With distances so long and public transportation a bit slow, it's a good idea to book a tour with a travel agency or hire a local guide if driving your own four-wheel-drive vehicle. Ghadames is the nearest desert spot to Tripoli. But the most impressive landscapes are farther south in the Fezzan province. The long drive to Ghat is spectacular. From there, you can spend several days exploring the Tadrart Akakus National Park, which offers a lot of rock art in addition to the mountainous desert landscapes. Multiday camel trips are offered—it's best to book them in advance. Germa, to the east, makes for an interesting stop and a good base for exploring the nearby Ubari sand dunes and the Messak Settafet, a mountainous area that also has an abundance of prehistoric rock art.
