Hammamet – Kairouan - Tozeur

Kairouan - Embark on a 2-hour journey to Kairouan, a UNESCO World Heritage city and the first sacred city in the Maghreb! Discover the city’s emblem, the Great Mosque of Kairouan, also known as Sidi Oqba Mosque. It stands as the oldest and most prestigious monument in Tunisia and the Maghreb, celebrated for its stunning and harmonious Arab-Muslim architecture. Visit the mausoleum of the barber “Sidi Sahbi” and the “Aghlabites” basins. Kairouan is renowned for its artisan wool carpets and pastries. Enjoy a stroll through the souk’s alleys, a testament to its illustrious past. Lunch in Kairouan, then continue to Tozeur via Gafsa, with a coffee break en route. Arrive in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Tozeur.

Tozeur-Nefta-Tozeur

Tozeur - In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of Tozeur. This unique and surprising city will reveal its vast Saharan oasis and its quiet, rugged medina, where getting lost is a delight. The sand-colored buildings are sure to charm you. Then, take a short trip to Nefta.

Nefta - Once a Numidian, then Roman, and finally Arab city, Nefta became a Sufism hotspot. Visit the “Nefta basket,” an area once fed by springs. Water from 152 springs was channeled into a wadi to irrigate the palm grove. Douz streets were also featured in the film “The English Patient.” Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Chebika - Optional
1⁄2 day 4x4 excursion to mountain oases: 18 €
For the adventurous, embark on a morning 4x4 excursion to explore the mountain oases of Tamerza and Chebika.

Tozeur – Chott El Jerid – Douz – Matmata - Djerba

Chott El Jerid - After breakfast, drive for an hour to “the gate of the Sahara.” Stop at “Chott El Jérid,” Tunisia’s largest saline plain, which transforms with the seasons and creates mirages. The landscapes appeared in several Star Wars episodes, including scenes of Owen Lars’ residence on Tatooine.

Douz - Continue for another hour to Douz, located at the foot of the great desert dunes, known as the “gate of the Sahara.” In antiquity, it was a key oasis and caravan stop between the Sahara and northern Tunisia. Its natural beauty, a green island amidst blond sand, is breathtaking! A must-visit for desert enthusiasts! Optional camel ride: 10 euros.

Matmata - Travel 2 hours to Matmata to explore the famous cave houses, iconic in “Star Wars.” Ingeniously built to withstand the climate, these dwellings are dug around a large circular pit to capture light and maintain a steady temperature year-round. Wander through some of them! Enjoy lunch at the Sidi Driss Hotel, a troglodyte structure whose courtyard was used as the Lars’ dining room and kitchen in the film! Continue to Djerba via Mareth and ferry for 2 hours. Dinner and overnight stay.

Djerba

Djerba Island - After breakfast, tour the island of Djerba, known for its kilometers of sandy beaches, mostly on the eastern side. Gustave Flaubert called it the “Island of the Golden Sands.” Ulysses, the Carthaginians, and the Romans all left their mark here. It later came under Byzantine and Arab rule and still hosts a Jewish community dating back to the Temple of Solomon’s destruction. Handicrafts play a significant role in local life.

Guellala - Start your day visiting the potters’ village of Guellala. Thanks to rich clay deposits, pottery has thrived here for centuries. Discover a workshop and learn the artisans’ techniques and secrets.

El Ghriba Synagogue - Conclude the morning with a visit to the “Griba,” a renowned synagogue in the Middle East, hosting an annual international pilgrimage during the Jewish Easter period.

Houmt Souk - Head to Houmt Souk, the island’s capital, famous for its vibrant and colorful markets that attract both locals and visitors. Dinner and overnight in Djerba.

Djerba – Gabes – El Djem – Hammamet

Gabes - After breakfast, travel 2 hours to Gabes, once a Phoenician outpost before becoming a Roman colony. Discover the “El Jara” market, once infamous for its slave trade. Lunch along the way.

Amphitheatre of El Jem - Continue for 2.5 hours to “El Djem,” the ancient Thydrus, one of Roman Africa’s wealthiest cities. Located at the Sahel region’s entrance, it’s famous for its amphitheater, the largest in the Roman Empire after Rome’s Colosseum! From the steps, admire this architectural marvel. Continue to Hammamet or Tunis. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Hammamet – Tunis Medina – Carthage – Sidi Bou Said

Medina of Tunis - After breakfast, a one-hour drive takes you to the medina of Tunis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With around 700 monuments, including palaces, mosques, mausoleums, medersas, and fountains, it showcases a remarkable past.

Carthage - After lunch, enjoy a guided tour of Carthage, a UNESCO World Heritage Site meaning “new city” in Phoenician. Founded on the Gulf of Tunis, Carthage established a trading empire from the 6th century, extending over much of the Mediterranean and was the seat of a brilliant civilization.

Sidi Bou Said - Continue to Sidi Bou Said, known as Tunisia’s Saint Tropez. Perched on a cliff overlooking Carthage and the Gulf of Tunis, this charming spot will captivate you with its delightful ambiance. Stroll freely through this small village with its Arab and Andalusian architecture. Sidi Bou Said’s houses, with their bright white walls and blue doors, are scattered along winding alleys, earning it the nickname “little white and blue paradise.” Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Tunis or Hammamet.

• Accommodation in hotels on a half board basis
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Guide
• Entrances

• Other
• drinks
• optional activities offered on site

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.