Sebha is the main town of the Fezzan, the vast desert region that makes up southwestern Libya. It serves as a base for exploring the Sahara and as a stopping point on the route between Ghadhames and the south, towards Chad and Niger.
The town has more to offer than most travellers expect. Fort Elena — an Italian colonial citadel on older Ottoman foundations — anchors the historic centre. The covered old souk nearby is the best place to watch daily life, with vendors selling dates, spices and fabrics alongside a small gold market. The Fezzan Regional Museum holds significant material from the ancient Garamantian civilisation that built underground irrigation systems across the desert two thousand years ago.
The great draw, though, is what lies within reach. The Ubari Sand Sea, about 150 kilometres to the west, contains roughly twenty desert lakes surrounded by enormous orange dunes — one changes colour between green, red and blue depending on algae blooms, and another is as salty as the Dead Sea while fresh water springs from the sand just metres away. A 4WD and an experienced guide are essential.
Sebha has a connection to Gaddafi — the school he attended as a young man is here, where he is said to have begun his political awakening. The school continues in ordinary use. Note that Libya's security situation requires careful assessment before any visit; travel to the Fezzan has historically been possible for organised expeditions, but conditions change.