Treasures of Tunisia

Upon arrival in Tunis, you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Africa (or similar) for your overnight stay.

Begin your day with a visit to the Bardo Museum, which is world renowned for its Roman and Byzantine mosaics. Continue to Carthage to visit another fine archaeological museum on the Byrsa Hill. After lunch, tour the circular harbor, Punic ship sheds, and burial ground, before visiting the picturesque 17th century village of Sidi Bou Said. Return to Tunis to explore the famous medina with its palaces and Moorish architecture, centuries-old mosques, and bazaars. Overnight at the Hotel Africa (or similar).

Meals: Breakfast

Depart Tunis and head north to the ruins of Utica, established by the Phoenicians and later built on by the Romans. Head west along the Mediterranean stopping for lunch at Bizerta. Visit the medina and harbor before continuing on towards Tabarka, the former lair of the pirate Barbarossa. Drive through the cork forests of the Atlas Mountains to the resort of Ain Draham. Overnight at the Hotel La Fôret (or similar).

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, head to the ruins of Bulla Regia, a site occupied since pre-Phoenician times but best known for its underground Roman villas and well preserved mosaics. After lunch, visit Chemtou on the Mejerda River to explore and learn about the important marble quarries in the well-displayed new museum site. Overnight at the Hotel La Fôret (or similar).

Meals: Breakfast

Historic archaeology dominates the day as you retrace your path via Bulla Regia to the ruins of Dougga, a foremost Roman site. After lunch, head south to the ruins of Sbeitla (ancient Sufetula), one of the largest Roman sites in Tunisia. Overnight in Sbeitla, at the Hotel Sufetula (or similar), which overlooks this archaeological treasure.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Depart early morning to visit the oasis of Nefta, with some of the world’s finest dates and numerous shrines. Lunch at Tozeur, another date-palm oasis, with its reddish brown houses decorated in geometric patterns and the Dar Cherait Museum with many rooms filled with wonderful ethnographic material Hotel dar Cherait (or similar).

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today you will explore the area surrounding Tamerza, Chebika and Mides. Board the 4x4 vehicles to head out into the desert to the Oasis and its canyon. Back into town where the remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Head across the great salt flats of Lake Chott Al Djerid to the sand enclosed Noueil oasis, an ideal Saharan landscape with dramatic sand dunes. After lunch in Douz, continue southward following the pipeline until you reach Ksar Ghilane. This is a single oasis with natural springs hidden among the dunes. It is the perfect place for a camel ride and for watching the sunset over the desert. Enjoy a night camping in the desert at the Pansea Encampment (or similar).

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Journey east towards the Dahar Mountains to visit the Berber hamlets of Guermessa, Chenini, and Ksar Ouled Soltane. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Sangho Privilege (or similar) in Tataouine.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Progressing northwards, you continue to explore the area of the Ksours: the Berber granaries at Ksar Hadada and Ksar Khallouf and villages such as Toujane and Tamezrat. In the afternoon, drive to the region of Matmata. Here there are hundreds of giant wells, subterranean dwellings dug by Berbers ages ago to escape the desert heat. One of these “wells” was used in the filming of both Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Overnight at the Hotel Diar El Barbar (or similar) in Matmata.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Resume the journey north to Sfax to discover the city’s architecturally rich medina and exquisite Dar Jallouli Museum. After lunch, tour the well-preserved El Djem Roman Amphitheater. Drive to Sousse for dinner and overnight at Orient Palace Hotel (or similar).

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Spend the morning in Kairouan, once the Arab capital for all of North Africa and still one of Islam’s most sacred sites. In the old city you will find the great mosque, the oldest religious monument still in use in North Africa, and the Barber’s mausoleum with superb Andalusian décor. Lunch in Kairouan, before returning to Sousse to visit the museum with its fine collection of mosaics. Overnight at the Hotel Orient Palace (or similar).

Meals: Breakfast

En route to Cape Bon, stop at the Ken Village to see Tunisian architecture used as a backdrop to various workshops of traditional crafts. Further north, hugging the coast of Cape Bon, stop at the ruins of Kerkouane, the only purely Punic town discovered thus far. Return this evening to Tunis for dinner and overnight at the Hotel Africa (or similar). Enjoy a special farewell dinner this evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

The morning is at your leisure for last minute shopping or packing. Later, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast