keynotes of life in the Sahara.
