Foreign visitors find much to admire in Libya. Apart from the fascinating archaeological and historical sites, the vast desert with its rolling sand dunes and embroidered by oases, is enjoyed by visitors in search of peace and quiet.

Ghadames, known as "the Jewel of the Desert", is one of these oases. Distinguished by the ancient city, old hotel and its lake. Ghadames, beyond which the dunes stretch for thousands of square miles, is famed for its unique desert architecture and social structure.

Located near the meeting point of Libya, Algeria and Tunisia, about seven hours drive south-west of Tripoli, the city of Ghadames can be reached in a one hour flight from Tripoli, or by modern roads that give visitors the chance to enjoy the desert scenes of south-west Libya and the Nafussa mountain chain.

Ghadames is unique in its architecture, with water passing through buildings of the city. Houses have special flat intercommunicating terraces reserved for women only.

About 50% of the inhabitants of Ghadames are the Tuareg, the most colourful people(or Cydamus in Roman times), was an important point in the caravan trade between central parts of Africa and the costal cities of Libya. Several civilizations, some more than 4,000 years old, have left their mark in the Greek, Roman and Moslem ruins scattered over the surrounding dunes. In the 7th century A.D., Moslems came to the region and brought with them the language and religion of today's Ghadames: Arabic and Islam.

According to tourists who visit Ghadames, "one journey to this beautiful oasis town will leave you with unforgettable, everlasting memories".