Tunisian Encounters

We land at Tunis Airport to begin our Tunisian journey. We meet our local representative, complete arrival formalities and transfer into the capital. As we drive to the hotel, we gain our first impressions of Tunis – lively streets and characterful neighbourhoods that set the tone for the days ahead. You have time to rest after the flight or take a gentle stroll near the hotel to ease into the local atmosphere. Later we meet our tour guide and fellow travellers for a briefing – we review the itinerary, answer questions and share practical details for the tour.

We delve into the historic medina of Tunis with a local guide, threading through lanes, souks and traditional workshops. We browse the central market, admire colourful produce and fragrant spices, then pick fresh ingredients for a hands on cooking class in a traditional house. We learn time honoured techniques and sit down to enjoy the lunch we have prepared. In the afternoon we drive to coastal Carthage and explore the ruins – from the Antonine Baths to Punic and Roman remains – walking among columns, foundations and former harbour basins that speak of a powerful past. We continue to Sidi Bou Said, the clifftop village above the Gulf of Tunis, and wander whitewashed streets with blue doors and windows. You can pause at a small café for sea views and the village’s relaxed mood before we return to our hotel in Tunis.

We travel north from Tunis along the coast to Nabeul, a noted craft centre, as city districts give way to seaside towns and farmland. We join a harissa workshop to see how Tunisia’s celebrated chilli paste is made – grinding spices, working with dried peppers and discovering its place in local cooking. A short drive brings us to Hammamet, where we visit the small medina with its sea views and jasmine scented lanes, and wander the ramparts above the shore. We continue south along the coast to Sousse to explore its UNESCO–listed medina – a classic fortified town of early Islam – walking the ramparts and alleys lined with homes, shops and mosques. We visit the Archaeological Museum in the old kasbah to admire outstanding Roman mosaics depicting myth, daily life and marine scenes. Turning inland, we drive through countryside dotted with villages and olive groves to El Jem. We explore the vast Roman amphitheatre – among the best preserved anywhere – imagining the spectacles once staged beneath its soaring arches. We continue south to Sfax on the coast and check in to our hotel for the night.

From Sfax we head inland towards the Dahar Mountains and Matmata, the road climbing through increasingly arid, rocky scenery. In Matmata we visit troglodyte homes – cool underground courtyards and rooms carved into soft rock – and learn how Berber families adapted this architecture to a harsh climate. We continue to the terraced village of Toujane along mountain roads with wide views. We pause at a viewpoint above the settlement – you can photograph stone houses cascading down the slope and take in panoramas across the Dahar. We travel deeper into rural southern Tunisia to El Ferch, passing scattered farms and open semi desert. We visit the Women of GDA El Ferch cooperative to join practical activities such as preparing sauces and snacks while hearing the women’s stories. We then continue to Ksar Hadada, a multi storey fortified granary perched above the plain, and explore its vaulted rooms and courtyards – settings later used as slave quarters in the Star Wars films. We end the day in Tataouine and settle into our hotel, ready for more of the south.

We depart Tataouine on mountain roads through the rugged Dahar to the peaceful village of Douirette, where we wander among stone houses and learn about everyday Berber life. We continue towards Guermassa, a striking hilltop village with dwellings clinging to the slopes, and take in panoramic views across surrounding desert and mountains. We then descend to Douz – the traditional gateway to the Sahara – passing dunes and palm groves as the landscape opens out. In Douz we board 4x4 vehicles for an off road drive among the dunes around Tembaine, following remote sandy tracks. We watch a demonstration of desert bread baking, with dough prepared and cooked in embers beneath the sand. As evening falls we arrive at a Berber desert camp with private tents set among the dunes. We enjoy dinner under the stars and savour the profound silence of the Sahara.

We leave the desert camp by 4x4, retracing tracks back to Douz as dunes give way to palm groves and town streets. In Douz we explore the souk, known for desert crafts, spices and the vivid red wool favoured by Bedouins – a lively snapshot of daily life. We then drive along the edge of Chott el Jerid, Tunisia’s largest salt lake, where a flat, shimmering expanse stretches to the horizon. We pause for photos and watch mirage effects over the salt flats before continuing to the oasis city of Tozeur, signalled by palm groves and mud brick districts. We visit the medina to wander shaded alleys and admire the distinctive patterned brick façades that define the local architecture.

We set out from Tozeur into the desert towards Ong Jemel, crossing stony plains and rolling sand long favoured as film locations. At Ong Jemel – a dramatic rock formation – we explore the well known Star Wars site and take in far reaching views over dunes and high plateaux. Leaving the sands, we climb to the mountain oasis of Chebika, where a clear stream fed by springs runs beneath cliffs and palms, and follow short paths to viewpoints. We continue along the scenic road to Tamerza, tracing canyons and rocky slopes above wide valleys, and visit the waterfalls amid vivid greenery. From there we drive on to Mides near the Algerian border to walk along the rim or floor of the canyon, noting striking rock strata and narrow passages, with the small oasis settlement far below. We return to Tozeur after a full day of desert and canyon exploration. You can relax by the hotel pool or stroll through town – perhaps revisit the medina or linger at a café before dinner.

We depart Tozeur and drive north to Sbeitla, watching desert give way to fertile farmland. At one of Tunisia’s best preserved Roman sites we explore the ruins – the triple temple complex, forum, baths and arch – and consider how this provincial city once functioned within the Empire. We continue to the holy city of Kairouan, travelling through the country’s interior to this important religious centre. We visit the Great Mosque of Kairouan, admiring its vast courtyard, striking minaret and many ancient columns reused from earlier sites, then wander the quiet medina streets lined with traditional homes and workshops. We pause at pastry shops and craft stalls that keep local traditions alive before driving back to Tunis to check in for the final night.

You have free time in Tunis to rest or take a short stroll near the hotel – a gentle way to soak up the atmosphere at your own pace. When it is time to leave, we transfer you to Tunis Airport, offering a last glimpse of the city along the way. We ensure you arrive in good time to check in for your onward or homeward flight – a warm farewell to Tunisia after a journey rich in history, desert landscapes and cultural experiences.