The hotel offers a good standard of accommodation and it is well recommended.

EXTERIOR A modern building in need of external renovation.

LOBBY The lobby is small and incorporates a couple of seating areas. Furnishings are basic but it is clean and tidy. Adjacent to the lobby is a cafe.

The inhabitants of Ghadames, (Cydamae in the Roman times), are the Touareg lovers of freedom and liberty. This oasis, in the far southwest of Tripoli, has seen lover of pleasant evening talk, and recreation, and pleasant seekers.

People loved to hear the still of the night being broken by the music of a simple cane flute: or to attend the scene of a curtain of silence being lifted by the artistic fingers of a Bedouin woman playing a beautiful tune on strings attached to a small leather-coated drum: or the uproar of a tumuli on the dance ring with the songs of the Touareg. (Singular Targui).

Ghadames Oasis maintained its own framework of customs and habits, and its own social ways of life. The existence of a water spring endowed on its special attraction and grave it vital life arteries.

Thus, it become one of the most important commercial station for merchants caravans created commercial activity and brought substantial wealth to this beautiful Libyan oasis; the pearl of the desert. The most important oases in the Jamahiriya other than Ghadames, are the oases of Jalu, Aujla, Kufra and Jaghboub.

Historians record that Ghadames was habited (4,000) years ago. It is now an archaeological site which dearly indicates the presence of several civilizations that had lived on the city's streets and paths.

These civilizations have left their prints on the rocks, in the caves, on ruins scattered on the dunes and in the curves of the valleys. Excavators in Ghadames have also found Greek carvings in a region to the northeast of the city, as well as the mixture in tile city of Roman and Garamantes arts and architecture. In the 3ed century B.C., there was also a castle built for Roman soldiers. In the 7th century A.D.

'Omar Ibn-al-As sent an Arab Muslim battalion to Ghadames in order to make it a foothold from which the Arab Muslim armies would spread throughout North Africa later on. It was a strategical position which they sustained strongly.

Ghadames population is composed of groups of people from Arab origin and other groups of ancient Libyan source. They speak Arabic which the Arab Muslim Leader Ugba ibn-Naafa' brought with him to the city when he conquered it twice in the 7th century A.D.). They also speak a sort of a vernacular language which is common to day among the indigenous people of Ghadames (19). They are, of corse Libyans.

It is worth noting that there is a legend about how the name of "GHADAMES" had been so framed. It si said that once upon a time a caravan passed through a valley where they had their own much

After they had packed their belongings and left the spot, one member of the caravan noticed the missing of the cooking utensils. Then he said, '' We forget them at "GHADAMES" (He meant : We left them at Yesterday's lunch". i.e. where they had their lunch.

In Arabic '' GHADA" means hunch and "AMS" means in Arabic "Yesterday " Therefore, - GHA-DAMES - means yesterday lunch. But it is by chance, the Roman name "Gyadamae" has been transformed to "Ghadames".

However, there is no doubt that this story' is a pure legend . . . for Ghadames to its name from a distortion of its original name, "Cydamus '' and its present name has no relation with (Ghada'). (Arabic for lunch). The Touareg are however one of the most colorful people in Jamahiriya. They mount or ride on their very fast dromedaries known as "Mehari" which can run as fast as 50 km. per hour. They are the guardian of the Sahara.

One of the best hotels in Ghadames

The hotel is constructed of 14 storey and consists of large no. of single, Double, special room, and excellent suites with Jacuzis, all are airconditioned and connected with satellite T.V plus telephone network for international calls and fax services.

Gharian is a city located in a mountainous region about an hour and a half drive south of Tripoli. This mountain range is called Jabal Nafusa with the highest point named Juhaish Peak measuring 850 - 900 meters above sea level. The terrain is rocky with abundant red clay and although the area is rugged and dry, it is well-known in Libya for the many species of wild herbs that grow there and are handpicked by local people and sold in markets around the country. Grapes as well as fruit trees such as peaches, figs, almonds, and olives are cultivated in the area. Barley is also a cultivated crop.

The population of Gharian is made up of both Arabs and Berbers who live among each other amicably. Most of the people are farmers, herders, artisans and craftsmen.

In the past the inhabitants of the region lived in troglodyte dwellings, many of which can still be seen and visited today. These traditional houses are not caves, but rooms that have been excavated from the compact red clay-rich soils. A sloping tunnel descends to an open courtyard in a 6 to 8 meter deep pit.

Rooms are then excavated radially out from this courtyard. Its form provides natural air-conditioning, both in summer and in winter. Sadly this type of home is no longer in use. There is a troglodyte dwelling that has been restored as a museum and is open to visitors.

Natural caves are found in Gharian in the cliffs of the Sidi as Sid Formation. In the past, these caves were used and developed as dwellings. From the outside, these caves appear as normal homes, with doors and windows, but the insides of these dwellings are formed from caves with rooms made up from the natural formation of the mountains. People no longer reside in this type of home.

Qasr al Haj is a fortified storage location that has been in use by the local people of Gharian for hundreds of years. It was built more than 800 years ago to store grain, olive oil or possessions of locals and nomadic people of the area.

It is the only granary still in use. The granary is a hive of 114 cells hewn from the mud and rock walls. The structure has four levels; a basement level and 3 stories above ground. Steps have been formed from the mud and rock walls as well as primitive looking ladders, allowing access to the different levels.

Traditionally each family owns one cell - the sizes of which vary from tiny to roomy caverns. A caretaker of the Qasr would open the gates at certain times each day so that food stocks could be stored or withdrawn. These types of structures are found in other areas of Libya as well as the neighboring country, Tunisia

Gharian is well known for its earthenware pottery. Made from clays found locally, pottery is sold along the main road at roadside stands. Prices are reasonable and the variety of designs ranges from traditional to modern innovation.

Gharian is a city located in a mountainous region about an hour and a half drive south of Tripoli. This mountain range is called Jabal Nafusa with the highest point named Juhaish Peak measuring 850 - 900 meters above sea level. The terrain is rocky with abundant red clay and although the area is rugged and dry, it is well-known in Libya for the many species of wild herbs that grow there and are handpicked by local people and sold in markets around the country. Grapes as well as fruit trees such as peaches, figs, almonds, and olives are cultivated in the area. Barley is also a cultivated crop.

The population of Gharian is made up of both Arabs and Berbers who live among each other amicably. Most of the people are farmers, herders, artisans and craftsmen.

In the past the inhabitants of the region lived in troglodyte dwellings, many of which can still be seen and visited today. These traditional houses are not caves, but rooms that have been excavated from the compact red clay-rich soils. A sloping tunnel descends to an open courtyard in a 6 to 8 meter deep pit.

Rooms are then excavated radially out from this courtyard. Its form provides natural air-conditioning, both in summer and in winter. Sadly this type of home is no longer in use. There is a troglodyte dwelling that has been restored as a museum and is open to visitors.

Natural caves are found in Gharian in the cliffs of the Sidi as Sid Formation. In the past, these caves were used and developed as dwellings. From the outside, these caves appear as normal homes, with doors and windows, but the insides of these dwellings are formed from caves with rooms made up from the natural formation of the mountains. People no longer reside in this type of home.

Qasr al Haj is a fortified storage location that has been in use by the local people of Gharian for hundreds of years. It was built more than 800 years ago to store grain, olive oil or possessions of locals and nomadic people of the area.

It is the only granary still in use. The granary is a hive of 114 cells hewn from the mud and rock walls. The structure has four levels; a basement level and 3 stories above ground. Steps have been formed from the mud and rock walls as well as primitive looking ladders, allowing access to the different levels.

Traditionally each family owns one cell - the sizes of which vary from tiny to roomy caverns. A caretaker of the Qasr would open the gates at certain times each day so that food stocks could be stored or withdrawn. These types of structures are found in other areas of Libya as well as the neighboring country, Tunisia

Gharian is well known for its earthenware pottery. Made from clays found locally, pottery is sold along the main road at roadside stands. Prices are reasonable and the variety of designs ranges from traditional to modern innovation.