Tunisia Berber Diars Exploration

Upon arrival at Tunis–Carthage International Airport, our team and your driver will welcome you and transfer you to your accommodation. You can spend the remainder of the day relaxing at the hotel or take the opportunity to explore the surrounding area. In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner served at the hotel. Overnight stay in Hammamet.

After breakfast, we begin with a visit to the Berber village of Zriba Olya, perched 300 metres above sea level, offering striking views of the surrounding landscape. We then travel to El Djem to explore the Roman Amphitheatre, the second largest of its kind after Rome’s Colosseum. Following this, we enjoy a traditional Tunisian lunch at a local restaurant. Our journey continues to the Berber village of Matmata, where we stay overnight in a distinctive hotel designed to resemble the troglodyte dwellings typical of the area. Arrival at the hotel is expected around 6 pm.

After breakfast, we collect you at around 8 am to explore the heart of Berber culture. Our first stop is Tataouine, the capital of Tunisia’s Berber region in the south. The Berbers, indigenous to the area, historically settled in remote, elevated locations to evade successive invaders—from the Romans to the Carthaginians and later Arab forces. These strategic sites include around 150 Ksours—fortified villages or granaries—scattered between Matmata, Tataouine and Chenini. Many are accessible only by 4x4 vehicles, perched on ridges or clinging to hillsides, such as Chenini’s Ksours and the Old Guermassa. Some, like Ksar Haddada with its 380 ghorfas (rooms), gained fame as filming locations for the Star Wars movies. After a local lunch in Tataouine, we travel to Djerba, arriving around 6 pm for check-in. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Overnight in Djerba.

After breakfast, we will collect you at around 8 am to begin the day in the Berber village of Guellala, known locally as Iquallalen, which means potteries. This village has a long-standing tradition of pottery making, a craft that remains central to the local economy. Following lunch, we will explore a different cultural facet of Djerba in the Jewish quarter of Erriadh. The highlight here is the Synagogue of El Ghriba, once one of 20 synagogues in the village and now a significant pilgrimage site. Though modest from the outside, the synagogue’s interior is richly decorated with colourful windows, tiles, and well-preserved furnishings. Today, around 1,400 Jewish residents live peacefully alongside the Muslim community, reflecting the island’s shared heritage. We will return to the hotel by 6 pm for your overnight stay in Djerba.

After breakfast, we will depart for Kairouan, known as the spiritual capital of Tunisia. Our visit begins at the Great Mosque of Kairouan, situated in the heart of the Medina and founded in 670 AD by the Arab general Uqba Ibn Nafi. This mosque is a significant site for both its architectural grandeur and religious importance, attracting visitors from around the world. We will then take a stroll through the Medina, experiencing local life and sampling freshly made Tunisian pastries, as well as admiring authentic carpets. Later, we will visit the Mausoleum of Sidi Sahbi, located just outside the Medina. This complex honours Abu Zama'a al-Balawi, a companion of the Prophet, and includes a mausoleum, madrasa and several rooms. It remains a popular place for local ceremonies and religious observances. By late afternoon, around 6 pm, we will return to Tunis for check-in. You will have the evening at your leisure to explore the city before enjoying a flavourful dinner at the hotel.

On your final day, we will take you on a guided tour of the Medina of Tunis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The Medina is home to around 700 historic monuments, including palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasas and fountains, primarily from the Almohad and Hafsid eras. The tour begins at approximately 8 am and lasts about two hours. Afterwards, we will transfer you to the airport and assist with your departure. Please note that depending on your flight times, the schedule on your first and last days may be adjusted, with lunch included on either day.