Few places around the Mediterranean can inspire the traveller as much as Libya. Its Greek and Roman sites are simply breathtaking and beautifully illustrate the brilliance of their cultures. The greatest site, Leptis Magna, transports you to another world and time and here, it is easy to imagine daily life in Roman times. As we take our passage through history, our guest speaker and local guides will enhance our knowledge of this epic land where once the legendary Ulysses travelled, Caesar battled with the Berbers and his Roman rivals and Belisarius, the greatest of all Byzantine generals, fought and ejected the Vandals.

There is another vital element that makes Libya so attractive. The very lack of any real tourism infrastructure means that very often the sites are oddly quiet with few other visitors. This combined with the stunning settings where a dazzling blue sea forms a dramatic backdrop makes Libya unique. For most lovers of history, Libya remains a mystery and here is an opportunity for a small group to discover some of the most thrilling archaeological sites, as if fresh from the archaeologists’ spades. Leptis is one of the largest and least disturbed, retaining the wonderful buildings that its favourite son Septimius Severus bestowed on his home town when he became emperor. His forum, much of it still standing, is one of the largest public spaces, not just from antiquity but down to the present day.

And if the grandeur of Rome palls for just a moment, ancient Cyrene, the most important and complete Greek city in Africa, is similarly undisturbed and serenely occupies one of the most numinous sites, centred on a magnificent Doric temple to rival the best of Sicily or Paestum. Furthermore the museums on the sites and in the capital of Tripoli are full of treasures which are not familiar owing to the lack of publications and which include some of the finest mosaics anywhere.

We have been fortunate in obtaining the wonderfully comfortable Callisto for a series of charters that will commence with two trips to Libya. She is one of the most luxurious small ships operating in the Mediterranean but as with all vessels, the most important aspect is the Captain and crew and in this regard she is without equal. The same captain and crew have been with the Callisto for many years, and are justly proud of their vessel, making every voyage an unforgettable and joyous experience.

For many years Noble Caledonia has been pre-eminent in offering small ship cruising to its UK based travellers. Every so often a special opportunity comes along. The Callisto is such an event. Normally, the vessel is chartered to famous American institutions, but because of the recent financial turmoil, her owners have offered her to us at much reduced prices which we are delighted to pass on to you.