Tunisia Encompassed

On arrival at Tunis Airport, we meet our local representative, complete formalities and transfer into the capital. As we drive to the hotel, we take in first impressions of Tunis – lively streets, characterful neighbourhoods and everyday life unfolding around us. You then have free time to unwind after the flight or enjoy a short stroll near the hotel – a relaxed way to settle into the local atmosphere at your own pace. Later we meet the tour guide and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing – we outline the itinerary, answer questions and share practical information for the days ahead.

Leaving Tunis, we drive north–west towards Sejnane, passing rural landscapes and small towns as the city gives way to rolling hills and farmland. In Sejnane we join a hands–on pottery workshop with local women, learning ancient techniques for shaping and decorating clay – a craft recognised by UNESCO as an important part of Tunisia’s cultural heritage. We continue to the coastal town of Tabarka, where we explore the fort – Roman in origin and later Genoese – that guards the harbour, and we walk its ramparts for sweeping views where green hills meet the blue Mediterranean. Leaving the coast behind, we climb into the Kroumirie Mountains towards Ain Draham through dense forests and cool highland scenery. Around Ain Draham we visit forests of cork oak and evergreen trees, enjoying crisp air and the peaceful natural setting of this popular mountain retreat.

We explore the forests around Ain Draham, where cork oak and evergreen trees cloak the slopes, breathing in crisp mountain air as we enjoy the calm of this much‑loved retreat. We then share a traditional lunch with a local family in the Ain Draham area – regional dishes and relaxed conversation offering a genuine glimpse into everyday mountain life.

We depart Ain Draham and drive south to the archaeological site of Bulla Regia, following country roads through olive groves and small villages. At Bulla Regia we explore remarkable Roman remains – famed for underground houses designed to escape the summer heat – wandering through courtyards, mosaic floors and vaulted rooms that reveal how people once lived. We continue to the hilltop town of El Kef, with views over valleys and rocky slopes as the road climbs. In El Kef we wander the old medina with its narrow lanes and traditional houses, and you can pause to enjoy the calm atmosphere and far–reaching views over the surrounding countryside. We visit Dar el Khobz – the House of Bread – to learn about regional loaves, take part in a demonstration and taste them fresh from the oven. We then leave El Kef and drive towards the Roman city of Dougga, arriving in the countryside near the ruins, ready to explore the site the next day.

We set out for Dougga, one of North Africa’s best–preserved Roman towns and a UNESCO World Heritage site, exploring its theatre, temples and streets for a vivid glimpse of ancient provincial life. From here we drive into the surrounding countryside to a nearby olive–growing estate, passing orchards and farmland on the way, and we take part in an olive oil tasting – learning how the oil is produced and how to recognise its flavours – before enjoying a simple farm–to–table Tunisian lunch prepared with fresh local ingredients. We then return by road to Tunis for an overnight stay before continuing the tour.

We delve into the historic medina of Tunis with a local guide, threading through narrow lanes, lively souks and traditional workshops. We call at the central market to admire colourful produce and spices, then, after selecting fresh ingredients, we step into a traditional home for a hands–on cookery class – learning time–honoured techniques before sitting down to lunch with the dishes we have prepared. Leaving central Tunis, we drive to the coastal archaeological area of Carthage, passing modern suburbs that encircle the ancient sites, and explore evocative ruins – from the vast Antonine Baths to Punic and Roman remains – among columns, foundations and former harbour quarters. From Carthage we follow the coast to the clifftop village of Sidi Bou Said, with sweeping views over the Gulf of Tunis. We stroll its whitewashed streets – blue doors and window frames at every turn – and enjoy sea views, small cafés and the village’s relaxed atmosphere, before returning to your hotel in Tunis after a full day of history, culture and coastal scenery.

We follow the coast from Tunis towards Nabeul, a renowned regional craft centre, watching the cityscape give way to seaside towns and farmland. We roll up our sleeves for a harissa–making workshop, learning how Tunisia’s celebrated chilli paste is prepared as we grind spices, work with dried peppers and discover how this fiery condiment flavours local cooking. From Nabeul we make the short drive to Hammamet on the Gulf, following coastal roads edged with beaches and holiday developments, and we visit Hammamet’s petite medina – its sea–washed walls and lanes perfumed with jasmine – strolling ramparts and narrow streets with sweeping views. Continuing south from Hammamet to Sousse, we pass a string of resorts and tracts of agricultural land before arriving in this historic port. We explore the UNESCO–listed medina of Sousse – a classic fortified coastal town of early Islam – and visit the Archaeological Museum within the old kasbah to admire one of North Africa’s finest collections of Roman mosaics. Leaving Sousse, we drive inland towards El Jem through rural countryside dotted with villages and olive groves, and we explore the vast Roman amphitheatre – one of the world’s best–preserved colosseums – before continuing south to Sfax on the coast to check in for the night.

We depart Sfax and head inland towards the Dahar mountains and Matmata, the road rising steadily through increasingly arid, rocky scenery. In Matmata we visit traditional troglodyte homes carved into the soft rock to create cool underground courtyards and rooms – an ingenious response by Berber families to the harsh climate. We continue to the terraced village of Toujane, following mountain roads with broad views over valleys and ridges, and pause at a viewpoint above the settlement to photograph the stone houses cascading down the hillside and to take in sweeping panoramas across the Dahar. From Toujane we travel deeper into rural southern Tunisia to El Ferch, passing scattered farms and open semi–desert landscapes. Here we visit the Women of GDA El Ferch, a cooperative dedicated to sustainable agriculture and traditional crafts, and we join hands–on activities such as preparing sauces and snacks while hearing the women’s stories. Quiet country roads then lead us to Ksar Hadada, a fortified granary complex perched above the plain, where we explore multi–storey chambers and courtyards – parts of which appeared as slave quarters in the Star Wars films. It is a short drive from Ksar Hadada to Tataouine, where we arrive and check in – ready to explore more of southern Tunisia.

Leaving Tataouine, we follow winding mountain roads through the rugged Dahar, watching the scenery change as we approach the hillside village of Douirette, where we wander lanes of stone houses and learn about local Berber life. The route then climbs and curves towards Guermassa for a visit to a dramatic hilltop village with stone dwellings clinging to the slopes – an ideal vantage point for far–reaching views across the desert and surrounding ranges. From here we descend towards Douz, the Gateway to the Sahara, passing dunes and palm groves on the approach to town. In Douz we board 4x4 vehicles for an off–road journey into the Tembaine dunes, feeling the soft sand beneath the tyres as we follow remote desert tracks. Near Tembaine we watch a traditional demonstration of bread baked in the sand – dough prepared by hand and cooked in embers beneath the surface. As evening falls, we settle into a Berber desert camp, with private tents set among the dunes, share dinner under a star–filled sky and savour the profound silence of the Sahara.

We depart the desert camp by 4x4, tracing the tracks back to Douz as rolling dunes gradually give way to palm groves and town streets. In Douz we explore the souk – famed for desert crafts, aromatic spices and the distinctive red wool used by Bedouins – browsing stalls and watching daily life unfold in this Saharan market town. From here we drive along the edge of Chott el Jerid, Tunisia’s largest salt lake, where the flat, shimmering expanse stretches to the horizon on both sides of the road. We stop to take photos and look for mirage effects – an otherworldly play of sun and sky across the salt flats – before continuing to the oasis city of Tozeur, where palm groves and mudbrick districts signal our arrival. In Tozeur we visit the medina, noted for its patterned brick façades and shaded alleys, and we stroll its lanes to admire the distinctive local architecture.

We leave Tozeur and drive into the desert towards Ong Jemel, crossing stony plains and sandy fields long used as film locations. At Ong Jemel we explore a striking rock formation and surrounding desert made famous by Star Wars, pausing for wide views over dunes and plateaus. From the desert we head back towards the mountains and the oasis of Chebika, climbing into the Atlas foothills with vistas of palm‑filled valleys. In Chebika we follow a spring‑fed stream beneath cliffs and palms, walking short paths to viewpoints and savouring the cool shade of the oasis. We continue along the mountain road from Chebika to Tamerza, our route tracing canyons and rocky slopes above broad valleys, and visit the waterfalls at Tunisia’s largest mountain oasis to enjoy the contrast between lush greenery and surrounding desert rock. From Tamerza we drive on to the village and canyon of Mides near the Algerian border, skirting deep gorges and hillside terraces, and we walk along the edge or the floor of Mides Canyon to take in dramatic rock strata and narrow passages. We return from the mountain oases to Tozeur after a full day of desert and canyon exploration. You have free time to relax by the hotel pool or stroll through town – you might revisit the medina or find a café to unwind before dinner.

We depart Tozeur and drive north towards Sbeitla, watching the scenery shift from desert to farmland. On arrival at one of Tunisia’s best–preserved Roman sites, we explore the ruins of Sbeitla – its triple temple complex, forum, baths and arch – and learn how this provincial city once functioned within the Roman Empire. We continue through Tunisia’s interior to the holy city of Kairouan, an important religious centre, and visit the Great Mosque, one of North Africa’s oldest and most significant Islamic monuments, to admire its vast courtyard, minaret and many reused ancient columns. We wander the quiet streets of the medina, lined with traditional homes and workshops – you can browse pastry shops and craft stalls that keep local traditions alive. We then drive back to Tunis, completing our circuit through central Tunisia, and arrive in the capital to check in for the final night.

You have free time in Tunis to relax or take a gentle stroll near the hotel – a final chance to soak up the local atmosphere at your own pace. When it is time to leave, we transfer you from the hotel to Tunis Airport, giving you a last glimpse of the city en route. We drop you off in good time for your onward or homeward flight – you check in and say goodbye to Tunisia after a journey rich in history, desert landscapes and cultural experiences.